thanks to everyone for your great ideas!!!!

x cheryl

My 6 yo loves the children's garden at the royal botanic gardens - can keep her amused for hours and it's great for a picnic too. Plus the museums are good and pretty cheap (free for kids and (I think) only about $6 for adults. Melbourne museum has a great children's section and the dinosaurs and bugs there are always a hit!.

Hi
Choose a different park in your area and have a picnic
Each park has its different swings and activities
Look in your local paper and see what's on
I know Brisbane has something on in most of its parks each day of the school holidays and most are free. 
The local library often has story time for the littlies
They also often do crafts
Look on the internet for craft and fun ideas.
There are a lot of sites that have pages that you can download and print
for colouring in
Let them go through their no longer used toys and other nick nacks and unwanted goods in your home and have a little garage sale at home
They can make up some signs and put them at the ends of your street
If they make any money then you can go somewhere special.
Have a lemonade stand at the same time
Just a few ideas
Luv Deb

i am not from melbourne but parks, beach and bike rides are good. if you wnat to stay at home what about turning on the sprinkler, or even set up painting, or colouring in. even cooking cakes or those rice crisps kids always like that. playdo is also a fun activity, lego. hope this gives you a few ideas. good luck!! Brittxx

kids never get tired of going to the park.  I used to take my son when he was little, just to get out of the house.  We'd go in the morning after we did the house work and stayed a couple of hours.  By the time we got home it was lunch time and nap time.  Before I knew it, it was late afternoon, time for sesame street then dinner.

Just a couple of random ideas:

• Take them to see the fountains and lights outside the casino.  Fascinating stuff and doesn't cost to see.
• Walk along the Yarra and look at the boats.
• Take a drive down to the beach.
• Take them to a cafe and let them be "big kids".

Depends how much of a novelty the city is *grin*
for my little darlings (from the country)
ride a tram
the myer window
walk along southbank
st kilda beach and the sunday market
a train ride - take your bikes with you and cycle along the yarra

I cant think of anything else right now- but i will add if i do! I know all the major attractions like the zoo and the aquarium are very dear, even going up the rialto is a bit pricey. Its a long time since ive lived int he city