The best family-friendly campsites and holiday parks in Melbourne
Melbourne spoils you with gorgeous parklands, beaches, wildlife reserves and easy motorway links. That means you can sleep in a tent or pull up the caravan without losing the convenience of cafés, playgrounds and reliable public transport. For many travellers, Melbourne is also a popular starting point for longer Aussie road trips, with routes heading off to the Great Ocean Road, Adelaide, or up the east coast.
If you're collecting a campervan in Melbourne, we generally recommend driving just an hour or so on that first day and spending the night at a nearby campground. It’s a great way to ease into your trip without a long drive straight off the bat.
Below you will find the top holiday parks in Melbourne for when you’re planning a family-friendly holiday in Melbourne, ordered by how close they sit to the city centre. Each entry highlights key facilities, local attractions and handy tips to help you plan your perfect adventure. There are plenty of things to do in Melbourne the whole family will enjoy!
Melbourne BIG4 Holiday Park, Coburg
Only 10 km away from Melbourne CBD, Melbourne BIG4 holiday is as close as you will get to true caravan parks in Melbourne CBD without feeling closed in by skyscrapers. Trams run every few minutes on nearby Sydney Road and can quickly take you to Queen Victoria Market in about twenty minutes.
Why families love it
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Solar heated pool area and gym
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Adventure playground and movie room
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Ensuite powered sites let you hook up your van while still enjoying your own shower and toilet.
Surrounding highlights: Nearby you’ll find the iconic Melbourne Zoo, where kids can marvel at a diverse range of wildlife, as well as the picturesque Royal Park which is a perfect place for a picnic.
Discovery Parks Melbourne, Braybrook
Discovery Parks is a great caravan park in Melbourne that has everything you need and only around 11 km away from Melbourne CBD.
Why families love it
Surrounding highlights: Footscray’s impressive wall murals are a cool outing to see for the whole family and very nearby the park. There are currently 26 large scale murals to check out.
Crystal Brook Caravan Park Melbourne, Doncaster East
Crystal Brook Caravan Park is located in a leafy pocket by Mullum Mullum Creek, around 25km out of Melbourne CBD. It combines bushland peace with short drives to shopping and dining.
Why families love it
Day-trip ideas: Westfield Doncaster is a short drive away for rainy-day cinema sessions. When you want to venture out, several nearby attractions such as the State Library of Victoria, and the Melbourne Museum offer fun and educational experiences for the whole family. If you want to see kangaroos in Melbourne, head to Westerfolds park and you might spot Eastern grey kangaroos in the wild.
Dandenong Tourist Park, Carrum Downs
Families drawn to Mornington Peninsula beaches but wary of peak-season traffic will appreciate Dandenong Tourist Park. Located 40 km from the city, this park is situated in a peaceful and picturesque location.
Why families love it
Nearby fun: Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre is a 20 minute drive away, has waterslides and a warm leisure pool, perfect for a cloudy afternoon. Or, drive twelve minutes to Frankston Foreshore for paddle board hire.
Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park, Yarra Valley
Lilydale Pine Hill Caravan Park is an easy 45 km drive from the city of Melbourne. This is a great option for families because of the facilities on offer. There's a playground for the kids, fire pits to toast marshmallows and plenty of space to run around and explore.
Why families love it
Things to do nearby: The Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail is a mostly flat, 40 km track following a former railway line through the scenic Yarra Valley, ideal for walking, cycling or horse riding between Lilydale and Warburton.
BIG4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park, Frankston South
Mornington Peninsula needs little introduction. Safe beaches, thermal pools and glass-calm kayaking water put this region high on family bucket lists. The BI4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park is a wonderful place to stay with the family and enjoy the peninsula, around 50 km out of Melbourne CBD.
Why families love it
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Modular pump track and flying fox
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Brand new adventure playground with toddler zone and obstacle course.
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Swimming pool and tennis courts.
Explore: Drive to Arthurs Seat Eagle gondola for sweeping views, then scoot down to Enchanted Adventure Garden where tree surfing courses and tube slides spark squeals.
Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park, Healesville
If fresh mountain air and wildlife encounters top your wish list, choose the Yarra Valley. This park delivers bush camping in Melbourne Australia style, with resident sugar gliders, wombats and kookaburras. Yarra Valley Park Lane Holiday Park has a lot of great facilities for kids too! It’s around 65 km away from Melbourne CBD.
Why families love it
Things to do nearby: Healesville Sanctuary lets you immerse yourself in the world of the platypus.
Tip: Pack jackets, even in summer. Mountain evenings cool quickly.
BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park, Great Ocean Road
When you crave a classic road trip, BIG4 Apollo Bay Pisces Holiday Park makes a perfect grand finale. Though it is a fair bit outside of Melbourne city, a 2 hour drive, it deserves a spot because many Melbourne families drive here at least once a year.
Why families love it
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Kids club, adventure playground
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Sound and light show and heated pool
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Spacious modern camp kitchens
Side trips
Cape Otway Lightstation, approximately forty minutes away, offers whale sightings. Walk a short section of the Great Ocean Walk then reward everyone with homemade ice cream from Dooley’s in town.
Driving advice
Break the journey at Geelong Adventure Park or Torquay’s Surf World Museum so children can stretch legs before the winding Otways section.
Planning your booking
Christmas, Easter and the September school holidays bring quick sell-outs. Most parks open bookings twelve months ahead so set a reminder if you travel during these windows. Outside peak dates you can often nab three-for-two night deals.
Handy packing tips
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Pack Myki travel cards if staying within tram zones. Children under 4 travel for free.
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Bring bikes or scooters for the holiday park roads. Most sites are level and encourage slow vehicle speeds.
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If you plan day trips into the city, load the cooler with picnic bits the night before. Parking costs mount quickly so aim to use park-and-ride trails or hop on a tram.
Making the most of your stay
Use your park as a hub rather than a final destination. Book shorter six-hour return drives so children spend more time exploring beaches, zoos and treetop walks and less time in booster seats.
Schedule one low-key afternoon per two high-energy days. A simple hour at the camp playground often trumps another car journey and helps everyone reset. For more ideas on what to get up to, check out our post on family friendly things to do in Melbourne.
Caravan parks in Melbourne keep improving each year, adding splash pads, pump tracks and all-weather kitchens that make camping with kids easier than ever. Whether you park close to the CBD for tram rides to museums or venture farther to echoing ocean cliffs, you will discover that camping in Melbourne Australia blends city culture with wide open spaces better than almost anywhere else.
Book your Apollo camper
Book your Apollo Camper today and kickstart a family tradition everyone will look forward to each school holiday. Whether you're planning a quick weekend escape or a longer road trip, Apollo’s range of campervans offers comfort, flexibility and great value. With on-board heating, shower, toilet and cooking facilities, you'll have everything you need to feel at home, wherever the road takes you.