- Purchase the complete Expat Arrivals Melbourne Guide (PDF)
Expat children moving to Melbourne will scarcely have time to miss their friends back home as relocation to this fun-filled Australian city will certainly be an adventure of note.
The communities that make up the city's melting pot culture place a high value on family life and are known to be child friendly. There's a wide variety of family-friendly suburbs in Melbourne, and most families live in standalone houses rather than apartments, giving the family easy access to outdoor space. With at least six months a year of warm, dry weather, kids can take advantage of countless fun-filled activities outside the house.
Education and schools in Melbourne
With both public and private education on offer and an extensive range of subjects to choose from, parents can rest assured that expat children will be going into a good school environment. Some schools provide a bus service, but for parents who are stuck with the school run and need to get across Melbourne’s sprawling suburbia, a car is essential.
Out and about with kids in Melbourne
Melbourne caters for all types of familes – from the adventurous to the artistic, no matter their personal preferences, there's plenty to see and do in the city.
For children who love animals, there are a number of zoos in and around the city filled with weird and wonderful creatures, the variety of which is astounding. A little further out of the city, families can head to Philip Island to see the penguins.
The beach is the place to be in summer, and Melbourne's array of beaches promise hours of fun in the sun.
Arts and entertainment for kids in Melbourne
During school holidays older children can enjoy an outing to the local IMAX. For the more creative spirits, there are options to get hands on with the interactive technology exhibits at Scienceworks, or splash paint about at an art class.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image and The National Gallery of Victoria both run lively kids holiday programmes where children can interact with demonstrations and artworks.
Further reading
►Lifestyle in Melbourne has more information on activities in the city
Are you an expat living in Melbourne?
Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to Melbourne. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

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