School holiday survival guide: How to keep the kids entertained this Easter in Tassie
Stuck for things to do in Tasmania with the kids these Easter holidays? Here’s our mega-list of activities including lots of free events.
Tasmania
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Whether your kids want to get up close and personal with an aurora, join the rat race or just hunt for Easter eggs there are plenty of activities to keep them entertained these school holidays.
The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery launched its five-day festival for children and young people Lift Off on Sunday with a jam-packed program of free activities.
Lift Off is packed with live performances, workshops, special displays and activities exploring “extremes” in its many forms.
The activities in the program are free, including the Aurora Experience which sees TMAG’s Bond Store Basement turned into a walk in Southern lights.
TMAG will open up its galleries and other spaces for six days of events, workshops, performances and hands-on activities.
The annual Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Easter Egg Hunt is being hosted at Government House on Friday April 18.
The first session has already sold out with tickets for the 11am and 1pm sessions selling fast.
The Theatre Royal is hosting a full on Staycation program, with a range of shows and creative workshops for the kids.
The program is set to be a “Ratfest” launching David Walliams’ smash-hit play Ratburger on April 28 and 29.
Inspired by the show, Ratfest is being held on Wednesday April 23 in the Theatre Royal Foyers.
The day is set for a range of rat related activities such as rat puppet making, a screening of Ratatouille and Theatre Royals very own rat-race.
Up North QVMAG’s holiday program has a range of activities at both the Museum at Inveresk and Art Gallery at Royal Park Launceston.
Libraries across the state are set to be a hive of activity during the holidays with a range of free and fun activities available.
To round out the holiday, Rosny Library is hosting a sold out holiday games and tech party on Thursday April 24.
School holiday events and activities
Aurora Experience
TMAG’s Bond Store Basement has turned into a walk-through southern aurora! Get up close to the coloured lights and learn more about this amazing natural occurrence. Created by projectionist and digital artist Alex Moss.
Details: 12 – 17 April
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm – Drop in (recommended time 20 mins)
Location: Bond Store Basement
Suitable for all ages
Free
Meet A Curator: meet a conservator, a botanist or a zoologist.
Details: April 15 – 17
Time: 10am – 1pm
Location: Drop in Central Gallery at TMAG
Suitable for all ages
Free
The Festival Cinema Dome
From outer space to ocean deep, organisers say this is “cinema to the max” in the festival’s inflatable cinema dome.
Details: April 12 – 13
Time: 10:15am – 1pm, Screenings every 30 minutes
Central Gallery
Suitable for 5 years + accompanying adult for under 10s
Free
The Volcano Show
Has Professor Vesuvius really found an active volcano? Can you help before it erupts. Learn more about volcanoes before you visit TMAG’s Pompeii photography exhibition.
Details: 12 – 17 April
Time: 10:15am; 11:00am; 11:45am, run time 15 mins
Location: TMAG Welcome Garden lawn
Suitable for all ages
Free
Southern Ocean Deep Sea Creatures
Make a creature from the deep and learn more about our Southern Ocean marine life.
Add to the Festival mural or take home – or both! Designed by Greta Jean.
Details: 12 – 17 April
Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm, drop in
Location: Central Gallery
Suitable for all ages
Turning Old Into New
Presented by Maree Baker from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.
A hands-on activity to turn everyday old things like clothing into useful new things!
Find ways to reduce waste and become a recycler.
Details: 16 – 17 April
Time: 10:15am – 11:15am, 11:30am – 12:30pm- Drop in
Location: Watergate Courtyard at TMAG
Suitable for all ages
Bricks Through Time
Presented by Port Arthur Historic Site Management Site
Explore the history of brickmaking from ancient times through to the 1800s! Learn how bricks were made by hand and create your own mini brick to take home. Organisers warn this activity is “hands on and a bit messy”.
Details: 15 – 16 April
Time: 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm – 30 mins
Location: Watergate Courtyard
Suitable for ages 7 and up
Circus Maximus
Maximum balancing, juggling and much more. Enjoy an active afternoon with festival circus sessions brought to you by the Sand’s Family Circus.
Details: 12 – 17 April
Time: 1:30pm – 3:30pm – Drop in
Location: Watergate Courtyard at TMAG
Suitable for ages 7 and up
Free. No bookings required but limited places.
View the full holiday program at www.tmag.tas.gov.au
Dino Portraits with Ben Winwood
Learn how to draw your favourite dinosaur or extinct creature, guided by local artist Ben Winwood.
Details: 14 April
Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Location: Museum at Inveresk
Suitable for ages 5-12, accompanied by a parent.
Cost: $12.78
Fossils, Fossils, Fossils
Discover how fossils are made — and have fun creating your own to take home.
Details: 15 April
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
Location: Museum at Inveresk
Cost: $12.78
To view the full holiday program visit www.qvmag.tas.gov.au
Library fun
Create your own stained-glass piece or add it to a collaborative window on show at Launceston Library throughout the holiday.
Little Bits Craft drop-in:
Details: April 16
Time: 10-11:30am
Location: Peach and Pear Rooms, Huonville Library.
For the full list of activities at libraries across the state visit libraries.tas.gov.au/school-holiday-activities/
Others:
Film a fairytale in a day at Exit Left:
April 14-17
Duration: One action-packed day of theatre and fun
Time: 9am to 3pm
Suitable for kids aged 6-11 years
Cost: $109
Rat Fest – part of Theatre Royal’s Staycation school holiday program
April 23
Time: 12.30pm
Location: Theatre Royal Foyers
For full details visit www.theatreroyal.com.au/staycation
Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Easter Egg Hunt:
Friday April 18
Time: Tickets limited but still available for the 11am and 12pm sessions.
Location: Government House Lawns
All proceeds support groundbreaking medical research led by Dr. Andrew Marshall, developing lifesaving sensor technology for preterm babies
Easter cookie decorating event at Sisterhood
Details: Tuesday, April 15
Time: 1.30pm
Location: Sisterhood, 4/48 King St, Sandy Bay TAS 7005
Suitable for kids 3 and up, accompanied by an adult.
Learn to play pokemon trading card game
Learn to play the pokemon trading card game from Area 52s team of “gym leaders”
Details: Wednesday, April 16
Time: 11am-2pm
Location: Area 52 1/88 Elizabeth Street Hobart
Free entry and all participants receive a free pack of pokemon cards
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Originally published as School holiday survival guide: How to keep the kids entertained this Easter in Tassie
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