Australia A Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience is coming to

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
hero media
Harry Potter fans rejoice! A brand-new experience taking fans through the magical Forbidden Forest is about to hit Australian shores.

In an Australian-first, Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is coming to Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula in April, following hugely successful runs in Belgium, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Flying car at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is coming to Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula in April. (Image: Warner Bros)

Visitors will get to explore the iconic Forbidden Forest from the Harry Potter series as they pass by mystical creatures like Hippogriffs, unicorns and Nifflers from the beloved Wizarding World.

An experience for the whole family, visitors will follow a mesmerising light trail through the forest and be able to cast their own spells and Patronus’ along the way. A themed village will end the experience, complete with Harry Potter-inspired food and drinks and a gift shop.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience light trail
Visitors will follow a mesmerising light trail through the forest. (Image: Warner Bros)

The enchanting outdoor spectacular will open on 6 April and will now be held at The Briars Community Forest on the Mornington Peninsula. Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting at $41 for children and $56 for adults.

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience will take roughly 60 to 90 minutes to complete with sessions starting at 5.30pm and the last entry at 9.45pm Sunday to Thursday and 10.15pm on Friday and Saturday. Please note this is an outdoor trail, conducted during dark hours.

Casting spells at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Cast your own spells along the way. (Image: Warner Bros)

The arrival of Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience on the Mornington Peninsula is the latest drop of magic from the beloved franchise to come to Australia, following the four-year-spell of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Princess Theatre.

If you can’t wait until April, Sydney fans can immerse themselves in Harry Potter Christmas Lights at 30 Alfred Street, Ramsgate Beach until 26 December.

Deer Patronus at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Learn how to cast a Patronus. (Image: Warner Bros)

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience is created by Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment in partnership with Fever, Thinkwell and Unify. Currently on in Little Elm, Texas until 13 January 2024, the experience will begin in Sentosa, Singapore on 3 February 2024 before coming to Victoria.

Buckbeak at Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Pass by mystical creatures like Hippogriffs, unicorns and Nifflers from the beloved Wizarding World. (Image: Warner Bros)
Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
View profile and articles
hikers walking to Fort Nepean tunnels mornington peninsula
Mornington Peninsula

This abandoned coastal fort in Vic finally unlocked its underground tunnels

Visitors can now explore historic underground tunnels on the Mornington Peninsula.

Read more
Crittenden restaurant mornington peninsula
Mornington Peninsula

7 reasons to book a long weekend on the Mornington Peninsula

A place of spectacular coastlines and rolling vineyards, the Mornington Peninsula is just an hour from Melbourne, yet feels like a world away.  

Read more
Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula

This is Mornington Peninsula’s most indulgent itinerary

The Mornington Peninsula blends vineyards, galleries, golf and delicious finds for an unforgettable getaway that indulges all penchants. 

Read more
interior of Peninsula Hot Springs Glamping
Mornington Peninsula

This Mornington Peninsula glamping stay is an all-round wellness experience

A weekend of glamping at Peninsula Hot Springs turned out to be the perfect way to bond with loved ones.

Read more
hero media

Mornington Peninsula’s storied past: war, shipwrecks and a runaway convict 

    Kellie Floyd Kellie Floyd
    Continue
    The Mornington Peninsula is a coastline of contrasts, where convict and military history meets shipwrecks, wild seas and adventures above and below the surface.

    The Mornington Peninsula can be the kind of place where salt-tangled hair feels like a badge of honour – proof you’ve been somewhere wild, raw and real. Peel back the layers and you’ll discover stories that anchor this region to something other than its famed food and wine.

    This land is the traditional Sea Country of the Bunurong/Boon Wurrung people. Long before grapevines were planted and artisanal goods were crafted, the Bunurong Traditional Owners lived in deep connection with the land and sea. Today, places such as Mushroom Reef Marine Sanctuary echo that tradition, with families exploring its rockpools in search of colourful sea stars and crabs at low tide and learning how these fragile ecosystems have been cared for across countless generations.

    a group of people visiting the Port Nepean National Park
    Take in the rugged coastal landscape at Port Nepean National Park. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    A visit to Point Nepean National Park feels like stepping back through time. The fort, built in 1882, protected the narrow entrance to Port Phillip Bay until the end of the Second World War. It was here that the first Allied shot of the First World War was fired – at a German cargo ship trying to escape just hours after war was declared. Nearby, the old Quarantine Station, one of Australia’s first permanent quarantine facilities, established in 1852, still stands. Walking through the hospital and disinfecting complex evokes stories of those who arrived from faraway shores.

    Not far from here is a story of survival that inspired the Aussie phrase ‘you’ve got Buckley’s chance’. In 1803, escaped convict William Buckley vanished into the bush near what’s now Sorrento. Everyone thought he had no hope of surviving, but he reappeared 32 years later, having lived with local Aboriginal people.

    Even the waters here hold history. The infamous stretch known as The Rip, just three kilometres wide at the entrance of Port Phillip Bay, is among the most treacherous waterways. Countless ships were lost here in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and in 1967, Australia’s own Prime Minister Harold Holt disappeared while swimming off the coast, never to be found.

    a seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay
    A seal swimming in Port Phillip Bay. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    But for all its danger, the sea here also holds extraordinary beauty. Dolphins are often seen near Sorrento’s cliffs, while below the surface, seagrass meadows and rocky reefs teem with life. Marine tours offer a viewing to this underwater wonderland, while back on terra firma, walking trails lead along beaches, through coastal scrub, and over rock pools.

    And if you think you’ll forget about the Mornington Peninsula once you’ve left? You’ve got Buckley’s chance.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    the suite interior at InterContinental Sorrento
    Luxury interiors at the historic InterContinental Sorrento. (Image: Greg Elms)

    Point Nepean Discovery Tents is immersive glamping beside the historic Quarantine Station. Or upgrade to luxury at the 1875-built InterContinental Sorrento.

    Playing there

    an aerial view of Cape Schanck Lighthouse
    Make your way to the Cape Schanck Lighthouse. (Image: Tourism Australia/Two Palms/Harry Pope)

    Bayplay Adventure Tours offer eco-adventures from snorkelling with sea dragons to kayaking with dolphins and cycling Point Nepean. Cape Schanck Lighthouse is fascinating to explore on a guided tour, which takes you into the lighthouse and keeper’s cottage.

    Eating there

    Portsea Hotel is a beautifully restored 1876 Tudor-style pub right on the beach, serving seasonal local fare.