School holiday activities
The Victorian School Holidays will start on 23 December - are you ready to entertain your children? Below are a range of activities you might consider to entertain them with over the school holiday period.
Note: this page will be updated progessively.
The Arts Centre Kids Program
Angelina Ballerina's Big Audition - Following Angelina Ballerina's first real live ballet, Angelina and her friends return to the stage as she prepares to audition for the prestigious Camembert Academy of Performing Arts. 24-28 Jan 2012.
Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play - Based on the characters created by Lauren Child. Adapted by Jonathan Lloyd. 20 Dec 2011-1 Jan 2012.
Off The Wall - Kids will explore their creativity in a two–day workshop at the Arts Centre and NVG International. In Off The Wall, kids will use the magical work of Indian artist Ranjani Shettar as inspiration. 18-19 Jan 2012.
Siblings In Sync - These workshops for young people with special needs and their siblings promote shared abilities and co-operation through creative music making. 18 & 20 Jan 2012
Tangle - Tangle is an enormous, fun, messy experiment where kids and their families create a giant abstract tangled artwork on the Arts Centre’s Forecourt. It’s a visual arts installation, performance and playground that everyone owns! 18-22 Jan 2012.
Arts, Crafts & Mixed
ArtPlay - A huge variety of hands-on activities to keep kids inspired during school holidays.
Blanc Canvas Studios - provides instructional and entertaining lessons for children aged 4 years and over, The next holiday program starts on Monday 16 January 2012.
Gasworks - The Gasworks Children's Holiday Program runs every school holidays for children aged 3 to 14.
GlazeIt Studio - Pottery Painting at GlazeIt Studio is a unique, fun and creative activity for all ages and occasions, which involves decorating ready-to-paint ceramics into beautiful and usable pottery pieces.
Exhibitions
Explore-a-saurus - Discover a world of dinosaurs at Scienceworks as you explore the science of palaeontology.
Perception Deception - Is your ‘reality’ different from that of those around you?
Star Voyager: Exploring Space on Screen - Journey through the fact and fiction of space exploration from Fritz Lang to the moon landing, to Star Trek and Avatar.
Films
ACMI - Australian Centre for the Moving Image
Galleries
Heide Museum of Modern Art
- Kids & Families - Heide offers a range of activities for kids and families including artist-led workshops that draw on Heide's exhibitions, history and gardens.
- School Holiday Activities - These hands-on activities, guided by art educators, provide children with opportunities to engage with contemporary artists and art practices. Children are shown a variety of art making techniques and encouraged to use their imagination in activities appropriate to their age group.
NGV Kids Space - NGV Kids Space at NGV International is the second dedicated gallery designed for children of up to 8 years old and their families. Featuring works from NGV collections and exhibitions, children and families can have fun together as they discover art, explore multimedia and hands-on activities while sharing new ideas.
NGV Schools Programs - NGV Schools Programs are educational sessions for students and teachers in the Gallery that are led by an Educator. We advise groups (led or self-staffed) to book well in advance to reduce waiting times and ensure access.
Museums
Museum Victoria
- Immigration Museum - Summer School Holiday Program
- Melbourne Museum - Summer School Holiday Program
- Scienceworks - Summer School Holiday Program
National Wool Museum
- Amazing Backyard Adventures - 25 November 2011 to 26 February 2012.
State Library of Victoria - School Holiday Programs
Nature and Wildlife
City of Melbourne Junior Rangers. Join the City of Melbourne Park Rangers in Melbourne's beautiful and historic parks and gardens for summer fun and adventure. Suitable for children aged 5 - 12 years, this environmental program incorporates art and craft, guided walks and story telling. Commencing in Fitzroy Gardens, Monday 9 - 13 January 2012 and Carlton Gardens, Monday 16 - 20 January 2012. Bookings essential via parkrangers@melbourne.vic.gov.au or (03) 9658 9658.
Collingwood Children's Farm - Open every day of the year.
Fitzroy Gardens - Visit Cook's Cottage.
Junior Rangers - Parks Victoria - Parks Victoria's Junior Ranger program is an exciting environmental program encouraging primary-aged children and their families to explore and have fun in Victoria's parks and reserves by participating in a wealth of activities during the school holidays. 23 December 2011 - 31 January 2012.
Marine Discovery Centre - The Marine Discovery Centre conducts special programs for adults and children throughout the year during school holidays and on weekends. These programs aim to provide people with the opportunity to experience the wonders of the marine environment.
Melbourne Aquarium - Wander through glass tunnels and see thousands of creatures, including sharks and stingrays, that live in the Southern Ocean.
Phillip Island - See the penguins.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne - Explore 363 hectares of untouched heathlands, wetlands and woodlands, and see bird and animal life, including several rare and endangered species.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne - Children's Garden
Summer by the Sea 2012 - DSE's annual festival of all things marine and coastal! From January 2 - 22, Victorian's can participate in range of family friendly activities stretching right across the coastline. Activities include rockpool rambles, kayak adventures, marine monitoring, nature walks, geology adventures and snorkelling safaris.
Urban Penguins - Take a cruise on the Penguin Express and see little penguins just 5 kilometres from Melbourne's city centre.
Zoos Victoria - School Holiday Programs
Out and About
Federation Square - Summer School Holiday Program - With a little planning a day out in the city doesn't have to be expensive. Throughout the school holidays Fed Square has a jam-packed program of free and affordable activities to delight visitors of all ages.
Giant Sky Wheel - Geelong Waterfront
Luna Park - Ride all day or get your skates on and push, glide or swing-roll into Luna Freeze.
Puffing Billy - Get on board Puffing Billy.
Queen Victoria Market - School Holidays are bigger at Queen Victoria Market! Let the kids have some fun at one of the most exciting and colourful destinations in Melbourne with a range of FREE activities for kids to enjoy in a secure and safe environment!
Sovereign Hill - Pan for gold or chat with the storekeepers and miners at Sovereign Hill.
SkyHigh - Enjoy the stunning views, an exquisite English garden, Adventurous SkyHigh Maze and links to trail walks in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Steam Train - All aboard for family fun.
V/Line:
Visit Melbourne - There is so much to see and do in Melbourne and with V/Line you can enjoy discounted entry at some of the best attractions.
Visit regional Victoria - There's something for everyone to enjoy in regional Victoria. Check out the special events and some of our favourite attractions.
Wonderland Fun Park - Santa's Christmas Spectacular, 8-24 December 2011.
Performance
The Christmas Show 2011 - The Christmas Show is a live stage show packed with excitement, music and fun which will bring the magic of Christmas to life. Starring Santa, Mrs Claus and a host of loveable characters, this show will be an instant hit with both the young and young at heart. 6-18 December 2011.
Sports and Active
Ice Skating - Icehouse offers two Olympic-sized rinks, roving entertainers during the holidays, live DJ'd skating sessions for late afternoon/early evening for older kids and teens, a tiny tots area for the non-skaters, plus lessons.
Skateboarding at Riverslide Skate Park - in the Alexandra Gardens, is a five-minute skate from Flinders Street Railway Station.
SoccerWise - Bialik College, Hawthorn East. Limited places - bookings essential. For bookings email bookings@soccerwise.com.au or call 0419 253 837.
Sport Camp, AllSportz - Suited to children between 2-10 years old, our unique school holiday program will immerse every child in to a world of sports, fun and excitement.
Swimming
Tandivale Equestrian Centre - Full and half day holiday programs available from January 9 to 27 for children aged 6 and up, no riding experience is required. Full days $110 per day, half days $60. Discounts are given for multiple bookings of the full day program, and for group bookings of 5 or more in either program.
Visit your local council website for pools and activities in your area.
Further information
Event not listed? - Email infovic@dbi.vic.gov.au and tell us about your school holiday event.
Disclaimer - We reserve the right to not publish all events.
