The best school holidays activities in Melbourne

You don't have to wait until spring to enjoy the delights of frolicking through a field of flowers, because autumn will bring the arrival of the KaBloom Festival of Flowers. Head to Melbourne's Dandenong Ranges for a festival that combines fields of flowers with spectacular circus art, from the Tesselaar team who also bring us the beloved annual Dutch tulip festival. 

The classic board game that we all have memories of (both the wholesome family fun and table-flipping fights) now has a theme park wonderland in Melbourne, where you can relive all the fun – minus the sibling rivalry. Monopoly Dreams will celebrate the best-selling game with a one-of-a-kind immersive entertainment experience in the heart of the CBD. It's the world's largest Monopoly-themed attraction, and will take you on a nostalgic journey through the world of Mr. Monopoly, where reality and the game become one. The attraction is running special activities just for the school holidays.

From the story’s origins hundreds of years ago, to its transformation into the classic 1991 Disney film, Beauty and the Beast really is a tale as old as time. From the moment the curtain rises, it’s clear this is a large-scale musical with all the belles, whistles and big bucks. Visual splendour is the MO here – think kaleidoscopic costumes, gasp-inducing illusions and spectacular lighting – that will be sure to spark joy for your little ones.

The blue whale is the largest member of the animal kingdom – its heart weighs in at the same mass as a small car. Put simply, the sheer size of this incredible species is a hard one to grasp. These school holidays, IMAX is making things a little easier to visualise with an inspiring 3D film following two scientific expeditions to uncover fascinating blue whale behaviours.

The term 'immersive experience' gets thrown around a lot these days, but a new attraction making its Aussie debut in our city can definitely claim the phrase – because it requires visitors to rely on their own five senses as part of a unique journey. 

Navigate through six themed spaces filled with sensory based challenges that are designed to create a rollercoaster of emotions. From rooms in pitch-black darkness to playful games – and plenty of 'grammable moments – you'll use all your senses to complete a variety of team-based tasks. Yes, even taste! 

Sometimes, it helps to look at the world from a different perspective – upside-down, perhaps? At this new photo experience opening underneath the (now defunct) Melbourne Star, you'll certainly be able to see things from a different point of view. The inverted house experience, House Down Under, will bring topsy-turvy fun to Docklands. From the outside, the house appears to have dropped from the sky, Wizard of Oz style, and inside you can capture surreal and creative photos.

As a kid, there's few things that are more fun than a huge playground. Flying across monkeybars, swinging up to the sky, diving down a slide — it's a kids paradise. Across the city and its suburbs, there are plenty of sites for kids to run amok and have a ball. Many of these playgrounds also offer picnic tables and barbecues, so you can pack a picnic or fire up the grill and spend the whole arvo soaking up some sunshine. 

This interactive science and technology museum is geared towards getting children excited about science through first-hand experiences. The museum runs stacks of school holidays programs, exploring various phenomena of the world. Plus, the Planetarium dome will be screening family-friendly films on the huge overhead screen. 

Having undergone a multi-million dollar redevelopment in 2021, there's no denying this high-altitude attraction remains one of the best ways to discover the city from a dizzying height. Melbourne Skydeck now boasts a massive virtual reality theatre where visitors can embark on an 11-minute immersive journey across the state, and you can get an even closer look at the city with the augmented reality 3D model of Melbourne built to a 1:1100 scale. And of course, the Edge is still terrifying all those who dare to enter this transparent cube that's suspended almost 300 metres above the street.

Need something to do these school hols that will make everyone in your family smile? Grazeland has you covered. Aside from the epic line-up of food and drink vendors that operate at the huge food precict on the reg, from September 21 to October 6 you'll also discover a family-friendly program of performers and activities to dial the fun up a notch. The holidays will be filled with roving entertainers, including dazzling stilt walkers and glowing LED angels. Little ones can also get their faces painted and meet their favourite characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse. 

Keeping the kids entertained and occupied throughout the school holidays is a Herculean task, so what better place to keep your sanity than an all-in-one adventure park? The first Australian SuperPark has opened in Melbourne's western suburbs at Highpoint Shopping Centre. Here, kids can run, climb and jump across a whopping 2,300 metres and choose from 17 movement-based activities in the Adventure Area, Games Arena and Freestyle Zone. SuperPark activities include an indoor pedal car track, a ninja track obstacle course, an interactive trampoline game, ten-pin bowling, a digital basketball game and a world-first footy game where kids can test their AFL skills. 

Code Camp, one of Australia’s leading school holiday programs where kids design, code and create, is holding a variety of holiday camps across Melbourne and regional Victoria during April. From coding and animation to YouTube creation and drone training, there's something to suit every child and their passions.

As part of the blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition, NGV International is holding a free Kusama for Kids interactive exhibition. The 'Obliteration Room' invites visitors to add colourful dots to a totally white room – turning a blank canvas into an array of rainbows.  

Put your putt-putt skills to the test on the two-level, 18-hole mini-golf course or head to the old school arcade and grab a joystick, pretend it's 1985 and play classic games like Space Invaders and Pacman. For those uninterested in a blast from the past, there's also a new school arcade boasting an ever-evolving collection of contemporary games and immersive experiences. Sing your favourite song at one of Funderdome's private and spacious box-style karaoke lounges, or head to the Clubhouse for some competitive sports like cornhole, shuffleboard, pool, air hockey, foosball and more.

This brick-filled play centre will delight little and big Lego fans. The space is packed with more than two million Lego bricks and features attractions including Miniland Melbourne, where the city's best-known landmarks have been recreated out of thousands of Lego bricks, as well as play zones for the kids and Lego-themed rides. There is also a 4D cinema (it’s a sensory cinematic adventure – the wind will actually blow in your hair) so you can rewatch your favourite Lego movies on the big screen, a Lego factory tour and heaps more. 

Did you know that children aged 16 or younger can get free entry to the Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo over the school holidays? Plan a visit to check out your favourite creatures, including giraffes, koalas, monkeys and so much more. To be eligible for free entry, children must be accompanied by an adult. 

MoPA is a children’s museum, a place where kids can engage with fun, immersive exhibits created in line with childhood education guidelines. While all children develop at different rates, the exhibits at MoPA are designed for tots aged one to nine. Kids can suss out their fine motor skills in the soft play area, build and race in the Zoom Room, climb up to Sunset City for a sweet view of the museum and get creative at the MoPA Art Car.

Catch some thrills in the air at an indoor trampoline park. On top of being super fun, it's also a form of exercise in disguise – it's a great workout for building strength, coordination and balance.