Melbourne: Where to stay & play on a holiday for a young family?

Hi lovelies!

As the title suggests I am looking for advice on where is best to stay in Melbourne for a young family - DH & I have been a couple of times before and always stayed in the city as we went there to party really but now we have our little plus 1, the trips will be a bit different ;)

So where is a SAFE family friendly area for us to stay (the kind that we could maybe walk to dinner at night or something without any hassle) and what would you recommend we see and do while there?? We're heading down in 4 weeks time so DS will be 10 months old and all we really have on our to do list so far is go to the Zoo and maybe go on a Yarra Cruise... Not sure what else? We'll be there for about 3-4 days, I am Bridesmaid at my Besties wedding at the Mornington Peninsula so that will take up 2 nights but after that we want to make a little holiday out of it so will have 2 days free... We will have either a hire car or our own car so can get around, just not sure where to stay or what to do??

I thought some Melbournians may be abe to point me in the right direction??

Thanks in advance! xox

No one has any ideas at all??

East melb, yarraville, port Melbourne, South melb, northcote,

Hi there not sure on accomodation as not stayed in city with kids (apart from park hyatt with newborns).

Travelodge at southbank always appears to have familes staying there and its central to restaurants and easy walks.

As for where to go:

Aquarium
Zoo
Werribee open range zoo
Collingwood childrens farm
Melbourne museum
Wander Queen Vic market
Fed square has different dislays on

Southbank for sure! I'm from Vic originally and we went back to Melb in April with DD and my parents and we stayed at The Mantra Apartments, Southbank. Brilliant location, great size and well furnished apartments and our rates were fabulous. Easy walk to all the restaurants along the Yarra on Southbank and the Casino so cheap meals - restaurants and food courts. Lots of buskers along there too, day and night, so entertaining for all. Very family friendly area. Train station close by if you want to travel elsewhere (highly recommend the zoo) and The Aquarium, The Eureka Tower and Federation Square are all within walking distance. The have a nice market under the bridge (which takes you to Fed Sq) on Sundays too. A quick tram trip or taxi ride and you're in Bourke St Mall too :)