Fairy Park, Anakie

Fairy Park is a small fairytale theme park on a hill at Anakie, about 33 km north-west of central Geelong. It has been open since 1959, and the park calls itself Australia’s very first themed attraction. Paved paths climb the hill past more than 22 animated storybook scenes, with playgrounds, model trains and a lookout along the way. Tickets are $28 for ages 14 and up and $16 for ages 3 to 13, paid at the gate.

The park recommends two to three hours, or 90 minutes if you’re short on time.

Tickets and opening days

Fairy Park keeps things old-fashioned. There are no e-tickets and no online booking. You drive up, pay from the car at the entry and park for free.

Ticket	Price
Ages 14 to adult	$28
Ages 3 to 13	$16
Ages 2 and under	Free
Family pass, concession, discounts	Not offered

Checked October 2026 on the park’s admission page. Cash and credit cards are accepted, and the park advises bringing cash because the card machines sometimes fail.

The park only opens on selected days. In October 2026 that meant every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Melbourne Cup Monday and Tuesday (2 and 3 November). After the Cup weekend it closes until the Christmas school holidays begin. On open days:

• entry from 10 am, last entry 3 pm;
• gates close at 4:30 pm.

The park’s home page still says 10 am to 4 pm in one banner. Go by the 3 pm last entry on the open days page, and check the calendar at fairypark.com before every visit.

What’s inside

Fairytale Land is the main attraction. The park says it has “over 22 animated hand-crafted scenes” that come to life at the push of a button. Stories include Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Pinocchio, Aladdin, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, the Frog Prince, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Goldilocks.

The scenes climb the hill, so the walk is part of the visit. Near the top, Summit Views looks out over the countryside. Wikipedia names this point Elephant Rock, at the top of Mt Anakie, with 360-degree views.

Also on the park’s list:

• Camelot Adventure Playground;
• Model Trains, a model railway display;
• Castle Kids;
• Mystic Hallows.

There’s a kiosk with ice creams and coffee, a food outlet called the Hungry Knight Eatery, and picnic grounds.

A short history

Wikipedia says Fairy Park opened in December 1959. It credits the idea to Peter Mayer, a German immigrant, and says his family built many of the original displays by hand before buying the land. The family still runs it. The park turned 50 in 2009.

That makes it older than most of the parents who bring their kids.

Getting there from Geelong

Fairy Park is at 2388 Ballan Road, Anakie. From central Geelong it’s about 33 km by road and 40 minutes, heading north-west on the Ballan Road. From Melbourne it’s about 83 km, about an hour and a half.

There’s no useful public transport to the gate. Drive, or come as part of a group booking. Parking is free, buses included.

Tips for the visit

• Bring lunch on a Friday. The park’s FAQ says food is available on weekends and public or school holidays, but on regular Fridays you should bring your own.
• Wear walking shoes. The paths are paved, but the hill is steep in places.
• Prams are fine, wheelchairs are not. The paths have no steps, but the park says it isn’t suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters because of the gradient.
• Dogs are allowed on a lead. They can’t go into the playground or food areas.
• Hats and sunscreen in summer. The park mentions them in its own advice.

Groups, birthdays and accessibility

The park takes birthday parties, groups and school excursions, each with its own page on fairypark.com. Pre-booked and pre-paid special needs groups of at least ten people may get discounted prices.

Accessibility is the main limit. The car park, picnic grounds, playground, kiosk and food outlet sit on similar levels and can be managed, but Fairytale Land itself climbs the hill. If someone in your group uses a wheelchair or scooter, call the park before you go, because its own advice is that the park isn’t suitable for them.

The park sums up its audience as “the young and the young at heart”.

Combine it with the You Yangs

Fairy Park is about 45 minutes’ drive from the You Yangs and right next to the Brisbane Ranges, so it’s easy to make a full day of the area.

From Fairy Park to	Distance	Drive
You Yangs Regional Park	About 36 km	About 45 minutes
Serendip Sanctuary, Lara	About 28 km	About 35 minutes
Anakie Gorge, Brisbane Ranges	About 4 km in a straight line	Close by, not routed
Central Geelong	About 33 km	About 40 minutes

Drive times are OpenStreetMap routing estimates without traffic.

A good order for families: Fairy Park from 10 am, lunch on the picnic grounds, then the short walk to Big Rock in the You Yangs, or Serendip Sanctuary for kangaroos and emus before it closes at 4 pm. For older kids with energy left, Anakie Gorge in the Brisbane Ranges is close by, and Parks Victoria calls its walk an easy family walk. Dogs are not allowed in the national park.

More ideas for a day out with children are in Geelong with kids. If your children are older and it’s summer, Adventure Park Geelong on the other side of the city is the bigger thrill.

Fairy Park is a private, family-run business. This guide is independent and is not connected to it.