The best school holidays activities in Melbourne

The Melbourne Royal Show is back from September 24 to October 4 at Melbourne Showgrounds, transforming it into a glorious playground of farmyard animals, thrilling rides, fun showbags, yum eats and enough entertainment to keep you busy right until the nightly fireworks. Marvel at the best of the best across everything from art, craft, cookery and woodchopping to dogs, horses, alpacas and cattle. Choose from 400 varieties of showbags ranging from chocolate and lollies to novelty goodies and lifestyle treats. Daredevils can get in line to ride The Warrior and The Beast while kids will love the Paw Patrol Playland. When hunger pangs hit, chow down on delicious new offerings or stay safe with classics like dagwood dogs and fairy floss. Stick around for the jam-packed after-dark program, complete with The Drover’s Tale that celebrates Australia’s pioneering spirit and a fireworks display that’s a fitting finale to a fabulous day out. 

Address: Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Rd, Ascot Vale

Time Out tip: Early-bird prices available until September 21. There’s also a discount if you arrive after 5pm.

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival returns to the Dandenong Ranges from September 12 to October 11. This much-loved festival transforms five acres of farmland into a kaleidoscope of more than one million bulbs in full bloom. There are also food and market stalls, tractor rides and plenty of photo opportunities in those fields of tulips. Make sure to check out Australia's largest wooden clog at the Clog Shop. For more information on tickets, head here.  

Address: 357 Monbulk Rd, Silvan VIC 

Time Out tip: While the tulips are undoubtedly the stars of the show, there's plenty more to enjoy. There are themed weekends: Turkish (September 12-13), Dutch (September 19-20) and Irish (October 10-11); two children’s weeks featuring characters from The Octonauts and Peppa Pig; All That Jazz (September 25-27); and Rock the Fields (October 3-4).

Head to Gumbuya World, just over an hour from Melbourne, to experience eight water slides, three rollercoasters, nine rides, two live shows and over 70 different animals all in one massive location. What's more, there's the Gumbuya Family Fest on during the spring school hols (September 19-October 4) with twilight sessions, movie night and life-like dinosaurs to ensure the kids have a roaring good time. Get your tickets here.

Address: Gumbuya World, 1186 Princes Hwy, Tynong North

Time Out tip: For those wanting to see Gumbuya in a different light, Wildlife by Night runs every Saturday evening, allowing you to spot wombats, Tasmanian devils, masked owls and other nocturnal creatures.

Would you like to see one of Dame Edna Everage's costumes? How about those iconic gold hot pants that Kylie Minogue wore in ‘Spinning Around’? Perhaps the maracas that Peter Allen shook in his 1977 performance of ‘I Go To Rio’? You’re in luck because 50 extraordinary pieces of Australian performing arts history are back in the spotlight at Encore! 50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. This exhibition at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts (AMPA) runs from September 16 to May 9, 2027. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Australian Performing Arts Collection, it showcases the people, performances and productions that have shaped Australia’s cultural history. 

Address: 100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank 

Time Out tip: You’ll also find Helen Reddy’s Grammy Award for ‘I Am Woman’; a personal visual journal compiled by Nick Cave in 1987; and Dame Nellie Melba’s jewel-encrusted silk cloak – and that's just to name a few. Find out more here.

Having undergone a multi-million dollar redevelopment in 2021, Melbourne Skydeck in Eureka Tower remains one of the best ways to discover the city from a dizzying height. Until September 30, they've lined up a Footy Fever Special for $25 that gives adults admission plus a house beer/wine. They've also got Melbourne Upside Down – a 6D cinematic, immersive experience at the Voyager Theatre where you will journey all the way up to level 88. Get the details here. 

Address: 7 Riverside Quay, Southbank

Time Out tip: Take a trip to the Edge – a terrifying experience for all those who dare enter this transparent cube that's suspended almost 300 metres above the street.

Ever wanted to soar above a rainforest canopy or wander beneath the frozen surface of the polar seas? Melbourne Museum invites you to do just that with Our Wondrous Planet, a breathtaking, immersive exhibition celebrating the interconnected magic of life on Earth. Spanning reef, rainforest, ice and soil, this multisensory experience drops visitors into the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Room-sized projections, interactive moments and storytelling bring the natural world to life. Witness the beginnings of a coral reef, come face-to-face with rainforest icons, glide through icy waters and explore hidden root networks and organisms working quietly beneath our feet.

Address: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson St, Carlton 

Time Out tip: Family-friendly, visually spectacular and thought-provoking, this exhibition entertains while leaving plenty to reflect on. Our Wondrous Planet is open daily from from 9am to 5pm at Melbourne Museum. Entry is included with museum admission and you can find out more at the website. 

The Yarra River or Birrarung stretches 242 kilometres from the Yarra Ranges to Port Phillip Bay and to celebrate it, Birrarung Riverfest is returning for a fourth year. Running from September 27 to October 18, it features more than 70 free events along the river, from Warburton to Westgate Park. Comedian, author and broadcaster Sammy J, this year’s Riverfest ambassador. Highlights include an Open Day at Wandersloe Sanctuary and riverside picnic with Yarra riverkeepers on September 27, learn-to-paddle sessions for schoolkids on September 29, an eight-kilometre walk along the Birrarung on September 30, and an evening walk at Finn’s Reserve on October 2 to spot the elusive platypus. There’s also an opportunity to plant indigenous groundcovers and shrubs on October 4. 

Address: Venues around the Yarra River

Time Out tip: Sammy J will MC and perform at River Rhythms, a singer-songwriter competition in Warburton on September 27, before leading the Big Birrarung Paddle on October 10. Volunteers will take to the water in kayaks and rowboats, collecting rubbish from the river as they go. Find out more here. 

Melbourne Zoo's Dino Trail has been extended until October 4, specially for the school holidays. There are more than 30 amazing animatronic dinosaurs waiting to be discovered, plus fossil dig zones and plenty of photo ops. It's also a chance to see four adorable snow leopard cubs (Maya, Kira, Lumi and Sabu), plus giraffe calf Zambezi. Also, children aged 16 or younger can get free entry to Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo over the school holidays (when accompanied by an adult). Make sure you leave enough time to check out your favourite creatures, great and small. Get the details here.

Address: Elliott Ave, Parkville 

Time Out tip: Plan your visit so that you don't miss the informative Animal Talks (giraffes, tigers, meerkats, etc.) held throughout the day.

Fed Square’s free sustainability-focused RESET Festival returns to Melbourne this spring and is designed to make greener living a whole lot more fun – think live music, workshops, swaps, outdoor cinema, family activities and plenty of creative ways to live better every day. The school holidays include the Big Toy Swap on September 23 and upcycling workshops. Kids can also enjoy free outdoor screenings of classics including Flipper (September 30), Free Willy (October 1) and Fly Away Home (October 2).

Address: Around Federation Square

Time Out tip: Make sure to take the kids to Paper Planet from September 28 to October 2 where they can wander through towering cardboard trees and use paper, tape and their imaginations to build new creatures, costumes, stories and environments. For more information, click here.

To get your cherry blossom fix, simply make the one-hour trip from Melbourne to CherryHill Orchards, where hundreds of cherry trees burst into bloom for the annual Blossom Festival. It coincides with the school holidays, making it an excellent excuse for a family day out. Wander beneath the trees with their ethereal white and pink flowers (there are more than 13 varieties of cherry trees here); snap the perfect spring fling pic for the 'gram; and settle in for a scenic picnic. Kids can burn off some energy with games, activities and photo opportunities at the kids hub. Children are free on weekdays (but not on weekends) and your four-legged friends are welcome, too.

Address: 474 Queens Rd, Wandin East 

Time Out tip: The on-site café also serves sweet and savoury treats like CherryHill’s famous cherry ice cream and cherry Spritzers. On weekends and public holidays, vendors and market stallholders add to the festive atmosphere. Cherry blossom season is fleeting, so book your tickets ASAP via the website.

A new exhibition at the Potter Museum of Art delves into the significance of this iconic eucalyptus tree with more than 163 works and five significant new artist commissions. Ngarn Wa’ngal: Art of the gum tree draws on Australian art history and contemporary works from the University of Melbourne's collection, alongside major loans from across the country to explore the tree as a source of creative inspiration. Colonial paintings by John Glover, Eugene von Guérard and Frederick McCubbin sit alongside 20th century works by Arthur Boyd, Hans Heysen, Albert Namatjira, Grace Cossington Smith and Jessie Traill. Translating to “breathing for us” in the Woi Wurrung language, Ngarn Wa’ngal prompts conversations around Indigenous sovereignty, Australian identity, ecology, climate and the global legacy of the eucalyptus. To find out more, visit the Potter Museum of Art website here.

Address: Cnr Swanston St & Masson Rd, Parkville

Time Out tip: The free exhibition will also feature an extensive program of talks, curator-led tours, interdisciplinary discussions, hands-on workshops and guided walks exploring significant gum trees across the Parkville campus. 

If the words “it’s just a flesh wound!” ring a bell then you’ve likely come across the extremely funny 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail or the Eric Idle-penned musical Monty Python’s Spamalot based on the cult hit. Now, the knights of the Round Table are saddling up once again for a limited run in Melbourne from September 16 to October 4. This latest iteration delivers all the original over-the-top musical numbers from composer John Du Perez, mediaeval mayhem and fourth-wall-breaking gags that made the show a hit. Plus, plenty of Monty Python silliness including the beloved anthem “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”. Australian actor/comedian Stephen Curry makes his musical theatre debut as King Arthur. Joining him on stage is Jaz Flowers (Hairspray) as The Lady of the Lake.

Address: Athenaeum Theatre, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne

Time Out tip: Spamalot runs for 140 minutes and is suitable for ages 12 and up. Fnd more information here.

A major new exhibition at Geelong Gallery puts Paul Durand-Ruel, the dealer who backed the Impressionists and made the movement possible in the spotlight. Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel brings together more than 70 paintings across five galleries, many from private French collections and never before seen in Australia. Alongside household names like Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro, the show celebrates a second generation of artists long overlooked, including Albert André and Gustave Loiseau. Find out more here.

Address: 55 Little Malop St, Geelong 

Time Out tip: Beyond the works on display, highlights in the exhibition include rare decorative panels created for Durand-Ruel’s Paris apartment and a partial recreation of the salon where he hosted collectors, offering a glimpse into the world that helped shape modern art.

Springtime is Screamtime at Luna Park is where classic rides and spring fun meet this school holidays. Open daily for the school hols, kids will love that the dodgem cars are back after being restored inside the all-new Luna Palace Arcade. Make sure to set aside time to ride the Ghost Train or the classic carousel. Add lively entertainment and plenty of thrills, dagwood dogs and donuts to eat, and you’ve got one high-energy day out for the whole family. 

Address: 18 Lower Esplanade, St Kilda

Time Out tip: If you go to Luna park a lot, get your money's worth and book an Annual Pass. 

Actress Elizabeth Taylor’s stunning diamond and ruby necklace. Dazzling tiaras worn by singer Rihanna. Princess Margaret’s rose-shaped diamond brooch. Treasured pieces owned by Australia's first international opera singer (and beloved Melburnian) Dame Nellie Melba. The NGV’s blockbuster Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Cartier, gives you a chance to see some of the world’s most famous jewels on display until October 4. The exhibition brings together nearly 400 jewels, gemstones, watches and decorative objects, many of which have never travelled to Australia before.

Address: NGV, 180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne 

Time Out tip: Check out the iconic ‘Tutti Frutti’ collection with colourful rubies, emeralds and sapphires, as well as timeless timepieces and contemporary creations featuring Australian opals from Lightning Ridge.

Returning from September 29 to October 18, Melbourne Fringe Festival is three weeks of audacious art, kooky performance and out-there experiences at venues across Melbourne and beyond. It gives independent artists a platform to experiment, take risks and tell stories from the margins. Expect boundary-pushing performances and genre-defying works that challenge expectations and spark curiosity. 

Address: Venues across Melbourne

Time Out tip: Celebrating its 10th season, Deadly Fringe showcases bold new First Nations work. Don't miss Dhandha/Campfire by Joel Bray Dance, a free participatory installation at Fed Square combining light, sound, sculpture and daily performance rituals around a sculptural campfire. Take a look at the program and lock in your tickets via the Melbourne Fringe website. 

Science during the school holidays? When it's as interactive and interesting as the stuff they've got in Scienceworks, it's a great day out. The spring school holiday program runs from September 19 to October 4 and shines a light on the science and magic behind colour, light, vision, and illusions. Make sure to visit the interactive exhibition Colour: See the World in a New Light and book into a free colour workshop.

Address: 2 Booker St, Spotswood 

Time Out tip: Become a Museum Member and visit the museum for FREE these school holidays (and every day!).

Code Camp is back these winter school holidays with a fun, hands-on program where kids aged five to 13 can build games, program robots and unleash their creativity. From workshops suited for younger kids like Little Coders and Spark to fan favourites inspired by Minecraft and the new Roblox Studio Designers camp that gives kids the chance to work like real game developers, there’s something for every skill level.  

Address: Various locations across Melbourne + online

Time Out tip: Code Camp also offers Animation Minis for kids who love storytelling, craft and technology. Find out about all their courses here.

Here's a fun fact for you: our city is home to a flourishing herd of Asian elephants at Werribee Open Range Zoo. You can now see the elephants up close – as well as southern white rhino Nyah who has just arrived all the way from Auckland. In addition to this, little ones will love Dinos After Dark and the Dusk Safari, both on during the winter school holidays from July 4 to 11. You can also explore wide open savannahs and get up close to incredible wildlife. During the school holidays, kids under 16 can visit for free. A free 40-minute Safari Tour on a bus is included in your admission price. Get the full school holiday program here.

Address: K Rd, Werribee South

Time Out tip: Please allow extra time travelling to the Zoo due to roadworks on K Road. 

Sometimes, it helps to look at the world from a different angle – upside-down, perhaps? At this new experience that's opened  underneath the (now closed, but soon-to-be reopened) Melbourne Star Observation Wheel, you'll certainly be able to see things from a different point of view. The inverted house experience, House Down Under, brings topsy-turvy fun to Docklands. From the outside, the house appears to have dropped from the sky, Wizard of Oz-style, while inside you can capture surreal photos.

Address: 101 Waterfront Way, Docklands

Time Out tip: Made for interaction and imagination, get upside down with gadgets and gizmos in the house for the full experience. Kids under four years are free. 

The first Australian SuperPark opened in Melbourne's western suburbs at Highpoint Shopping Centre. Here, kids can run, climb and jump across a whopping 2,300 metres and choose from 17 movement-based activities in the Adventure Area, Games Arena and Freestyle Zone. SuperPark activities include an indoor pedal car track, a ninja track obstacle course, an interactive trampoline game, ten-pin bowling, a digital basketball game and a world-first footy game where kids can test their AFL skills. 

Address: Shop L07, 6201/200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong

Time Out tip: Being indoors makes it the perfect place to go if the weather turns wet and windy. 

Catch some thrills in the air at an indoor trampoline park. On top of being super fun, it's also a form of exercise in disguise – it's a great workout for building strength, coordination and balance. In the words of that House of Pain song 'Jump Around': Get up, stand up, throw your hands up/If ya got the feelin', jump up towards the ceilin'.

Address: Various

Time Out tip: Different play areas cater to different age groups and skill levels, so find one that suits your child.