You’re flying in from Singapore for a quick family trip. The kids want to see a koala, maybe feed a kangaroo, and run around somewhere open and green. You also want natural family photos that truly represent your family to capture this moment. That’s exactly what I do for visiting families. Sessions last one hour on a weekday morning, relaxed and unposed, making it easy to fit into a busy itinerary.

After the photos, you’ll still have the rest of the day left. Think animals, a city wander, good food and coffee, and space for a rest. Below is a simple 5-day plan that works well with preschoolers and early primary-aged kids, plus local tips I use with my own children.

Natural Australian family photos to mark your holiday

Real Australian bush, huge gum trees, lots of birdsong. Kids can explore, hunt for cockatoos in the sky, pick up sticks, lean in for a cuddle, then run off again. We might even spot a kangaroo. I guide just enough so you feel comfortable. No stiff line-ups.

My go-to morning locations:

• Yarra Bend Park (Kew). River bends, gum trees, fairly close to the city. Studley Park Boathouse restaurant is nearby.
• Darebin Parklands (Alphington). Great for a Bluey feel shoot with a creek, interesting bushland alongside classic park-like areas with duck ponds.
• Westerfolds Park (Templestowe). Quintessential Australian bushland, kangaroos, peaceful and full of Australian sounds a little bit further out but not far.
• Fitzroy Gardens (East Melbourne). Tree-lined avenues, lawns, pram-friendly, very close to the Free Tram Zone and in the CBD.

Weekday mornings mean quieter locations with softer light and easier parking. If your kids love watching Bluey, we can have a quick leaf race and find a creek to make this experience real for you.

A 5-day Melbourne plan for young families

Swap days around depending on naps, weather, and mood.

Day 1. CBD easy start
Check into a serviced apartment. Enjoy the green in Fitzroy Gardens. Ride the free City Circle Tram. Sample some excellent Melbourne coffee. Visit Queen Victoria Market.

Day 2. Morning photos and city afternoon
A simple hour of family photos at Yarra Bend or Westerfolds and enjoy some Australian bushland, or stay central at Fitzroy Gardens. Follow your morning with an afternoon at:

• Melbourne Museum. Children’s exhibition (typically follows the theme of the main exhibition is free and fantastic.)
• Laneways. Late afternoon laneway wander. Hosier or ACDC Lanes for street art. Degraves Street for cafés and city vibes.

Day 3. Yarra Valley animals and chocolate
Healesville Sanctuary is brilliant for koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and platypus. They have a fantastic and engaging bird show. The Sanctuary is free for kids during school term. free entry on weekends, Victorian public holidays, and during Victorian Government school holidays. Finish at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie for ice cream and a run on the grass or a winery if you like finer things (The Yarra Valley is known for great wine!). If you want a slower pace, stay overnight in the Yarra Valley at a winery or cottage.

Day 4. Steam train or penguins
Option A. Puffing Billy in the Dandenong Ranges. Open-sided heritage carriages through fern forest. Bakery lunch. Or visit little towns, Olinda or Sassafra,s for lovely tea rooms and beautiful toy shops (Epoche or Geppettos Workshop). The Olinda Playspace is FANTASTIC for kids.
Option B. Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Add Koala Conservation Reserve or Churchill Island farm earlier in the day. Penguins arrive after sunset. Book ahead and pack a jacket even in summer.

Day 5. Short and sweet before the airport
Royal Botanic Gardens or Fitzroy Gardens in the morning. Quick shop at Emporium or Melbourne Central. Final gelato, then off you go.

Where to stay

• CBD. The centre of the city is best if you are tram-hopping and museum-hopping. Serviced apartments give you a kitchen, laundry, and space for naps.
• Yarra Valley. The wineries really are wonderful. Cabins and farm stays are plentiful.
• Mount Dandenong. Cottages in the trees, close to Puffing Billy, cute towns and garden walks.
• Farm Stays near Melbourne. Meet animals and toast marshmallows, still within 60 to 90 minutes of the city.

Things to do with young kids

• Melbourne Zoo. Compact, stroller-friendly, kangaroos and koalas, plus a meerkat tunnel kids love.
• SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Indoors, lifts everywhere, penguins and an underwater tunnel.
• Werribee Open Range Zoo. Safari bus past giraffes and rhinos.
• Collingwood Children’s Farm. Gentle animals and a café close to the city.
• Royal Botanic Gardens. Lawns, lakes, and the Ian Potter Children’s Garden.
• Puffing Billy. Heritage steam train through the Dandenong Ranges.
• Phillip Island Penguin Parade. Little penguins waddling up the beach after sunset.
• Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Chocolate, ice cream, room to run.
• Brighton Beach Boxes. Colourful photo stop on a mild day.
• Moonlit Sanctuary. Hand-feed wallabies and kangaroos on the Wallaby Walk.

Food with kids, the practical version

• Not every café has high chairs, especially small laneway spots.
• Supermarkets are your friend. Grab fruit pouches, crackers, and yoghurt at good prices. Stock a day bag and you are set.
• Easy wins. Emporium and Melbourne Central food courts for choice and space.
• Treat stops. Pidapipó for gelato. Check out Broadsheet for great food/coffee recommendations. Try a flat white or a magic if you’re ordering coffee.
• Apartments make mornings and tired evenings easier. Simple pasta, eggs, toast, and fruit can save everyone’s mood.

Local tools I actually use as a parent

• Mamma Knows East and Mamma Knows Melbourne. Up-to-date parks, playgrounds, splash pads, cafés, and seasonal pop-ups.
• PTV app or site. Live tram and train info.
• Zoos Victoria. Tickets, events, and kids-go-free dates.

What to book ahead

• Your weekday morning photoshoot with me!
• The Penguin Parade, especially during school holidays.
• Puffing Billy tickets for morning services.
• Animal encounters at Healesville Sanctuary and other animal parks, if you want guaranteed close-up time, but you can very much still enjoy the sanctuary and get close to animals without them

FAQs for families travelling from Singapore