School holidays events and activities - What's On Melbourne

Entertain the whole family over the school holidays with these kid-friendly events and activities. There's plenty of free, low-cost events and family attractions to choose from.

When are the school holidays?

The school holidays in Victoria are from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026.

When is public transport half price during the school holidays?

Public transport is half price in Victoria until the end of the year. This includes Melbourne trains, trams and buses as well as regional trains, coaches and buses. Check the full details.

School holiday deals and offers

A mother and two young children on the deck of a ferry looking out across the water.

Port Phillip Ferries

Kids (4-16 years) travel free on these weekly 2.5hour cruises, Tuesdays 9.30am-12.15pm, T&Cs apply.

Special offer

School holiday events

A little girl looking at a colourful display of cushions in an art gallery.

Children's Play: Ragnar Kjartansson

A new children's exhibition by Ragnar Kjartansson, inspired by the idea of a theatrical feast.

A drawing of five colorful sheep (purple, blue, yellow, orange, and red) walking on a green grassy hill with small flowers.

Where is the Green Sheep?

A wild and woolly adventure to find that elusive green sheep.

Illustrations of two children with clipboards in (real) garden setting.

Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

A free fun outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens.

Man wearing a tuxedo performing sleight of hands tricks with a glass in front of a seated audience.

Melbourne Magic Show

Enjoy a theatrical magic experience like no other.

A child wearing a plastic coat, squirting paint with a paintgun at a pink canvas on a wall splattered with paint.

Melbourne Paint Lab Art Workshop

At Melbourne Paint Lab you can splash, splatter and drip paint to unleash your inner artist.

A group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.

Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

Seven people in coloured aprons holding up kokedama balls in a workshop.

Kokedama Workshop

Enjoy a beginner's workshop and learn how to make a little moss ball plant.

Two smiling workshop participants holding up jewellery they have made.

Polymer Clay Workshop

Create beautiful pairs of earrings and necklaces using polymer clay in this fun workshop.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.

Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

A plate of fluffy pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate over the top.

Chocolate Family Adventure Day

Enjoy an all-inclusive, stress-free family outing filled with fun, creativity, and delicious treats.

Picnic spread of dishes, boxed food and drinks on a blue gingham tablecloth.

Family Mystery Picnic: Melbourne Laneways

Solve clues, taste and collect pre-paid gourmet food on this unique foodie adventure.

Animator and filmmaker Adam Elliot working on a claymation set, adjusting characters.

Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

Visitors walking through a 3D simulation of the cosmos using wireless VR headsets.

Starstruck

Smithsonian Starstruck is an immersive 3D journey to the cosmos.

A young child wearing a dressing gown, looking at an open picture book in her lap, blurred twinkling lights behind her.

Bedtime Storytime

Hop into your pyjamas, grab your favourite teddy and enjoy bedtime stories.

Young children and their parents listening to a story book being read aloud in a colourful environment with large dinosaur cutouts.

Dino Days

Young dinosaur enthusiasts, aged 3-5 years, are invited to explore all things dinosaur.

Group of children seated on the floor while adults look on.

Auslan Storytime

Bringing stories to life through visual language and movement, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month.

Side view of a child typing on a laptop.

STEM Holiday Workshop for Young People: Auslan and English

Young people are invited to experience a free hands-on STEM workshop at Science Gallery Melbourne.

A dark interior space, with smoky purple rounds of light, silhouettes of people's arms pushing into these open spaces.

Imaginator

An immersive experience that celebrates imagination, technology and play.

A woman with two red plaits and a white cap holds up a picture book in a kids library area.

Stompers

Bring your child to Library at The Dock on Tuesdays for a lifelong love of books.

An Incan sun mask lying on greenery, part of the Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City virtual reality experience.

Machu Picchu: Journey to the Lost City

A 4D virtual reality experience that lets you explore the Incan citadel in the Peruvian Andes.

A solar eclipse, with light emerging around the edges of the blacked-out sun.

Solar Tours

Come and experience the wonders of the Sun at the historic Melbourne Observatory.

A woman holding a teddy about toe read a picture book in a library story area.

Songbirds

Visit Southbank Library on Mondays for Songbirds, with songs, rhymes and stories for littlies.

A busker performing in a street with a guitar around his neck and arms outstretched while singing.

Bourke Street Mall Busking

Meet Melbourne's marvellous musicians and more in the iconic Bourke Street Mall busking program.

The shopfront of a Japanese-style craft workshop with brightly coloured craft materials on shelves and a neon sign.

DIY Craft Workshops

Unleash your creativity at these workshops where everyone is a designer.

People seated around a crafts table in a studio, with pots of resin and other tools and equipment on the table.

Resin Art Classes: Cheeseboards and Coasters

Make abstract art and discover the magic of working with resin.

View of Melbourne from across the Yarra River

Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan in a Sparkling Show

Peter Pan lights up Neverland in a dazzling dance spectacle.

A woman smiling and holding up a copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar in a library setting.

Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at North Melbourne Library every Thursday.

A library staff member holding a large owl puppet in one hand and a picture book in his other hand, standing in the children's section of a library.

Stompers

Enjoy fun stories, songs, rhymes and activities at Kathleen Syme Library every Monday.

A smiling library worker holding up three picture books with their front covers facing out, seated cross-legged on the floor in front of library display shelves.

Songbirds

Come along to City Library on Fridays for songs, rhymes and stories.

A smiling adult holding a ukulele seated at a low table, with two picture books resting on the table, in a library setting.

Preschool Storytime

Share the wonder of books with your children at narrm ngarrgu Library.

Two people seated below a neon sign.

The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

'Wonders of the sea' themed high tea treats including mermaid-tail cupcakes on a white plate on a display of sand and shells.

Le Petit Wonders of the Sea: Kids High Tea

An enchanting under-the-sea themed High Tea designed especially for small explorers.

A smiling woman with long red plaits and a white cap in a library setting with a large bear on her knee.

Songbirds

Come along to Library at The Dock on Wednesdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

A child and an adult with sporting medals around their necks, one of them holding a table tennis paddle, standing in a room.

Table Tennis

Play a game of table tennis with the local world champion, Chau.

Three illuminated lamps with cylindrical parchment or fabric shades, decorated with various pressed flowers and small human figures.

Pressed Flower Lamp Making Workshop

Make your room colourful and vibrant with your own pressed flower lamp.

Lightscape installation at night with purple images of trees.

Lightscape

Melbourne's favourite winter tradition Lightscape returns to Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

A woman in a library setting holding a ukulele and talking to a toy bird.

Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler every Wednesday at East Melbourne Library.

The back of a busker performing in a street in front of a handful of people.

Premium Busking Auditions

Enjoy some of Melbourne's best busking talent at the premium permit auditions.

A woman in a yellow hard hat reading a picture book and smiling in a library.

Stompers

Head to Southbank Library on Thursdays to enjoy stories, songs, rhymes and fun.

A woman holding a picture book titled 'Ruffles' and also holding a dog toy in a library reading area.

Songbirds

Come along to East Melbourne Library on Thursdays for Songbirds: songs, rhymes and stories.

A graphic representation of two hands holding a picture frame in front of a beach with blue sky, a black and white picture of a mother and her child in the frame.

Make a Memory

Create a keepsake inspired by the book, These Long-Loved Things at a free drop-in craft session.

A smiling woman with a ukulele seated at a desk with two picture books on display.

Stompers

Join in the Stompers fun with your toddler at narrm ngarrgu Library every Friday.

A woman seated with her legs crossed about to read a story in a library setting.

Songbirds

Come along to North Melbourne Library on Mondays and Wednesdays for Songbirds.

A library staff member standing in the children's book section of a library, holding up a picture book and reading from it.

Songbirds

Come along to Kathleen Syme Library on Tuesdays for songs, rhymes and stories.

A preschool aged child with curly hair wearing a red dress, holding open a book and looking at it.

Preschool Storytime

Sing songs and read stories with your young child at North Melbourne Library.

A standing and seated row of children in a large bright room, all holding up artworks they've created.

Rainbow Art Class

A guided art class for children, led by an artist and educator.

A smiling person seated in front of the children's section of a library, holding up a picture book and teddy bear in her lap.

Songbirds

Come along to narrm ngarrgu Library on Wednesdays for Songbirds.

A butterfly brooch with green and pink mother of pearl inlay wings, against a white background.

Mother of Pearl Inlay Brooch Making Workshop

Join this jewellery making class on mother-of-pearl inlay, perfect for beginners.

A beige and white knitted shoulder bag with plush trim and a chain strap, made in a cross-stitch workshop.

Cross-stitch Embroidery Bag Workshop

Make your own pretty cross-stitch bag to style your look in this beginner class.

A hooded figure positioned centrally in a circular emblem holding a talisman with a stylized letter 'H' in the centre surrounded by flying bats against a vintage image of city buildings.

Shadows in the Dark

Go on a guided paranormal tour to reveal the hidden secrets of the Queen Vic Market.

Three faces poking through gaps in a long red curtain on a stage with stools in front of the stage.

Smells Like a Song: An Improvised Musical

Smells Like a Song is an improvised musical performed by Impro Melbourne.

Play School exhibition with signature teddy and toys.

Play School: Come and Play

A hands-on, playful exhibition where families can discover how the beloved TV show comes to life.

Children preparing Thai ingredients in a cooking class.

Kids Thai Cooking Class

A hands-on school holiday experience for little chefs.

More school holiday ideas

Family attractions

Koala in a gum tree at Melbourne Zoo.

Melbourne Zoo

Journey through a world of wildlife in the heart of Melbourne.

Child looking over right shoulder with delighted smile, dark dinosaur model behind.

Melbourne Museum

Explore history, culture, science and nature at this popular Melbourne attraction.

Large IMAX signage above entrance to cinema.

IMAX

Delivering an immersive movie experience on the world's largest screen.

Dark silhouettes against panels of red and blue in a dark exhibition space.

ACMI

Museum dedicated to the moving image through events, film screenings and exhibitions.

Family in a glass tunnel looking up at a very large stingray.

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

Discover thousands of aquatic animals in four enchanting worlds at this top Melbourne attraction.

Tranquil scene of trees and lawn surrounding a lake.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

A picturesque haven for recreation and a key botanical resource for research and conservation.

Two people standing on the 'ceiling' of an inverted living room.

House Down Under

Australia’s favourite inverted house photo experience brings topsy-turvy fun to Melbourne.

Two friends in exaggerated poses against a hand-painted interactive artwork of a jungle scene, at ArtVo.

ArtVo

An interactive 3D art gallery with optical illusions that visitors can touch and explore.

People skating in an indoor ice rink with disco lighting.

O'Brien Icehouse

An ice arena for public skating and ice sports events, located in Docklands.

A family seated at an outdoor table in a grassy park, eating takeaway food from the food van parked behind them, the Skyline Ferris wheel in the background.

Skyline Melbourne

See Melbourne's unbeatable city view from the Skyline Melbourne Ferris wheel.

Double-storey ArtPlay building with city skyscrapers in the background.

ArtPlay

A creative arts centre for children to share unique experiences with professional artists.

Kingpin Melbourne's bowling lanes decorated with vibrant murals.

Kingpin Melbourne

Kingpin's new flagship space brings next level entertainment to Collins Arcade.

Three teenagers playing a basketball arcade game in an brightly lit games venue.

PLAYit

Next level arcade and mini golf fun for all ages and abilities.

Pink sweet food treats inspired by the Sanrio character My Melody, found at the Hello Kitty Cafe.

Hello Kitty and Friends Café

A colourful experience celebrating Hello Kitty and Friends with themed treats and exclusive merch.

Two people standing in an immersive room at Dreamskape surrounded by a virtual reality projection of interior of a spaceship.

Dreamskape

Explore the District Dockland's multi-media sensory entertainment complex.

A smiling young girl seated as a table in front of a pile of slime.

Slime Lab

A play and retail space offering awesome and creative slime workshops for kids.

A child engaging in an immersive augmented reality adventure game standing in front of a brick wall and holding a digital device up high.

Hunters and Raiders

A world-first AR treasure hunt filled with clues, mystery and real-world adventure.

A sophisticated music store with guitars hanging on the wall.

The Music Gym

Drop in to The Music Gym, Melbourne's most playable pit stop!

Person on a skateboard at Riverslide Skate Park.

Riverslide Skate Park

The city's biggest skate park, overlooking the Yarra River and Birrarung Marr.

Small brick building illuminated at night, housing Signal creative arts studio.

Signal

Signal is the City of Melbourne's creative studio for young people 14 to 25 years.

Brightly coloured singing booths arranged around the walls in a large room, with bench seating in the central open space.

Kono Coin Karaoke

Enjoy a karaoke experience at a singing booth.

The exterior of Hardrock climbing in the city, surrounded by other buildings.

Hardrock Climbing

The ultimate indoor rock-climbing experience in Melbourne is at Hardrock Climbing.

People lining up outside a retro photobooth at night.

Flinders Street Photobooth

Have your photo taken at a vintage black and white photobooth.

Looking into the interior of a studio space, with a row of five small booths on the left and shelves of props and equipment on the right wall.

Life4Cuts Chinatown

A Korean-inspired self-photo booth studio in Chinatown.

Three girls posing and holding up their hands in peace signs while wearing flower headbands.

Hama Film Self Photo Studio

A self-photo studio where you can take amazing photos in special concept rooms.

A giant ball pit with brightly coloured geometric patterns and neon shapes on the walls.

Hijinx Hotel

No beds here. Just ball pits, bold colours, brain-teasing challenges and a lot of laughter.

People laughing and having fun on MotoGP arcade games.

Archie Brothers

One-stop entertainment venue with arcade games, bowling lanes, dodgem cars and cocktail bar.

People enjoying tenpin bowling.

Strike Bowling

Tenpin bowling plus karaoke and escape rooms - great fun for everyone.

Exterior of Holey Moley mini golf venue at night.

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley offers a mini golf course and bar with 27 themed holes plus a karaoke room.

Pretend poolside bar area at Holey Moley mini golf club, with brightly coloured deck chairs.

Holey Moley Golf Club

Holey Moley at Crown offers a mini golf course and bar with 18 themed holes.

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Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

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A statue of a mother and baby giraffe in an indoor children's playground.

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Young kid sitting on the shoulders of an adult in a large crowd of people watching a show.

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