Mummy & Me Girlie Days in Melbourne - Pt 1

By Angelina

A school holiday favourite is what my exuberant 7-year-old daughter calls our 'Girls' Melbourne Day Out'. It starts with a tram ride into the Arts Centre Precinct on St Kilda Road and takes in a combination of things to suit Mum and things to suit, 'Me' - better known as Imogen.

Part 1 - the National Gallery of Victoria

Before Imogen could walk, I would regularly lug her pram (and her) onto the tram and into the Arts Centre Precinct. Our all time number one favourite place to go was, and still is, the National Gallery of Victoria (International) on St Kilda Road.  (Although I could count on one hand (maybe less) the number of times we've actually been through the galleries themselves or seen an exhibition together).

The highlight of our trip is the Great Hall. This vast, usually-empty space is a child's indoor paradise for rolling, learning somersaults or now - as she's a little older - careening cartwheels. The security guards are usually very kid-friendly and tolerant as long as children (and their parents) maintain a modicum of reverence for the fact that it is a public gallery. The very best thing to do is to lie down: lie on your back, on the ground and look up at the incredible Leonard French stained glass canopy.

Depending on the time of day, the light and the season, the colours and shapes tells stories that can be rural, urban, mythical, biblical and most definitely magical! We've counted circles, hearts, triangles, squares, rectangles, diamonds, crosses. We've noted colours and shades of colours. We've spotted snakes, teddy bears, koala faces, the sun, the moon and we've imagined that we are lying under ancient trees with unicorns, fairies and goblins. We've shared this activity with many visitors of varying ages - teenage god children, aunties, grandparents - and there's something really very special about lying on the ground in an indoor public space and just 'taking it in'.


A few more cartwheels and we're out into the sculpture garden which, (hallelujah), includes a terrific climbing frame for kids! Some more energy expended and we are all in need of a well-deserved tea break in the elegant Team Room. This is a lovely 'Ladies-go-Tea' experience with mock-Morris decor, proper tea pots, lovely cakes and nice little hot chocolates for little princesses, (and princes).

The conclusion of our NGV leg of the Girls' Day Out is always a wet one: passing through the gift shop, ("No, you can not have 'just another little toy' ..."), and out via the famous Water Windows. Despite there always being a security guard on duty at the windows, there are children (big and small!), with their hands up against the cascade to test if it really is wet! (Yes, it's water!). My little angel is no exception and it's taken a few years, but I've just learnt just to roll up her sleeves and go with it.

P.S. it's only on recent visits that we've actually noticed the fantastic Kids' Space that's full of exhibits, little adventure trails and all kinds of 'touch and try ' activities for curious little people. This has added an extra hour (or more!) to our usual ninety minute NGV stop.

Next 'Mummy & Me Girlie Days Out': Melbourne's Eiffel Tower