ACT
Can you turn a potato into a battery?
What happens when you tickle a plant? Find out when you visit Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra these school holidays!
Q Lab will be jam-packed with live demonstrations, hands-on experiments and activities that will have you interacting with science in extraordinary ways.
From celebrating World Heart Day by dissecting sheep hearts through to designing, making and launching your own air-powered paper rockets, everyone can discover their inner scientist.
Even the youngest visitors can become budding scientists in the Mini Q exhibition. Children can experiment with water, explore the sensory garden and play pretend in four child-sized businesses, all in a space specifically designed for young children.
Be sure to watch the Spectacular Science Show, which changes daily and features explosive demonstrations and audience participation!
Visit Questacon for more information on what’s on these school holidays.
Get to know the Discovery Space at NMA
Children have always loved horses! Inspired by the large metal horse sculptures and small bush toys in the Spirited: Australia’s Horse Story exhibition, kids can make their own miniature horse out of wire and other hardware materials to take home.
Working with on site sculptors, children can help to create a dynamic life-size horse sculpture, Big Spirit. This horse will evolve over the course of the program as children stuff, lash, bind and tie a range of materials to its framework. Watch Big Spirit come to life!
No bookings are necessary for these drop-in activities.
Visit National Museum of Australia for details
Bags of fun at the Royal Australian Mint
See Titan the robot at work, make a collectible coin, view the valuable National Coin Collection, start your collection at the Mint Coin Shop. There are regular guided tours suitable for all the family, build a mini-mint, plus robot-play and coin colouring in activities during school holidays.
Visit Royal Australian Mint
Have a ‘zoocation’ at the National Zoo!
Zoocation offers a unique experience for primary school children.
During a fun-filled day, kids will get up close and personal with many of the zoo’s animals, play games, make toys for the animals, and maybe even learn something along the way.
Staffed and developed by the experienced and qualified education guides of the National Zoo and Aquarium, this program prides itself on delivering a program like no other.
Click for booking details
Cockington Green Gardens
Cockington Green Gardens is a fabulous experience. Venture into this delightful and fascinating display of meticulously crafted miniature buildings set within beautifully landscaped gardens.
The park is constantly growing so there is always something new to explore.
Enjoy a coffee in the Parsons Nose Garden Café, or bring a picnic lunch, while littlies can be entertained in the playground and everyone loves the miniature steam train ride, which encircles the International Display.
Put some spring in your step at Canberra Glassworks!
Winter’s over, celebrate at Glassworks! Be inspired by Canberra’s Floriade festivities and make your own flower/spring themed glass tile in the 20-minute glass tile experience.
Kids are guided through the process and in just 20 minutes the unique piece of art will be ready to be kiln formed.
Or make your very own light-catcher out of glass. Classes are run by professional artists who will help kids look into ideas of light and illumination and help them create their own glass artwork!
Tasmania
It’s pandemonium at Devonport!
Pandemonium Discovery & Adventure Centre is in the heart of Devonport and offers something for all ages, from laser skirmish, indoor rock climbing, jungle gym and the Imaginarium Science Centre.
Imaginarium is Tasmania’s only dedicated interactive science centre and the hands-on exhibits give visitors a fun and exciting way of learning about everyday science and technology.
Visit Pandemonium Discovery & Adventure Centre
Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens
The Gardens are beautiful in every season, but spring is always special! There are exciting and involving programs and activities for kids every school holidays, including theatre in the Gardens, events, festivals and much more.
More info on the Gardens
Be a ‘bush kid’
The ‘Bush Kids’ programs are designed for specific age groups and include a variety of exciting nature-based activities for kids attending with a parent or guardian. All programs cost $5.50 per child unless otherwise stated.
Click for more information
Cadbury Visitor Centre
Who doesn’t love chocolate and it is the holidays, after all! Visit Cadbury in Claremont and learn how the chocolates are made and taste the raw materials. Sample chocolates and splurge in the retail shop, which has lots of chocolates and lollies at great prices.
Family day at TMAG
Family Day on 28 September at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) will be more than just a little bit of fun as you explore all things miniature!
Suitable for all ages and most activities are drop-in sessions.
Visit Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery
Northern Territory
Tons of school holiday fun at the Darwin Waterfront
Everyone in Darwin knows that the Waterfront is the place to be for family-friendly entertainment, eats, activities and events and these school holidays are no different.
Darwin Waterfront always has loads of activities to keep the whole family happy …
There’s a circus tricks workshop, fridge painting workshops, water tag, tai chi lessons, watch ‘Frozen’ under the stars, a waterslide and so much more!
Visit Darwin Waterfront
What’s On – national
What’s On NSW
What’s On VIC
What’s On QLD
What’s On SA & WA