Almost winter! Readers of the blog are probably aware that winter is my least favourite season, I am not a fan of cold weather. But at least there is still lots of fun things to do in Melbourne even if it is cold!
NB. All images are from their respective sources.
1. Winter Solstice Bonfire
Celebrating the winter solstice at the Collingwood Children’s Farm is such a lovely family outing.
Highlights for the evening include:
- Fire Performers
- Children’s Lantern Parade
- Giant Lantens
- Mulled Wine
- Food Stalls
- Bar
- Wandering Minstrel
- Drummers
Date: Sat 19th June 2010 (Solstice of course is the 21st June though!)
Time: 4pm – 8pm
Venue: Collingwood Children’s Farm
Cost: $16 family, $8 adult, $4 Children Tickets available online
Tickets for pre sale at Farm Reception or at the gate from 4pm on the night. Please note tickets can not be purchased over the phone or reserved.
2. Little Big Shots
An inspiring, meaningful and fun-filled festival, Little Big Shots features the best in local and international children’s shorts, animations, documentaries and, amazingly, child-produced films.
The films screening in Little Big Shots inspire discussion of world cultures, different languages, cultural diversity, emotional intelligence and human values. Better still, we guarantee they will make kids laugh, whoop, think and create. Each year in June, Little Big Shots returns to its Melbourne home town with a whole new crop of juicy screen adventures to amaze and delight.
Date: Wed 9th June 2010 – Mon 14th June 2010
Time: Morning and Afternoon sessions.
Venue: ACMI @ Federation Square
Cost: All screenings $7.
Bookings: (03) 8663 2583 or the ACMI website
3. Nitty Gritty Super City
This exhibition at Science Works is specifically designed for 3 to 8 year olds.
Nitty Gritty Super City is a fun and interactive exhibition set in a mini metropolis where children are encouraged to push buttons, pull ropes, investigate materials, encounter sounds, objects and other people.
Highlights include the construction zone, the role-play café, the digger, the cargo ship and the interactive music bowl.
Date: Daily
Time: 10am until 4pm
Venue: ScienceWorks
Cost: Included with museum entry which is $8 for adults and free for children.
4. Children’s Free Creative workshops
Family Life Cafe have a number of ongoing kids activities, one of which is the Children’s Creative workshop with artist Helen Pollard. Drawing painting, sculpture and hand craft fun (with no clean up afterwards!).
Date: Every Wednesday
Time: 11am
Venue: Family Life Home and Cafe, Prahran
Cost: Free
Bookings: Please contact the staff to confirm your child’s booking, as seats are limited.
Contact: 9529 6877
5. Moonlit Sanctuary
Moonlit Sanctuary is located 50 minutes from central Melbourne at the top of the Mornington Peninsula, and on the way to Phillip Island. The sanctuary opened September 2001, covers 25 acres and has eco-tourism certification.
Animals are protected by a 1.2 km by 2 m electrified predator proof fence. Over 200 animals of some 30 species make the sanctuary home. These include the Aussie icons, kangaroos and koalas, as well as many other species such as owls, dingoes, reptiles, birds, wallabies and possums.
Date: Daily
Time: Day tours from 11am- 5pm by appointment only . Night tours from 8.30 (Oct-Mar) or 8.00 (Apr-Sep)
Cost Day Admission and tour: Adults: $20.00 Child: $10.00 min. $50.00
Cost Night Admission and tour: Adults: $27.00 Child: $16.00, Family: $90.00 (2 adults & 3 children)
6. We Depend on Nature
This exhibition at the Melbourne Museum allows children to explore Victoria’s natural diversity through touch, smell, puppet play, and drawing.
The biodiversity-themed learning environment immerses children in Victoria’s habitats and natural world. Consisting of three spaces, the space offers exploration of the diversity of animal life with an emphasis on the importance of backyard biodiversity and an open play space with animal puppets to invoke their imagination.
Date: Daily until 31 Dec 2010
Time: 10am until 5pm
Venue: Melbourne Museum
Cost: Included with museum entry which is $8 for adults and free for children.
7. mill&mia Craft Classes
The lovely mill&mia store Auburn Rd Hawthorn runs craft sessions the first Saturday of every month. For June the session is as follows:
Paint your own set of wooden Russian dolls. Learn how to paint your own family of dolls and decorate each one with the gorgeous trims from the mill&mia collection. This is a very cute class for siblings to do and will only be charged at $25 per family as they will share each set of dolls.
Date: Sat 5th June 2010
Time: 10am-11am suitable for children aged 5 to 10 years
Venue: mill&mia 99 Auburn Rd, Hawthorn
Cost:$25.00 includes all materials.
Bookings are essential and payment must be received in full prior to class. Class sizes are limited to 12 children per class Tel: 9882 6123 or email: info@millandmia.com for further information.
8. Boats
Being performed at the Arts Centre by Terrapin Puppet Theatre, this show sounds like it would have something in it for all ages:
Boats is a story of two mariners fleeing their past and embracing adventure. They meet through bizarre circumstances involving a chicken, a deserted island and a sombrero. The sound effects are created live – a boat is cut from bread, a bird tied from rope, a circus hides in a jacket, and a storm is made with a teacup. With acrobatics, object manipulation, a microphone that goes in water and enchanting storytelling, Boats is a moving story that leaves a lump in your throat and a smile on your face.
Date: Sat 12th June 2010
Time: 11am & 1.30pm. Duration: 50 mins.
Venue: Black Box (Melbourne Arts Centre)
Cost: $16.00, Family ticket (4 tickets): $56, Groups (4 or more): $14. Recommend Ages: 4 – 12
Bookings:1300 182 183 or online
9. Docklands Classic Film Festival
Docklands has free movies every night for their Classic Film Festival. Sunday nights are “Family Favourites”.
Rug up and bring your family and friends down to Waterfront City Piazza. Grab a meal, hot chocolate, popcorn or pizza and enjoy classic movies under the stars. Bring along a blanket and picnic or director’s chairs are available – perfect if you are coming straight from work. Screenings every night at 7pm. Saturday at 2pm and 7pm.
Films listed at the time of publishing were:
- Sunday, 6 June at 7pm – The Adventures of Robin Hood
- Sunday, 13 June at 7pm – Alvin and the Chipmunks
- Sunday, 20 June at 7pm – The Great Escape
- Sunday, 27 June at 7pm – Kes
10. The Mudcakes
The Mudcakes are playing a series of live shows at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute on of which falls in the month of June. You can listen to one of their songs here.
Date: Sat 19th June 2010
Time: 11am
Venue: Williamstown Mechanics Institute
Cost: $14.00 and can be bought online.