Top Things To Do In Melbourne These School Holidays: A Parent’s Guide

The school holidays pass in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, those days off have been lost to lounging in front of the sofa or spent with the covers pulled over your head. In the winter, it can be a bit more difficult to motivate ourselves (and our kids) to head outside, especially if you don’t even know what’s out there waiting for you.

That’s why we’ve got you covered with events and places in Melbourne to check out during this winter break, so you can have some ideas up your sleeve for the week, or try something you wouldn’t normally think to do during the winter break.

Without further ado, here is our guide for parents on our top things to do in Melbourne during the school holidays.

Get All Your Errands Done

As much as we love having extra time to spend with our families, the school holidays are also a great opportunity to catch up on all the odd jobs and errands you never find time to get done during the school term. Enjoy the rest of your children’s time off stress-free by prioritising ‘the boring bits’ so they’re sorted and out of the way. Get those school shoes refitted, make that appointment with a local or affordable Epping dentist for your little ones, and check for updated times or locations of any after-school clubs your kids attend.

Then, check your kids’ pencil cases, PE kits and school bags, to replace any miscellaneous missing items so you can hit the ground running when term starts next week. Pick a grey, rainy day, make a checklist, and by the evening you’ll have that great feeling of having accomplished what you’ve been meaning to get around to for months; with enough time in the day left to get cosy under the blankets and put on a feelgood family film. 

Look Out For Seasonal Events

During the winter and summer school holidays in Melbourne, there’s always fun things to do as a family. The Eynesbury Winter Festival is a free event running until the end of the holidays this weekend, where you and your kids can get your authentic winter fix. Go ice-skating, have fun at the carnival, and warm up with winter treats from the on-site cafe.

This Saturday, you can head down for the Winter Night Market, where you’ll find live music, market stalls and fireworks to send the frosty cold out with a bang.

For Harry Potter fans, check out the Forbidden Forest Experience, available to enjoy for one more week in The Briars Community Forest before the kids go back to school. In this interactive experience, you’ll come face-to-face with your friends (or foes) from the wizarding world. You’ll feel as though you’re walking through the films themselves with these incredible trails, theatrical designs and magical creatures brought to life.

Visit Collingwood Farm & Abbotsford Convent

Spend a day away from the main city and head to a little pocket of nature and craft, with this day out that’s great for kids of all ages. Take a trip to Collingwood’s Children’s Farm where you can walk amongst the sheep, horses and other farm animals in this unexpected suburban small-holding, with workshops available for children to ‘become a farmer’ for the day too. 

Located right off the Yarra River, you can walk for 10 minutes or 2 hours along the riverside trails and through the nearby Yarra Park on your way to or from the farm. And just round the corner, you’ll find Abbotsford Convent, a former nunnery now turned into a hub for Melbourne’s bustling independent retailer and craft scene.

Spend just $2 for access to the Regional Farmers Market (held on the second Saturday of every month), for a family-friendly day out that will have all your senses stimulated.

Take A Trip Down To Mornington Peninsula

If you’re a parent of slightly older children wondering how to spend the school holidays with your teens or tweens doing something that you’ll all enjoy, why not treat yourselves to a trip down to the Mornington Peninsula? It takes just over an hour to drive there, but once you’re out of the city you’ll feel like you’ve travelled much further.

Pick a sunny day to take in those breathtaking views along the coastal road, and round off your excursion with a stop at the Peninsula Hot Springs. These natural geothermal mineral springs are a lovely way to relax as a family, or for an extra special birthday treat. They’re a great way to end a day of hiking, with twilight and moonlit options available for those over 16 too.

Top Up Your Science Skills

The Science Museum never stops moving. In fact, the pace tends to pick up during the school holidays, and the wintertime is no exception. Scienceworks is hosting a series of interactive events and workshops this holiday period for curious kids (and adults!) to learn all about the magical parts of how the world works. 

Play with air as you learn about the science of aerodynamics, attend a live science show with real experiments, learn about luminosity during a visually captivating light show, or head to the planetarium for a variety of immersive space-related experiences. There’s something for everyone at the Scienceworks Museum, so it’s a perfect indoor, winter activity.

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These ideas have hopefully provided you with inspiration on how to spend your school holidays in Melbourne… from the icy, dreary days to the brisk, sunny afternoons, and all the winter weather in between. 

Stay central with the Science Museum and Collingwood Farm just outside the inner-city, or explore slightly further afield out in Melbourne’s suburbs, for a great end to your school holidays for you and your children.

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