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.
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.
It’s not a comprehensive list of school holiday activities in Melbourne, more like the MY POPPET EDIT! Sounds fun right?
Here’s what we’ll be getting up to in the next few weeks – Bring on the school holidays!
Top 10 – Spring School Holiday Activities in Melbourne
The following events and listings are for the 2018 Victorian School Holidays – Saturday 22 September to Sunday 7 October
1. Tesselaar Tulip Festival
Tesselaar Tulip Festival – Image Supplied
The tulips are back at Dandenong Ranges for the annual tulip festival with 900,000 stunning tulips in bloom. This year the theme is Tulips in Wonderland.
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, Queens croquet, White Rabbit Treasure Hunt & Giant Garden Games, fairy storytelling, face painting, train rides, craft workshops and much more.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival – Image Supplied
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
WHERE: Tesselaar Tulip Farm, 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, Victoria.
WHEN: September 15 – October 14
10am – 5pm daily
HOW MUCH: Kids are free with accompanying adult ($24-$28)
2. Royal Melbourne Show
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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.
WHERE: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032
WHEN: 22 September – 2 October 2018
9:30am- 9:00pm daily
HOW MUCH: Tickets start at $18 online – Discounts for RACV members
3. Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine – Stage Play
Image credit – Arts Centre Melbourne
The much-loved book by Roald Dahl bounds off the page in this spectacular live show. Emma absolutely loves this book and we are so excited to see how they interpret all the fun on stage.
Tickets are nearly sold out so get in quick!
Playhouse Arts Centre Melbourne – 25th-29th Sept 2018 – Book Here
4. Wonderland ACMI
Image Credit Phoebe Powell – Supplied by ACMI
Finishing soon! Don’t miss this wonderous exhibition celebrating the screen history of Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories of Alice and her various adventures in Wonderland.
WHERE: ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne
WHEN: 5 April – 7 Oct 2018
Open daily 10am–5pm
HOW MUCH: Full $25 Family $65 Concession $21 Child $16 Member $20
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.
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. New York! New York! at NGV – FREE
Ravi, 5 inside New York! New York! for Kids at MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art at NGV International from 9 June–7 October Photo: Eugene Hyland
Younger kids and families will enjoy NEW YORK! NEW YORK! a free children’s play space featuring a dedicated activity zone for children to build their own miniature 3D streetscapes, a photo booth inviting families to star in their own New York story, a marble run, a digital quiz about iconic New York City landmarks, and large-scale projected animations of NYC.
Running concurrently with MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art
NEW YORK! NEW YORK!
WHERE: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia
WHEN: 9 June 2018 – 7 October 2018
HOW MUCH: Free
7. Sew a Sofie at City Library – FREE
Image credit – City Library
Get crafty at the City Library and learn how to hand sew and decorate your very own cuddly pal. For ages 7+
WHERE: City Library, 253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC 3000
WHEN: Tues 2 October 2018, 10:30 am – 12:30 pm
HOW MUCH: FREE – Booking Required
8. Handmakers Factory – School Holiday Making Workshops
Image Credit – Handmakers Factory
Kids can make their own slime, lip balm, or even a cute fish in a bag soap at these crafty hands-on workshops run by Handmakers Factory. On throughout the school holidays at two handy locations. All material are included and no special skills are necessary.
Handmakers Factory Kids Workshops
WHERE: Highpoint Shopping Centre & Seddon Studio
WHEN: Assorted dates – see calendar
HOW MUCH: From $25
9. Melbourne Fringe at ArtPlay – FREE
Image credit – ArtPlay
Take advantage of the Melbourne Fringe Festival events happening all over the city and surrounding suburbs, many of them free. On till the 30th of Sept – see all the kids events here.
Pop over to ArtPlay at Birrarung Marr for several immersive sonic experiences including I AM HERE, m-Ball and Voice Lab.
WHERE: ArtPlay Birrarung Marr, behind Fed Square, Melbourne 3000
HOW MUCH: Free
10. Action, Adventure & Storytelling at The District Docklands – FREE
Image credit – The District
There’s lots of fun stuff happening at The District shopping precinct at the Docklands including a Ninja Warrior style Obstacle course, a trampoline jump hub and free story telling sessions at the Lost Forest.
The District Docklands – School Holiday Events
WHERE: The District Docklands, 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008
WHEN: 26th Sept to 7th Oct 11am-5pm daily
HOW MUCH: Free
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:
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.