The 5 Best Toy Stores in Melbourne for Incredible & Unique Finds
Research from the National Library of Medicine shows that toys impact children’s psychological, emotional, and creative development. Playing with the right toys can act like brain scaffolding, helping kids navigate stress and spark creative problem-solving.
The problem is that most toy stores often sell items that actually limit brain engagement and do little for the child.
To help parents, we set out to find stores that bridge the massive gap between trending toys and high-quality ones. After weeks of research, we found the best toy stores in Melbourne.
Here are the stores we found that offer toys that can genuinely enrich your kid’s life!
1. Posho Toy Store
Address: 60 Abbotts Rd, Dandenong South VIC 3175, Australia
Contact Details: +61420405448
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Sunday – 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Posho Toy Store is more like a high-end car showroom than a toy shop in Melbourne. We were blown away by the scale of their electric ride-on vehicles for the little ones.
They specialize in mini versions of luxury cars like Lamborghinis and Bentleys. Each mini car even has working lights and leather seats.
What we love about their cars is that they come with parental remote controls. It’s a safety feature that allows parents to steer the car if their little driver gets a bit too out of hand.
Beyond the cars, they have a good selection of kids’ furniture and indoor play equipment, including slides and basketball hoops.
We also like that they offer free click-and-collect, which makes things very easy.
Just keep in mind that the cars, though called mini, can be large. We’ve heard so many parents sharing that they didn’t realize how much space the cars were going to take in their homes.
Fantastic and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable
“Posho Kids offers an excellent range of electric cars and ride-on vehicles for kids. The quality is fantastic and the staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to help you choose the right option. A great local business with products that kids absolutely love.”
– Katie Caridakis, Google Reviews
A very good variety of kids’ bikes and cars
“Its the very good place for the kids toys. You will get a very good variety of kids bikes and cars. I purchase a bike for my son and it works perfectly. I recommend my friends to visit their to have a look for the bikes for their child. Really impressed. Thankyou.”
– Kapil Shrestha, Google Reviews
2. Planet Pop World Melbourne Central
Address: Shop 5/440 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Contact Details:
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday, Sunday – 11 AM to 10 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 11 AM to 11 PM
Planet Pop World is the ultimate destination for those hunting for “blind boxes.” These are sealed packages whose contents inside are a total mystery until a person tears them open.
We think the thrill of the hunt is a huge draw here. People can find massive series from brands like Pop Mart or 52TOYS.
The shelves are also packed with characters like SKULLPANDA and the fuzzy Labubu that are currently taking over social media.
They’re not just about small figures too. We were impressed by the high-end plush dolls from series like Nommi and the designer bags that match the toy lines.
When we talked to regular shoppers, many recommended joining their membership. Shoppers earn 1 point per dollar spent and can trade 100 points for a $5 voucher.
However, the mystery of the blind box can sometimes be a letdown. It’s not just once that a customer bought multiple boxes and ended up with the same figure twice.
The staff were very friendly, and helped ALOT!!
“I bought a Nommi from here today!! The staff were very friendly, and helped ALOT!! And there was a lady helping us sign up to get discounts!! I am very happy with the service, highly recommend!! P.s i LOVE my Nommi!”
– Tan Jun How, Google Reviews
There are so many kinds of blind boxes and cute plush keychains
“This new store just opened and it’s absolutely amazing! The whole place is super clean and cozy, and there are so many kinds of blind boxes and cute plush keychains — heaven for people like me who love collecting them! 🧸💖 The staff are also super friendly and patient, which makes the shopping experience even better. Highly recommend checking it out — you’ll definitely leave with a smile (and maybe a few extra plushies”
– Xinyi, Google Reviews
3. Jasper Junior
Address: 269 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
Contact Details: +61394174139
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Friday – 10 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday – 9 AM to 6 PM
Jasper Junior is where parents go for high-end European brands like Grimm’s and Brio trains. When we visited, we found limited-edition Brio trains here at a good price.
They are also one of the rare places where people can find authentic, hand-painted Babushka dolls. The dolls we saw were all in mint condition, making them perfect for those collecting them.
We found the store a dream for imaginative play too. They have a wide range of puppets and marionettes, great if your kids love putting on home shows.
Our favorites, though, are the Little Gems dresses. These are high-quality fairy and princess outfits made in Australia. Their dress range is fantastic, with various designs and colors.
That said, these fairy dresses are popular among regulars. They often sell out of the most common sizes very quickly, so finding the perfect size for your daughter can be tricky.
Great selection of toys
“Beautiful and magical shop with a great selection of toys. The staff/owners(?) are always so lovely and helpful, and try their best to make suggestions for the right thing for the little person you’re buying for.”
– Joelle and Catherine, Google Reviews
Lots of interesting toys and games
“Great little shop. Lots of interesting toys and games. Something different and good quality. Worth visiting”
– Karen Thompson O’Brien, Google Reviews
4. Stranger Than Paradise Gifts
Address: 101 Errol St, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia
Contact Details: +61393281663
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 10 AM to 4 PM
- Saturday – 9 AM to 3 PM
Stranger Than Paradise Gifts caught our eye because it is run by a husband-and-wife team who personally quality-control every single item. Their passion for finding unique and educational items is very clear when people walk through the door.
We love that they focus on finding gifts and quirky items that are hard to find anywhere else. When we visited, we found some really good Djeco art kits that are much more beautiful than the standard LEGO store alternative in Melbourne.
The variety is truly electric. Parents might find a pentatonic xylophone next to a tiger money box or a ceramic animal light fixture.
We also love that they really lean into the whimsical side of life with things like teepee lamps and cheeky novelty socks. We think this is what makes this toy store one of the best places to find a gift for a hard-to-buy-for child.
But because the shop is so full of wonders, space is a bit tight. It can be a struggle to navigate through the aisles during a busy Saturday rush.
Filled to the brim with incredible toys
“Absolutely amazing shop filled to the brim with incredible toys, nicnacs and curios. Such a magical shop that gives you a lovely, warm hug. Thank you so much to the lovely ladies today who helped me in my time of need, you are angels. X the puzzle customer.”
– Michelle Everett, Google Reviews
Beautiful selection of toys
“We love this shop! Beautiful selection of toys that delight both children and their parents. There’s the whole range of prices: craft kits and small toys to gift casually to beautiful wooden toys for special occasions. We get all our birthday party gifts here, and are so thankful for the local delivery during the pandemic that kept my son busy for hours with puzzles, art projects, and educational games.”
– Leslie, Google Reviews
5. Spotty Dot
Address: South Melbourne Market, Shop 61, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
Contact Details: +61404350970
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday – 8 AM to 4 PM
- Friday – 8 AM to 5 PM
Spotty Dot caught our attention with its fantastic “try before you buy” setup. Their child-friendly environment is perfect for parents who want to see how their kid reacts to a toy before spending money.
One parent we interviewed said her son spent nearly twenty minutes playing with the NeeDoh squishy balls and silicone tools at the sample station.
They have been in the industry for 18 years, and it shows in their curated selection. We love that they focus heavily on early learning, which matters since most of a child’s brain develops by age five.
Parents will find brands here, such as Connetix magnetic tiles and the very popular Tomy screen-free audio players. They also stock high-quality wooden toys from Speedy Monkey.
Parents looking for items for their newborn will find a wide range of BIBS pacifiers and Nana Huchy plushies. They even stock Micro Scooters for the older kids who need to burn off energy.
However, the market location has its limits. Some shoppers told us they were frustrated to find the store closed on a Monday because they forgot it only opens on market days.
Plenty of demo toys
“We visited this shop today and were so impressed with the range of toys and gifts on offer. The owner of the store was so knowledgeable about all the products. There were also plenty of demo toys on display so you could see each product before buying. We’ll definitely be back, such a great store!”
– Sophie Coote, Google Reviews
Wide variety of different kinds of toys and crafts
“An absolutely delightful store for young children. A wide variety of different kinds of toys and crafts. The quality of the toys is just beautiful and I believe it’s going last us a lifetime. It’s a gem of a find!”
– Thripthi Salian,Google Reviews