Melbourne is Victoria’s capital city and is regarded as a vital business, administrative, cultural, and sports hub in Australia today but before all that, it was known as a gold city back in the 17th century. People from all over the world came to Melbourne during the gold rush, hoping to be strike it rich. Some left having never fulfilled their dream, others stayed on voluntary like the British settlers who took great pride and comfort in the fact that their residence was consensual rather forced, like many convicts. Soon after, the city grew wealthy and nothing really changed until World War II, when another wave of immigration, mainly from southern Europe, made Melboune a more multicultural place to live in.
With typical elegant tree-lined boulevards and multitudes of cafes – characteristic of European culture, Victoria’s capital maintains a distinctly European feel. For the final day of our family itinerary series, we will be wrapping it up with science and animals!
This photo of Collingwood Children’s Farm is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Collingwood Children’s Farm – After breakfast, head over to Collingwood Children’s Farm, where the children can get up close and personal with the farm animals. The rustic countryside farmland also offers the perfect setting for parents to relax and leave the hustle and bustle of city life. Waddle with the ducks, take a pony ride on the tamed horses, feed the Berkshire pigs and Anglo Nubian goats, take a photograph with the Chinese geese, pad the gentle English Leicester and the Shropshire sheep, collect chicken eggs, watch the Blue Indian Peafowl open their beautiful feathers and cuddle the guinea pigs – there are just so many things the whole family can do here. Visitors can also milk the Ayrshire cows at 10am and 4pm daily so be there early and do not miss the chance to milking the cute calves, something one would never experience in the city! Check out Farmer’s Market, which is opened on the second Saturday of every month and where visitors can purchase the farm’s fresh seasonal produce such as vegetables, fruits, smoked meat and herbs. After exploring the farm, the whole family can have lunch at the Farm Café, which offers a variety of foods catering for both adult and child. Situated just four and a half kilometres away from Fraser Place Melbourne, it is easily accessed by train or bus.
Quick tip: Consider bringing your family to the Farm on a Family Day which falls on the first Sunday of every month. There are pony rides, tractor rides and an affordable BBQ for all members of family to enjoy.
Opening Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm
Admission Prices: AUS$4 (Child), AUS$8 (Adult), AUS$16 (Family – 2 adults, up to 4 children)
This photo of Scienceworks Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Scienceworks – After lunch, keep your children entertained for hours with fascinating and interactive scientific displays at Scienceworks. There are plenty of hands on activities and themed exhibitions for young and old to explore and discover the fun of learning science. Various permanent exhibitions include Sportsworks, House Secrets, Nitty Gritty Super City and Muck Bunker Stormwater Experience. There are also temporary exhibitions to keep regular entertained and curious. If you want to experience even more mind-blowing science, pay a little more to for a planetarium show at the Meblourne Planetarium. Using some of the most stunning images of outer space coupled with amazing special effects, the show will take visitors to the stars and beyond. The Lightning Room show is one of the most popular shows in Scienceworks. Discover how lightning is formed and be stunned by the giant Tesla Coil – capable of producing two million volts of electricity to create three metre lightning bolts – in the informative 30 minute show. Located in Spotswood which is about 11 kilometres away from the luxurious Fraser Place Melbourne, the award-winning science museum is accessible by train for which visitors can alight at Spotswood Station.
Opening Hours: Daily10:00am to 4:30pm (Closed Good Friday & Christmas Day)
Admission Price: AUS$10 (Adult), Free (Child)
This photo of Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park – After visiting Scienceworks and Collingwood Children’s Farm, spend the evening at the Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Conservation Park where wildlife animals of the Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve are featured. Be it day or night, Moonlit Sanctuary provides a memorable experience for visitors of all ages to meet over 200 animals of some 30 local and endangered species such as kangaroos, kolas, owls, reptiles, wallabies in a natural bushland setting. Moonlit Sanctuary offers evening guided tours for visitors to spot these amazing wildlife animals and observe their natural behaviour. Winner of the Victorian Tourism Awards in Ecotourism, Moonlit also engages in conservation and has successfully bred a few endangered species such as Southern Bettongs, Eastern Quolls, Julia Creek Dunnarts and Squirrell Gliders. Moonlit Sanctuary is only an hour car journey from the our Melbourne property, and can be easily accessed via the Monash Freewary (M1) and Westernport Highway (A780).
Opening Hours: Daily 10:00am -5:00pm
Admission Price: AUS$15 for daytime admission
Quick Tip: If you are going Moonlit in the evening, remember to pre-book the evening tours before going!
Whether you are exploring the delights of Melbourne for the first time or a regular visitor, let Fraser Place Melbourne be your choice of accommodation.
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