Spring into the school holidays with 20 wild and wacky activities

KIDS getting bored? We are here to help. The Herald Sun has compiled a list of 20 wild and wacky activities around Victoria and interstate this spring to boost your school holiday options.

Trash Test Dummies

KIDS getting bored?

We are here to help.

The Herald Sun has compiled a list of 20 wild and wacky activities around Victoria and interstate this spring to boost your school holiday options.

ACTIVITIES IN VICTORIA

1. Woodgrove Monster Trucks

Woodgrove monster truck.

Monster trucks are rolling into Woodgrove Shopping Centre, with a mini monster truck, stunt car and two dirt bikes on display. There will also be a monster truck jumping castle from Monday, September 25 until Sunday, October 1.

And in the following week, for $5, Buster the truck will take you for a ride.

For more information visit the website:
www.woodgrove.com.au/play/events/september-school-holidays-17

2. AFL Players at the Arthurs Seat Eagle

Footy fans of all ages will have a chance to get handball tips from St Kilda players Dylan Roberton, Shane Savage and Darren Minchington at Arthurs Seat Eagle on Grand Final Saturday.

There will also be facepainting and stilt walkers.

Wear your footy colours to the Eagle for 15 per cent off the price of all full priced tickets.

For more information, visit the website: aseagle.com.au/

3. Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and friends light up Watergardens

Watergardens Town Centre in Taylors Lakes will provide the backdrop for the Lights by Dreamworks Experience.

It is based on the Chinese Lantern Festival, with the addition of characters from Shrek, Kung Fu Panda and Madagascar.

There will also be a craft village and chance to meet Shrek or Puss in Boots from 11am to 2pm each day.

For more information, visit the website: www.watergardens.com.au/play/events/lights-by-dreamworks-displays

4. Prehistoric VR at ACMI

Prehistoric VR at ACMI.

From September 23 until October 8 ACMI is running a deep dive immersive* virtual reality experience.

Prehistoric VR invites you to travel back 200 million years to meet some of the wild and wonderful creatures lurking in the deep seas.

For more information, visit the website: www.acmi.net.au/events/prehistoric-vr/

5. Dialogue in the Dark

Spend an hour without your sight at Dialogue in the Dark.

The sensory experience removes you from your comfort zone and plonks you into the Melbourne CBD without your sight, with a blind or low vision guide who will teach you to rely on other senses to get by.

The immersive experience is presented in partnership with Guide Dogs Australia.

For more information, visit the website: www.dialogueinthedark.com.au/about-did/

Simon and his guide dog Khan are taking part in Dialogue in the Dark. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

6. Shopkins Movie Premiere

Shopkins: World Vacation hits screens on October 5 and features a high-flying new soundtrack including the hit single Ready To Go. There are more than 140 different Shopkins characters.

For more information, visit the website: villagecinemas.com.au/movies/shopkins-world-vacation

Kids looking for bugs.

7. Junior Ranger BioQuest holiday program

Parks Victoria is inviting you to become a wildlife ranger by using their BioQuest app this school holidays.

The Spring BioQuest allows users to track animals and plants they see, as well as link up with friends and family to compare.

For more information, visit the website:
juniorrangers.com.au/whats-on/

8. Pentridge Prison Crime Tours

Would you dare spend an hour in Melbourne’s supposedly haunted Pentridge Prison?

Tours take you to see the cell of notorious criminal Chopper Reed and show you how prisoners lived in the jail.

For more information, visit the website:
anternghosttours.rezdy.com/175013/open-day-pentridge-prison-crime-tour-victoria

Some of the bright Wattle at Cranbourne.

9. Weird and Wonderful Garden — Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne

Marvel at some of the weird and wonderful plants in this quirky display at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

The garden shows off some of Australia’s boldest flora to create a surreal* landscape.

For more information, visit the website:
www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-cranbourne/attractions/plant-collections/weird-and-wonderful-garden

10. Make Your Own Oliver Jeffers Crayons

Make your very own characters from Oliver Jeffers’ much-loved books — The Day the Crayons Quit and The Day the Crayons Came Home.

Flick on your printer, grab some scissors and glue and you’re set.

For more information, visit the website:
ojstuff.com/products/make-your-own-crayons

11. Trash Test Dummies at Melbourne Fringe

This family-friendly circus comedy show revolves around the humble household bin.
A troupe* of slapstick comedians will wow you with their acrobatics and juggling, while making you laugh.

For more information, visit the website: www.melbournefringe.com.au/event/trash-test-dummies/

Trash Test Dummies members. Picture: Andy Brownbill

QUEENSLAND ACTIVITIES

12. The Daisy Hill Koala Centre, Daisy Hill

Meet one our national treasures this school holidays at the Daisy Hill Conservation Park about 25km from Brisbane.

You can get up close and personal with the koalas and enjoy walking among the trees.

For more information, call: [phone]

13. Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane

There is no better time of year to head to the Botanic Gardens to enjoy all spring has to offer.

Pack a picnic, spot dragonflies and then head up Mt Coot-tha for a view of Brisbane.

For more information, visit the website:
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/parks-venues/parks/brisbane-botanic-gardens-mount-coot-tha

View from Mt Coot-tha.

NEW SOUTH WALES

14. The Big Adventure, Sydney

From 9am on Saturday, October 7 the City of Sydney will host a day of outdoor activity, giving you the chance jump, dance, climb and creative.

There will be parkour clinics, breakdancing classes, rock-climbing and pedal-powered smoothies. There will also be a BMX arena and unicycle ballet.

For more information, visit the website:
whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/the-big-adventure

15. Madame Tussauds, Sydney

Trump in wax. Picture: Chris J Ratcliffe

Take a close-up look at some of the world’s biggest celebrities and sports stars at Madame Tussauds in Sydney. The realistic wax models are perfect to snap a selfie with.

For more information, visit the website:
www.madametussauds.com.au/

TASMANIA

16. Life in a Seashell, Hobart

Learn all about living life in a seashell, like many sea creatures do, at Sandy Bay on Saturday, September 30 at 1.30pm.

For more information, visit the website: www.aroundyou.com.au/whats-on/events/life-in-a-seashell

17. Bush Circus, Hobart

Learn circus skills in the wild Hobart Bushland with Bush Adventures and Circus Art Tasmania.

The October 5 workshop is at Ridgeway at 1.30pm and costs $5.50.

For more information, visit the website:
circusart.com.au/

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

18. Adelaide International Youth Film Festival, Adelaide

The Adelaide International Youth Film Festival has picked selection of films perfect for young minds as part of the four-day event.

On September 30 and October 1 a curated selection of movies from around the world will be available for kids in the program to enjoy.

For more information, visit the website: www.aiyff.com.au/

A beautiful butterfly. Picture: Arnaud Martin

19. Little Buggers Club, Adelaide

Come along to the Little Buggers Club at Bower Cottages Community Centre at 10am on September 30 to learn all about the life cycle of butterflies. There will be caterpillars and butterflies on display and an expert to answer curly questions.

For more information, visit the website:
www.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=808 & c=55155

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

20. Lego Ninjago Immersive Zone, Perth

From September 21 until October 2, Westfield Whitford City is running daily ninja training activities for the release of the Lego Ninjago movie.
Learn to use stealth and perfect your ninja building skills.

For more information, visit the website:
www.westfield.com.au/whitfordcity/events/lego-ninjago-immersive-zone/43911

A scene from the new film. Picture: Warner Bros Pictures