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
Spring is the great 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:
Playtopia
Location: Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane
Cost: free
Designed to captivate children aged 5–12, Playtopia offers a diverse range of activities tailored to ignite their imagination, foster creativity and encourage social interaction. Each day introduces new themes, ensuring an ever-evolving landscape of fun and learning.
Bluey’s Big Play
Location: Mackay
Cost: from $54.90
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 first 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.
Dirranbandi Show
Location: Dirranbandi
Cost: from $5 for children 17 years and under
With horse, cattle and sheep events, fashion parades and entertainment, the Dirranbandi Show is good fun for the entire family. You can also enjoy an impressive display of arts and crafts, cooking, preserves, floral art, wool, cut flowers and much more.
Victoria school holiday ideas
You could spend some quality time with your children exploring the many Melbourne laneways while sipping hot chocolate these 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 2026
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:
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!
Sail Port Stephens
Location: Port Stephens
Cost: various
The event offers great sailing for all classes of boats plus a vibrant social and entertainment program. It’s family-friendly, affordable and fun.
Pick your own nuts at Sassafras Nuts
Location: Sassafras
Cost: from $5
At Sassafras Nut Farm, you come for the fun of picking your own chestnuts and walnuts. It allows families and friends to come together and connect with nature and the source of your food. It gives you quality control (you choose the nuts you desire) and a sense of accomplishment harvesting your own food.
Things to do in the holidays: ACT 2026
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.
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.
Questacon: National Science and Technology Centre
Location: Canberra
Cost: $73.40 for a family pass
With its many interactive and colourful galleries celebrating and teaching science and technology, Questacon is a fantastic visit for the whole family.
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 2026 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.
Fremantle international street arts festival
Location: Freemantle
Cost: free
Each year over the Easter long weekend, the streets of Fremantle are transformed into an open-air theatre of the amazing, weird and wacky, while Fremantle’s famous alfresco dining steps up a notch, with eateries extending into the streets.
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 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.
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.
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.
Pick your own apples
Location: Lenswood, Adelaide Hills
Cost: from $3
Pick your own apples in the Adelaide Hills. Enjoy a day out immersed in agriculture through learning about how apples are grown and seeing the behind-the-scenes working of the commercial apple orchard.
Tasmania holiday ideas 2026
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.
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.
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.
Bugs
Location: Launceston
Cost: free
Through hands-on activities, games and interactive displays, discover amazing bug superpowers and learn to love nature’s little helpers.
Unsure when the next school holidays are? Check out our calendar.
