6 of the best indoor places in Melbourne to take the kids this winter

By: Stacey Roberts, ellaslist

1. ArtPlay

For the crafty peeps at your place, ArtPlay is a fantastic way to get lost among paints and glue and glitter without it getting ground into your carpet at home.

The centre runs more than 300 workshops, events and performances every year, plenty of which are held during the frosty winter months. Both short workshops for young children and extended creative experiences for older kids are available, and the artists, workshop content and participants reflect Melbourne’s diversity.

Check the website for what's on and when - some of the activities are completely free! Don't miss the four-day extravaganza at Kensington Town Hall, the collaborative art piece made with electrical tape, music composition, DIY comic books and more.

2. Bounce Inc

If your kids are bouncing off the walls, have them bounce off Bounce Inc's trampoline walls instead! 

With locations in Blackburn, Essendon Fields and Glen Iris, there's sure to be a spot near you the kids can let loose for an hour. With more than 100 interconnected trampolines housed within huge, colourful spaces at a growing number of locations around Australia and the world, BOUNCEinc is a spring-loaded urban playground with a wide range of things to do with kids; where hard surfaces are replaced with circus-grade sponge, giant airbags and springs.

Work up a sweat instead of shivering outside and book a spot at your local venue here.

3. Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre

Little fish can't stand being out of the water? They don't need to be! The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre has plenty to keep them occupied and warm water in which to do it. 

Swirl down the giant waterslide, or splash about in the multi-purpose pool or wave pool with toddler play area, grab some lunch afterwards and you've got yourself sorted for a frosty winter's day! 

If you're not a fan of the water, why not grab a racquet and hit the indoor badminton, squash, table tennis, volleyball or basketball courts and pass the day that way.

For more info and opening times, head here.

4. State Library of Victoria

For the bookworms, the State Library of Victoria is hard to pass over! 

Go for a wander and a browse, see what exhibition is currently featured, or check out the what's on calendar for installations and displays before you go. There are always plenty of films, workshops, talks, guided tours and of course, the Play Pod for the under-eights of Melbourne.

For even smaller folk, check out the Baby Bounce story, song and rhyme sessions and the Storytime sessions, held several times a week.

Don't forget to grab a free ebook to read when you get home!

5. Winter Wonderlights at Sovereign Hill

Celebrate Christmas in July by stepping back in time and indulging in all things Yule at everyone's favourite historic-immersion experience, Sovereign Hill!

During the day, Sovereign Hill will be filled with Christmas trees and colourful decorations lining Main Street. ‘Hands-on’ activities for children, a full theatre program, make believe snowfalls and delicious treats will bring Christmas cheer to all. By night, as the sun sets and the snowflakes fall, Main Street will be transformed by sparkling grand-scale images and bright 'Winter Wonderlights’ dancing along its familiar façades.

Don't miss the mulled wine! It's magical wandering through the brightly-lit streets under the gentle snowfalls. It's quite the winter experience!

For more information and tickets, head to the Winter Wonderlights website.

6. IMAX Melbourne

When you love a screen, why not go the biggest screen in the world? IMAX Melbourne is the world's largest, with revolutionary projection systems, customised theatre geometry and 15,000 watts of digital surround sound, it's sure to cure the winter blues.

What's on at the moment? Indulge in Pirates of the Caribbean 5, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (in 3D!), The Search for Life in Space 3D, Museum Alive 3D, Under the Sea 3D, and make a note in your diary to come back for Wonder Woman 3D, Despicable Me 3D, Transformers: The Last Knight 3D, Bugs: Mighty Micro Monsters 3D, Spider-man: Homecoming 3D, and Voyage of Time: The IMAX Experience.

Check here for times and tickets.

No excuses for staying home this winter, when there's so much fun to be had in the city!