With summer fast approaching (we've waited long enough) now is the time to get back outdoors and enjoy the best that Melbourne (and Victoria) has to offer! There are hundreds of activities to keep you busy all throughout the summer, from outdoor trails and sightseeing to sporting events and tourist hotspots. Check out our pick of the top 5 activities suitable for people using mobility equipment or a wheelchair this Summer in and around Melbourne.
1. Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo
Visiting the Zoo provides a classic day of fun for everyone - both young and old. Both the Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo offer great accessible options for exploring.
Melbourne Zoo
Following the wheelchair-friendly path around Melbourne Zoo, you can see and learn about a wide range of animals from around the world, including lions, elephants, gorillas, kangaroos and more.
Accessibility
Wheelchair-friendly paths.
Free entry for carers accompanying a person with a disability (Child Disability Allowance Health Care Card, a Disability Pension Card or a Companion Card).
Accessible parking bays at the main entrance.
Wheelchair hire is available.
Accessible toilets at 5 locations around the zoo.
A Changing Places facility.
Details
Elliott Avenue
Parkville, Victoria 3052
Open 9am-5pm daily
Werribee Open Range Zoo
The Werribee Open Range Zoo offers a range of unique experiences such as the African Safari experience which can be enjoyed on a wheelchair-accessible safari bus. Each bus can hold 1-2 wheelchairs, which offer prime viewing position at the front of the bus!
Accessibility
Wheelchair-friendly paths.
Free entry for carers accompanying a person with a disability (Child Disability Allowance Health Care Card, a Disability Pension Card or a Companion Card).
Accessible parking bays at the main entrance.
Wheelchair hire is available.
Accessible toilets at 3 locations around the zoo.
A Changing Places facility.
Details
K Road
Werribee, Victoria 3030
Open 9am-5pm daily (last entry 3:30pm)
2. Penguin Parade at Phillip Island
A must-visit attraction just 90 minutes drive from Melbourne, Phillip Island is home to the largest little penguin colony in the world. Every night, visitors can watch the famous Penguin Parade from special viewing platforms and boardwalks as the penguins waddle home from the ocean, back to their burrows. The attraction offers exclusive wheelchair access viewing areas in General Viewing, Penguins Plus and Underground Viewing.
Accessibility
Wide pathways for wheelchairs.
Free entry for companion card holders.
Accessible parking bays.
Ramp access through the visitor centre and along the boardwalks.
A complimentary buggy service if transport to the beach is required.
A complimentary wheelchair for use inside the visitor centre.
Interpretive displays at wheelchair eye height.
An accessible-height ticketing counter.
A Changing Places facility.
Details
1019 Ventnor Rd
Summerlands, Victoria 3922
3. Hot Air Balloon Ride with Global Ballooning
Global Ballooning Australia launched Australia's first 'Easy Access Basket' for hot air balloon rides in 2012. The basket allows passengers with unique mobility requirements to experience a hot air balloon flight by incorporating a door to enter and exit the basket with ease (rather than having to climb over the basket) as well as customised seating, a harness and a grab handle. Flights can be enjoyed over Melbourne and the Yarra Valley (subject to availability). Passengers will need to transfer from their wheelchair into the seat and be accompanied by a carer or companion.
Accessibility and Details
For more information, visit the Global Ballooning Website.
4. Australian Open
Catch the biggest names in Tennis at the Australian Open in January every year. A highlight of Melbourne's sporting and cultural calendar, Rod Laver Arena and other main courts feature accessible seating (must be booked in advance) which can be accessed via ramps and lifts throughout the Melbourne Park precinct.
Accessibility and Details
Wheelchair accessible seating bays in all main courts. These bays have wheelchair space with a spare seat alongside for a friend, companion or relative.
Accessible toilets.
Changing Places facilities are available in John Cain Arena and Rod Laver Arena.
For more information on accessibility, visit the Rod Laver Arena website.
5. Eureka Tower and Skydeck
As the Southern Hemisphere's tallest viewing deck, the Eureka Skydeck offers the best panoramic views over Melbourne's CBD and beyond. Standing 88 floors high, the Skydeck and it's experiences are a great option for an overly hot or much cooler summer's day.
Accessibility
The Melbourne Skydeck and experiences including VR Voyager theatre, Edge Experience and VR Plank are all wheelchair accessible.
Parking is available underground below the tower.
Details
Riverside Quay
Southbank, Melbourne 3006
We hope you have enjoyed our top tips for wheelchair-friendly activities in Melbourne this summer! To learn more about our in-home care services and disability support, Contact Us today.
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