Fun School Holiday Activities in Melbourne – Summer 2020 / 21

A list of fun Summer school holiday activities in Melbourne for 2020/21! What is reopening, what to do, where to go, and home activities for the holidays in and around Melbourne.

Fun School Holiday Activities in Melbourne

The Melbourne school holidays are approaching and you are probably thinking of ideas to keep the kids entertained now that we can finally start exploring again.

With everything opening up now around Melbourne, now more than ever, families are looking to get out and about, and back to normal.

Whether you are looking for events and activities in Melbourne, day trips out to regional Victoria, or just school holiday activity ideas in general, we have you covered with the following:

• School Holiday Activities Melbourne
• Day Trips from Melbourne
• School Holiday Activities at Home

Make sure you follow our new Instagram Account and join our FACEBOOK GROUP – to connect with more Melbourne Mum’s!

*Note that we will keep updating this post with new school holiday activities leading up to when school finishes.

School Holiday Activities Melbourne

Below you can find a list of things to do these school holidays in Melbourne with the kids.

Gruffalo Spotting at Rippon Lea Estate

Look who’s hiding at Rippon Lea Estate. This Summer the Gruffalo is setting his paw prints about the 14-acre just East of Melbourne. If your kids love the best-selling book then they will fall in love with The Gruffalo Trail. Journey through winding paths and gardens into a deep dark wood, and spot your favourite characters using the new augmented reality app. Come face to face with the much-loved characters of the book while getting close to nature. A lovely school holiday activity in Melbourne for all families.

When:
Daily from 10am until July 2020
Where:
Rippon Lea Estate 192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick
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SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium

SEA LIFE Melbourne is also home to the popular King and Gentoo penguins, sharks of all shapes and sizes, thousands of tropical fish, a huge saltwater crocodile named Pinjarra and six species of mesmerising jellyfish.

Over the past six months, the aquarium has continued to bring magical marine experiences to people all over Australia and the world through live streams, virtual holiday camps, online school workshops and video messages from aquarists and keepers. The team at SEA LIFE Melbourne has been working hard behind the scenes to prepare for reopening and can’t wait to welcome guests to dive back in!
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Water Play at the Werribee Zoo

Have a beach party at the Werribee Zoo. Hippo Beach has the perfect water play area for kids on a warm day. Bring the bathers along, and after checking out the hippos relaxing on the banks or bathing in the water, hit the beach for a splash party. Lay back on the chairs while you watch the kids play in the sand or splash in the water. You can also go on a cool adventure through Gorilla forest and see them through the mist. Best of all, during the school holidays, kids go free!

Where:
Werribee Zoo – K Road, Werribee South
When:
Daily from 9am – 5pm
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ArtVo 3D immersive gallery

The perfect Art Gallery for kids, with a twist. This immersive 3D Trick Art Gallery at the District Docklands is unlike your usual art museum. You can touch and interact with more than a hundred 3D artworks immersing yourself into the art. Take photos from the markers on the floor and follow the instructions for priceless family photos.

When:
Daily from 10am – 5pm
Where:
District Docklands
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Junior Rangers Program

Have a little one who loves to explore? The Junior Ranger program encourages kids to get out and explore Victoria’s amazing parks with a real park ranger. Junior Rangers can take part in some fun activities like rock pool rambles, historic tours and spotlight night walks.

There are different locations for junior rangers and lots of fun school holiday activities in Melbourne and around.
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Adventure Park

Waterslides, Theme Park Rides, and a day full of adventure and fun at Adventure Park. These school holidays in Melbourne there is a Tsunami coming. Join the monster waves on this epic new waterslide. For the younger ones, there are 2 water play areas with splash pools, interactive water play, spray cannons, waterfalls, water jets and more.

Check the website for entry details and new regulations.

When:
Open date to be advised
Where:
1249 Bellarine Hwy, Wallington VIC 3222
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Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies Show

These school holidays Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies visit Ripponlea House and Gardens. Children and their parents will be swept into Tinkerbell’s magical world and taken on an adventure full of fairies and fun. Join in the fun and and dress the kids up in their favourite fancy dress. Fairies, Elves, Jedis, Pirates and all other superheroes are welcome!

Where:
Ripponlea House and Gardens
192 Hotham Street, Elsternwick, 3185.
When:
22 December 2020 to 24 January 2021
More details here

Melbourne Zoo’s

There is always something new going on at the Zoo’s during the school holidays in Melbourne. With the reopening, the Dinosaur exhibition has been extended, and there are lots of activities planned at Werribee, Melbourne, and Healesville Sanctuary this Summer. Watch this space for upcoming school holiday activities and events!

Where:
Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary
When: All through school holidays
More details here

Beach Day

With the warmer weather, why not take the kids to the beach for the day. Check out our posts on Best Beaches in Melbourne if you are looking for a day trip, or if you have longer, here are some of the Best Beaches in Victoria.

Remember to be sunsmart, if you are looking for a family beach tent, we recommend the FORSUNPLAY, you can read our review HERE.

Also, check out our post: SUMMER ESSENTIALS FOR FAMILIES 2020/2021 with more recommendations.

Day Trips from Melbourne

We have put together a list of days out in Melbourne with the kids. Whatever the weather, sun, clouds or rain, there are some fun and exciting ideas for you.

Read our Day Trips From Melbourne For Families post as many of the places in there are open or reopening soon. Or see some inspiration below.

Mornington Peninsula

If you are heading to the Mornington Peninsula these places have some fun school holiday activities:

• Funky Farm
• Moonlit Sanctuary
• Enchanted Garden

Geelong

In Geelong during the school holidays you can visit:

• MOPA
• Adventure Park
• Eastern Beach

Ballarat

If you go out West, Ballarat has plenty of school holiday activities:

• Sovereign Hill
• Kryal Castle

Great Ocean Road

On the Great Ocean Road, make sure to check out:

• Otway Fly
• Chocolaterie
• Apollo Bay
• Lorne

Yarra Valley / Dandenong Ranges

Heading out East to the Yarra Valley or Dandenong Ranges, there are lots of fun school holiday activities:

• Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
• Alfred Nicholas Gardens
• Healesville Sanctuary

School Holiday Fun at Home

We have put together a list of things to do with kids at home including arts, crafts, games and activities indoors and out. Check out the links below:

• 50 Fun activities for kids to do at home
• Youtube Channels for Kids
• Scavenger Hunt List Printables

Fun School Holiday Activities Outdoors

If you are not planning on going out, here are some school holiday activities that you can do at home or nearby

Scavenger Hunt

Get the kids out for your daily exercise and go on a scavenger hunt. These free printables have 5 different themes that kids will love.
PRINT YOUR SCAVENGER HUNT LISTS HERE

Spoonville

Many areas around Melbourne are creating their own Spoonville and Rockville where kids decorate wooden spoons and leave them at a dedicated spot altogether. Next time you go for a walk look out for them. Members area also posting photos on local Facebook pages too. Kids can decorate a wooden spoon into a character or create a few different characters, then plant it among the others in dedicated locations.

Melbourne School Holiday Activities

Have we missed something? Do you know of any fun online school holiday activities in Melbourne this Summer? Let us know and we can add it to the list.

Follow Mum’s Little Explorers on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM for more inspiration, and check out our main post Melbourne for Kids.