Our ultimate guide to the school holidays
Now is the perfect time to start planning for the April school holidays! Whether you’re looking for free outdoor activities or exciting day trips to museums, zoos, and national parks, here are some top ways to beat school holiday boredom in every Australian state or territory!
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra is full of awesome family destinations, including the National Dinosaur Museum, Questacon, and Canberra Reptile Zoo.
For a beautiful family nature walk, head to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Weston Park, or Australian National Botanic Gardens.
New South Wales
There is an unlimited number of fun holiday activities in NSW! Adventurous families could take a trip to the Blue Mountains or go camping in one of NSW’s national parks.
If your children are animal-lovers, they are sure to enjoy one of NSW’s many zoos and wildlife parks, such as Taronga Zoo Sydney, Symbio Wildlife Park (Helensburgh), Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Wagga), and Australian Reptile Park (Somersby).
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is an idyllic place to spend the school holidays. If you’re in Darwin, you might like to explore the beautiful George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens before settling down for a relaxing family movie night just 10 minutes away at the open-air Deckchair cinema.
Other incredible places to explore as a family in the Northern Territory include Alice Springs, Uluru, Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Kakadu National Park.
Queensland
While on the Gold Coast, check out Dream World and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! If you want to immerse yourself in Aboriginal culture, head to Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre. Enjoy a guided walk along a picturesque beachside rainforest, explore Aboriginal artefacts, and let your kids take part in an art workshop.
If you’re in Brisbane, don’t miss the Kids Collective’s (South Bank Parklands) free sport, craft, and music for kids. And The Workshops Rail Museum is perfect for young kids who can meet a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine!
South Australia
South Australia is the ideal destination to go fruit picking for strawberries, figs, and cherries! You could also take a day trip to Flinders Chase National Park to explore its iconic landmarks.
For an active family day, visit Morialta Conservation Park, take on giant mazes and slides at Woodhouse Activity Centre or play dinosaur-themed mini golf at Barossa Bowland. Older kids are sure to enjoy Mega Adventure Adelaide’s massive obstacle course and TreeClimb’s incredible aerial adventure park!
Tasmania
Tasmania is full of family-friendly locations such as Cradle Mountain, Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Old Hobart Town Model Village, and the Hastings Caves and Thermal Springs.
Penny Royal Adventures is the ultimate place for energetic kids with rock climbing, ziplining, gold and gemstone mining, and cliff tours.
Victoria
There are so many fun things to do with the kids in Victoria! Drive the Great Ocean Road for panoramic views of Victoria’s picturesque coastline, explore the historic town of Ballarat, and go ziplining at Otway Fly Treetop Adventures.
For an immersive cultural experience in Melbourne, visit Federation Square, Melbourne Museum, or State Library Victoria (the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter is full of kids’ books and games!) If you’re looking for fun activities, head to A Maze’N Things for illusions, puzzles, mazes, and mini golf.
Western Australia
From Perth Observatory to iFLY Perth to West Australian Reptile Park, everyone in your family will enjoy something in Perth!
If you’re in Fremantle, take your children to the Vikings Exhibition at the WA Maritime Museum or enrol them in one of Fremantle Arts Centre’s pottery, embroidery, cartooning, or mosaics courses for kids.