School Holiday Activities in Melbourne: The Best for Autumn

Looking for school holiday activities in Melbourne 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 autumn holidays run from Monday 7 April - Wednesday 23 April 2025, 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 autumn school holidays in Melbourne.

School Holiday Activities in Melbourne

1. Monkey Baa Theatre Company Presents Josephine Wants To Dance

Monkey Baa Theatre Company is bringing the much-loved Josephine Wants to Dance back to the stage, delighting young audiences with a heartwarming tale of self-belief, determination, and dance. Based on the beloved book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley, this playful musical blends ballet, hip-hop, and plenty of laughs—with one very special dancing kangaroo at its heart!

Josephine loves to dance, even though her little brother insists that kangaroos should stick to hopping. But when a ballet troupe arrives in town and the lead dancer is injured, Josephine’s passion and perseverance may just save the show.

Full of twirls, leaps, and toe-tapping fun, this enchanting production is perfect for young theatre lovers and their families.

Where:       Alexander Theatre, The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts, 48 Exhibition Walk, Clayton
When:        11 April 2025 | 11 am and 12.30 pm 
Cost:          Standard $42 pp. Family/Group (4-6 Tickets)  $37 pp.

2. Bounce Into BOUNCE

Immerse yourself in the high-energy, gravity-defying fun of BOUNCE Melbourne these school holidays. This trampoline park and activity hub is an exhilarating haven for fun-seekers of all ages, with a dynamic atmosphere and diverse range of attractions tailored to maximize both fun and physical fitness across every age and skill level.

BOUNCE Holiday Camps are a super fun, healthy way to keep kids entertained and away from screens during the holidays. Delivered in a safe environment, these sessions are the perfect opportunity for kids to meet new friends and try new skills.

Where:   BOUNCE Holiday Camps are available only at select Melbourne venues including Glen Iris, Blackburn, Essendon & Geelong
When:     Monday 7 - Thursday 17 April 2025
Cost:      TBD

RELATED:
Awesome School Holiday Programs in Melbourne

3. Air Playground at Scienceworks

From making objects float in a stream of air to building paper planes that really fly, Air Playground at Scienceworks is an interactive playground that lets you experiment with the principles behind the wind.

Air Playground is not just returning due to popular demand; it's been revamped with exciting new activities that will astonish you.

Prepare to immerse yourself in a hands-on adventure of science and fun. Whether you're a curious child or simply young at heart, you'll soon be discovering the secrets of our atmosphere.

Where:     Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood
When:      Open daily from 10 am
Cost:        $10 per child; $25 per adult

4. Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs

Another activity for dino lovers, step into uncharted territory and encounter some of the most fearsome creatures to have ever roamed the Earth: dinosaurs!

Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs takes you on a journey through the Cretaceous period across two levels at the Melbourne Museum. Here, you'll get up close and personal with the most complete dinosaur skeleton in Australia: Horridus the Triceratops.

This unique exhibition, exclusive to the Melbourne Museum, tells the story of the dinosaurs from Horridus's perspective. Visitors will be transported back to the Cretaceous period to explore the environment Horridus inhabited and meet the diverse creatures that lived alongside this iconic dinosaur.

Where:     11 Nicholson St, Carlton
When:      Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Cost:        FREE with museum entry

5. Pass GO at Monopoly Dreams

 

School holiday activities in Melbourne don't get much more immersive than at Monopoly Dreams. Trust us, this place is packed with games, challenges, and chances to score some serious Monopoly Money.

Test your skills by cracking Mr Monopoly's vault, dive into the Water Works and Electric Company, grab some cash at the Bank, and try your luck at interactive games. Just make sure to steer clear of Jail.

Stroll through the legendary streets of Monopoly City, where all your favourite board game spots come to life: fix those broken pipes, get the power flowing, and snap a mugshot in Jail.

Earn Monopoly Money by tackling challenges and games like outsmarting the high-tech laser security at Mr Monopoly's vault, solving puzzles, or using your wits to break out of Jail.

Then, cash in your hard-earned Monopoly Money at the retail store, café, or for tickets!

Where:   Melbourne Central, 290 Lonsdale Street
When:    Open daily from 10 am to 7 pm
Cost:      From $39.60

6. 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 $31.50 

7. 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 in Melbourne.

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

8. 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—which is home to eight Asian elephants, and encounter the endangered Sumatran tiger; whilst 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

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