Family Activities in Lilydale
Parks, playgrounds and things to do with kids in Lilydale, Victoria
📍 Lilydale · east
radio social club
Radio Social Club in Lilydale is a small, intimate 18+ bar with a reputation for cocktails and a tasty menu featuring dishes like pork belly skewers and pumpkin salad. The venue also hosts events such as trivia nights, cocktail classes, and video game nights.
📍 Lilydale · east
round bird
Round Bird in Lilydale offers a local, family-friendly café experience with a menu featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include homemade muffins, fruit sourdough with espresso butter, and gnocchi, along with babycinos for little ones. Limited pram space is available, and there’s an artspace upstairs offering classes and workshops.
📍 Lilydale · east
the cribb cafe
The CriBB Café in Lilydale is a family-friendly spot with indoor and outdoor play areas for kids. Enjoy coffee, simple meals, and treats while supporting a local charity that helps young people.
📍 Lilydale · east
proximal coffee
Proximal Coffee, run by local barista-turned-roaster Evan, offers freshly roasted beans and expertly brewed coffee. Visit the roastery to sample filter coffee, buy beans, or learn more about espresso in a welcoming, renovated studio space.
📍 Lilydale · east
locavore studio
Locavore in Lilydale features a bright, spacious cafe with a stunning mural, booth seating, and a menu full of balanced, flavour-packed dishes. The site includes outdoor dining, a coffee takeaway window, and a providore offering cheeses, deli items, and gift options. On Thursday to Saturday evenings, Locavore also serves a full dinner with a Feed Me menu and cocktails.
📍 Lilydale · east
the mustard tree
The Mustard Tree in Lilydale is an op shop with a heart! With its quirky decor, upcycled treasures, and cozy café, it’s a local favorite. Kids can play while you hunt for bargains, and don’t miss the fun challenge of spotting the Barbie in a blender!
📍 Lilydale · east
imm oon thai
Imm Son Thai in Lilydale offers some of the best Thai food in the east. With standout dishes like dumplings, pork belly, and flavorful curries, it's perfect for both casual family dinners and date nights. Bookings are recommended, as it’s a popular spot for both dine-in and takeaway.
📍 Lilydale · east
isshin japanese house
Isshin Japanese House in Lilydale is a must-visit for families who want a fun and interactive dining experience. This all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant lets kids explore a wide range of dishes, from sushi rolls to tempura prawns and squid, letting little tastebuds discover new favourites—Mamma’s 4.5-year-old quickly declared salmon their top pick! Each plate is entrée-sized, so Mamma recommends ordering a few at a time to fully enjoy the variety. Sessions run for two hours, giving you plenty of time to savour every bite and make sure there’s room for the all-important ice cream finale.
📍 Lilydale · east
harrow and harvest
Harrow and Harvest is a stunning kid-friendly cafe housed in a transformed church building. With a diverse menu offering something for everyone, it’s perfect for family brunches or a relaxed date. The highlight is the spacious playroom, full of toys to keep the little ones entertained, letting you enjoy your meal and conversation in peace.
📍 Lilydale · east
hop hen brewery
If you're in Lilydale, do yourself a favour and swing by Hop Hen Brewery for a relaxed family outing! With their roller doors wide open, this spot offers simple but delicious pizzas and jaffles, plus their own craft beers on tap. It’s a family-friendly haven, with a toy and games shelf to keep the kids entertained while you enjoy a cold drink. Whether you're teaching them to play dominoes or letting them colour in, you can sip on an IPA or cider while they have fun. The owners, who are parents themselves, make sure there's something for everyone. Perfect for sharing a pizza and quality time together as a family!
📍 Lilydale · east
a toast to melba @ yarra ranges regional museum
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, Lilydale is celebrating Australia’s legendary soprano with A Toast to Melba, an exhibit showcasing treasured costumes, photographs and performance memorabilia from Dame Nellie Melba’s illustrious career. Kids will love spotting sparkly shoes and a jewelled dagger from Romeo and Juliet, while adults may admire the vintage Louis Vuitton luggage. Upstairs, the gallery transforms into Melba’s Vintage Playroom, where little ones can enjoy dress-ups, hula hoops, wooden trains and a puppet show — a hands-on experience that perfectly complements a visit to this family-friendly museum.
📍 Lilydale · east
lilydale skate centre
Skate Centre Lilydale is a classic roller rink that still delivers all the school-holiday nostalgia, with family-friendly vibes, great music and plenty of space for every skating style—from cruising the rail to tearing up the middle. Once you’re strapped into your skates, the fun is nonstop, with owner Ramy bringing the energy on the mic, sharing handy tips for beginners and running games (with lolly rewards!) that keep the kids smiling and moving.
📍 Lilydale · east
lilydale community library
Lilydale Library – Nestled within the Lakeside campus of Box Hill Institute near Lillydale Lake, this library is a shiny, spacious haven for little readers. The children’s zone is huge, with furniture and shelving perfectly sized for little hands, and plenty of room for storytime, song, and dance. The library is cleverly split into junior and senior sections by a short corridor, letting the kids have fun without disturbing others. If Lilydale isn’t your local, you can check Storytime in the East for all the latest sessions and timetables.
📍 Lilydale · east
casual kindergym @ glitz gymnastics academy
Glitz Gymnastics Kindergym – A huge, fun-filled space where little ones can run, jump, swing, and climb to their heart’s content! Casual kindergym classes let kids explore balance beams, rope swings, trampolines, foam pits, bars, soft blocks, and obstacle courses without the commitment of term classes. The friendly staff guide the children, encourage giggles, and keep everyone safe while developing fine and gross motor skills, balance, coordination, and strength. Perfect for a fun, active outing that wears the kids out while keeping it exciting!
📍 Lilydale · east
lilydale outdoor pool
Lilydale Outdoor Pool: Lilydale Outdoor Pool is a quiet little summer gem tucked beside Melba Park and the Lilydale Showgrounds, perfect for families wanting a relaxed swim. The pool complex includes a chilly main lap pool for hot days, plus two connected, heated junior pools—a shallow kids’ area and an ideal toddler pool with a shape that makes supervising little paddlers easy. Partly shaded and backed by large oak trees that offer more cover later in the day, it’s best to set up on the park side or near the change rooms to avoid the leafy mess. Open during the summer season when temperatures hit 23 degrees or above, there’s also a kiosk on site for a well-earned post-swim treat.
📍 Lilydale · east
olinda creek trail
Olinda Creek Trail Olinda Creek Trail is a perfect family-friendly spot for a bike ride, offering a flat, gravel path along the creek and Swansea Road. It’s just 1.6 km from Hull Rd to York Road in Montrose, ideal for little legs and bikes. Along the way, you can enjoy crossing bridges, saying hello to farm animals, and taking in the open landscape, which was reshaped by a storm in 2021. For an extended adventure, cross the road and explore the wetlands, eventually leading to Lillydale Lake.
📍 Lilydale · east
lillydale lake
Lillydale Lake is an eastie classic and a family favourite. This man-made lake features a flat 2.5km trail perfect for bikes or walks, off-leash dog areas, a playground with water play, and sandy “beaches” for little ones. It’s ideal for picnics, casual exercise, or joining community activities like paddle boarding, sailing, Parkrun, and fly fishing—all while enjoying the scenic lake views.
📍 Lilydale · east
yarra ranges regional museum
Yarra Ranges Regional Museum, Lilydale is a treasure trove of local history where families can explore the permanent Connections Exhibit, which highlights the region’s rich past—from Dame Nellie Melba and the farming and natural resources of the area to the story of William Barak and the Corranderk Aboriginal Station, as well as more recent events like the COVID lockdown. While the exhibits are best suited for older children, the museum offers engaging school holiday programs and a charming gift shop stocked with classic toys, making it a great educational outing for the whole family.
📍 Lilydale · east
the lilydale agricultural & horticultural show
Lilydale Agricultural and Horticultural Show: If you missed the Royal Melbourne Show, the Lilydale Agricultural and Horticultural Show is the perfect smaller-scale alternative, running all weekend. Families can enjoy amusement rides, fairground games, showbags, woodchopping, horse shows, highland dancing, and safety demonstrations. The main stage features music, dancing, and reptiles, while the Melba Park end offers a free petting zoo, smokehouse and CFA displays, and local community group activities. The fun continues into the evening with a twilight stage and fireworks, making it a full weekend of excitement for all ages.