Hi to all. Heading to Melbourne, VIctoria for a week in March with my wife and 2 kids (8 and 6). Thanks to the Fodors message board, have come up with plans already.

Some options I'd like to get some opinions on :

1. Healesville Sanctuary or Sovereign Hill at Ballarat ?

I'm inclined to choosing Sovereign Hill -- experiencing an outdoor museum and "going back in time" will be a unique experience for the family. My kids have had their fill of zoos outside Australia and inside Australia.

If that's the case, is it worth it staying until the lights show at night (which means I'll need to rent a car) ?

By the way, both seem quite a way off from Melbourne , taking more than 1 hour one way if we take public transporation. Am I right ?

2. Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks Museum

I'm torn between these 2 . I think the kids (and the parents) will appreciate and enjoy both. Each seem to be special enough with their own distictive exhibits to make a visit worth while. I'm inclined towards Melbourne Museum just because it's very near the city and thus, more convenient for visiting.

Thanks!

Eric

If your kids have had a chance to see kangaroos/koals etc before I would go for Ballarat as it would probably be something quite different to what they have experienced before. Sovereign Hill is very well set up and there are a ton of activities that the kids can actually take part in as compared to walking around and watching the animals.

The sound and light show at night is very good. However, given the ages of your children I suggest you give it a miss. If they have spent the whole day doing things at Sovereign Hill I would think they would just be too tired to appreciate the show in the evening (especially considering the extra cost involved).

As to Melbourne Museum or Scienceworks it probably comes down to which exhibits you think would interest your children more. However, look at this site http://www.williamstownferries.com.au/. Catching a ferry across to Scienceworks could be a lot of fun and something they may well enjoy. You could actually take the ferry across to Williamstown first, have an early lunch/brunch there in the many cafes and then continue on to Scienceworks afterwards.

The gold museum at Ballarat is also worth visiting - it's across the car park from Sovereign Hill. You can easily fill in a day at Sovereign Hill. Can you afford the time to stay overnight and have a look at the Eureka museum or wander through the park around Lake Wendouree the next day.

Having taken grandchildren to both the Melbourne museum and Scienceworks, my choice would be Scienceworks, particularly if you take the ferry from the city.

Thanks to alL!!!

Sovereign Hill is it. And finding out more about the ferry to Scienceworks now!

While you're in Ballarat, spend an hour at the Wildlife Park. Your kids will love the free range roos there and the staff are very informative.
I agree with previous posters that your kids will probably be worn out from a day at Sov Hill but if you decide to stay the night you could go back to your accommodation for a rest and then catch 'Blood on the Southern Cross' after dinner.You would have to rent a car to do that but I'd be inclined to rent a car anyway rather than add the train ride to your day. The drive from Melb to Ballarat is an easy one.
If you do decide to overnight it, the Welcome Stranger caravan park is an excellent option with kids. It has a great jumping castle & mini golf.