Looking for school holiday activities to do with the kids? We give you our best picks of things to do in the holidays from each of the Australian states.
The kids have made it to the end of the year. The wonderful thing about the summer school holidays is that the weather is warm, which makes it a wonderful time to be outside.
It doesn’t matter if you’ll be at home with the children, putting them into vacation care, palming them off to other family members. Our list of fun things to do will ensure the kids have a good time these school holidays.
Relevant: School holiday activities: Tips for parents to keep sane
Here are some of the best school holiday activities by state.
Queensland | Victoria | New South Wales | Australian Capital Territory | Western Australia | Northern Territory | South Australia | Tasmania
Queensland things to do in the holidays
Summer is the perfect time for some school holiday fun with the kids. There’s plenty of cheap school holiday activities but if you’re looking for something a little bit more special:
Mary Valley Rattler Twilight Trains
Location: Gympie
Cost: from $79
Wander through the Gympie Historic Station where you will learn the stories of the Mary Valley Rattler line, its people and its history before steaming your way through the beautiful Mary Valley to arrive at Amamoor Station.
Christmas at South Bank
Location: Brisbane
Cost: free and paid events
There’s a nightly Christmas parade, a Christmas maze, various Christmas characters in the Plaza and even nightly Christmas carols. Bring the family over to South Bank for some Christmas cheer.
Victoria school holiday ideas
You could spend some quality time with your children exploring the many Melbourne laneways while sipping hot chocolate these summer school holidays. Or you could up the adrenaline with a vigorous game of laser tag. For other things to do in the holidays in Victoria:
Festival of Sails
Location: Geelong
Cost: various
In addition to the sailing regatta, the Festival of Sails attracts tens of thousands of people to enjoy the Australia Day festivities along the Geelong waterfront. With live music, market stalls, roving entertainers, food trucks, and plenty of free family friendly activities, there is something for everyone.
Cats & Dogs
Location: Melbourne
Cost: from $6
Drawn from the NGV Collection and spanning all periods and media, this exhibition of cats and dogs in art and design reveals how our domesticated companions have long been a rich source of visual imagery—from ancient history to the present day.
Searoad Ferries school holiday activities
Location: Queenscliff, Sorrento, Mornington and Bellarine Peninsula
Cost: various
Searoad Ferries has a fantastic schedule of free school holiday activities aboard its ferries between Queenscliff and Sorrento. Enjoy the Captain Jack Pirate Show, the Krazy Koala puppet show and even a fun and interactive workshop learning all about Port Phillips unique dolphins and other amazing marine life, including seals and whales.
The Wind in the Willows
Location: Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Cost: from $25
This critically acclaimed outdoor theatre production delivers music, songs, and laughs. There is fun for young and old as the Head Chief Rabbit transforms the audience into rabbits with a waggle of the ears and a wiggle of the nose. With laughs and surprises for children and adults, this is interactive theatre at its best. This is a picnic seating event, and patrons are welcome to bring any food or drinks that you would like as well as picnic blankets, wet weather gear, and sun protection.
New South Wales school holiday activities 2024-2025
There’s plenty happening in Sydney and surrounds to ensure plenty of school holiday fun. Spend the day exploring the Sydney harbour area for a cheap school holiday idea. There’s plenty to see around the Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour and the Rocks without breaking the bank.
Other things to do include:
Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
Location: Sydney & Newcastle
Cost: from $49.90
Bluey’s Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.
Monster Jump
Location: Sydney & Newcastle
Cost: from $35
This colossal mobile inflatable obstacle course spans a jaw-dropping 280 metres of non-stop fun and thrills. With over 30 unique obstacle adventures, Monster Jump promises an unforgettable experience for everyone—from kids to adults.
The Wind in the Willows
Location: The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Cost: from $25
This critically acclaimed outdoor theatre production delivers music, songs, and laughs. There is fun for young and old as the Head Chief Rabbit transforms the audience into rabbits with a waggle of the ears and a wiggle of the nose. With laughs and surprises for children and adults, this is interactive theatre at its best. This is a picnic seating event, and patrons are welcome to bring any food or drinks that you would like as well as picnic blankets, wet weather gear, and sun protection.
Things to do in the holidays: ACT 2024-2025
The Australian Capital Territory is the perfect spot for some school holiday fun with the kids. If you’re in Sydney, you could even pop in for a long weekend.
Curiosity: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO® Bricks
Location: Canberra
Cost: $73.40 for a family of four
A hands-on learning experience that brings science and history to life in a collaboration between world-famous LEGO Certified Professional Ryan “Brickman” McNaught and Questacon.
Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show
Location: Canberra
Cost: from $59.90
Bluey’s Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the Emmy® award-winning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. Join the Heelers in their live theatre show made just for you, featuring brilliantly created puppets, this is Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life.
Museum of Australian Democracy: PlayUP
Location: Parkes, Canberra
Cost: free
PlayUP is the Museum of Australian Democracy’s imaginative family space with activities to educate, excite and challenge young minds. With listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café, a fuzzy felt wall and facilitated craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.
Western Australia 2024-2025 school holiday ideas
Whether it’s a visit to the local library or a family weekend away, there are plenty of things to do in the holidays in Western Australia.
Tom Curtain’s Outback Show
Location: Dardanup, Margaret River, Augusta, Albany, Jerdacuttup, Esperance, Waroona, Bridgetown
Cost: $117 for a family ticket
Experience real horse-starting and working dog demonstrations entwined with live music and humorous bush tales. Musician Tom Curtain will also perform, along with fellow musicians Chris Matthews, Melissa Fraser and Laura Frank.
Visit Rottnest Island
Location: Rottnest Island
Cost: Varies
Sitting just offshore from Perth, the entire family will love visiting this protected nature reserve, home to the adorable quokka. You can travel to the island by air or water (90 minutes from Perth) and while you could technically make a day trip out of it, why would you with so many things on offer in Western Australia for young kids and old?
Giants of Mandurah
Location: Mandurah
Cost: free
Arguably one of his most ambitious projects to date, the “Giants of Mandurah” is an outdoor exhibition and game of self-discovery that celebrates and champions the protection of the Peel region’s extraordinary natural environment.
Northern Territory school holiday activities
There’s much to do this school holiday in the Northern Territory. With the temperatures rising, school holiday fun up north will likely involve being in the water (unless there are crocs).
Wave Lagoon
Location: Darwin
Cost: Free
There’s something about the water that practically all kids love. We also approve of the chance to tire the kids out before bedtime. Hanging out at Wave Lagoon is probably one of the best free school holiday activities to do in Darwin. This safe wave and swimming lagoon rolls out different wave patterns and includes a shallow water play area for younger children. Just make sure you know all about water safety for kids.
Fish feeding at Aquascene
Location: Darwin
Cost: $43 for a family pass
Kids can choose to feed the fish from the comfort of the concrete stairs of the viewing platform or wade into the water and have them tickle their feet at this wonderful sanctuary.
Things do to in the holidays in South Australia
There’s plenty on offer over the Adelaide school holidays. The hardest part may be choosing what to do.
Copper Coast Miniature Train Rides
Location: Yorke Peninsula
Cost: from $3
The Copper Coast Miniature Train Rides usually runs on the first and third Sunday of the month. Although small, the train is suitable for all ages. Covered footwear is required.
Tree Climb
Location: Adelaide
Cost: from $32
Australia’s first inner-city aerial adventure park built within the natural environment of the Adelaide City Park Lands. There are over 70 obstacles in eight courses to choose from, and this place is open rain, hail or shine. The area also has public BMX bike tracks, a playground, basketball and netball courts, sporting fields, plus an athletics track for your kids to burn off even more energy.
Tasmania holiday ideas 2024-2025
Coming up with things to do in the holidays can be a challenge, but here are some of the best things to do in Tasmania with the kids.
Sheffield Steam Train Rides
Location: Sheffield
Cost: from $4
The Redwater Creek Steam and Heritage Society offer a heritage rail experience through the regular operation of a century-old Krauss locomotive. A miniature train and a number of different model gauge trains are also open.
Tasmazia
Location: Promised Land
Cost: $85 for a family pass
With any luck, the children will be so lost, you don’t have to claim them back till after the school holidays end. In all seriousness, the kids will enjoy exploring one of the world’s largest maze complexes, with a total of eight magical mazes, each completely different from the last! There’s also the quirky model village of Lower Crackpot, built to one-fifth scale, with plenty of unusual sights to see.
Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs
Location: Hastings
Cost: $60 for a family cave tour
If getting lost above ground isn’t your thing, try going underground to the Hastings Caves instead. An easy day trip from Hobart, the area is also home to some thermal springs, with a year-round temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
Unsure when the next school holidays are? Check out our calendar.
