Childcare & Funded Kinder · Ferntree Gully VIC
A friendly, family-run centre where kids feel right at home.
Small, family-owned childcare and funded kindergarten in Ferntree Gully for over 17 years. With familiar educators who know your child by name, Victorian Free Kinder for 3 and 4-year-olds, healthy home-style meals cooked fresh daily, and Child Care Subsidy (CCS) savings right opposite Fairpark Reserve.
- Hours
- 6:30am–6:30pm
- Free Kinder
- Kindergarten Tick
- Quality Rating
- Meeting NQS
Victorian Funded KinderOfficial Kindergarten Tick
Family Owned 17+ YearsSmall, homely rooms
CCS Approved ServiceUp to 90% fee relief
Meeting National Quality StandardACECQA Accredited
Start with a warm visit
Come feel the difference a small centre makes.
Tour our light-filled rooms, explore our nature playground opposite Fairpark Reserve, and meet our long-standing educators. No pressure, no obligations—just a friendly chat about your child.
Loved by local families across Ferntree Gully, Boronia, and Knoxfield.
We explain your exact fee offset under Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life reform.
Delicious breakfast, morning tea, hot lunch, and snacks cooked fresh on site.
Book Your Tour in 60 Seconds
Select your child's age group and days to check current availability.
Room to learn, play and belong
Growing together, from 3 months to school.
Victorian Government Best Start, Best Life
Save thousands with Free Kinder in a long day care setting.
Did you know you don’t have to enrol in a council sessional kindergarten with short school hours to receive government funding? At Magic Garden, our approved Kindergarten program is led by a university-qualified Early Childhood Teacher and operates 6:30am–6:30pm with all meals included. The Victorian Free Kinder funding is passed directly on to you as a fee credit!
Right here inFerntree Gully
The Magic Garden difference
Care that feels like an extension of home.
Familiar, long-standing educators
No constant stranger turnover. Our experienced educators stay with us for years, giving your child the consistency and familiar faces they need to feel safe and happy.
Learning through play and curiosity
Children learn best when they are having fun. We follow what catches your child’s interest—painting, building, climbing outside, or sensory games—and help them build confidence and skills naturally.
Direct communication & warm partnership
We are small enough that you speak directly with your child’s educators every morning and afternoon. We share observations, celebrate milestones, and work together.
Transparent Daily Fees
Simple, all-inclusive fees for local families.
No surprise levies. All chef-cooked meals, snacks, nappies, sunscreen, incursions, and our Bachelor-led funded kindergarten program are fully included. With Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Victorian Free Kinder, most families pay only a fraction of the daily fee.
10-Hour Session
7:30am – 5:30pm · Monday to Friday- ✓ All fresh meals: breakfast, morning tea, hot lunch & afternoon tea
- ✓ Eligible for Australian Child Care Subsidy (CCS) up to 90% fee relief
- ✓ Direct Victorian Free Kinder fee relief credit for 3 & 4-year-olds
- ✓ Sunscreen, nappies, learning materials & direct educator feedback
- ✓ Ideal for regular standard working hours
12-Hour Session
6:30am – 6:30pm · Monday to Friday- ✓ Full centre opening hours with total drop-off and pick-up flexibility
- ✓ All fresh meals: early breakfast through late afternoon snack
- ✓ Eligible for Australian Child Care Subsidy (CCS) up to 90% fee relief
- ✓ Direct Victorian Free Kinder fee relief credit for 3 & 4-year-olds
- ✓ Led by Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher
- ✓ Sunscreen, nappies, incursions, bedding & educational resources
The rates above are standard daily rates before government contributions. Most Australian families receive between 50% and 90% Child Care Subsidy (CCS) based on combined family income, bringing your out-of-pocket gap fee down to a fraction of the daily rate. Families enrolled in our 3- and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten also receive Victorian Free Kinder fee relief credits applied directly to their accounts.
Authentic everyday moments
Life at Magic Garden.
Real play, genuine friendships, and plenty of fresh air. Take a peek inside our rooms, outdoor yard, and regular excursions across the road to Fairpark Reserve.
Spacious undercover verandah, swings, climbing gym, and outdoor discovery areas.
Messy sensory play, mixing, pouring and imaginative backyard cooking.
Regular group walks across Linda Crescent to play games and run on the oval.
Safe, all-weather soft play turf, slide, leafy trees, and open space to climb, slide, and explore.
Hands-on nature discovery table with dinosaurs, bark, and greenery in our Kindergarten room.
A day at Magic Garden
Unhurried days, full of possibility.
Every day follows a familiar rhythm with room for spontaneous discoveries, friendship, and deep play.
- 6:30amWarm arrivals & breakfast
Gentle greetings, family catch-ups, and a calm start to the day.
- MorningInquiry & outdoor discovery
Fresh air, gardening, sensory play, and small-group learning projects.
- 11:30amWholesome lunch & rest
Hot, chef-prepared meals followed by quiet sleep or unhurried rest.
- AfternoonCreative arts & collaboration
Music, stories, movement, and teacher-guided literacy and numeracy games.
- To 6:30pmConnected handovers
Meaningful conversations with educators about your child’s adventures.
Loved by local families
“They feel like family.”
Parents consistently describe warm educators, individual attention, easy settling-in, and children who run through the door excited to play.
Read independent reviews ↗“The staff supported her so much throughout her struggles and achievements. We could not have asked for a better start to her education.”
“It is so clear how much they all care for him. The educators know his routine inside out and he runs in with a huge smile every day.”
“Being a small centre, the kids get a chance to know almost all the educators. The outdoor yard is fantastic and full of leafy trees.”
Convenient local childcare
Easy to find. Right opposite Fairpark Reserve.
Located at 1 Linda Crescent, Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Magic Garden offers easy, stress-free drop-offs with convenient parking directly opposite Fairpark Reserve.
- Hours
- Monday–Friday
6:30am–6:30pm - Nearby Primary Schools
- St John the Baptist, Fairhills Primary, Mountain Gate Primary & Wattleview Primary
All questions are welcome
What families often ask.
Choosing care is a big decision. Here are quick, honest answers—then come and ask us anything during your tour.
What are your daily fees and session hours?+
We offer two simple, transparent daily fee options: $153 for a 10-hour session (7:30am–5:30pm) and $165 for a 12-hour session (6:30am–6:30pm). Both rates are all-inclusive, covering breakfast, morning tea, hot lunch, afternoon tea, late snack, nappies, sunscreen, incursions, and our Bachelor-led kindergarten program. Most families pay substantially less out-of-pocket through the Australian Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Victorian Free Kinder fee relief credits.
What ages do you care for?+
We welcome children from approximately 3 months through to school age across our dedicated Babies Nursery, Toddler Room, and Victorian Funded Kindergarten programs.
Do you offer Victorian Government Funded Kindergarten?+
Yes! Magic Garden is officially accredited with the Victorian Kindergarten Tick for both 3- and 4-Year-Old Kindergarten. Led by a Bachelor-qualified teacher, our program runs within long day care hours, and Free Kinder funding is passed directly on to you as a fee credit on your statements.
How does the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) work here?+
Magic Garden is an approved CCS service. Your subsidy rate and eligible hours depend on your family circumstances. Eligible families can receive at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight under the Australian Government’s 3 Day Guarantee. We can help you estimate your gap fee during your enquiry.
What meals are included?+
All wholesome meals are included: breakfast, morning tea, a hot nutritious lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack. Our menu accommodates all dietary needs, allergies, and cultural requirements.
How do orientation and settling-in work?+
We tailor orientation completely to your child. We recommend a tour first, followed by several short visits where you and your little one can explore the room together and build familiarity with the educators before their first official day.
Are vacancies currently available?+
Vacancies vary by room and day. Because we maintain smaller room capacities, spots can fill quickly. Contact us with your preferred days and child’s age to check current openings.
Start with a visit
Come feel the difference a small centre makes.
Meet our educators, explore the rooms and outdoor spaces, and ask every question on your list. There is no obligation—just a warm welcome.