A girl and a boy reaching their hands out to touch a glass wall water feature.

27 Jun – 12 Jul

School holidays

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 Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026.

When is public transport free during the school holidays?

Public transport is free in Victoria for the entirety of the Easter school holidays and continuing until Thursday 30 April 2026. This includes Melbourne trains, trams and buses as well as regional trains, coaches and buses. There's no need to tap on your Myki during this time but if you do, don't fret you won't be charged! Check the full details.

Julia and her two kids walking across Princes Bridge

Julia Busuttil Nishimura's family day out - only in the city

If you simply can't bare to think up a day of activities, Melbourne-based cook and author Julia Busuttil Nishimura has done the hard yards for you. Follow her guide for a fun, easy, affordable day out - without the stress of planning and researching what you should do!

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

Large lettering saying FIRELIGHT above a stage at the Firelight Festival with two large flames shooting into the air at either end.

Firelight Festival

Melbourne’s epic winter festival returns to Docklands for three fiery nights.

A nighttime photo of a path in a park, illuminated by vibrant orange, green, and pink light beams and strings creating an immersive light installation; part of Lightscape at Royal Botanic Gardens.

12 Jun – 2 Aug

Lightscape

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

Bluey stage show human and puppet cast with tree background.

Bluey's Big Play

This is Bluey brought to real life as you’ve never seen it before.

Pokemon figures in a garden setting.

Pokémon GO Fest: Global

Pokémon Trainers are invited to the largest Pokémon GO event to be held in Melbourne.

A professional netball match, with players on the court and fans in the stadium seats watching; the image is black and white.

Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final

The Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final is coming to John Cain Arena.

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.

Market stallholder with her puppet toys, beside the Yarra River in the CBD.

The Sunday Market at Southgate

Explore the Sunday Market at Southgate and meet the makers.

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.

Children preparing Thai ingredients in a cooking class.

30 Jun – 30 Sep

Kids Thai Cooking Class

A hands-on school holiday experience for little chefs.

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.

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.

Two performers wearing bright costumes on a stage.

Magic, Mirth and Mystery

Enjoy a family magic show at Piccolo Teatro Magic Theatre.

A male magician in a top hat and suit on a smoky stage, holding a yellow and green fan and performing a trick.

Illusionaire Family Magic Show

Sam Angelico is back in Melbourne performing his family-friendly show Illusionaire.

A woman and child sit in a museum, looking up at a glass case displaying a preserved human body posed in a dramatic leap, with exposed muscles visible.

Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness

Discover what lies behind the skin to reveal how our health, emotions and environment impact us.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 hanging mobile of an umbrella with childish drawings on it and hanging from it in hearts, plus a blue swirly cloud above it; pink background.

My Love Umbrella

Create your own 'Love Umbrella' hanging mobile in this joyful, hands-on craft activity for kids.

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.

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 magician holding a crystal ball against a purple background.

29 Jun – 11 Jul

Melbourne Magic Festival

Casting its spell with performances and workshops for all ages this winter.

An adult and child riding in an open bus, the child pointing at something.

27 Jun – 12 Jul

School Holiday Explorer Bus

Children ride for half-price on the Kids Explorer Bus during the school holidays.

A teacher bobs down next to a seated students writing at a table in a studio workshop and listens intently.

Stardom: Holiday Program

A full-day creative writing workshop devoted to big dreams and limelights, for ages 10-14 years.

Performer Magical Katrina, seated on the ground wearing a blue dress surrounded by decks of playing cards and other magic props.

Magical Katrina The Whimsical Witch

Starring Magical Katrina, direct from Hollywood

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.

Two teen students writing on notebooks or into laptops and interacting at a table, as part of a creative writing workshop in a studio setting.

Treasure Hunters: Holiday Program

A creative writing workshop devoted to ancient relics and adventure, for ages 7-10 years.

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.

A hand-drawn comic or storyboard sketch in black pen depicting a narrative scene.

Comic Book Wonder Daze Holiday Program

Join the fun of creating a floor length comic in fun one-hour workshops these school holidays.

A teacher sits next to a seated student at a table and points at a notepad, during a creative writing workshop in a studio setting.

Movie Magic: Holiday Program

A creative story writing workshop for ages 8-12 years, devoted to stories of the silver screen.

A large dinosaur model with its mouth open in a park setting.

Dinos at the Zoo

Let your imagination run wild as you explore the trail of dinosaurs at Melbourne Zoo.

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

14 Jun – 23 Aug

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.

Head shot of Freya List, an Australian choreographer, with blond wavy hair framing her face.

School Holiday Workshop: Musical Theatre Dance

Freya List hosts a one-day masterclass in musical theatre dance for secondary school students.

Magician Hernan Maccagno, resting his head on his hand, a glittering stage curtain behind him.

Peterpanosis

Starring magician Hernan Maccagno, this show is performed in Spanish.

A girl reading in a study nook next to a bookcase in a studio space, taking part in a creative writing workshop.

The Lost Level: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 7-10 years.

A woman in a pink blazer posing next to an overflowing toy box in front of a red stage curtain.

30 Jun – 5 Jul

Fab Fiona's Enchanted Toy Box

A magic show for all ages where forgotten playthings spark extraordinary magic.

Magician Tim Credible wearing a red and yellow striped vest and hat, with Douzie the Dragon puppet on his arm.

30 Jun – 12 Jul

Family Magic Show with Tim Credible

A high-energy, interactive show packed with amazing magic and laugh-out-loud comedy for kids.

Magician Liam ‘LJ’ Jumpertz in a tuxedo with bow tie looking bewildered in front of a red velvet curtain.

30 Jun – 11 Jul

Close Up Tragic

The perfect comedy magic show for families with older kids these school holidays.

The Great Armando, a children's magician performing on stage in front of a seated audience.

The Ultimate Kids Magic Extravaganza

Magic, laughter, and endless fun starring The Great Armando and The Magic Pyjama Party.

Magician wearing a top hat, holding a wand, wearing an aqua jacket and holding four red balls.

The Great Armando's Magia Magia

Welcome to a world of wonder, jaw-dropping illusions, laughter and pure magic.

A magician looking slightly terrified while reading from an orange spell book with a rabbit to his right.

30 Jun – 11 Jul

The Best of the Magic Fest

Catch a different show every night of The Melbourne Magic Festival.

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 row of smiling teenagers standing outside a building, all holding up artworks they've created.

Acrylic Painting on Canvas School Holiday Workshop

Join Rainbow Art Class these school holidays for a creative and relaxing painting workshop for kids.

Young teens writing on notebooks or into laptops around a table, as part of a creative writing workshop in a studio setting.

Alchemy: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop devoted to alchemy, for ages 8-12 years.

Young teens in a classroom setting with a teacher looking on and bookshelves in the background.

Undercover Journalist: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 10-14 years.

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.

Bald man with spectacles and beard, wearing bow tie and jacket, pictured upside down.

30 Jun – 11 Jul

The Tricky Nick Magic Show

Join Australia's weirdest magician on a wild rollercoaster ride through his magical mind.

Kids seated around tables writing into notebooks and interacting, during a creative writing workshop in a bright studio space.

Empire of Evil: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 10-14 years.

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.

Children's entertainer playing a ukulele in front of a rainbow.

30 Jun – 5 Jul

A Pocketful of Magic

A magical, musical story-filled adventure filled with silly surprises and songs.

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.

Man on a stage dressed in a long green velvet coat, colourful shirt, vest, checked trousers, and hat, surrounded by hats on stands, with a young child on stage next to him.

The Mad Hatter's Mega Magic Show

An hilarious magic show performed by award-winning magician Tim Ellis.

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.

An animal figuring fashioned out of gum nuts and banksia seed pods.

Kids’ Winter Workshop Fantastic Friends

Create a ‘Fantastic Friend’ with the imaginative use of gumnuts, seedpods, banksia cones and more.

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.

Performer Magical Katrina, holding a pack of playing cards in one hand, with the Queen of Hearts held up to her face and covering her eye.

I Am Not A Spy. This Is A Magic Show.

This is definitely a magic and mentalism show and it is not a covert operation.

A magician standing on a stage performing in front of an audience.

Mason The Mediocre

Will this be just your average magic show - come along to find out.

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.

7 Jun – 11 Jul

Hernan Maccagno: Reflection of the Impossible

A magic show featuring Hernan Maccagno direct from Argentina.

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.

Kids seated around large tables writing and interacting with each other during a creative writing workshop, in a bright studio space.

The Forgotten Woods: Holiday Program

A full-day creative story writing workshop for ages 10-14 years.

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.

Three women joining hands and fooling around against a fantasy backdrop.

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.

Painted bears of various sizes standing on a wooden ledge.

Bear With Us

Unleash your inner artist in this therapeutic and fun experience.

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.

Discover more

Girl looking out at mini village display in the garden.

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A small playground on a sunny day

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

The best things to do in Melbourne with kids under 5

Toddler-friendly activities for a day out in Melbourne that you'll enjoy too.

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

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Discover free things to do in Melbourne, including galleries, museums, events and festivals.