School holidays start next week here in Victoria, and it’s about time too. Term 3 feels like it’s dragged on forever! The Spring school holidays are always our favourite because the weather is getting nicer, and there is just so much good stuff going on in and around Melbourne.
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To help us plan out our 2 weeks, I printed out my School Holiday Activity Planner, to help us get organised and make the most of our holidays.
Emma has helped me rounded up some fun school holiday activities, and places to visit in and around Melbourne.
Many of our favourite local attractions are running extra special events just for the holidays, so if you are looking for some activity ideas, this post is for you.
It’s not a comprehensive list of school holiday activities in Melbourne, more like the MY POPPET EDIT! Sounds fun right? Bring on the school holidays!
Here is a list of some of the fun events and special attractions happening in Melbourne these coming school holidays.
Fun for Kids – Spring School Holiday Activities in Melbourne
The following events and listings are for the 2019 Victorian School Holidays – Saturday 21 September to Sunday 6 October
1. Tesselaar Tulip Festival
The tulips are back at Dandenong Ranges for the annual tulip festival with 900,000 stunning tulips in bloom.
With a special children’s program running over the school holidays – There will be plenty of delicious food, live entertainment, a petting zoo, reptile zoo, Drumming circle, Magician and Super Hero performers, fairy storytelling, face painting, train rides, craft workshops and much more.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
WHERE: Tesselaar Tulip Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, Victoria.
WHEN: September 14 –October 13, 10am – 5pm daily
HOW MUCH: Kids (16 and under) are free with accompanying adult ($25-$29) -Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate
2. Royal Melbourne Show
No September school holidays are complete without a trip to the Royal Melbourne Show – Rides, Show Bags, fireworks, and everyone’s favourite, the animal nursery.
I’ll be there on the 23rd & 24th of September 11am-5pm in the Spotlight Create Space running a free workshop where you can make your own ‘Best in Show’ prize ribbon to take home with you. Come and say ‘Hi!’
WHERE: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032
WHEN: 21 September – 1 October 2019
9:30am- 9:00pm daily
HOW MUCH: Tickets start at $19 online – Discounts for RACV members
3. SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium – Bird Island Academy
Image supplied
These school holidays, SEA LIFE Melbourne is celebrating the release of THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 2 by encouraging kids to take flight with Bomb, Red, Chuck and friends and join ‘Bird Island Academy!’
Guests will learn the quirky features of Bird Island’s chirpy residents and complete unique challenges on their journey through the aquarium. Then explore the frenemies of the sea just like Red and Leonard in THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 2, race Bomb in the rock pool challenge and meet the new character, Silver, in her science classroom!
At the end of journey through SEA LIFE Melbourne, guests will get their bespoke Angry Birds 2 certificate stamped to certify them as an official graduate of the Bird Island Academy!
WHERE: SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Kings st Melbourne, Vic 3000
WHEN: September 21 – October 6 2019, Open daily from 10am-5.30pm (last entry at 4.30pm)
HOW MUCH: Included in price of admission. Adults from $37.80 Children from $25.20. Book online with Klook and save.
4. Master Wu’s Mission at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre
Image supplied
Calling all ninjas in training: Master Wu is ready to challenge you with an EPIC mission at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne this school holidays!
Build a Cole’s Quake Mech in the Creative Workshop, create a Spinjitzu Flyer and test it on the Mountain of Madness, battle other Spinjitzu masters with you Spinjitzu Flyer, look out for all of the LEGO NINJAGO characters as they takeover MINILAND Melbourne and MORE fun activities – all included in the price of your entry ticket to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne this school holidays.
WHERE: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre | Level 2/1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone VIC 3148
WHEN: September 21 – October 6, Open daily from 9.30am
HOW MUCH: Included in price of admission. $32.50 person – Get Tickets here Or Save and pay only $29.25 if you book via Klook
5. Caribbean Rollerama
This roller rink is one of our favourite places to hang out at the moment. I actually take skating lessons here every week! Just like the roller rinks of your childhood, Caribbean Rollerama has retained it retro charm. Emma has insisted that we go roller skating at least twice these school holidays. With sessions starting at just $7 per person, it’s a real bargain.
If you visit on a Wednesday, pop into the Caribbean Gardens & Market next door. It’s got food trucks, many playgrounds and a narrow gauge railway.
Don’t miss the Kids Only Fog Skate (U13) on Thurs 3rd Oct 6.30-9.30pm, or Footy Jumper Skate Night on Thurs 26th Sept
Caribbean Rollerama
WHERE: 1298 Ferntree Gully Road, Scoresby, Victoria, 3179
WHEN: Open 7 Days from 10am – session times vary – see website
HOW MUCH: Sessions from $7, Skate hire $1, Blade Hire $3
6. Monster Jam
Image supplied
Here’s one for the rev heads! Returning for two shows only on the last weekend of the September holidays, Monster Jam is a fantastic event that’ll easily entertain the whole family with unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable stunts being performed by talented Monster Jam drivers in massive (4m tall by 4m wide and 5,500kg!) Monster Jam trucks.
Monster Jam
WHERE: AAMI Park Olympic Blvd, Melbourne VIC 3000
WHEN: October 5, 2pm and 7pm
HOW MUCH: Kids show tickets starting from $29 – Book via Ticketek
7. Gruffalo Trail at Rippon Lea Estate
Photo credit: Suzie Potter
Venture into the dark forest this spring with Rippon Lea’s new Gruffalo Trail, an augmented reality experience that breathes new life into the stunning heritage gardens. The interactive trail leads families through winding garden paths where they can spot their favourite characters and bring them to live in vivid 3D animation.
WHERE: Rippon Lea Estate 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick VIC 3185
WHEN: Open daily until July 2020, 10am – 4:30pm
HOW MUCH: Included in price of admission – Adult: $15, Concession: $12, Child (3-15 years) $9, under 3yo Free, Family (2 adults & 2 children): $40, National Trust Members: Free
8. Escape the Gaol at Old Melbourne Gaol
Photo credit: Suzie Potter
The hugely popular interactive experience is back at Old Melbourne Gaol this spring. Aimed at children aged six and up, Escape the Gaol tests children in their ability to decipher riddles and find clues, ultimately leading the ‘prisoner’ to pull off a great escape – all without being discovered by the prison guards!
Escape the Gaol
WHERE: Old Melbourne Gaol 377 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
WHEN: Open Daily Saturday 21 September until Sunday 13 October, 9:30am – 5pm
HOW MUCH: The Escape the Gaol experience is included in your General Admission ticket $28 Adult
$23 Concession, $15 Child (5-15 years), $65 Family (2 adults + 2 children), $48 1 Adult Family (1 adult + 2 children), $5 extra child on family tickets
9. KAWS: PLAYTIME at NGV – FREE
Children playing inside KAWS: PLAYTIME at NGV International, Melbourne 20September 2019–13 April2020.Photo © Eugene Hyland
KAWS: PLAYTIME is a free and immersive exhibition for children featuring American artist KAWS’s signature character BFF and artwork referencing his popular toy-like figures.
Presented in conjunction with major exhibition KAWS: Companionship in the Age of Loneliness, this exhibition encourages creativity and exploration through hands-on activities and interactive experiences
WHERE: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia
WHEN: 20 September 2019 – 13 April 2020, Open 10am-5pm daily
HOW MUCH:Free
10. Melbourne Fringe Festival
Image supplied – Circus Wonderland A Mermaid’s Tale
Take advantage of the Melbourne Fringe Festival events happening all over the city and surrounding suburbs, many of them free. On till the 29th of Sept – see all the kids events here.
Pop over to ArtPlay at Birrarung Marr for several immersive experiences including Sonic Labyrinth and We are the Robots (FREE – bookings required)
Enjoy a performance at Wonderland Spiegeltent, a vintage 19th century Belgian travelling circus tent located at Fed Square with a dedicated Spring School Holidays program will be on offer featuring family friendly circus, acrobatic, magic and adventure shows.
Highlights of the program include:
A Day in The Life of You – 27th Sep – 29th Sep, 11am (Family/Kids)
A colourful and fun live children’s show featuring bursts of song, dance and storytelling for children aged 2 to 6.
Circus Wonderland – A Mermaid’s Tale – 30th Sep – 5th Oct (Various Times) (Family/Kids)
An ALL NEW all-star lineup of fun and the Golden Era of Circus. Circus Wonderland – A Mermaid’s Tale will keep everyone on the edge of their seats.
The Listies Make You LOL! – 21st Sep – 26th Sep (Various Times) (Family/Kids)
The Listies are serious about being silly. Formed in 2008 by professional idiots Rich Higgins and Matt Kelly, they are now the most sought-after live comedy act for kidults (Kids and their adults) in Australia.
WHERE: ArtPlay Birrarung Marr, Fed Square, Footscray and other MelbourneVenues
HOW MUCH: Free and Ticketed Events – Book here
11. Sustainable September at the South Melbourne Market
Image Credit: South Melbourne Market
Keep the kids entertained with a hands-on cooking class or workshop these school holidays. As part of Sustainable September, activities include growing spring sprouts, decorating a reusable carry bag with natural vegetable dyes and cooking zero waste recipes. There’s also behind the scenes guided tours and a teen clothes swap.
South Melbourne Market – School Holiday Events
WHERE: SOUTH MELBOURNE MARKET, Corner of Coventry & Cecil Streets, South Melbourne
WHEN: Check dates and times here – South Melbourne Market Events
HOW MUCH: Includes free events. Tours and workshops start from $10
I hope we’ve given you some great ideas for School Holiday Activities in Melbourne. If you have any other suggestions share them in a comment below.
Other activities of interest:
- Brickman Cities – Scienceworks Ends 6th Oct
- Play Box – Early Learners Program – Melbourne Museum
Melbourne looks like a fun place to live! If I were a kid living there, I think I’d want to sew a little pal at the library then spend the afternoon at the beautiful tulip festival.
The tulip festival was just gorgeous, I took so many photos. I should blog about it so those further afield can enjoy it too.
Fantastic list! I better get the kids to some of these before they finish up.
I love you holiday planner. I didn’t even know I needed it until i used it in the last holidays. Super cute.
Glad you found it useful.