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.
Halfway through the school year and time for some well-deserved break for the kiddos.
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
There’s plenty of cheap school holiday activities but if you’re looking for something a little bit more special:
Lifeline Bookfest
Location: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Cost: free entry
Lifeline Bookfests are run all over Queensland helping to raise funds for Lifeline services. You’ll find hardback and paperback novels, children’s books, non-fiction books, games, puzzles and more. Two different halls with different pricing ($2.50 section and high-quality section).
Dreamworld After Dark
Location: Gold Coast
Cost: to be confirmed (Dreamworld pass required)
See the park in a whole new light! With exclusive night-time access to thrilling attractions, dazzling entertainment, and delicious eats, it’s your chance to explore Dreamworld under the stars.
Tuff Nutterz
Location: Toowoomba
Cost: from $25
Enjoy Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course, 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.
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:
Rome: Empire, Power, People
Location: Melbourne
Cost: $15 for children 16 years & under
Featuring original statues, mosaics, frescoes, jewellery and everyday objects from the humblest to the most sumptuous, this Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is a vibrant exploration of Rome’s political, cultural and social life.
School holiday taste & create rocky road workshops
Location: Great Ocean Road
Cost: $24
Taste your way through 12 of The Chocolateries most-popular handcrafted chocolates, then get creative and make your own Rocky Road masterpiece. Choose from dozens of exotic ingredients and blend with their couverture milk, dark or white chocolate.
Disney On Ice presents Magic in the Stars
Location: Melbourne
Cost: from $35.20
This all-new production brings the brightest Disney stars to life through cutting-edge figure skating, acrobatics, unexpected stunts, thrilling special effects, eye-catching costumes and stunning set designs. Join for a magical journey with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy through timeless tales and today’s favourites.
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:
Festival of W
Location: Wagga Wagga
Cost: various
Lights, ice skating, live music, winter eats and more. Move into winter in Wagga Wagga. Held during the school holidays for the whole family to enjoy.
Disney’s The Lion King
Location: Sydney
Cost: from $55
Prepare for a spectacle far beyond your imagination as you follow the powerful story of Simba as he journeys from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands. Seen by over 124 million people worldwide, this landmark musical combines breathtaking visual artistry, unforgettable music and a deeply moving story that has captured hearts across generations.
Snow Time in the Garden
Location: Hunter Valley
Cost: from $97 for a family pass
Watch Pokolbin transform into a festive wonderland, featuring a real ice-skating rink, a giant 45m ice toboggan and snow play zones for the whole family.
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.
Mini-Minties: School holiday program
Location: Canberra
Cost: $10
Investigate the exciting world of coins, design your own coin, learn about the animals found on our circulating coins as well as some unusual animals on other coins, and more school holiday fun workshops.
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.
Corin Forest snowplay
Location: Paddys River
Cost: from $27.50
Corin Forest is a family-friendly alpine resort located just 45 minutes from central Canberra, offering affordable, beginner-friendly snow play, tobogganing and ski lessons. Surrounded by the Tidbinbilla Mountain Ranges, it features a dedicated snowplay area.
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.
Pokemon and Pizza Day
Location: Perth
Cost: $22
Come and play all the Pokemon-themed games including: Pokemon Stadium 1&2 for N64, Pokemon Colosseum for the GameCube, Pokemon Red, Blue Silver and Gold for the Gameboy (played on the Super Nintendo System) ,Pokemon Tournament for the WiiU. There will also be Pokemon Origami activities, Pokemon Card Drawing and Pokeball Diorama Building.
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).
Alice Springs Show
Location: Alice Springs
Cost: $75 for a family pass
The Alice Springs Show is Central Australia’s largest annual community event. Celebrating the region’s outback spirit, it features two fun-filled days of classic agricultural exhibits, thrilling rides, showbags, live entertainment and epic community competitions.
NT Kart Championships
Location: Darwin
Cost: Free
The Championships will showcase some of Australia’s most talented kart racers, from rising junior stars through to experienced senior drivers. Spectators can expect three days of exciting wheel to wheel racing, close competition and high-speed action.
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.
Illuminate
Location: Adelaide
Cost: various
Wander in the heart of the city with City Lights and through Night Visions at Adelaide Botanic Garden, where sound and colour ripple through the landscape, drawing you in at every step. Gather your crowd for playful, augmented experiences, build cheerful memories and warm up along the City Lights trail at welcoming pitstops.
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.
Cuttlefest
Location: Whyalla
Cost: various
Each winter, Whyalla hosts one of nature’s most extraordinary events as tens of thousands of Australian Giant Cuttlefish gather to breed. Cuttlefest celebrates this remarkable migration—a unique winter festival held each June and July, dedicated to showcasing these fascinating marine creatures and the environment they call home.
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.
Bicheno Beams
Location: Bicheno
Cost: free
Bicheno Beams is a community-run, award-winning winter festival that draws locals and visitors together under the night sky, featuring an immersive light and sound show. With alternating shows, it’s designed to be a memorable winter off-season experience for all ages.
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.
Clay Play
Location: Campbell Town
Cost: $20
A great activity for kids and adults to make something out of clay. Make anything you like with the allocated clay during the hour. Use of all tools, studio space and guidance as required.
Unsure when the next school holidays are? Check out our calendar.
