The Most Fun Activities To Do During The Easter School Holidays

Kick off the school holidays with Kids Day Out on Friday, April 3. Taking over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, this family-friendly event will feature carnival rides, a Teddy Bear Hospital, sports games, a classic cars show, craft activities and much, much more. Entry is free, although many of the activities will have a cost. Funds raised will go towards the Good Friday Appeal. See more here.

Journey back in time to when dinosaurs roamed the Earth at Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary. Wander along trails and marvel at over 60 animatronic dinosaurs in this prehistoric event. Dinos at the Zoo will run from Friday, April 3 to Sunday, July 12, spanning from the Easter school holidays all the way up to the end of the winter school holidays.

Remember, children under 16 can visit Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Kyabram Fauna Park for free on school holidays and weekends.

If you’ve ever wanted to wander through a dreamscape made of shimmering bubbles and glowing colours, here’s your moment: Bubble Planet is drifting into Melbourne. Perfect for all ages, this immersive experience invites you to explore 10 playful, interactive environments designed to awaken your senses. Find it at the Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre in Brunswick. Get your tickets here.

Check out the Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids: Designed by Danielle Brustman exhibition in the Children’s Gallery at NGV International. This exhibition is free to visit, and kids can express their creativity with hands-on activities, strike a pose with a fashion photo shoot and party on the dance floor. There’s plenty of other artsy activities for the school holidays, like drawing sessions and a zine masterclass. Learn more here.

There’s a whole stack of things for kids to try at Melbourne Museum over the Easter school holidays. Celebrate the new Rome exhibition with some family-friendly activities, like a gladiator workshop. Then, keep the merriment going with some fun shows from the comedy festival, take part in a museum sleepover and more. See what’s happening over the school holidays here.

Visit Scienceworks over the school holidays, and check out the spectacular new Colour exhibition. Then, enjoy live science shows and see fulldome flicks in the Planetarium. See what’s on here.

There’s lots of fun stuff to do at Fed Square during the April school holidays. Watch some beloved family films on the big screen, like The Princess Bride or Paddington 2, as well as a selection of Studio Ghibli favourites. Have a laugh at comedy acts on the main stage, take part in the Little Food Festival, or try out some workshops. See the full program here.

ACMI and the ABC are celebrating 60 years of Play School! Young fans are encouraged to visit this free exhibition, and explore the behind-the-scenes of this beloved show. Play School: Come and Play! is great for those aged two to five, and is running from now until July 12. For more family-friendly events at ACMI, click here.

After delighting visitors in New York, Balloon Story has landed at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Float over to this imaginative wonderland filled with intricate sculptures made from over 400,000 balloons. Get your tickets here.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will perform the Academy Award-winning music of Beauty and the Beast. Watch as the magical tale unfolds, while you listen to the live score by Alan Menken. Find it at Hamer Hall on April 10 and 11. See more here.

Kids can take part in some free and low-cost events at State Library Victoria, like writing workshops, story time sessions and craft activities. On top of that, the Pauline Gandel Children Quarter is open daily, with about 4,000 books for children 12 and under. See the school holiday program here.

Visit SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium and meet their new saltwater croc, Coowoonga. Then, explore the rest of the awesome wildlife around the aquarium. See what the kids can get up to during the school holidays here.

Take your little foodie on an underwater, culinary adventure at Le Petit Wonders of the Sea. This themed high tea at The Westin Melbourne features an array of sweet and savoury delights, inspired by the magic of the ocean. Learn more about it here.

1 Hotel Melbourne has a few things to keep the young ones occupied over the school holidays. Their ‘Seedlings’ program has fun activities like cookie decorating, an Easter egg hunt, a pickleball lesson and more. See what’s coming up here.

You’ll be on the edge of your seat throughout your time at 123Boom!, an immersive puzzle adventure where you and your team are tasked with diffusing a ‘bomb’ to save the day. To do so, you’ll require teamwork, skill, and problem-solving, all racing against the clock as the story advances and the seconds tick down. It’s open now, and you can find your tickets here.

Young cubs will have a sweet time out at the Care Bears Afternoon Tea. Taking place at The Langham from April 9 to 11, this limited experience will have colourful sweet and savoury treats inspired by the magic of Care Bears. Learn more here.

Round up some friends and tackle some fun challenges at SENSAS. Test all five of your senses in some wacky experiences. This playful space is now open, and is suitable for visitors over the age of 7. Get your tickets here.

Get out on the water over the school holidays by taking a ride with Port Phillip Ferries. Back by popular demand, have fun on one of the Taylor Swift Singalong Cruises. Taking place on April 7 or 14, you can dance in the aisles and listen to your favourite songs, performed live on the piano.

If you’d rather try something else, kids aged 16 and under can go for free on regular ferry services during the school holidays. See what’s available here.

Challenge yourself and your teammates to escape Prison Island. Instead of breaking out from a single room, you’ll take on a series of tasks in multiple cells and race against the clock. This experience is suitable for those aged 7+. Find it at The District Docklands. Grab your tickets here.

Visit Abbotsford Convent and check out the interactive installation, Sea of Light, by Patch Theatre. Use a UV torch and paint and stencil with light. There will also be artworks by contemporary Aboriginal visual artist Elizabeth Close illuminated on the floor. Perfect for families, this experience is suitable for children aged 3 and up. It’s on from April 9 to 12. More info here.

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.

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.

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. Get your tickets here.

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.

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.

Step back in time and try to solve the case at Pentridge Prison. Work together to thwart an escape plan on the immersive family tour, PrisonBreak Explorers. Find out more.

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first Harry Potter film at Chadstone. See cool installations like the Great Hall or the Grand Staircase, take photos at the Hogwarts Express, make your own wand, and enjoy a Butterbeer tasting experience. There will also be a Harry Potter high tea at Hotel Chadstone. The magic will run from Saturday, April 4 to Sunday, April 26. See what’s on here.

A cheerful Malibu Barbie Cafe has popped up at Chadstone. Treat yourself to themed dishes and drinks, then have fun at the roller rink. The cafe will stay at The Social Quarter in Chadstone until Sunday, April 26.

Take an intimate look at the human body in the thought-provoking exhibition, BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness. Witness real human specimens, frozen in time, and learn how emotions can change the body from the inside out. This exhibition is suitable for all ages, but some of the installations do contain mature content. Get your tickets here.

Experience the tragedy of the Titanic like never before with this virtual reality experience. Dive to the wreck site, then journey back in time to explore iconic spaces around the ship, such as the Grand Staircase. Along the way, you’ll meet characters based on real passengers and crew members. This experience is suitable for those aged 10 and up, with a minimum height requirement of 1.3 metres.

The Australian Sand Sculpting Championships is back in Frankston. Stroll along the waterfront and see 16 large-scale sculptures, carved from over 400 tones of sand. The theme this year is The Enchanted Realm, so expect mythical creatures and dreamy castles. While you’re there, look forward to light experiences, sculpture talks and more. Check it out from now until Sunday April 26.

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.

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.

Immerse yourself in fields of colourful flowers these school holidays at the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival of Flowers. Wander through the stunning gardens, and be greeted by millions of bright blooms. After admiring the vivid blossoms, stay a little longer and have fun with circus performers, tractor rides, food and more. There’s also special activities, like Easter rabbit hunts and bubble shows. This festival is on from now until April 19.

Spanning over 14 acres, Blue Lotus Water Garden contains over 40 different ponds, lakes and water features. Here, you’ll find the biggest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. This dreamy garden is open from now until April 19.

Visit Funfields on Saturday, April 4 for a massive Easter egg hunt. There’s 50,000 chocolate eggs to be found, and the hunts will be divided into four age groups. Kids will also have the chance to meet the Easter bunny and get their face painted. You will need to make a booking and buy a $10 ticket to participate. Learn more here.

If you can’t make it on the day, the park is open until April 12, you can have fun with rides and more.