melbourne - school holidays spots
Melbourne Summer School Holidays Edition - Thu 20th Dec 2018 to Tues 29th Jan 2019
art galleries & libraries
Julian Opie & Julia Opie: Studio for Kids - Enjoy Julian’s individual style in both the main exhibition and the kids installation. If you’re in town, do checkout this great artist and have fun in the kids installation. Julian Opie, one of Britain’s leading contemporary artists has been making portraits since the 1990s. Julian’s bold style sometimes has him reducing people he sees into simple shapes. Kids will love the Julian Opie interactive exhibition for families, featuring hands-on and digital activities developed by the NGV and the artist. In this studio, Julian Opie invites children (and adults) to create a portrait in a new way. Kids can try constructing a portrait using felt shapes or create a digital self-portrait using only line and colour. Free entry to both exhibition. Our review here.
Escher x nendo | Between Two Worlds presents more than 160 of Dutch artist M.C. Escher’s works in this world premiere exhibition. From his iconic endless staircases to works of infinite, tessellating patterns – in an exhibition especially designed for the NGV by highly-acclaimed Japanese design studio, nendo. Kids will love the optical illusions. Ticket prices vary. More info here.
events
Alice in Wonderland at Rippon Lea - Lewis Carroll’s classic story, Alice in Wonderland, is coming to life in the beautiful surrounds of Rippon Lea House and Gardens this Summer holidays, and all the crazy characters will be there! The Australian Shakespeare Company proudly presents Alice in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll’s classic story, Alice in Wonderland, is coming to life in the beautiful surrounds of Rippon Lea House & Gardnens this Summer holidays, and all the crazy characters will be there! Join Alice as she goes down the rabbit hole and follows the White Rabbit into the entertaining and magical world of Wonderland. She’ll get taller and smaller, dance with the Dodo, talk with a Caterpillar, sneeze with the Duchess, have tea with the Mad Hatter, and keep her head from the Queen of Hearts. Mon 8th Jan to Sunday 28th Jan 2019. Various sessions. Tickets from $25 per child (under 12 months free) and $90 Family (4 people). More info here.
Sarah & Duck Live Tour - Following a hugely successful tour of the UK, the enchanting world of the CBeebies’ hit animated series Sarah & Duck will be brought to life on stage for the first time in Australia this summer! Kids aged 3 to 6 years will love the Sarah & Duck show! Showing at the Clocktower Centre Tue 22nd Jan to Thu 24th Jan 2019 and Karralyka Centre in Ringwood Fri 25th Jan and Sun 27th Jan 2019. Tickets from $29 + booking fee. More info here.
Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus and Invisible Orchestra at Arts Centre Melbourne - Kids will love a giant game of musical chairs with the ‘Invisible Orchestra’ where the music starts when you sit down! Run by Polyglot Theatre with special guests ‘The Listies’ and Tamara Rewse. Kids can help compose a symphonic masterpiece by sitting on the musical chairs. Families will enjoy Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus straight from the score and onto the stage, the man known as Mozart appears amid a storm of powder, tumbling and twirling. Musical mayhem and movement fuse in this family show with a circus twist! To those who know him, he is Wolfgang, the dart-playing, pun-loving ratbag. More info here.
gardens
museums
Make Believe at Melbourne Museum - Make Believe: The Story of the Myer Christmas Windows is a magical, glittering, experience for children and adults alike, inviting lovers of this cherished Melbourne tradition to reconnect with the nostalgia of their childhood, and offering younger visitors the chance to experience it all with fresh eyes. A feast of magical models, working drawings, beloved books and playful puppets. You will see more than 250 quirky and kitsch characters from windows past, along with sketches, prototypes, props and animatronics. Miniature worlds of wit, wonder and whimsy based on children’s storybooks unveiling the astonishing skill and artistry of the makers and creators. Together they tell the rich heritage of the Myer Christmas Windows. Opens 17th November 2018 to Saturday 9th Feb 2019. 10 am to 5pm. Included with Museum entry 0 to $15. More info here.
Scienceworks -
Immigration Museum -
programs
ArtPlay - Various sessions. Various ArtPlay these holidays. Find a workshop, event or exhibition that suits your age group, time and date. Prices vary. Ages vary. More info here.
ACMI -
Chadstone -
District Docklands -
Eastland -
Melbourne Gaol - Visitors to the Old Melbourne Gaol will have the chance to meet the real Ned Kelly in an all-new virtual reality experience opening in December for a limited-time only. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to come face-to-face with one of Australia’s most notorious criminals, Think You Know Me? will take you up close and personal with the renowned outlaw during an intimate virtual reality encounter. Ages 12+. Children aged five and over will also have the chance to have their own Ned Kelly encounter, with A Word From Ned; a code-breaking scavenger hunt around every nook and cranny of the Gaol to discover an important message from Ned’s side of the story. More info here.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria - These school holidays, escape the everyday for the green retreats at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens, where young ones of all ages can engage in nature-based experiences. A variety of FREE and affordable activities – from drop-in craft workshops, guided tours in remnant bushland, to the night sky and heritage telescopes.
Science Play Kids - We loved taking part in the last Science Play Kids school holiday sessions. Little Miss loved it so much, she wanted to go back the next day! (Our review here). Head to their website, to book a spot or two for the kids in January. But be quick, they sell out fast. Great for kids 2 to 10 yrs. Each class runs for an hour, has 2-3 hands on experiments that foster creative thinking and problem solving in a fun and MESSY way. More info here.
zoos - aquariums - farms - markets
Chesterfield Farm - Pop by the Chesterfield Farm with the kids and see all your favourite farmyard animals, jump on the farm tractor, see the Baby Animal Nursery, milk a cow and feed lots of animals. Our review here.
Collingwood Children's Farm - Kids can enjoy a day at the farm every day of the holidays and older kids can take part in school holiday programs. More info here. Bookings essentials. Our review here.
Healesville Sanctuary New Nature Play Space - Let the kids run wild in our brand new enchanted Casuarina Forest play space. Nature inspired play will include exploring the awesome rock elements, sand pits, sculptures, water pumps and a rustic backyard cubby! Mums, dads and carers can also grab a coffee or try something from the new menu at the Pavilion Café while the kids explore. This new space is wheelchair accessible for participation in sand and water play. Enjoy activities from 11am to 2pm during the holidays. These will include DIY Gunyah making, Gunyah means shelter in Wurundjeri language, face-painting, didgeridoo workshops and bush explorer walks. Our review of the New Nature Play Space here. More info here.
Legoland Discovery Centre Melbourne - Underwater Quest - Visitors can create exciting new creatures, ships and submarines to explore the seas and be amazed as projected animation brings the water and LEGO models to life. The new experience is made up of over 200,000 LEGO blocks and it took the dedicated team at Legoland over 700 hours to complete the build. Our review here. To see our review of Legoland Discovery Melbourne, head here.
Melbourne Zoo -
Werribee Zoo -
For more ideas of what to do with the kids in Melbourne, checkout our Website, our Daily Spots List, CBD Spots or Blog.