Things to do these autumn school holidays (2024)
Red washes of leaves are falling to the pavement, a chilly breeze is sneaking in, and somehow we’re already staring at our calendar again, trying to think of ways to keep our little ones busy these autumn holidays.
Since it seems like the Bureau of Meteorology is the only place you can’t get fired these days (they can say the weather will do anything with zero consequences) it can be hard to schedule your days around what the clouds get up to. So the more options, the better.
These are some of our top recs for things to do in the 2024 autumn school holidays.
New South Wales
The Octopus Garden at Australian National Maritime Museum
Do you feel like you’ve paced the aquarium enough times to map it out in extensive detail? Running through the same (reliable, but repetitive) school holiday routes can make the days drag out even further.
You can experience a new, exciting dimension to creatures under the sea at the Maritime Museum’s “The Octopus Garden” exhibit.
This interactive show takes place in an immersive space with engaging visuals and animations unveiling the mesmerising world of the octopus. From how they quickly camouflage to the different shapes they can shift into, there’s plenty to learn (and love).
Ages: All ages, plus kids under four get to go free!
Dates: All holidays
Location: The Australian National Maritime Museum
Stopping by Luna Park is probably already on your list, and the good news is – there’s a fresh attraction in town.
The Dream Circus is a digital narrative-driven spectacle ready to spark imaginations through cutting-edge, captivating technologies.
Light and sound projections pull audiences into other worlds; squid dancing in the ocean and dancers performing on biplane wings. It’s highly stylised, so don’t bother trying to piece together a plot. Just take in all the spectacularness and have a lot of fun.
Ages: 7 and up
Dates: All holidays
Location: Luna Park
Mega Creatures Hunter Valley
We’ll take any excuse to pay the Hunter Valley a cheeky visit. But when there are dinosaurs on offer too? It’s a done deal.
Discover incredible pre-historic dinosaurs, giant insects, and mythical creatures, and have some tasty snacks along the way. Keep an eye out for a T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and – actually, we’ll hold back on spoilers and let you find out!
As nightfall descends, the Mega Creatures Night Safari starts up as these prehistoric creatures come to life through captivating lighting displays.
Ages: All ages
Dates: 6 April to 5 May 2024
Location: Hunter Valley Gardens
If the wet and windy weather continues, you’ll probably need an indoor activity that also keeps your kids active. All that pent-up energy will need an outlet, stat.
Jumping around some massive trampolines before wall climbing and leaping through a parkour adventure course – that’s a sure way to tire out your little one
Sydney hosts both Bounce Cromer and Bounce Homebush for your family to get their fun fix of mayhem.
Ages: All ages
Dates: All holidays
Location: Bounce Cromer
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South Australia
Kick off the school holidays with a night of theatre. We’re not talking high-brow Shakespeare or a daggy plot that makes you check your watch in resignation.
The Lights Out show at the Mills Adelaide offers colourful sets, hilarious characters, and fun lighting to pull you into the story.
A taster of what’s in store for you, in their own words:
“You know the drill. Bath, PJs, books, and bed. You’re tucked in and given a kiss. Mum pauses by the door, whispers, “sweet dreams”, and turns out the light. The anticipation. Is. Palpable. Because now is the time that anything can happen. It’s the time when a bedroom can mysteriously transform into an enchanted forest, a Broadway theatre, or an underwater wonderland. What will it be this time?”
Find out the rest yourself.
Dates: 17th of April and 24th of April
Ages: All ages
Location: The Mills Adelaide
Strawberry Picking at Beerenberg Farm
Got a sunny forecast for the afternoon? We recommend stopping by Beerenberg Farm to pick your own fresh, juicy, and wonderfully sweet strawberries.
Your family can wander through the lush greenery and warm sun rays (sidenote: bring hats and sunscreen), filling up baskets of ripe, red goodness.
Memory-making, fresh air, and a great backdrop for some family pics – it’s a real treat.
Dates: Most days in April
Ages: All ages
Location: Beerenberg Farm, Handorf
Another vitamin-D-friendly activity for your family! Whether you enroll your child in one of their school holidays-specific activities or just go for a day adventure together, the Woodhouse Adventure Park has you sorted.
The School Holiday “Unplugged” programs include:
- Reptile Rendezvous: A world of reptilian fun with crocodile games and challenges (with fake crocs only).
- Medieval Mayhem: Embark on quests, compete in tournaments and play medieval games…with some dragon magic thrown in for good measure.
- Sky High: From paper plane launchers to bottle rockets and catapults, if you can launch it and fly it, they’ll be trying it!
- 1980s Retro Rewind: Discover the best of the eighties…from funky music and games at the disco, to an aerobics challenge and dress-up relay.
- Woodhouse Olympics: Run, hurdle, climb, ride, and shoot your way through this fun twist on Olympic events.
- Prehistoric Playground: Journey back through time to prehistoric periods for cave-dweller challenges and games, plus fun with dinosaurs and volcanoes.
- Come to Your Senses: Explore, engage, and awaken your senses through challenges, games, and hands-on fun.
- Adrenaline Rush: Do you have a need for speed, a call for adventure, and energy to burn? We have a day for you!
The thrill-seekers will be wide-eyed and bushy-tailed for every twist and turn of these adventures.
Dates: Open daily during school holidays
Ages: Varies for activities
Location: Woodhouse Adventure Park, Piccadilly
Over at the seaside suburb of Glenelg, you can start with strolling along the quaint shops licking an ice cream and finish by exploring the local museum.
The Bay Discovery Centre resides in Glenelg’s 1887 Town Hall building and depicts the social history of the area from colonisation to today. It’s a great prompt for learning about the local Kaurna people and Indigenous stories, especially with their current exhibition “Tiati Wangkanthi Kumangka (Truth-Telling Together).”
Afterwards, sitting by the waves and watching the sunset can be a lovely way to digest some of the information and have open conversations with your little one.
Dates: Open daily during school holidays
Ages: All ages
Location: Glenelg Town Hall
Wrapping it up
Starting the school holidays will always feel daunting. You’ve got a kid bursting with energy, a house that’s a lot louder than usual, and an empty calendar begging to be filled in.
But once you’ve got a few ideas up your sleeve, you can focus on the beautiful bonding moments and memories you’ll create with these spare hours. Soon enough, school will show up again and you’ll wish you were back strawberry-picking in a field with your best little friends.
So, enjoy it.
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