Father's Day is Sunday 6 September 2026 β the first Sunday of September. It is not a Victorian public holiday, so Sunday hours apply. Mix a free reopen with a couple of ticketed treats.
More live cards: what's on in Melbourne. School dates: VIC school holiday dates.
β Father's Day at a glance
- Sunday 6 September 2026 β first Sunday of September, not a Vic public holiday
- Children's Garden reopens (free, from 10am)
- Kids go free at Melbourne Zoo on Sundays (dinos included)
- Free Acland Street car show, 10amβ5pm, St Kilda
- Kids 16 and under free at Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks
Father's Day in Melbourne includes:
What to do | Good for |
|---|---|
Children's Garden reopen | Free outdoor play, from 10am |
Dinos at the Zoo | Kids free this Sunday |
Acland Street car show | Free street festival, 10amβ5pm |
Melbourne Museum | Kids 16 and under free |
Scienceworks | Kids 16 and under free |
NGV Children's Play | Free indoor |
ACMI Play On | Free indoor at Fed Square |
ArtPlay Inside Out | Last morning, ages 2β7 |
Fitzroy Gardens hunt | Bring a pen |
Shrine of Remembrance | Quiet, free |
Healesville BBQ | Day-trip treat |
Pick one outdoor, one indoor backup, and go. Photos, times and links below.
Ian Potter Foundation Children's Garden reopens
Reopens Sunday 6 September after the winter close. Bamboo forest, tower, flax tunnel, rocky gorge, pond and Kitchen Garden. Melbourne Gardens 7:30amβ5:30pm; the children's garden from 10am. Free. No bikes or scooters in the gardens. Easy picnic plus a reopen-day wander. More on our Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne page.
Plan your visit today!
Dinos at the Zoo
Still on through 4 October. More than 30 animatronic dinosaurs, a fossil dig, roaming puppets. Included with zoo entry. Kids visit free on weekends β still book their tickets. Zoo 9amβ5pm; dinos 9:30amβ4:30pm. Some little ones find the moving dinos a bit much. Already listed on what's on in Melbourne.
Route 58 trams are buses 21 August β 5 October. Use Royal Park station on the Upfield line.
Melbourne Zoo also ran a Father's Day brunch this year. Sales have ended, so skip that and do general entry plus dinos instead.
Book Dinos at the Zoo today!
Acland Street Cars, Bikes & Culture Show
Free, Sunday 6 September, 10amβ5pm in St Kilda. Classic cars, bikes, live music, carnival rides and face painting. Engines get loud β skip it if little ears hate that. Port Phillip is closing Acland Street and Shakespeare Grove for the day; Route 96 trams divert (last stop #138 from Saturday 5pm to Sunday 8pm).
Plan your visit today!
Melbourne Museum
Open 9amβ5pm. Kids 16 and under free; adults $18, seniors $12. Under-5s in the Children's Gallery need a free timed slot on top of general entry β book that too.
Book Melbourne Museum today!
Scienceworks
Hands-on science in Spotswood, 10amβ4:30pm. Kids 16 and under free; adults $15. Planetarium, Glow Show and some exhibitions cost extra if you want them.
Plan your Scienceworks visit today!
Children's Play at NGV
Until 4 October, daily 10amβ5pm, free. Costumes, drawing, giant cushion cakes in the Children's Gallery at NGV International. Already listed on what's on in Melbourne.
Plan your NGV Children's Play visit today!
ACMI Play On and The Story of the Moving Image
Both free at Fed Square, 10amβ5pm. Play On is three commissioned arcade games (24 August 2026 β 31 January 2027). The Story of the Moving Image is the ongoing, all-ages centrepiece. Under 13s need an adult.
Plan your ACMI visit today!
ArtPlay Inside Out β last morning
Last morning Sunday 6 September, 10:30amβ12:30pm. Drop-in creative play β cushions, felt, wrap and weave, a sleepy zone. Ages 2β7 with an adult. Free, no booking; there may be a wait. Short window β go early, then picnic at the gardens.
Plan your ArtPlay visit today!
Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure
Free seek-and-find: collect a map at the Visitor Centre, answer 12 questions around the gardens. Primary-school aged (adult help). Younger kids get a Seek and Find bingo-style sheet. Visitor Centre 10amβ4pm. Bring a pen. On until 31 October. More: Fitzroy Gardens Melbourne.
Plan your Fitzroy Gardens visit today!
Shrine of Remembrance
A quieter hour next to the gardens. Galleries 10amβ5pm, last entry 4:30pm. Free. Guided tours on the hour 10amβ4pm (except 1pm). Family explorer kits are there if you want them. It's a respectful site β not a party venue.
Plan your Shrine visit today!
Healesville Sanctuary Father's Day BBQ
Optional day trip β about 1β1.5 hours from Melbourne. BBQ buffet 11amβ3pm in the Brolga Room and Lawn: live music, face painting, marshmallow roasting, lawn games, and a complimentary beer for dads, grandfathers and father figures. Tickets do not include sanctuary admission β buy that separately. The sanctuary is open 9amβ5pm; kids visit free on weekends.
Book the Healesville Father's Day BBQ today!
Sunday goes fast. Do the Children's Garden reopen, add dinos or the car show, and keep NGV or ACMI in your pocket if the weather turns. Happy Father's Day!
