The best school holiday activities in Melbourne to enjoy this summer

Julia Smith

Julia Smith

Julia is a Sydney born-and-raised mum of three girls. With over twenty years in the media industry, including four years with parenting publishers, she’s passionate about creating entertaining content that connects with parents. When she’s not working or parenting, you’ll find her binge watching TV and revenge-procrastinating about bedtime… or nerding out at gigs...
Updated on Jan 03, 2025 · 8 mins read
The best school holiday activities in Melbourne to enjoy this summer

As we watch the shopping malls get decked out in Christmas decor and slowly transition into sundresses and sandals, the December school holidays have rolled around.  


Instead of staying inside with the digital babysitter, why not take the kids out and try some of these fun school holiday activities in Melbourne?

There are free attractions for the whole family and school holiday fun to suit every taste. From galleries, museums, school holiday workshops and games to festivals and big-screen fun at the movies.

Here are some top school holiday activities Melbourne has in store.

Melbourne's top indoor activities


Melbourne Museum

Kids and families can explore a a whole range of fascinating exhibits at Melbourne Museum, including the iconic dinosaur skeletons, the Forest Gallery, and the Children’s Gallery designed especially for little ones. From January to April 2025, don’t miss all the fun of the special Oceans Alive exhibition, showcasing the wonders of marine life.

  • Where: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    When: Open year-round, with the Oceans Alive exhibition running from January to April 2025.
    Cost: General entry $15 for adults, free for children under 16.

ArtVo Immersive Gallery

Step into a world of optical illusions and interactive art at ArtVo. This fun experience lets you become part of the artwork! Special holiday installations will run from January to March 2025, perfect for creative photo opportunities.

  • Where: ArtVo, 26 Star Cres, Docklands VIC 3008, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with holiday installations available from January to March 2025
  • Cost: Adult tickets $35, child tickets $25, family passes available.

Melbourne's top outdoor adventures


As the weather warms up, Melbourne’s outdoor adventures offer the perfect way to enjoy the season.

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

The Royal Botanic Gardens are perfect for families this summer. You can enjoy a picnic, explore the children’s garden, or join the Nature Detectives program, where kids can learn about plants and wildlife. Don’t miss the enchanting Moonlight Cinema, running nightly throughout the holidays.

  • Where: Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Ave, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Moonlight Cinema screenings from December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Free entry to the gardens; Moonlight Cinema tickets start at $20.

Melbourne Zoo

At Melbourne Zoo, you can et up close with animals from across the globe, including Australian favourites like koalas and kangaroos. During December 2024 and January 2025, the Twilight Safari is hosting family-friendly evening tours and live music to keep kids entertained.

  • Where: Melbourne Zoo, Elliott Ave, Parkville VIC 3052, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Twilight Safari available select nights from December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Adult tickets $42, children under 16 free on weekends and school holidays.

Edinburgh Gardens

A sprawling park in Fitzroy North, Edinburgh Gardens is just chef’s kiss for a day of outdoor fun. Families can bring bikes, enjoy the playgrounds, or relax with a picnic. Weekend Outdoor Family Yoga sessions will run throughout December 2024 and January 2025.

  • Where: Edinburgh Gardens, Alfred Cres, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Outdoor Family Yoga on weekends during December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Cost: Free, Outdoor Yoga sessions by donation.

Collingwood Children’s Farm

Collingwood Children’s Farm is a great spot for kids to connect with farm animals, collect eggs, and try gardening. From December 2024 to January 2025, enjoy the Farmyard Fun Days, with tractor rides, sheep shearing, and live music.

  • Where: Collingwood Children’s Farm, 18 St Heliers St, Abbotsford VIC 3067, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Farmyard Fun Days running daily during December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Cost: Adults $12, children $7, family passes $30.

Cultural and educational activities


State Library Victoria

An inspiring venue for book lovers and curious minds, don’t overlook the State Library Victoria. Families can explore the stunning Dome Gallery, join storytime sessions, or attend the Kids Create workshops focusing on creative writing and illustration happening in the school holidays.

  • Where: State Library Victoria, 328 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Kids Create workshops running from December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Free entry; workshops may have a small fee.

ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image)

Any film and media enthusiasts will LOVE this one. ACMI has interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops and during these school holidays, the Kids’ Animation Lab will let kids create their own short films using stop-motion techniques.

  • Where: ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Kids’ Animation Lab available from December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Free general entry; workshops start at $20.

Koorie Heritage Trust

Discover Indigenous culture through art, storytelling, and workshops at the Koorie Hertiage Trust. Families can participate in the Creative Kids program during the school holidays, which includes boomerang painting and cultural storytelling sessions.

  • Where: Koorie Heritage Trust, Fed Square, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with Creative Kids workshops running from December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Free general entry; workshops may have a small fee.

Creative and crafty pursuits


Encourage your children’s creativity with a variety of kid-friendly events and craft activities available throughout Melbourne during school holiday time.

The Art Factory

If you’ve got a budding young artist, The Art Factory has plenty of school holiday workshops where kids can paint, sculpt, and create mixed media masterpieces. Holiday programs include themed activities like Under the Sea and Fantasy Worlds.

  • Where: The Art Factory, 84 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield North VIC 3161, Australia
  • When: Workshops available throughout December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Cost: Prices start at $40 per session.

Little Picassos Melbourne

The Little Picassos art school for kids organises awesome holiday programs where little ones can explore different mediums, from pastels to watercolours. December 2024 will feature a special Festive Creations workshop, while January 2025 will focus on Summer Scenes.

  • Where: Little Picassos, 300 High St, Kew VIC 3101, Australia
  • When: Workshops available in December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Cost: Prices start at $35 per class.

Sports and active play


Bounce Inc Australia

If your kid won’t stay still, take them to Bounce Inc at one of the multiple locations across Melbourne and Victoria for some topsy-turvy fun. They have something for everyone in the family, with miniBounce for the little ones, and oodles of activities to keep the big kids happy too.

It’s not just trampolining, there is wall climbing and high ropes to explore too. And the best part… if you need some time to regain your sanity, they have a school holiday camp available so you can drop the kids off and escape for a few hours.

  • Where: Multiple locations across Melbourne and Victoria, including Glen Iris, Blackburn, and Essendon Fields.
  • When: Open year-round, with School Holiday Camps available during December 2024 and January 2025.
  • Cost: General admission starts at $17.50, and School Holiday Camp prices vary by session.

School holiday family-friendly events


Melbourne’s vibrant event scene comes alive during the school holidays with plenty of family-friendly options.

Carols by Candlelight

Celebrate the festive season with the whole family (yep, kids of all ages) at Melbourne’s iconic Carols by Candlelight. Enjoy live performances of Christmas classics, food trucks, and a magical atmosphere under the stars.

  • Where: Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Kings Domain, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
  • When: Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024.
  • Cost: Tickets start at $30; children under 2 are free.

Melbourne Christmas Festival

Melbourne transforms into a festive wonderland during the holidays, with Christmas songs and projections, pop-up markets, and family activities across the CBD. The Gingerbread Village and Santa’s Workshop are must-sees for little ones. Don’t skip the Melbourne Christmas Festival.

  • Where: Various locations across Melbourne CBD, including Federation Square and Bourke Street Mall.
  • When: December 1, 2024, to January 5, 2025.
  • Cost: Free entry; some activities may incur additional fees.

Luna Park Summer Spectacular

Kick off the summer holidays with a visit to Luna Park! The Summer Spectacular offers family-friendly entertainment, new carnival games, and a dazzling nightly light show.

  • Where: Luna Park, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda VIC 3182, Australia
  • When: December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: General entry $5, ride passes start at $49.

School holiday technology and STEM activities


Scienceworks – STEM Discovery Workshops

Kids can dive into hands-on science and technology workshops, including robotics, 3D printing, and coding challenges. Scienceworks also features interactive exhibits like Think Ahead and the Lightning Room.

  • Where: Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood VIC 3015, Australia
  • When: Open year-round, with STEM workshops running during the school holidays.
  • Cost: General entry $15 for adults, free for children under 16. Workshops may incur an additional fee.

LEGO® Robotics Workshops

Hosted by Bricks 4 Kidz, these workshops let kids build and program LEGO® robots using the latest technology. Themes like Space Adventures and Super Machines will inspire creativity and problem-solving skills.

  • Where: Various locations across Melbourne.
  • When: December 2024 to January 2025.
  • Cost: Prices start at $50 per session.

Tips for planning school holiday activities in Melbourne


  1. Planning is key
    Create a flexible schedule that balances fun activities with downtime to avoid overwhelming the kids.
  2. Take advantage of free or low-cost options
    Melbourne has lots of budget-friendly activities—parks, gardens, and public art installations are a great place to start.
  3. Don’t forget snacks and drinks
    Pack snacks and drink bottles to keep everyone happy (and to keep the costs down).

Wrapping it up


From outdoor adventures and cultural excursions to creative workshops and fun festivals, Melbourne is essentially buzzing for these summer school holiday programs and activities.

So get out there, enjoy the sunshine (fingers crossed) and make the most of these school holidays.

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