Melbourne & surrounds
Experience the new Cinderella movie with IMAX Digital
The story of ‘Cinderella’ is a perennial family favourite and this live action re-imagining has all the heart and soul of the original.
Plus, as a special treat, the FROZEN short – FROZEN FEVER – runs at the beginning of the movie. Two favourites in one at IMAX Museum Melbourne!
Discounted IMAX 2D prices apply. Great value Family Tickets available.
Meet furry friends at the Melbourne Star!
Animals of all shapes and sizes will be taking over the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel this autumn, all set for another fun-filled school holiday season.
From the end of March, not only will the Easter Bunny be hopping on down with some special treats in hand, but families will also be able to experience baby and native wildlife encounters, special events and more.
Visit melbournestar.com
Easter holiday fun at Eureka Skydeck!
Eureka Skydeck is offering kids the opportunity to take part in FREE Easter-themed badge and bunny ear making activities between 11am – 3.30pm every day of the Easter school holidays and from 28 March until 12 April, Eureka Skydeck’s mascot Deckstar will also be present to entertain families.
The VERTIGO green screen installation will still be in action … the specially constructed VERTIGO set allows guests to have their photo taken with the illusion they’re falling through the glass floor of the Edge and are trying to hold on for dear life, 285 metres above the streets of Melbourne!
Comedy Festival at the Northcote Town Hall
Darebins Arts have arranged a fantastic array of nine comedians at the Northcote Town Hall for the Comedy Festival, including some excellent, thought-provoking kids entertainment, like The Adventures of Zen the Pigeon Girl.
Zen is half-pigeon, half-human and has arms instead of wings. She can’t fly, but she can play the recorder, and do tricks with her marshmallow nunchucks. Zen’s on an important mission: to find her lost mum! A seriously silly new action-adventure tale told through clowning, puppetry and music, by Sabrina D’Angelo. For ages 4+
High tea with Barbie at The Langham!
Done your pink cape and come along to High Tea in the ballroom at The Langham from Monday 30 March until Thursday 2 April, and celebrate the launch of BARBIE in Princess Power.
Enjoy a glam-filled day filled with special treats, lots of action and even a special appearance by BARBIE.
Young superheroes can design their own eye-masks, strike an empowered superhero pose at the action wall and devour high tea treats from a three tiered stand laden with butterfly cupcakes, glitter chocolate balls, glam cookies, super sparkle jelly, POW! pink popcorn cups, sour strip wristbands, boots fairy bread as well as fluffy, freshly-baked scones and pink lemonade.
Children are $59.00 each including a take home BARBIE gift while adults are $65.00 each including a premium glass of sparkling wine.
Booking on1800 641 107 or visit ariabar.com.au
NIDA Open’s Autumn School Holiday Program
Image: © NIDA/Maja Baska
Got a budding actor in your midst? NIDA Open’s Autumn school holiday program (the National Institute of Dramatic Art) is rolling out in Melbourne during the Easter school holiday break with fantastic, fun and creative classes for all ages.
Dive into a world of make-believe with short courses across acting, film and TV, musical theatre and creative design, like NIDA Pop Up for kids in Grade 3 to 6 … work with NIDA performance and design experts to turn a popular story into a live performance, design the set and costumes and then rehearse for your grand opening! This fast paced introduction to acting, devising and designing is a great way to discover all the theatrical elements as they combine to turn a simple work of fiction into a live Pop Up performance. Perform for family and friends at the end of the course.
For more information on all courses in the NIDA Autumn school holiday program click here
What happens when fashion and creativity come together?
Find out at Express yourself: Romance Was Born for Kids, an NGVforKIDS project by Sydney-based fashion designers Romance Was Born.
Children and their families can explore this vibrantly designed interactive exhibition featuring spectacular displays of art works, fashion and other surprises. Children are inspired to express themselves as they make accessories and drawings inspired by the world of Romance Was Born, and can immerse themselves in specially developed multimedia environments. Free entry.
All this and so much more at the National Gallery of Victoria
The claws are out at the aquarium!
The world’s largest species of crab will take centre stage at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium in an amazing new exhibit. Claws opens 1 April, with six new tanks with six new species including the Japanese Spider Crab, which can reach three metres across when fully grown! There are fun and interactive displays that will give kids and parents a real insight into all things crustacean.
Kids will also love the new interactive art experience at Coral Caves, where they can create their own sea creatures and watch them spring to life in a virtual aquarium. Open daily through the holidays,
Kids Go Wild at Melbourne Zoo!
Visit Melbourne Zoo from 28 March where the new Wombat’s Secret Maze offers riddles, activities and daily animal presentations for little ones. Families can stroll through the picturesque grounds to check out their favourite creatures or have the option of booking five to 10-year-olds in for a full-day Kids Go Wild holiday program.
Get close to animals … close to the city
More rustic animal encounters can be had at Collingwood Children’s Farm, situated on seven acres of bucolic farmland just 10 minutes’ drive from the city where there are goats, pigs, ducks, geese, twice-daily cow-milking sessions, and the on-site café which is a lovely spot to refuel.
Make a movie @ ACMI
All things cinematic, digital and creative can be explored at Federation Square’s Australian Centre for the Moving Image, the only facility of its kind in the world. Children will love the interactive Screen Worlds exhibition and dedicated Kids Flicks, or they can delve deeper with special holiday programs that provide hands-on movie-making experience.
Visit ACMI for details
Great school holiday fun at Scienceworks!
Scienceworks has a range of fascinating permanent exhibitions, as well as several school holiday activities including the screening of Back to the Moon For Good at the Planetarium, while The Light Spectacular and Trick of Light performances will dazzle visitors with illusions and illuminations.
All this and so much more fun for kids at Scienceworks
‘Pimp your ride’ at the Immigration Museum
Discover dazzling decorated vehicles from around the world, and join in the fancy fun. Wild colours, sparkly stickers, fluoro and flashing lights – decorate your vehicle and prepare for a journey!
Will you use bright colours, like the Jingle Trucks in Pakistan? Flowers, like Dutch parade floats? Or shiny foil, like DekoChari bikes in Japan? Bring your own helmet, horn, toy vehicle, pram or walking frame to personalise with special decorations, or help deck out the Museum’s own mini-fleet.
Visit Dazzling Deco-Rides
Melbourne is abuzz with school holiday fun
There is plenty going on in the city to entertain kids and the whole family, from the aquarium to the zoo, and museums to ice-skating … and plenty of free and low cost kids’ activities.
For more information on all the school holiday fun visit thatsmelbourne
Build your own home!
Build your own bark shelter at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, using natural bushland plant material. Decorate it with bark ribbons, furnish it with log seats and use it as a cubby house.
Kids – make your parents disappear!
Ever wanted to stay up past your bedtime? Alex and Luke have discovered the perfect way to make it happen. Come and help create the most incredible magic you’ve ever seen – you might even learn how to make your parents disappear!
Alex and Luke are two big kids searching through their boxes of magic for ways to astound and delight their audience. In their quest to create the perfect magical “bedtime-delayer” they involve a multitude of children from the audience in the fun.
Enjoy the fun at The Famous Spiegeltent at Arts Centre Melbourne.
Out of town
Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club
The Mobile Boatshed is so popular that it’s returning to Paynesville for Easter, with programs for kids and adults, running from 29 March – 2 April.
There will be 15 Optis accompanied by 6 pacers for adults and teenagers learn to sail programs. Kids as young as 7 can get on board with this great activity!
For more details and booking visit Gippsland Lakes Yacht Club
School holidays are M.A.D.E for fun!
The Museum of Australian Democracy (M.A.D.E) is the perfect destination for families during April with a stimulating range of activities for the school holidays from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April (excluding Easter long weekend).
Come to M.A.D.E this Easter for a fact-finding mission and learn about Easter traditions from all around the world. The school holiday program includes Easter origami, balloon and egg games and Easter Storytime.
See what it’s like to be a park ranger!
The new Gorilla Rangers on Patrol experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo gives children an insight into how the zoo keepers monitor and care for the zoo’s primates.
A free Safari tour takes passengers around the park in an open-air bus, where they can get up close to some of the world’s most iconic grasslands animals – including zebras, rhinos, giraffes, bison, antelope and ostrich – living together in a mixed species environment.
Visit Werribee Open Range Zoo
LEGO at Churchill Island Easter Fun Festival
Churchill Island Heritage Farm will be transformed into a LEGO wonderland for the annual Easter Fun Festival. With 250,000 LEGO pieces heading for Churchill Island, visitors will have the chance to build the ultimate LEGO playground.
Alongside the LEGO masterpieces, the Easter Fun Festival will also offer activities for all ages including the Magical Punch and Judy Show, Tall Poppy stilt walker, working horse demonstrations and an array of vintage cars. Join the fun of the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday 5 April from 10am – 1pm.
Fashion meets fantasy at Sovereign Hill
These Easter School Holidays, adventure back in time and explore the fun and frivolity of 1850s fashion at Sovereign Hill. From 28 March – 12 April, children can play dress-ups and celebrate the spectacle that is 1850s fashion! From a spectacular four-metre wide dress to other jaw-dropping 1850s creations, Sovereign Hill is dressing up for everyone these school holidays.
Imagine seeing ladies of the goldfields dressed in all of their finery, including gowns with petticoats and crinolines, or spending the day with a strapping Victorian gentleman in an enormous top-hat and frockcoat!
Here is your chance to discover all the quirks and fantasy that is gold-rush fashion. From hands-on washing activity to the opportunity for children to dress up in all of the finery of a 1850s outfit, there is something for everyone.
There’s a lot happening, so visit Sovereign Hill to get a piece of the school holiday fun.
Meet Alice in Wonderland at Kryal Castle!
Kryal Castle, a medieval adventure park about 90 minutes north-west of Melbourne near the historic city of Ballarat, is celebrating all the wacky characters from Alice in Wonderland this school holidays, with daily appearances by the Queen of Hearts, the White Rabbit and, of course, Alice. Kids can join the twice-daily Mad Hatter’s Tea Party or see Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum in the Jester’s Theatre.
Easter fun at the Chocolaterie
Come and see the amazing display of over 25 000 handcrafted Easter chocolates at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie – from tiny to large decorative eggs, fun freckled eggs, filled and flavoured eggs, whimsical chocolate bunnies, chicks, hens and even frogs!
Easter creations are in the showroom now – hop to it so you don’t miss out on the delightful range to share with your family and friends. Now until 6 April.
Join the Corroboree
Healesville Sanctuary’s Corroboree program opens on 28 March to celebrate Indigenous people, culture and the land. Activities include rock art painting, bracelet weaving, boomerang throwing, bush tucker tasting and music sessions with the park’s Indigenous staff and visiting elders leading the way.