Looking for school holiday activities to get the kids out of the house? Melbourne is full of fun school holiday boredom busters to keep them entertained, happy, and out of your hair.

Victoria's spring school holidays run from Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026 and are gearing up to be quite jam-packed this year! Here are our top picks for the best things to do with kids during the holidays in Melbourne.

Best School Holiday Activities & Programs in Melbourne

1. Footy Fest

Mark your calendars! Footy Fest is bringing free school holiday fun to Yarra Park at the MCG from 23 to 26 September 2026. Get ready to kick, bounce and play with footy-themed clinics, kick-to-kick games, Coles Healthy Kicks inflatable obstacle courses, mascot meet-and-greets and interactive zones at the AFL Play Clubhouse.

Little legends can make a beeline for the Bunnings Kids Zone packed with free activities for all ages, free Auskick clinics, interactive experiences, challenges and giveaways plus live entertainment across two stages featuring The Mik Maks.

Designed for kids from toddlers to tweens, Footy Fest is the best way to be a part of 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final fever, and get the kids moving, playing and soaking up the footy spirit these holidays.

Where:  Yarra Park, East Melbourne
When:   Wednesday 23 - Saturday 26 September 2026
Cost:     FREE Entry

2. Speaking Schools Australasia

Public speaking can be daunting for many kids, but Speaking Schools Australasia makes finding their voice a fun part of the school holidays. For more than a decade, the multi-award-winning team has helped over 30,000 students build confidence through engaging, age-specific workshops covering debating and public speaking. Parents have also given the program an impressive 4.9-star Google rating.

With no more than nine students per coach, the workshops offer plenty of opportunities to practise, ask questions and receive individual feedback. Programs cater to students from Year 1 through to Year 10 and are designed to meet different ages and experience levels. There is also a money-back guarantee!

Where:    Box Hill - Realus Education, 36 Prospect Street. 
                Holiday workshops are also available online.
When:     In-person: Monday 21 - Thursday 24 September 2026
                Online: Monday 28 - Wednesday 30 September 2026
Cost:       From $260 for online and $290 for in-person. Creative Kids Vouchers accepted.

3. Melbourne's First Adventure Camp

After more than 12 years of getting Sydney kids outside, Adventure Camp is coming to Melbourne this September, bringing its epic 3-day school holiday program to kids aged 6 – 11.

The unique active adventure experience is packed with outdoor fun including games, challenges, teamwork and exploration. Kids will make new friends, build confidence and resilience, and enjoy a screen-free digital detox. 

Plus, to celebrate the Melbourne launch of Adventure Camp, we've got an exclusive offer for ellaslist families. Save $100 per child with our exclusive booking code.

Where: Beaumaris Life Saving Club, Beaumaris, Victoria
When:  Week 1: Monday 21 – Wednesday 23 September 2026
             Week 2: Monday 28 – Wednesday 30 September 2026
Age:     6-11 years
Cost:    $249.95 per child with code ELLASMELB-26 (usually $349.95)

4. Luna Park Melbourne 

Luna Park Melbourne throws open its spring holiday season from 19 September to 4 October, with a freshly renovated Luna Palace as the headline drawcard. Palace Dodgems and the Palace Arcade have both reopened inside the restored building, giving families a second zone to explore alongside the park's classic rides.

Beyond the Palace, it's business as usual for Luna Park favourites: the Carousel, The Great Scenic Railway and a full lineup of carnival games and food, from fairy floss to burgers and showbags. Arrive from 11 am and book ahead, since popular days can sell out.

Where: Luna Park Melbourne, 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda
When:  Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost:   Unlimited Ride Ticket: 4 - 12 years $47, 13+ years $57. Family Unlimited Ride Ticket: $175

5. Deep Blue Hot Springs

For an experience that feels like a treat for the kids and a break for the parents, spend a family day out at Deep Blue Hot Springs in Warrnambool. Turn the spring school holidays into a mini coastal escape where kids can splash, explore and soak while parents get a chance to slow down too.

Daytime sessions at the sanctuary welcome children aged five and over, with families able to wander between geothermal rock pools, sensory caves and cleansing waterfalls. The naturally warm mineral water is also a lovely way to soothe tired muscles after a busy day of exploring.

Make a full day of it with a meal at Tides Café, Restaurant & Bar, or turn your visit into a coastal mini-break with onsite accommodation, including penthouse apartments with expansive ocean views. For even more holiday fun, pair your hot springs visit with a run around nearby Lake Pertobe Adventure Playground, an eight-hectare family favourite packed with giant slides, a flying fox, maze and plenty of space to burn off energy before swapping playground thrills for a relaxing soak at Deep Blue.

Where:  Worm Bay Road, Warrnambool
When:   Throughout the school holidays
Cost:     From $33 per adult and $20 per child (ages 5 - 15)

6. Gumbuya World

If you're planning a full day out these school holidays, Gumbuya World has plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Less than an hour from Melbourne, the park combines thrilling rides, family attractions, wildlife encounters and special school holiday activities all in one place.

Alongside unlimited rides and the chance to meet more than 50 animal species, WILDfest brings extra fun with live wildlife shows, hands-on experiences and the Wildlife Wanderers program. Families can also book a Wildlife by Night session on Thursday, Friday or Saturday evenings during the school holidays for the chance to experience the park after dark.

Where:  2705 Princes Hwy, Tynong North
When:   Throughout the school holidays and beyond
Cost:     $32 online ($35 at the gate) and $22 online ($25 at the gate) for juniors. Tots (< 90cm) are FREE.

7. Bounce Into Bubble Planet

Bubble Planet Melbourne sends families through a series of surreal, multi-sensory rooms packed with glowing spheres, floating balloons, dreamy projections and a giant bubble bath ball pit kids won't want to leave.

Every room is built for photos as much as play, so bring the camera. Whether you're filling a school holiday afternoon or looking for a family outing with a bit of sparkle, Bubble Planet Melbourne delivers colour, movement and plenty to climb into. Just be warned: you might leave a little light-headed from all that spinning and bouncing.

Where:  Fever Exhibition and Experience Centre, 62 Dawson St, Brunswick 
When:   Daily until 30 November 2026
Cost:     $33.90 per adult (13+); $26.90 per child (3-12 years); under 2s go FREE

8. Scienceworks

This school holidays, Scienceworks is the ultimate destination for curious kids and families looking for hands-on fun and an action-packed day of scientific discovery for curious kids of all ages.

Families can explore the brand-new Colour exhibition, strap in for the free live science show Ready to Launch and learn all about blasting off into space, or put their detective skills to the test with a Solar System Scavenger Hunt. Don’t miss a spectacular show at the Melbourne Planetarium, where the holidays coincide with the popular Fulldome Flicks festival, showcasing world-class movies created for the immersive dome screen, along with the expert-led What’s in the Sky Tonight? tour. Round out the day with an electrifying live demonstration in the Lightning Theatre and explore interactive exhibitions that reveal how science works in the real world.

With interactive exhibits, fascinating shows, and endless opportunities to explore, Scienceworks is the perfect place to spark young imaginations!

Where: Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood
When:  Open daily from 10 am
Cost:    Museum Entry - Adults $15. Children FREE.
             Check the website for program costs.

9. Jump Aboard the Puffing Billy Railway

Puffing Billy travels through the magnificent forests and fern gullies of the Dandenong Ranges from Belgrave to Lakeside, only one hour east of Melbourne.

Buy your tickets online and enjoy one of Melbourne's best activities for kids and a fun family day out!

Where: Belgrave Station, 1 Old Monbulk Road, Belgrave
When:  Open throughout the school holidays
Cost:    Fares from $24 

10. Code Camp

 

Let Code Camp inspire your children to get creative with technology these holidays, learn valuable new skills, have fun and make new friends. With a wide range of in-person camps and online programs available, there truly is something for everyone. Choose from beginner to advanced coding camps, robotics, stop-motion animation, DJing, video production and more.

Code Camp’s flagship coding programs are the perfect introduction to your child’s Code Camp journey. Choose Little Coders for ages 5–7 to take their first steps into the world of coding, and Spark for ages 7-12 to use drag-and-drop coding to create an exciting arcade-style game. Their most popular creative camps are also back this season, including Minecraft Engineers, Roblox Legends, Robotics Camps and YouTube Creators, offering the coolest few days of STEM learning and fun.

For a different kind of creative experience, Code Camp also offers tech-free crafting camps called Get Crafty. It is a break from screens where kids can enjoy hands-on activities that encourage mindfulness and creativity while having fun with others.

Where: Various locations throughout Melbourne
When:  Throughout the school holidays
Cost:    Various, depending on camp type and duration; check the website for pricing options

11. Metartworld

If you're looking for something a little different (and a lot of fun), Metartworld in Port Melbourne is basically one giant, interactive playground where art, imagination and hands-on fun collide.

First up: the world's largest indoor scrap-metal art gallery. Towering superheroes, dinosaurs, cars, and movie characters—all made from recycled metal—and yes, kids are encouraged to touch, climb, sit, and snap photos with them!

Then things get even more immersive upstairs with the Starry Sky exhibition, where mirror mazes, glowing tunnels and light-filled rooms feel like stepping into another universe. Kaleidoscopic corridors, cosmic jellyfish, and a 360° tunnel take you on a full sensory journey through space, seasons, and beyond.

Don't miss the 9D Flying Cinema, a motion-packed ride with wind, movement and cinematic effects, or dive into the VR theme park, where you can battle it out in games or ride virtual rollercoasters.

For creative kids, there's also an Art Lab with hands-on workshops and interactive painting experiences.

All up, you're looking at a colourful, high-energy experience that takes around 1-2 hours to explore — perfect for families wanting something a bit unexpected these school holidays in Melbourne.

Where:   155 Boundary St, Port Melbourne
When:    Open throughout the school holidays, 10 am - 6 pm
Cost:      Entry is $30 per child, $40 per adult; children under 2 are FREE

12. Take a Trip to Prison Island

Looking for a school holiday adventure with a twist? Prison Island at The District Docklands takes escape rooms to the next level with 34 thrilling challenge cells to conquer.

Unlike traditional escape rooms, this action-packed experience combines brainpower, teamwork and physical skill. Families and friends can race against the clock to solve puzzles, navigate laser mazes, test reflexes, and tackle coordination and strength-based challenges. With 90 minutes on the clock, the aim is to complete as many cells as possible and climb the leaderboard. Perfect for ages 7+!

Where: 440 Docklands Drive, Docklands
When:  Open throughout the school holidays
Cost:    $44.90 per adult, $39.90 per child (aged 7 - 17)

13. Spend a day at the Museum of Play and Art

With locations in both Melbourne and Geelong, MoPA offers a truly wonderful day of activities.

This children's museum is dedicated to engaging and immersing kids in educational and fun ways—there's a soft play area, a creative art car, and a whole lot more—making it the perfect day out these school holidays! Bookings are essential; due to the popularity of the museum, walk-ins are currently not accepted. 

Where: MoPA Geelong: 51 McKillop Street, Geelong. MoPA Melbourne: 247 Bay Road, Sandringham
When:   9 am - 5 pm during the holidays
Cost:     $20 per child, $16 per adult

14. Take a Trip to Melbourne Zoo

Making a great day out in the heart of the city, Melbourne Zoo is perfect for big and small animal lovers alike.

Visitors can discover penguins, seals, and other inhabitants of Victoria's coast and ocean at the Wild Sea exhibition, walk the infamous elephant trail — home to eight Asian elephants — and encounter the endangered Sumatran tiger, while learning about conservation efforts to protect endangered species. 

Kids under 16 go free on weekends, public holidays, and during Victorian school holidays—so don't miss out!

Where:  Elliott Ave, Parkville
When:   9 am - 5 pm daily
Cost:     $42 per adult

15. Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure

Curious minds can take on a quest at the Fitzroy Gardens Outdoor Adventure - a free activity designed for families to explore the heritage-listed Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne.

Collect your map and embark on an adventure as you answer 12 questions scattered throughout the gardens. Families will love teaming up on this unique scavenger hunt, encouraging observation and exploration. There's also a 'seek and find' activity for younger kids to engage with nature through the gardens. 

Where: Wellington Parade, East Melbourne
When:  10 am - 4 pm daily
Cost:     FREE, no booking required 

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About ellaslist

ellaslist is a trusted local guide for families across Sydney and NSW, written by parents and family lifestyle editors who understand what makes an outing with kids genuinely work. Our team researches and curates the best family-friendly events, attractions, playgrounds, restaurants and school holiday activities, with practical details on age suitability, accessibility, parking, public transport, facilities and family-friendly tips.

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