Spring School Holidays 2026 at Museums of History NSW

Looking for fun activities these spring school holidays? Explore Museums of History NSW sites this Spring and enjoy zine-making, shadow puppet and flatbread-making workshops at Vaucluse House, Rouse Hill Estate and Elizabeth Farm.

Plus, drop in for captivating kids' trails and hands-on activities at select museums.

Spring School Holidays 2026 at Museums of History NSW

Spooky Zines with Lucie Stevens

Make your own haunted house mini-zine with acclaimed author and MHNSW residency artist Lucie Stevens, known for her award-winning Nanny Tobin book series.

Hear spooky stories inspired by Vaucluse House before inventing your own kooky characters and creating a haunted house for them to dwell in.

Suitable for ages 5+. Limited places, bookings essential. Ticket includes one complimentary adult admission.

Where:   Vaucluse House, Wentworth Road, Vaucluse
When:    Wednesday 30 September | 10.30 am – 11.30 am
Cost:      General $25, Member $20

Book now for the Spooky Zines workshop.

Shadow Play Workshop with Jumaadi

Step into the world of shadow play with acclaimed international Indonesian artist Jumaadi in this hands-on workshop.

Drawing on the traditional Indonesian art of shadow puppetry and the rich array of silhouettes in our collections, craft your own shadow figures and scenes, bringing together creativity, imagination and storytelling.

Suitable for ages 5+. Ticket includes one complimentary adult admission.

Where:   Rouse Hill Estate, 356 Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill
When:    Friday 9 October | 10.30 am – 12 pm
Cost:      General $25, Member $20

Book now for the Shadow Play Workshop.

Family Kitchen: Saaj Flatbread–Making Workshop

Join Dayaa School & Kitchen these school holidays for a hands-on saaj flatbread–making workshop rooted in reviving ancestral recipes. Inspired by what is believed to be Sydney’s oldest olive tree, learn the ancient art of making saaj flatbread– kneading, shaping and baking flatbread the traditional way before dressing it with olive oil and fragrant zataar. All materials and equipment provided. Suitable for ages 7+. Limited places, bookings essential.

Where: Elizabeth Farm, 70 Alice Street, Rosehill
When: Thursday 8 October | 11 am – 1 pm
Cost: General $25, Member $20

Book now for the Saaj Flatbread–Making Workshop.

Hyde Park Barracks Family Fun Day

Make a day of it these school holidays, as Hyde Park Barracks, NSW Parliament House and the State Library of NSW open their doors for a packed program of free family fun, hands-on activities, performances and discovery.

At the Barracks, start your adventure with an engaging kids’ trail and immersive audio tour that bring the stories of the Barracks to life. Then dive into hands-on activities including making your own convict love token and paper replica of the Barracks, try your hand at convict bricklaying, or get a temporary tattoo.

Where: Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney
When: Friday 9 October | 10 am – 3 pm
Cost: Free event, registrations recommended

Register now for the Hyde Park Barracks Family Fun Day.

The GUL Collective Workshops

Join GUL Collective, a group of emerging fibre and textile artists, for an all-ages, all-abilities creative workshop exploring looping, binding, stitching and cobbling using fibre and textile materials. Make a creation to take home or contribute to a community artwork that will be unveiled at Elizabeth Farm in 2027. Free for all ages. Registration recommended.

Where: Elizabeth Farm, 70 Alice Street, Rosehill
When: Saturday 17 October and Saturday 14 November | 10.30 am – 12.30 pm
Cost: Free, registrations recommended

Register now for The GUL Collective Workshops

What Else is on at Museums of History NSW?

Enjoy FREE activities and kids' trails across their museums:

Hyde Park Barracks: Kids Trail

Open daily 10 am –6 pm (last entry at 4.30 pm), closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

Start your adventure with our engaging kids trail and immersive audio tour that bring the stories of the Hyde Park Barracks to life. Then dive into hands-on activities that make history tangible and exciting!

Plan your visit to Hyde Park Barracks.

Museum of Sydney: Kids Trail

Open daily 10 am – 5 pm

Pick up a crayon and let the surface do the talking. Try your hand at a rubbing technique used by archaeologists in the field to record their findings. Using objects inspired by the Unearthed exhibition and Museums of History collections, simply place paper over a surface and rub with a crayon to reveal hidden textures and impressions.

Plan your visit to the Museum of Sydney.

Justice & Police Museum: Kids Trail

Open daily, 10 am – 5 pm during NSW school holidays (Saturday 26 September – Sunday 11 October)

Pick up a kids trail and explore our captivating displays, and discover the stories of Sydney’s original Water Police Station and courts.

Earn your own police badge, dress up in costume and perform a mock trial with your family. Unlock secrets and solve mysteries as you move through the museum.

Plan your visit to the Justice & Police Museum.

Vaucluse House

Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm

Pick up a crayon and let the surface do the talking. Try your hand at a creative rubbing technique using objects inspired by Museums of History collections. Simply place a piece of paper over a surface and rub with a crayon to reveal hidden textures and impressions.

Plan your visit to Vaucluse House.

Elizabeth Farm

Open Monday to Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm during NSW school holidays (Saturday 26 September – Saturday 10 October).

Have fun in the garden playing quoits, a popular 19th-century game. Make a mini greenhouse to take home, or step back in time to experience what it was like to do the laundry the old-fashioned way – by hand!

Connect with local First Nations history through artist Tony Albert’s installation Healing land, remembering Country. Take part in a hands-on ‘memory exchange’ activity that asks participants to write messages on seeded paper as a gesture of intergenerational healing.

Plan your visit to Elizabeth Farm.

Rouse Hill Estate

Every Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm

Get ready for fun-filled experiences at Rouse Hill Estate, with basket-weaving workshops, hands-on building with LEGO® Bricks and a chance to meet friendly farm animals. For more information, visit Family Fun at Rouse Hill Estate.

Plan your visit to Rouse Hill Estate.

More Spring Activities

Fruit Picking in Sydney: Your Seasonal Guide
The Best Bush Walks in Sydney for Adventurous Families
Our Favourite Picnic Spots in Sydney

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