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 through the very first term of the year. The wonderful thing about the autumn school holidays is that the weather is not too warm, not too cool, 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
With many communities still recovering from Cyclone Alfred’s visit, school holiday events may be a little muted. It’s important, however, to provide children with plenty of love and warmth. For those with younger kids, here’s something a little special:
Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out Live
Location: Brisbane
Cost: from $44.90
A live musical stage show featuring wonderful puppets and mascot costume characters, based on the hit TV series. Prepare to sing and dance with colourful scarecrows, feed the penguins, build big sandcastles and even swim in the sea. Packed full of songs, dance and muddy puddles, Peppa Pig’s Fun Day Out LIVE! guarantees giggles and snorts for all Peppa fans and is a perfect introduction to theatre.
Victoria school holiday ideas
You could spend some quality time with your children exploring the many Melbourne laneways while sipping hot chocolate these autumn 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:
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Location: Melbourne
Cost: various
One of the three largest comedy festivals in the world. Held annually in Melbourne, the festival features a rich mix of stand-up comedy, theatre, street performances and plenty of kid- and family-friendly events.
Rip Curl Pro
Location: Bells Beach
Cost: various
The longest-running event on the World Surf League’s (WSL) elite Championship Tour. Bells Beach means history and heritage for both world surfing and Australian sport. This is the first stop of the Australian leg of the WSL Championship Tour.
Skyhigh Mount Dandenong
Location: Mount Dandenong
Cost: free
Every week day there’s so much happening; meet animals up close, take part in treasure hunts, enjoy a pony ride, watch the stilt walkers or play mini golf.
New South Wales school holiday activities 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:
Spellbound magic and illusion show
Location: touring NSW
Cost: from $70
Witness levitations, impossible vanishes, mentalism and a death-defying escape as illusionist Apollo Jackson pushes the boundaries of reality and distorts your senses. With magic and thrills suitable for all ages, this family-friendly show will leave you wondering: Will you dare to believe your eyes?
Sydney Family Show
Location: Sydney
Cost: from $15
Sydney’s best-value Easter show with rides, games, show bags, stage shows, animals & so much more!
Tuff Nutterz
Location: Glenworth Valley (Central Coast)
Cost: from $25
Tuff Nutterz is a fantastic family-friendly event that promises a day filled with fun and excitement for everyone. The event features Australia’s biggest inflatable obstacle course (300m long) and other inflatable games, which are sure to provide an exhilarating experience for both kids and adults alike.
Things to do in the holidays: ACT 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.
Tuff Nutterz
Location: Canberra
Cost: from $25
Tuff Nutterz is a fantastic family-friendly event that promises a day filled with fun and excitement for everyone. The event features Australia’s biggest inflatable obstacle course (300m long) and other inflatable games, which are sure to provide an exhilarating experience for both kids and adults alike.
Falling Leaf Festival
Location: Tumut
Cost: free
Technically not in the ACT, but with a free rocking stage, delicious food and drinks, kids entertainment, market stalls, roving entertainment, fun run, live theatre, cultural and creative workshops and so much more, the Falling Leaf Festival is worth the drive to experience.
Western Australia 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: Touring WA
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.
Empress Joséphine’s Garden
Location: Freemantle
Cost: $15 for adults
Making its global debut, Empress Joséphine’s Garden is a modern, immersive large-screen digital experience exploring the little-known story of Empress Joséphine Bonaparte’s garden in Paris. Discover how it was filled with flora and fauna from around the globe, including black swans, kangaroos, emus and hundreds of exotic plants from Western Australia.
Northern Territory school holiday activities
There’s much to do this school holiday in the Northern Territory. With the temperatures still warm, school holiday fun up north will likely involve being in the water (unless there are crocs).
Parrtjima: A festival in light
Location: Alice Springs
Cost: Free
An extraordinary free 10-night festival in the stunning Red Centre, with an incredible program featuring light installations, artworks, workshops, music and talks.
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.
Barossa Vintage Festival
Location: Tamunda, Barossa
Cost: various
The Barossa Vintage Festival is where the best of Barossa comes out to play! Think one-of-kind food events, grape stomping competitions, over-flowing markets, live music in vineyard ambience.
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.
Salt Festival
Location: Port Lincoln, Eyre Peninsula
Cost: various
A festival celebrating possibility and the astonishing things which happen when innovative people come together. A 10-day festival set on the Southern Eyre Peninsula that showcases the best of the region and a host of incredible acts from around Australia.
Tasmania holiday ideas 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.
Weekend at Burnie
Location: Burnie
Cost: various
This family-friendly event celebrates the best of Tasmania’s North West Coast, offering delicious food, refreshing beverages, and live music, all set against stunning ocean views.
Tasmanian Autumn Festival
Location: Derwent Valley & Central Highlands
Cost: various
The Tasmanian Autumn Festival is more than just a festival. It’s an invitation to explore the stunning landscapes of Tasmania, where you can see the vibrant foliage, fungi, and fruits that adorn the forests, fields, and gardens. It’s an opportunity to taste the local produce, wine, and art that reflect the diversity and creativity of the community. It’s a chance to discover the stories, traditions, and heritage that make this region unique and unforgettable.
Unsure when the next school holidays are? Check out our calendar.
