How to keep the kids busy during the September school holidays
Whether your kids are creative, adventurous or just plain hard to distract from their devices, there are loads of activities to keep them entertained in Melbourne these September school holidays.
School Holidays
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School holidays are almost upon us and there’s plenty to do and see in Melbourne and surrounds over the two-week break.
The September school holidays run from Saturday September 21 to Sunday October 6 and whether it’s the Royal Melbourne Show, camping or enjoying arts, sport and musical experiences, there are plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy.
Here’s our ultimate guide of free and paid things to do in Victoria’s term 3 school holidays.
FAMILY ACTIVITIES
Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot Vale.
There’s plenty of fun to be had at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Show, with more showbags, new pavilions, live entertainment and twice-daily parades. This year’s event launches the new Jurassic Creatures Pavilion with animatronic dinosaurs. PAW Patrol Live, Cosetino the Grand Illusionist and seven-piece tribute band The Elton John Experience also performs. More than 4000 exhibits are on display. Watch the firework spectacular at the Herald Sun Arena nightly. Food is available at the Winning Tastes Pavillion. Tickets cost: $42 adults, $28 concession and $21 children. Held between September 21 and October 1.
590 Waterdale Road, Heidelberg.
Let the kids loose inside indoor activity centre Latitude, with 100 interconnected trampolines, rock climbing walls and spaces to play dodge ball and basketball. There’s also a Sky-High obstacle course and ninja grid. Buy the Super4 Pass for $65 which includes four general tickets, or the 2 hours for $25 after 3pm daily.
Scienceworks, 2 Booker St, Spotswood.
Marvel at LEGO Masters judge Brickman’s latest creation: Brickman Cities at Scienceworks. Tickets: Family: $65 (admits 4) adult $27.50 and children: $15
www.museumsvictoria.com.au/scienceworks
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Wharf.
Celebrate the creators of your favourite YouTube video series and learn how to make your own at VicCon Australia 2019, between 19-22 September. Three-day passes start at $150pp, and includes the chance for a meet and greet, access to panels and opening and send off shows.
OUTDOORS ACTIVITIES
Tesselaar Flower Farm 357-359 Monbulk Road, Silvan.
Take in the sights and smells of more than one million spring flowering bulbs, including more than 900,000 tulips. There’s live entertainment and food. Tickets $29pp adult, children under 16 free. Open September 15 to October 13, from 10am to 5pm daily.
480 Queens Road, Wandin East.
Wander the rows of the cherry blossom trees, sip on cherry-flavoured drinks and enjoy live music at CherryHill Orchard’s Blossom Festival 2019. Pack your own picnic or treat yourself to food truck fare. Running between September 26 to October 6. Tickets $10 for 14 years and over. Children under 14 free. Return bus from Lilydale station $10.
www.cherryhill.com.au/Blossom-Festival~31214
FOOD
The Westin, Melbourne.
Fantastical sweets for kids. And the $49 price per child (aged 4-12 years) includes a limited edition copy of the beloved Roald Dahl classic to keep.
Daily from 11am to 4pm. Reservations are essential: ph 9635 2222.
www.marriottdeals.com.au/charliemelbourne
Sofitel Melbourne on Collins.
Paint your own edible Terracotta Warrior at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. To celebrate the National Gallery of Victoria exhibition, ticket holders and hotel guests can paint their own chocolate terracotta warrior with a takehome kit ($19.95) or at the Sofitel’s high tea, running every weekend until October 13. Tickets: $99pp.
ANIMALS
Werribee Zoo.
Learn about Aboriginal culture when the Kulin Nation share stories through dance and didgeridoo performances at Werribee Open Range Zoo. There’s jewellery workshops, face and river pebble painting, from September 21 to October 6.
Melbourne Zoo.
See how zoo keepers care for animals at Melbourne Zoo, including how pelicans, red pandas, lemur and squirrel monkeys are trained.
Healesville Sanctuary.
Get in touch with nature at Healesville Sanctuary with giant butterflies from Festive Factory and ants by Polygot Theatre. Plan your day with the limited time-only Bushland Explorers Schedule.
www.zoo.org.au/healesville/whats-on/events/bushland-explorers
MORE NEWS:
GUIDE TO ROYAL MELBOURNE SHOW 2019
HOW TO DO THE MELBOURNE SHOW ON A BUDGET
SPORT
Celebrate footy finals in Melbourne with the annual AFL Grand Final Parade on Friday September 28. Kicking off from Old Treasury Building, the parade will finish at the AFL Grand Final Live Site at Yarra Park. Stick around for an AFL Grand Final Eve concert, with Birds of Tokyo performing live.
www.afl.com.au/footy-festival/grand-final-parade
AFL Grand Final
Enjoy Melbourne’s favourite time of year — the AFL Grand Final. Whether you’re lucky to nab tickets to the big match, or watching from the AFL Live Site, you’re sure to have a top day. The Live Site at Yarra Park, outside Gate 3 of the MCG, opens at 9am. There’s also plenty to keep everyone entertained, including the Toyota Dunkinator, the NAB Mini Legends Speccy Pit, Woolworths playground and much more. Biggie Smalls, The Bearded Jaffle and Blue Bonnet BBQ will be on site serving food. Bar opens at 11am.
PERFORMANCE
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Princes Theatre.
The popular musical still has some tickets available during the school holidays, so act quickly.
There’s low availability for the two-part show on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22, Sunday 29 September. More information and last minute bookings: 1300 799 753.
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com.au
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Tickets for the hit Roald Dahl musical are selling fast during the school holidays. There’s limited matinee performances during this time. Evening performances are also limited.
Wonderland Spiegeltent.
This is a musical performance for little kids. The Musical Sprout’s A Day in The Life of You explores independence and belonging. The show is part of the Melbourne Fringe and held at Wonderland Spiegeltent between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 September. Tickets: $18-$20.
A Circus Wonderland- A Mermaids Tale.
Wonderland Spiegeltent.
Golden Era of Circus and Circus Wonderland bring a mesmerising performance to the Wonderland Spiegeltent at Federation Square on week two of the school holidays. Tickets start at $20 per child and $25 per adult.
www.wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au
Monksi Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall.
Wonderland Spiegeltent.
Grab your dancing shoes and bop along at Monski Mouse’s Baby Disco Dance Hall. Designed for children aged up to 5, this makes for the perfect family school holiday activity with the kids. Tickets start at $17.50.
www.wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au
Sesame Street Circus Spectacular.
Burnley Oval, Swan Street, Burnley.
Join your Sesame Street favourites Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, Bert and Ernie, Super Grover and Big Bird under the big top for loads of fun these school holidays. Performers hail from Switzerland, Argentina, Colombia, Morocco, Brazil, Ethiopia and Australia. Until October 13. Tickets start at $30pp.
ART
National Gallery of Victoria, St Kilda Rd, Melbourne.
Be one of the first to see the new KAWS exhibition at the NGV Teens Art Party on Saturday 21 September between 6pm-9pm.
The Art Party lets teens experience the exhition, watch live music and have a dance. Designed for ages 13-17, and 18-year-olds attending high school. Snacks between $5-15 available.
Bunjil Place Plaza, Narre Warren.
More than three million people in 40 countries have experienced Alan Parkinson’s architectural installations, and now you can too. Enter a world of colour, shapes and light when you step into the Katena Luminarium. Suitable for children of all ages. Tickets: $15 adult, children (aged three to 15): $10. Opens September 27 until October 6, weekdays 11am-4pm and weekends: 10am to 5pm.