Where to Travel With Kids and Still Have a Grown-Up Experience
Hands up if you’ve travelled with children and felt more like a babysitter than a holidaymaker yourself! It often happens – especially when the kids are young – but we’ve found a special part of Victoria where the adults can feel like they’re actually having ‘grown-up’ experiences while the kids still have their fun.
If you’re travelling with younger kids, particularly a baby and/or toddler, travel can be even more challenging! Check out the great tips at Petite Capsule for travelling with a Baby and Toddler, including how to choose travel gear and accommodation.
The Mornington Peninsula – just a little over one hour’s drive from Melbourne – provides the perfect setting for either a day trip or extended stay. This is our selection of the top spots for all-round family bliss.
Arthurs Seat Eagle
What is it?
Gliding over Arthurs Seat State Park and looking across to a vast ocean of brilliant blue, the Eagle’s aerial gondolas offer some of the best sightseeing in a tranquil environment.
Why it’s special for adults
The shiny, Swiss-made gondolas offer a breath of fresh air in a special space – both inside and out. On a clear day, the views include the Mornington Peninsula region, Port Phillip Bay, and the Melbourne city skyline.
At the Arthurs Seat Summit, enjoy a coffee or wine on the outdoor deck of the Eagle Café before exploring beautiful bush scapes. Or you can pre-order a picnic and have that fabulous family experience without the hassle.
Each gondola can accommodate up to eight people, and the customer service is above and beyond, as demonstrated by its rave reviews.
Why it will keep the kids out of trouble
The kids can connect with nature, and for the youngsters, there’s nowhere to run off while secured up in the air! During the stunning, 30-minute return experience, the kids can participate in a next-level version of ‘I Spy’ with Wedgie’s ‘Eagle Eye’ hunt. A free map with a checklist is available at the Eagle kiosk to encourage children to look for kangaroos, birds and even The You Yangs, among other sights.
The attraction is pram friendly with accessible gondolas, parking and award-winning restrooms to make it easier with tiny people.
Where is it?
The base station is in Dromana, while the summit station is located in Arthurs Seat.
Green Olive at Red Hill
What is it?
Green Olive at Red Hill offers a unique and exceptional farm and food experience. This includes growing olives, grapes, herbs and veggies, raising sheep and chickens, as well as using fresh produce from other local farmers to produce a range of tapas, wine and body products.
Why it’s special for adults
The quality of this experience has been recognised with awards for excellence in Food Tourism (winners of this category for the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards and Qantas Australian Tourism Awards from 2014 – 2016).
The gorgeous farm tapas and wine menu is available every day from 9 am until 4 pm, with coffee, wine and dessert on offer until 5 pm.
Why it will keep the kids out of trouble
Green Olive runs kids’ activities periodically such as pizza making, meeting the animals, and cupcake decorating – book in advance.
The farm also features a free trampoline in sight of the restaurant so the kids can let their energy out while you sip your wine.
Where is it?
Red Hill
Main Ridge Dairy
What is it?
Main Ridge Dairy is a farmhouse, cheese factory and goat dairy located in Main Ridge on the Mornington Peninsula.
Why it’s special for adults
It features a stylish but rustic farm building where a glass of wine and sample cheese platter is incredibly affordable. Beer, cider, coffee and a range of giftware are also on offer and the setting is idyllic.
Why it will keep the kids out of trouble
The kids can run around outside the farm building and view the numerous goats through the farm fences. Fabulous colouring activities and toys are available, plus you can book a dairy tour for kids aged three and over.
Where is it?
Main Ridge
Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm
What is it?
A strawberry farm that offers ‘U-Pick’ (pick your own fruit) plus a café and store. Visit from around November to April to have the full experience.
Why it’s special for adults
Unless you already live on a farm, there is something so satisfying and novel about picking your own produce. The café has an amazing array of savouries and sweets that taste as fresh as the strawberries you’ve just harvested. It does get busy in peak season though, so try to arrive early in the day.
Why it will keep the kids out of trouble
The kids will have just as much fun picking their own strawberries as you, and it’s always an enriching experience for children to see where the fruit’s journey begins.
Back at the café, order the Mini Monster Fondue for the kids so you can relax while they get their fingers and faces deliciously messy – just ensure they’re not wearing their finest!
Sunny Ridge also offers kids’ classes such as strawberry dipping and decorating.
Where is it?
Main Ridge
Dromana 3 Drive-In
What is it?
It’s your good old-fashioned drive-in cinema with three screens.
Why it’s special for adults
At this Heritage-listed drive-in, your kids can be as loud as they like while watching a movie in the great outdoors, making for a relaxing parent experience. Make a night of it and have a meal at the ‘50s-style Diner. Plus bring a portable radio if you’d like to sit outside the car and still hear the movie.
Why it will keep the kids out of trouble
The on-site playground will provide additional entertainment for the kids prior to the movie, and the older ones will enjoy the movie memorabilia at the Diner.
Arrive early to make the experience as relaxing as possible and try to choose a movie the whole family will enjoy from the three options available.
Where is it?
Dromana
