Family Activities in Balwyn
Parks, playgrounds and things to do with kids in Balwyn, Victoria
📍 Balwyn · east
petit peace coffee shokudo
Petit Peace Coffee Shokudo is a family-friendly Japanese café in Balwyn with a cosy atmosphere, courtyard seating, and a generous kids menu. It serves brunch and lunch with Japanese-inspired dishes, offers shelves of Japanese snacks to take home, and is dog friendly. Dinner service is available Thursday to Saturday.
📍 Balwyn · east
matta
Matta is a family-friendly café in Balwyn offering a mix of modern Japanese dishes and classic brunch favorites. The kids' menu includes options like cheesy toasties and popcorn chicken, and the cabinet features treats such as tarts, slices, and cookies. Highlights include the Ebi Katsu Sando and Umami French Fries.
📍 Balwyn · east
bath the sheep
Bath the Sheep is a dessert café offering bingsu, gelato, boba tea, waffles, and cakes in a cute, family-friendly setting. Their bingsu comes in flavours like taro and strawberry, making it a fun and refreshing treat for kids and adults alike.
📍 Balwyn · east
stranger coffeehouse and kitchen
Stranger Coffeehouse and Kitchen in Balwyn is a family-friendly cafe set in a restored 100-year-old building. It serves quality breakfast, lunch, and specialty coffees, with a kids’ menu, highchairs, and a nearby playground.
📍 Balwyn · east
one plus piece cafe
One Plus Piece is a unique cafe for fans of the *One Piece* manga series. With an impressive collection of characters and displays throughout the space, it's a fun place for comic lovers to explore. The menu is just as exciting, offering everything from poke bowls and sushi sandwiches to giant burgers and over-the-top milkshakes. The servings are huge, making it perfect for sharing a meal (and a freak shake) with friends or family!
📍 Balwyn · east
east and co
East and Co. in Balwyn offers a stylish café perfect for families. Enjoy a delicious menu, including breakfast quesadillas and kid-friendly options. The spacious communal table is ideal for a relaxed family meal, with views of the trams and traffic on Whitehorse Road.
📍 Balwyn · east
yi's diy
Yi’s DIY in Balwyn is a dream destination for creative kids and busy little hands, offering fun, hands-on craft workshops right on bustling Whitehorse Road. With four unique sessions to choose from — beading, Moru dolls, decoden cream creations and BYO plushy makeovers — kids can bend fluffy pipe cleaners into adorable bears and bunnies, decorate everyday items with charm-filled “whipped cream” designs, or customise their own plush friends. Designed for ages 6 and up with all materials provided, these workshops are engaging, imaginative and confidence-boosting, with birthday parties also available for an extra-special celebration.
📍 Balwyn · east
palace cinema
Palace Cinema, Balwyn: This classic cinema is a feast for the senses, blending old-school charm with modern movie-going. Opened in 1930, Palace Balwyn retains its Art Deco style and immaculate vintage decor, offering a glamorous Hollywood vibe. It screens the latest blockbusters, top kids’ movies, and serves delicious treats like popcorn and choc-tops, making it a perfect spot for a stylish cinema outing.
📍 Balwyn · east
dancing dandelion
Dancing Dandelion, Balwyn: The newest play cafe in town is a dreamy spot for imaginative play! Filled with handmade wooden play stations, kids can role-play in a play office, ice cream stand, cake shop, supermarket, kitchen, or even a cozy camping setup with a felt campfire. Little ones can explore cars, racetracks, a workbench, and firetrucks, while babies have a safe playpen. A calm upstairs library offers a quiet space with mats and teddies. The gated play area ensures kids are safe and visible from all tables, with excellent hygiene and hand sanitiser at the entrance. Kids meals are included, and the menu caters to both adventurous and classic tastes. With limited tables, it never feels crowded—perfect for relaxed, imaginative play.
📍 Balwyn · east
maranoa gardens
Maranoa Gardens, Balwyn is a peaceful maze of walking tracks showcasing Australian flora, right next to Beckett Park. Think Royal Botanical Gardens vibes but without the city trip! The gardens are super chilled, with a hidden waterfall and toilets on site. While ball games aren’t allowed on the lawns, it’s a wonderful place to explore different temperate zones, and you might even run through the mist in the rainforest.