Mother’s Day in Melbourne: Dining options and things to do

Fluffy pancakes oozing maple syrup. Is there any better way to start Mother’s Day than by gulping down pancakes at The Pancake Parlour?

• Inclusions: Choice of bacon, eggs and pancakes or regular three-stack of pancakes
• Location: Multiple locations across Melbourne
• Cost: From $19.90 each

For those in pursuit of something savoury for Mother’s Day breakfast, look no further than Fitzroy Coffee and Kebab House.

Head to Coventry’s Pantry in Southbank to start mum's day the right way. Enjoy the chilli scramble or buttermilk pancakes while sipping on tea or coffee.

• Inclusions: Breakfast item each and choice each of tea or coffee
• Location: 35 Coventry St, Southbank
• Cost: $29 for two people

If mum has a hankering for Chinese food, then look no further than Lucky 88 Kitchen.

• Inclusions: Chinese banquet for two and a can of Coca Cola each
• Location: Unit 6/5 Bush Blvd, Mill Park
• Cost: $38 for two people

If you and Mum are game for some spice in your life on Mother’s Day, pop in to Spice Nation to bring home a three-course feast.

• Inclusions: Entree to share,curry of your choice, rice to share and dessert to share
• Location: 17 Burwood Highway, Burwood
• Cost: $39 for two people

If mum's a seafood lover, the Meat and Wine Co. in Southbank has Mother’s Day lunch sorted.

• Inclusions: Two-course seafood menu for two and a bottle of house selected wine
• Location: Freshwater Place Queensbridge Square, 3 Queens Bridge St, Southbank
• Cost: $165 for two people

Show mum how much you love her by taking her for a Southeast Asian banquet at Rice Paper Scissors, fill up on tasty helpings of things like dumplings and sip back cocktails.

• Inclusions: Five-course banquet, dessert to share and a cocktail each
• Location: 15 Hardware Ln, Melbourne
• Cost: $133 for two people

Tasty tapas are just the start at Pier 35 Bar and Grill where the menu is sure to delight mum's taste buds.

• Inclusions: Tapas to share, main meal, dessert and glass of wine each
• Location: 263–329 Lorimer St, Port Melbourne
• Cost: $75 for two people

Mum has worked hard for your family. Sometimes it’s nice to go the extra mile and show her how much you appreciate her (and dad to). For an amazing Mother’s Day gift, give them the experience of dining in the middle of the Yarra River.

For an exciting twist on Thai cuisine, the offering from The Piano Thai Restaurant and Bar is too good to pass up. Mum will love the range of flavours and the fact that the dishes keep on coming.

• Inclusions: Four entrees to share, three mains to share, two sides of Thai jasmine rice and a glass of wine each
• Location: 18-20 Bridge Rd, Richmond
• Cost: $98 for two people

Impress the family with your culinary skills and prepare a homemade Italian meal from scratch. As an added touch, the kit comes delivered as a gift, which makes for the perfect surprise.

Calories don't count when celebrating and there's no better way to go all out than digging into a dish of paella that can be prepared in the comfort of your home.

Get creative in the kitchen with this kit that can make ice cream, sorbet and low-fat yoghurt.

Add a touch of class and a tons of fun to Mother’s Day. For a truly modern high tea head to the National Gallery of Victoria.

• Inclusions: Three-tier high tea, glass of sparkling wine and tea each
• Location: 180 St Kilda Rd, Southbank
• Cost: $150 for two people

Bring a bit of magic to high tea on Mother’s Day by taking mum out to dine with Magic Charters in Victoria Harbour.

• Inclusions: Two-hour cruise, canapés, finger sandwiches, desserts and scones, tea and coffee, free flowing sparkling wine
• Location: 55 Victoria Harbour Promenade, Docklands
• Cost: $158 for two people

Saddle up and ride along the beach in this two-hour beginner-friendly horse riding experience.

• Inclusions: Two-hours of horse riding along the Mornington Peninsula
• Location: Cnr Truemans Rd & Sandy Rd, Fingal
• Cost: $245 per person

Get to know Melbourne from the waters of the Yarra river. Travel at your own pace in this self-guided kayak experience.

• Inclusions: One double kayak plus paddle, life jackets, dry bag and map
• Location: 2 Turner St, Abbotsford
• Cost: $150 for two people

Get mum away from the busyness of life and check her into the Hotel Windsor for an overnight stay and breakfast.

• Inclusions: One-night stay in a superior room at The Hotel Windsor, breakfast, wireless Internet and luxury bath products
• Location: 111 Spring St, Melbourne
• Cost: $349 for two people

For something the whole family can enjoy, check out Melbourne Boat Hire. With a boat that seats 10 and is equipped with a fridge and esky, you’re all set for a great picnic on the Yarra this Mother’s Day. No boat licence is required.

• Inclusions: Two-hours of cruise time, electric boat with two tables, fridge, esky under seat, stereo with 3.55mm AV jack and USB charging port for phones
• Location: 45 Newquay Promenade, Docklands
• Cost: $299

For the mum who moonlights as a sommelier head out to Greenstones Vineyard to sample some of the fine wines on offer at their cellar door.

• Inclusions: Wine tasting flight each, cheese board to share, glass of wine each and 10% off any purchase from the cellar door
• Location: 179 Glenview Rd, Yarra Glen
• Cost: $29 for two people

Take mum out for a day at the Melbourne Sea Life Aquarium to see sharks, stingrays and more up close.

• Inclusions: Entry to Melbourne Aquarium and all on-site presentations
• Location: King St, Melbourne
• Cost: $46 each

All aboard. End Mother’s Day with a dinner cruise on the Yarra. Take in the sites while enjoying four courses of fine food on the Spirit of Melbourne.

• Inclusions: Three-hour cruise on the Yarra River, four-course dinner, soft drinks and alcohol
• Location: Southbank Promenade, Southbank
• Cost: $145 per person

Surprise mum with a special afternoon or evening at Selona learning to make three of your favourite cocktails and enjoy some food along the way.

• Inclusions: 90 minute cocktail making class and assorted meze
• Location: 260A Swan St, Richmond
• Cost: $160 for two people

Treat mum to an hour of relaxation at Elevation Floatation and Yoga this Mother’s Day. She’ll love the way all her worries simply float away.

• Inclusions: 60-minute floatation session in a private room, towels, earplugs, shampoo, conditioner and hair dryers
• Location: 167 Camberwell Rd, Hawthorn
• Cost: $50 per person

Mum’s in for a treat if she’s always wanted to see the Great Ocean Road. She’ll see the Twelve Apostles and other iconic attractions on this all-day reverse tour.

• Inclusions: National Park fees, live commentary, air-conditioned minivan, pick-up and drop-off from meeting points, bottled water, face masks and sanitiser
• Location: 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne
• Cost: $99 per person

Think mum needs some space? Give her 15,000ft in the air in an experience she won’t forget.

• Inclusions: 15,000ft tandem skydive over St Kilda, personalised certificate of achievement and Australian Parachute Federation three-month membership
• Location: Skydive Melbourne, 42A Marine Parade, St Kilda
• Cost: $399 per person

This Mother’s Day stare down the tigers, lions and meerkats… and over 320 other species that call Melbourne Zoo their home.

• Inclusions: Admission to the Melbourne Zoo.
• Location: Elliott Ave, Parkville
• Cost: $40 per person

Mum will be delighted with this experience that can only be described as magical. Starting the day with a hot-air balloon ride and ending it with a sparkling wine lunch, you’ll be a shoe in for child of the year.

• Inclusions: Sunrise hot-air balloon flight, sparkling wine breakfast, all-inclusive tour of four Yarra Valley wineries, lunch with sparkling wine, pick-up and drop-off from Melbourne city hotels
• Location: Departs from your hotel in the Melbourne CBD
• Cost: $580 per person