Accessing recreation, entertainment and cultural venues

• Major events: Traveller's Aid is working with a number of Melbourne's iconic events to make them more accessible and inclusive to everyone. Travellers Aid will be offering its access and inclusion services at these major Melbourne events.Opens in new tab
• Accessible restaurantsOpens in new tab: Wheelchair-friendly restaurants in Melbourne with easy entry, open spaces, and accessible toilets.
• Melbourne's best accessible brunch spots:Opens in new tab Bottomless dining, iconic brunch spots and must-visit new openings. These cafes and brunch spots offer easy entry for people with disabilities, accessible toilets, and are inclusive to all. 
• Melbourne's best accessible cafes and bakeries:Opens in new tab From tiny hole-in-the-wall bakeries to casual laneway cafes, these places offer easy entry for people with disabilities, accessible toilets, and are inclusive to all. 
• Melbourne's best accessible shops and boutiquesOpens in new tab: With wide entrances and spacious dressing rooms, these stores are inclusive of people with disabilities. They're close to accessible public transport too. 
• Melbourne's best accessible waterfront experiencesOpens in new tab: The Yarra River is the perfect place to play. Splash around at accessible water activities, dive into the arts. Or feast at one of the eateries and bars along the river. 
• To find out what s coming up or plan your next trip, go to What's On Melbourne Opens in new tab. The site has a huge range of information including free and paid events, shopping, things to see and do, places to eat and drink, and tourist attractions. 

Useful links

• Accessible experiencesOpens in new tab: discover a range of accessible experiences suitable for a wide range of people with disability, from basic to complex mobility levels. This website will help you explore and have fun across Victoria.
• Access Ability Australia has made free Access KeysOpens in new tab for many venues and attractions outside Melbourne. The keys include information on parking and accessibility features.

• Royal Botanic GardensOpens in new tab: Melbourne's iconic gardens are accessible and inclusive, with a range of supports including wheelchair hire, All Abilities Access Keys, changing places and accessible parking. Find the Gardens Access KeyOpens in new tab.
• Melbourne ZooOpens in new tab is a fantastic day out, and an accessible environment for all visitors. It features accessible parking, a Changing Places facility, access for people using wheelchairs and strollers, a sensory map and much more. Find accessibility informationOpens in new tab.
• Melbourne MuseumOpens in new tab has accessible parking, wheelchairs available for use throughout a visit, lift or ramp access to all public spaces, accessible toilets, deaf access and blind/low vision access. It is an autism-friendly museumOpens in new tab.
• SEA LIFE Melbourne AquariumOpens in new tab: is a fun and accessible experience, with accessible toilets and cafes. There's a lift and ramp and accessible 4D cinema. You can hire a free wheelchair and noise-cancelling headphones.
• Immigration MuseumOpens in new tab: has a great variety of exhibitions and is accessible, with ramp and lift access to all galleries. There are accessible toilets, and you can hire free wheelchairs, and a mobility scooter. It is an autism-friendly museum Opens in new tab.
• Accessible beachesOpens in new tab: Port Melbourne Beach and St Kilda Beach are both close to the central city. During the warmer months, the City of Port Phillip provides beach matting and beach wheelchairs at both beaches. Accessible parking, toilets and showers are also available at St Kilda Surf Life Saving ClubOpens in new tab and Port Melbourne Surf Life Saving ClubOpens in new tab. For information on how to get to these beaches from the central city, visit Public Transport Victoria Opens in new tab.

Arts Centre Melbourne

Arts Centre MelbourneOpens in new tab has a range of accessible events, performances and programming:

• Plan Your VisitOpens in new tab, an access resource developed for visitors and patrons, with a video that is captioned and in Auslan.
• Accessible programmingOpens in new tab: Arts Centre Melbourne presents a captivating annual program of accessible performances by some of the best Australian and international companies. It presents programs and performances that are relaxed, Auslan interpreted, audio described, open captioned, highly visual and wheelchair accessible. For more information see Accessible EventsOpens in new tab and Relaxed PerformancesOpens in new tab

National Gallery o f Victoria

The National Gallery VictoriaOpens in new tab (NGV) welcomes everyone. It recognises the Companion Card and Carer Card and provides support and programs including relaxed mornings, Auslan tours, social scripts, access aids and hearing loops. 

NGV provides information for: 

• visitors who are deaf or hard of hearingOpens in new tab
• visitors who are blind or have low visionOpens in new tab
• visitors with a physical disability or mobility issuesOpens in new tab
• visitors with autism or sensory sensitivitiesOpens in new tab. 

ACMI

The Australian Centre for the Moving ImageOpens in new tab is jam-packed with activities and exhibitions. It's fully accessible, with free wheelchairs for hire. The Flinders Street entrance to ACMI is easily accessible via a wheelchair ramp. Lifts and accessible toilets and free wheelchair hire and sensory guides are available. 

ArtVO in the Docklands

ArtVo in the DocklandsOpens in new tab is an immersive, trick-art gallery, a world of optical illusions. It is wheelchair-accessible and welcomes guests with special needs or disabilities. There are accessible toilets nearby, the closest is at the Star Circus. The most convenient accessible parking is, off Pearl River Road.

Melbourne Museum

Melbourne MuseumOpens in new tab has accessible parking, wheelchairs available for use throughout a visit, lift or ramp access to all public spaces, accessible toilets, deaf access and blind/low vision access. It is an autism-friendly museum.

Changing Places

Changing PlacesOpens in new tab are public toilets with full-sized change tables, ceiling hoists and peninsula toilets.

Changing Places enable many people with high support needs to enjoy day-to-day activities that many of us take for granted, such as going to work, school or university, playing in the park, or attending cultural, sporting, or social and family events.

There are 14 Changing Places facilities in central Melbourne:

1. Collins Place, Located on the eastern end of the ground floor in the corridor behind Alignment Studio, 25-55 Collins Street, Melbourne
2. Crown Melbourne, retail Metropol Precinct on Level 1, in the public amenities between the retail precinct and the food court, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
3. Federation Square, The Atrium, Swanston Street, Melbourne
4. Hamer Hall, Level 3 near South Lift Arts and Southbank Precincts, 100 St Kilda Road, Southbank
5. Melbourne Arena (formerly Hisense Arena), Facility beside the Information Desk, 2 Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne
6. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Gate 3, near National Sports Museum, Brunton Avenue, Richmond
7. Melbourne Zoo, Elliot Avenue, Parkville. Facility near Elliot Avenue Entrance. Open during Zoo operating hours
8. narrm ngarrgu Library and Family Services at 141 Therry Street Melbourne 
9. Rod Laver Arena, Level 2, Concourse between Doors 6 and 7, Batman Avenue, Melbourne
10. Royal Botanic Gardens, Royal Botanic Gardens Birdwood Ave, Melbourne, facility off Birdwood Avenue (opposite the Shrine), on the ground level just opposite the Visitor Centre and Caf
11. Royal Dental Hospital Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Carlton
12. RMIT University, Building 8, Level 4, 360 Swanston Street, Melbourne
13. RMIT University, Building 94, Level 3, 23-27 Cardigan Street, Carlton
14. RMIT University, Building 57, Level 2, 53 Lygon Street, Carlton

For more information, see Changing PlacesOpens in new tab.

Accessible Adult Change with Hoist

Free accessible toilets that include an adult change table with hoist are available at:

• Melbourne Town Hall, 120 Swanston Street
• Community Hub at The Dock, level one, 912 Collins Street, Docklands
• Travellers Aid at Flinders Street and Southern Cross Stations

Accessible public toilets

The National Public Toilet MapOpens in new tab an Australian Government project lists public toilets all around Australia.

You can locate accessible toilet facilities in the City of Melbourne by searching by location, or browsing the map to see facilities nearby.

City of Melbourne has more than 30 playgrounds, and many are accessible for children with a disability. Accessible playgrounds include Nature Play at Royal Park in Parkville and Carlton Gardens North Playground on Rathdowne Street in Carlton.

The ArtPlay Play ground at Birrarung Marr features a liberty swing for wheelchairs, quiet areas and accessible toilets. The Bayswater Road Reserve Playground in Kensington has rubber pathways designed especially for wheelchair access.

Check our playgrounds page for information on features of individual playgrounds across the municipality.

Keen on sport? We ve got you covered! There are more than 50 accessible sporting activities in inner Melbourne alone, and many of our recreation and leisure centres have accessible facilities.

Access for All Abilities (AAA)Opens in new tab Play connects people with disabilities to sporting activities. It includes more than 50 accessible sporting activities in inner Melbourne. From Cricket Victoria s All Abilities Cricket, Blind and Vision Impaired Tennis and Street Soccer Programs, there is something for everyone.

Disability Sport & RecreationOpens in new tab is another great resource, supporting Victorians living with disability to be active. It also runs kids sports programs and wheelchair rugby and AFL Wheelchair.

The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation FestivalOpens in new tab is held in early December each year and celebrates International Day of People with Disability.

At Blind Sports & Recreation VictoriaOpens in new tab you can browse a wide range of sport and recreation programs on offer for teenagers, children and adults. Sports include Australian Rules Football, aquatics and swimming, cricket, goalball, gymnastics, running, skiing, soccer, ten pin bowling and yoga.

If you re keen to get out on Victoria's waters, contact SailabilityOpens in new tab. Sailability is a program that offers an additional level of support and equipment to assist people of all abilities to get into sailing.

Another great option is Docklands Yacht ClubOpens in new tab. It runs inclusive community sailing activities, and introductory sailing programs and development of basic skills for people of all abilities.

Enjoy Boating? At Better Boating VictoriaOpens in new tab you can find accessible pontoons and fishing platforms. Just go to the website and select the icons to find out the latest boating and fishing all abilities access information.

City of Melbourne's Active Melbourne Directorycan also help you locate accessible facilities you can search the directory, or browse by sport or activity type.

Travellers AidOpens in new tab offers baby change facilities, family-friendly rest areas with bottle-warming facilities, stroller hire and other facilities.

You can find their services at Flinders Street Station and Southern Cross Station.