The school holidays are almost here! Running from Saturday September 21 until Sunday October 6, you’ll need plenty of things to do during the school holidays to keep the kids entertained. With an array of kid-friendly activities, as well as events geared at teenagers and whole families, there’s plenty to do around the city, so we’ve rounded up some of our favourites. From thrilling experiences to family-friendly shows, here’s our list of fun school holiday activities to try in Melbourne and beyond.
The best school holiday activities in Melbourne
1. Jurassic World: The Exhibition
Journey through the iconic Jurassic World gates and come face-to-face with roaring dinosaurs from the legendary movie franchise. Encounter a brachiosaurus, velociraptors, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and more. Check it out at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick. Get your tickets here.
2. Melbourne Royal Show
The Melbourne Royal Show is coming back to town for another season of family fun. Look forward to over 100 experiences and activities, such as animal encounters, fireworks, rides and more. Find it at Melbourne Showgrounds from Thursday September 26 to Sunday October 6.
3. Footy Festival
Head over to Yarra Park and have fun at the Footy Festival. The whole family will have fun with the AFL Play Zone, player appearances, giveaways, music, food trucks, bars and even an ice skating rink! Entry is free and this event is on from Wednesday September 25 to Saturday September 28. More info here.
4. Magic by Moonlight
See over 400 light installations across four magical realms in Magic by Moonlight. This enchanting experience for the whole family has taken over the George Pentland Botanical Gardens in Frankston. Check it out on select days from Thursday September 12 to Sunday October 6, from 5:30pm to 10pm.
5. Monster Jam
Monster Jam is taking over AAMI Park on Saturday October 5. See The Amazing Spider-Man, Thor and more face off against fan favourites like Grave Digger and Megalodon in a series of freestyle, skill and racing competitions. Find out more.
6. Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition
Wes Anderson films may perhaps be more geared at teenagers and the more precocious youth, but this pleasingly symmetrical exhibition will enchant visitors of all ages. Taking inspiration from the iconic films of Wes Anderson, and continuing the work of the quirky Instagram account-turned bestselling book, Accidentally Wes Anderson: The Exhibition is a photographic exploration of the world’s most whimsical places and structures. Melbourne marks its first foray to Australia, and there’s a dedicated Australia room that’ll show you the quirkiness in our backyard. You can find it at 360 Bourke St in the CBD, and tickets are on sale here.
7. Queen Victoria Market
The family can have fun at Queen Victoria Market with entertainment like dancing and roving entertainment on Saturday September 28. There’s also free gardening experiences on select days, and activities over the Grand Final weekend. See what’s happening here.
8. RESET at Fed Square
Fed Square is focusing on sustainability and nature at their festival, RESET, from the start of September to October 6. Check out free and family-friendly events and workshops that will get you thinking about how you can live sustainably. For the full program, click here.
9. Melbourne Fringe Festival
Melbourne Fringe Festival is back with a massive program of 470 incredible events, and there’s heaps of family-friendly shows and events to check out. Fringe is on from Tuesday October 1 to Sunday October 20. See the family guide to Fringe here.
10. NGV International
Learn all about the pharaohs, the pyramids and more in the children’s gallery at NGV International. The exhibition, Ancient Egypt for Kids, features plenty of activities, cinematic screenings and more. It’s free to visit and is on display until October 6. Learn more here.
11. Hello Kitty Cafe
A kawaii pop-up cafe dedicated to Hello Kitty has come to Chadstone. This pop-up cafe celebrates the 50th anniversary of the beloved Sanrio character. The cafe will be complemented by a school holidays program on Hello Kitty Main Street. This dedicated kids precinct will have plenty of fun activities to try, such as a silent disco.
12. Grazeland
Grazeland is keeping it fun over the school holidays with a whole range of exciting activities for the kids. See roving entertainers, like stilt walkers and glowing LED angels. Get your face painted, meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse and enjoy live music. Kids can also have fun with Giant Jenga, Funky Monkey Bars and play in the Gamesland zone. Watch AFL on live on the big screen, and feast on treats from over 50 food vendors. See the schedule here.
13. The NBA Exhibition
Get your head in the game at The NBA Exhibition. Explore over 20 themed sections, see cool memorabilia, play arcade basketball games, check out the VR zone and more. This fun experience is now open at The District Docklands. Get your tickets here.
14. Beauty and the Beast
Feel enchanted by the magical Beauty and the Beast musical. Watch in wonder as your favourite characters perform spectacular songs, like ‘Be Our Guest’, ‘Belle’, ‘Gaston’ and more. This production will play at Her Majesty’s Theatre from June 27.
15. ACMI
Head to ACMI and learn all about the development behind the beloved Untitled Goose Game in the free exhibition, Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition. This experience was designed with families in mind, and is filled with colourful and interactive displays.
After that, meet and play with an assortment of curious characters born from code in the exhibition Beings, which is on until October 6. See what else is available for families at ACMI here.
16. Melbourne Museum
Visit Melbourne Museum and check out some fun and exciting exhibitions with the kids. Current exhibitions include Victoria the T. Rex and Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs. See what’s happening over the school holidays here.
17. The LUME Melbourne
Rain or shine, The LUME Melbourne is a great escape for the whole family. Marvel at the incredibly immersive Leonardo da Vinci exhibition, and see some of the world’s most famous artworks come to life. This experience is pram-friendly, and kids aged four and under can enter for free. This will also be the last school holidays period featuring this experience, so if you haven’t seen it yet, this is the time to do it!
18. The Art of Banksy
Another art experience that’ll appeal to your teenagers, The Art of Banksy brings an unprecedented collection of original Banksy works to The District Docklands. 240 of the artist’s works are exhibited here, and the themes of rebellion, social justice, and freedom remain resonant with younger audiences still. It’s pretty unmissable stuff; tickets are on sale here.
19. Scienceworks
Visit Scienceworks over the school holidays, and have heaps of fun with the Air Playground exhibit. Then, check out live science shows, go out-of-this-world in the Planetarium and more. See what’s on here.
20. Zoos Victoria
Take a walk on the wild side over the school holidays and marvel at all the incredible animals at any of the Zoos Victoria locations. Stay close to the city at Melbourne Zoo, head out west and take a safari tour at Werribee Open Range Zoo. Venture out east and admire Aussie wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary. Or, check out Kyabram Fauna Park in Victoria’s north. Children under 16 can visit the zoos for free on school holidays and weekends.
21. Taylor Swift Singalong Cruise
Dress up and listen to your favourite songs while floating in Style on one of the Swiftie Singalong Cruises by Port Phillip Ferries. One cruise will leave from Geelong on Thursday September 26, and run from 1pm to 2pm. The other cruise will leave from Docklands on Tuesday October 1 and run from 2:30pm to 3:30pm. Find out more.
Meanwhile, kids can also go free on all regular ferry services during the school holidays.
22. Monopoly Dreams
Head to Melbourne Central and immerse yourself in the Monopoly Dreams attraction. The kids will have plenty of fun, with a 4DX cinema, interactive games, photo opportunities and more. See more here.
23. Studley Park Boathouse
After enjoying a meal or riding a boat at Studley Park Boathouse, let your kids have fun in the school holidays program. Suitable for those aged 6-12, there’s some cool workshops running for four days a week during the school holidays, such as puppet making and nature crafts. These sessions start at $5. Learn more here.
24. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Visit the Oceanarium at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and admire sharks, rays, turtles and more. Check out the exhibit, Night on the Reef, which features a digital bioluminescent beach and an array of marine life. As school holiday activities go, it’s one of the more peaceful ones on this list.
25. Find Disney magic at Westfield
Cinderella is doing a meet and greet at Westfield Southland from September 26 to 29, and on October 1 and 2. You’ll also find an enchanting mini princess castle filled with delightful activities for the little ones at Westfield Fountain Gate from September 23 to 29, and at Westfield Knox from September 30 to October 6. Learn more here.
26. IMAGINATOR
Embark on an immersive and playful experience at IMAGINATOR in Docklands. Move through this family-friendly space and feel lost in a world of colour and sound. Learn more here.
27. Saboteurs
Head to The District Docklands and go on a space adventure at Saboteurs. Set inside converted shipping containers, this Among Us-style game is perfect for school holiday activities in Melbourne. Kids can run around in this immersive environment, complete fun tasks and eject any suspicious imposters. Learn more here.
28. ArtVo Immersive Gallery Experience
The first in Australia of its kind, ArtVo is an immersive art or ‘trick art’ gallery. Journey through 1400 square meters of illusionary art pieces, and have fun taking pictures in weird and wonderful situations! There are nine themed zones to explore with over eighty hand-painted immersive installations. Explore the ocean, polar ice caps, space, and the forest throughout the various themed rooms.
This is a great activity to do as a family, and you’ll be able to create many fun family photos that will provide you with lasting memories. See more here.
29. House Down Under
Flip your perspective at House Down Under. Head to Docklands and enter an inverted house that looks like it dropped straight from the sky! Walk in and take heaps of fun photos, while exploring the upside-down rooms. See more here.
30. Metartworld
Metartworld is a metal art gallery showcasing unique artworks from international artists. The space in Port Melbourne is filled with incredible metal art statues, each handmade from scrap metal and recycled material. You will be able to view over 200 metal sculptures ranging from metal tankard mugs to larger-than-life dinosaurs and superhero sculptures.
There is also a a “starry sky” exhibition on the second floor which displays a perfect combination of advanced technology with the world of light and shadows. There’s different themed spaces, an immersive 360° tunnel and more. This is an incredible experience that is great for groups of all ages and sizes.
31. Virtual Room Melbourne
If your kids enjoy computer or video games, they will love this virtual reality experience in Melbourne. This award winning VR experience at Virtual Room Melbourne blends elements of an escape room with a 3D cinematic experience. Played in groups of 2, 3 or 4 the game allows players to fully immerse themselves in a virtual world, where they will be able to talk to each other, walk around, bend, throw objects
Players can choose between one of 4 themed games, ranging from alien invasions to a zombie apocalypse, and will have to work together with their teammates in order to complete their missions.
32. Pentridge Prison
One of the more unique school holiday activities in town, try out the Prison Break Explorers tour at Pentridge Prison. In this tour for all ages, children are invited to become young detectives and thwart a prison escape. Along the way, your tour guide will visit key spots around the prison, share stories about some notable characters, and teach you about what life was like on the inside. This tour will run every day during the school holidays. Learn more here.
33. URBNSURF
Ride the waves at URBNSURF during the school holidays. This surf park near Melbourne Airport has family-friendly options, so that your family can safely explore the water and learn to surf. There’s sessions like bodyboarding or learning to surf in The Bays, a gentle environment with rolling waves close to shore. Explore their website here.
34. Puffing Billy
Journey through lush forests and across trestle bridges on the famous Puffing Billy. Opt for something classic and let your legs dangle from the carriage sill, while admiring dreamy views from this iconic steam train. Perfect for all ages, this experience in the Dandenong Ranges is a great way to spend the school holidays. See more here.
35. Cherry Blossom Festival
Drive out to the Yarra Valley and celebrate spring at the Blossom Festival by CherryHill Orchards. Take the whole family and explore the stunning rows of blooming cherry trees. During the festival, there will be workshops to try, delicious food to eat, photography packages and even a special after-hours light show. The Blossom Festival will run from now until September 29.
36. Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Drive out to the Dandenong Ranges and feel delighted by the visual splendour of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. There’s nearly one million bulbs spread across five acres to discover. On top of the tulips, there will be food, drinks and entertainment. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival will run from now until Sunday October 13.
37. The Bellarine Railway
Head to Queenscliff and ride with Thomas and Friends on the Bellarine Railway. Have plenty of fun with unlimited trips on Thomas, a meet-and-greet with Sir Topham Hatt, bubble blowers, mini golf and more. Check it out on October 5 and 6. Learn more here.
38. Treetops Adventure
Take your school holiday activities to new heights by escaping to the Otways and soaring through native Australian forest at Treetops Adventure in Yeodene Park. There’s different ropes courses for you to choose from, with aerial activities, ziplines and freefall drops. There’s also two junior ropes courses for the little ones, as well as high monkey bars and a pegasus you can ride. Get your tickets here.
39. Sovereign Hill
Sovereign Hill has all sorts of fun activities to try over the school holidays. Meet some adorable animals in the petting zoo, make your own leather keyring, embark on a foraging walk, see a magic show and more. See what’s on here.
40. Bendigo Annual Tulip Display
Head to Pall Mall and Conservatory Garden to see this year’s Bendigo Annual Tulip Display. There, you’ll find over 43, 000 tulips with a whole range of colours, sizes and blooming times. During the school holidays, there will also be night time activations. Check here for more information.
Additional words by Monro Grier.