The White Hat Guide to 20 Things to do with children during the School Holidays in Melbourne

 

Some forthcoming events:

-->

1. Go to the State Library - The State Library is like a large free theme park for thinking kids. There you will find numbers of major displays, the Stawell Gallery which has art associated with the growth of Melbourne, the Keith Murdoch Gallery with changing displays around various topics, a significant chess section where you can sit down for a game, activity areas for children and, of course, books. During the school holiday period, the State Library usually has additional activities planned for children.
2. Watch a flying display and get up close to the pilot before or after the display. The RAAF Museum at Point Cook has flying displays several times a week and they are free. The kids can also get to examine all manner of flying machines from the very earliest to the present day.
3. Go to a children's farm. White Hat can recommend the Collingwood Children's Farm as a great place to take kids to experience a farm in a bushland setting in the inner suburbs. For those in the north there is a children's farm at Bundoora Park and for those in the east there is a farm attached to Westerfolds Park.
4. The Melbourne Museum is free for children and a small entry fee applies for adults. There is a children's activity centre in the shape of a giant Rubix Cube as well as the standard exhibits. The dinosaurs are always a favourite. During the school holidays the Melbourne Museum usually has additional activities planned for children.
5. During the Christmas holidays, got to a performance of Wind in the Willows at the Botanic Gardens. (More information below)
6. Ice skating is usually popular with kids of all ages. The new Icehouse in the Docklands has plenty of facilities, and if you are on a tight budget, White Hat can recommend the half price Tuesday nights. There are several other ice skating facilities in the suburbs of Melbourne and you can find them at The White Hat Guide to Ice Skating in Melbourne.
7. Rainy days can prove a problem, but you might find some useful suggestions at The White Hat Guide to 50 Things to do on a Rainy Day in Melbourne.
8. Most kids love steam trains whether it is for their mechanics or for their sense of romance and mystery. Many steam train and miniature train locations have additional running times during school holidays. You can find numbers of suggestions at The White Hat Guide to Steam Trains in Melbourne and Country Victoria.
9. ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) at Federation Square has lots of exhibitions and interactive displays based around video, film and video games. Some are free and other have charges attached.  Take your child along and they may come back having taken the first steps towards becoming a famous film director and supporting you royally in your retirement. Then again they might just say "boring" and you'll have to tear up that letter of resignation.
10. Go cycling. Melbourne has some great bicycle paths and there is the opportunity to hire a bike if you don't already have one. There are plenty of stop-off places on the way for an ice cream for the kids and coffee or a glass of wine for you, as well as playgrounds and other attractions. You can find some suggestions at The White Hat Guide to Cycling in Melbourne.
11. Luna Park in St Kilda is an old favourite. It may not have the same glitz of a Gold Coast theme park, but White Hat's theory is the more the kids scream on the scary rides, the less they have to scream at home.
12. Stay home with some books, puzzles and games. Not all kids get their jollies out of making loud noises in public places. A favourite series of Melbourne books which have fascinated kids for over a century is Coles Funny Picture Book. See if you can get hold of a copy. If the kids don't like it you're sure to find someone who gets a giggle out of it.
13. Scienceworks is full of things to climb on, pull apart, put together, figure out how they work and stimulate an enquiring mind. It is free for children and a small entry fee applies for adults.
14. Go to the zoo. The Melbourne Zoo in Royal Park and Victoria's Open Range Zoo near Werribee both have plenty to occupy kids for half a day or more. Both zoos usually have extra children's activities during school holidays.
15. The atrium at Crown Casino usually has a regular free animation and light show suitable for children occurring about every half hour throughout the day. If you are in the vicinity of the casino, the large gas flares on the riverfront go through a ten minute cycle on the hour starting at 6pm.
16. The City Library in Flinders Lane usually has holiday activities for children including story time for the littlies.
17. The Melbourne Aquarium has plenty to divert kids of all ages and usually has additional school holiday activities.
18. Check your local council. Councils often sponsor school holiday activities for children. You can usually look them up on the internet or get more information at your local library which is also likely to have special school holiday activities.
19. Take a day trip in the country. Some child-friendly destinations include Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs and Healesville Sanctuary.
20. Go swimming. Many large suburban swimming centres are indoor with heated pools and go out of their way to provide a fun environment for kids with quirky water features, slides and so on. Several that come to mind are the State Swimming Centre in Albert Park, the large leisure centre adjacent to Highpoint Shopping Centre and Melton Waves.

 

1. Take your child's bestest-bestest friend with you. That way, it doesn't matter where you go or what you do, they will make their own entertainment in their own special world.

Family Bike Rides The Melton Cycling Club operates family bike rides along bike baths in Melton and Caroline Springs and twice a month. Caroline Springs;- Every 1st Sunday of each month leaving the Civic Centre. Melton:- Every 3rd Sunday of each month leaving Hannah Watts Park 8am to 9am

Heritage Apple Festival Join the Diggers Club team for a weekend of heritage apple festivities and celebrations. Taste test and choose the best heritage apples and pears, sample freshly pressed apple juice and cider, taste and buy delicious baked apple pies and strudels. For the green thumbs join garden tours and learn about the history and making of this beautiful garden and pick-up gardening tips at the free gardening workshops. Book into an Apple Masterclass with the heritage apple experts, Pete the Permie and David Key and sample cider from local makers. Learn all about cider making at the demonstrations. Listen to live music at the Fork to Fork Café while you enjoy a menu inspired by the autumn harvest and complimented by wine. Children activities on Sunday between 11am-2pm early April 2018 (tbc) The Garden of St Erth, 189 Simmons Reef Rd Blackwood

The Piers Festival   The Piers Festival is held at Princes Pier, Port Melbourne during Victoria’s Term 1 school holidays. The day will be headlined by singer/songwriter Archie Roach alongside new global musical collaborations, kids’ activities, forums, exhibitions and a gourmet foods from Victoria’s artists and cultural communities. Schedule includes: Main Stage will feature one of Australia’s finest celtic rock bands Claymore, Italian Greek aficionados Magna Grecia, Orkeztra Glasso Bashalde’s wide spanning repertoire from Romanian gypsy to Klezmer, Arabic, Macedonian and other Balkan melodies, powerful mana from Polynesian dance group Nuholani, Melbourne’s favourite 60s Asian/Western garage pop explosion Empat Lima, sensational high energy collaborators Amaru Tribe & The Lalibelas ft. Oscar Jiminez and Nhatty Man, headlined by Australia’s iconic and profound Indigenous voice and musician Archie Roach. The Landing will bring together a collection of some of Victoria’s most active cultural associations representing their communities and culture through exhibitions, activities and performances. What Happened at the Pier is curated by Lella Carridi and will feature live poetry readings, forums and musical responses inside The Gatehouse on Princes Pier alongside an exhibition of artefacts and moving image illustrating the narratives from the artists and Memory Keepers who arrived to Melbourne from Princes Pier Cultural games, roving activities and performers Food stalls and food trucks from local providers Piers Festival celebrates and reflects on the collective historical and contemporary migration stories at its site, Princes Pier, the significant entry point where almost half of Australia’s post World War II refugees arrived. The Festival brings to life the pivotal role Princes Pier played from 1915 to 1969 in Victoria’s growth and as a gateway to the diversity of cultures that enrich our community. With 12,000 attendees in 2015, Piers Festival has grown to become an annual fixture in Victoria’s cultural calendar and a significant occasion to acknowledge and bring to light our Indigenous and multicultural talent. April 2018 ? Princes Pier

Queen Victoria Summer Night Market A thriving night market held at the Queen Victoria Market. There are a large number of food stalls, music and entertainment as well as a range of interesting merchandise. More information at Queen Victoria Summer Night Market >> Our rating - 4 Hats   5pm to 10pm, Wednesdays to March 29th March 2017 Cnr Elizabeth and Victoria Streets, Melbourne