Kids Holiday Activities Part 2
Put your winter woollies on, there’s plenty of school holiday fun and activities on offer in Melbourne and country Victoria. Here are 12 ideas to help you enjoy the holiday break … and create more of those treasured family memories.
1. “THE BIG FREEZE” INDOOR WINTER FAMILY FESTIVAL
Cranbourne Racecourse, Grant St.
Starts July 2-10, 9am-5pm. $12 to $28. thebigfreezefestival.com.au
“The Big Freeze” indoor winter family festival is coming to Cranbourne Racecourse this July – and it’s an awesome opportunity to have some snowy fun with the family without having to drive for hours. This year, there will be nine indoor activity zones, all with adequate heating:
- Snow Pit
- Snowball Toss
- Winter Inflatable Slide
- Snow Village and Forest
- Workshops
- Crafts
- Construction Play
- And so much more!
And best of all – the family gets fresh snow three times a day, guaranteed. If your family has been waiting for a snowball fight for months, “The Big Freeze” festival is where to have it.
2. THE WONDERLAND AT SPIEGELTENT
Wonderland Under the Melbourne Star, 101 Waterfront Way, Docklands.
June 23-July 10. 11.30am and 2.30pm daily.
Snow Play sessions every hour from 10am (50 minutes). wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au
Want some winter fun with the family without the hassle and drama of going out of town? Then pack up and head to the Docklands – the Wonderland Spiegeltent is in town. There’s a circus, a snowy undercover adventure zone with live snowfall, and snowy mini-mountains for the kids to slide down and build snowmen on. And if it gets too cold, the Sweet Treats Cafe will have the hot chocolate, popcorn, and snow fairy floss to keep you warm. And if that’s not enough, there are also rides and other amusements for all ages to complete the package.
Show only $25/Conc & Child $20/ Family Pass $80 (4 people); It’s Snow Time $18. Bookings: 9602-1311 or visit wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au
3. THE FUN FOR KIDS FESTIVAL AT WARRNAMBOOL
Corner Timor & Liebig sts, Warrnambool.
Until July 2, 10am-5pm. $32.50 to $120.
Fun4Kids is a festival created especially for families with kids up to 12 years old. This exciting festival is jampacked with activities and events that spark children’s imaginations and creativity, and keep them entertained for hours… without the need for TV and gadgets. Performances and activity zones include:
- Wash Your Face in Orange Juice, with Peter Combe
- Live and Learn the Jedi Way, by the Sons of Obi-Wan Lightsaber Academy
- Taylor Made: A Tribute to Taylor Swift
- Galloping Tales Digital Puppetry
- Oceanarium
- Kooky Crafts
- Inflatable World
- Face Painting
- Raiders of the Lost Past
- And much, much more!
4. CHRISTMAS IN JULY AT LUNA PARK
Lower Esplanade, St Kilda. Sun-Thu, 11am-6pm, Fri-Sat, 11am-8pm. lunapark.com.au
Dress your kids up as elves and head right to Luna Park for some inexpensive, good-natured, Christmas-in-July winter fun. Enjoy mechanical reindeer racers, hourly snowfall, bouncy elves, face painting, Scrat and Sid from the movie Ice Age, and – of course – Santa Claus and his elves. Admission and entertainment is completely free – only pay for the hot food and hotter rides, such as the Power Surge, the Silly Serpent, and the Great Scenic Railway.
5. ICE SKATING AT FED SQUARE RIVER RINK
Federation Square. Yarra River Terrace. 10am-1pm daily. Until July 17.
http://www.fedsquare.com/riverrink
Last year, people flocked to the River Rink when they found a beautiful outdoor ice rink waiting for them. This year, River Rink is back just in time for Melbourne’s winter months, inviting ice skaters of all ages and skill levels to Federation Square. Never mind if you and your loved ones are ice skating for the very first time – a few large, friendly, inflatable penguins are around to soften the landings… though the tumbles (and the laughter that follows) just make the trip even more enjoyable.
Tickets start at $12.50 for 45 minutes, inclusive of skates. Transactional charges may apply. Limited tickets available, so book in advance.
6. MEET MR. SNOT BOTTOM
Speakeasy HQ and Apollo Theatre, 522 Flinders Street, Melbourne.
Saturday, July 2, 11:30AM. 1PM Show sold out. Tickets at $10.
Mr. Snot Bottom is a stand-up kids’ comedian who’s got a LOT to say about the gooiest, stinkiest, yuckiest topics… which, of course, all kids absolutely love. With a stellar audio-visual effects show that’s especially made for kids aged 4-10 and their parents, Mr. Snot Bottom is guaranteed to deliver a good hour’s worth of belly-aching laughter and enjoyment.
7. THE NEXT “LITTLE KIDS’ DAY IN”
Scienceworks, 2 Booker Street, Spotswood, Victoria
Monday, August 1, 10AM-3PM
Kids enter free; Adults $14.00; Museum Members enter free. Early bookings recommended
Got kids 5 ages and younger? Then mark your calendar on August 1st to join the next Little Kids’ Day In. With shows, live exhibits, and play-related activities revolving around Alice in Wonderland and the Nitty Gritty Super City, the Little Kids’ Day In is perfect for the next play date, or simply spending quality time with your kids.
8. FIREWORKS OVER THE DOCKLANDS
Docklands Waterfront, Docklands VIC
Every Friday from July 1 to August 26, 2016; 6:30-8:30PM;
Fireworks commence 7:30 PM Admission is free
Do you and your kids like fireworks? Then head over to the Docklands Waterfront every Friday for spectacular, mesmerizing fireworks shows… absolutely free. Bring the family and enjoy other bits of amusement, including live music and roving performers. Start off or cap off the fireworks show with some warm food and drinks at the various restaurants and bars.
9. CREATE YOUR OWN ABORIGINAL STYLED BUSH SCULPTURE
Artplay – Birrarung Marr, Batman Avenue, Melbourne
July 3, 2016, 10:30AM-12:00NN and 2:00-3:30PM
$16 per child; advanced bookings only. Book here
Learn the ancient art of creating bush sculpture with the Baluk Arts Aboriginal Artists! If your child is 6-12 years of age, take them for a fun, educational workshop about creating very favourite Australian animals using hay and wool.
10. FIMO JEWELLERY MAKING
No Vacancy Gallery – 38-40 Jane Bell Lane, QV Building, Melbourne
Wednesday, July 6, 3:00-5:00PM
Tickets at $20. Online booking only – book here
Bring your kids to a workshop they’ll truly love. No Vacancy’s jewellery-making workshop will teach you and your little ones how to use paints, glitter, quick-drying clay, and other jewellery findings to craft their very own earrings and necklaces.
11. WATCH DISNEY’S “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, JR.”
Union Theatre, University of Melbourne – Parkville
July 6, 11AM-12NN and 2PM-3PM; July 7-9, 2-3PM and 7-8PM
Tickets from $21-$26. Book here
Watch this beloved take on the classic fairy tale with your kids! Based on the original Broadway production, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. is a kid-friendly version of the romantic tale, brought to life by over 70 talented young performers, and featuring popular songs from the movie, including Be My Guest, Beauty and the Beast, and more.
12. EDENDALE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT FARM
30 Gastons Rd, Eltham t 03 9433 3711 Opening Hours 9:30am – 4:30pm School Holidays, Saturdays & Sundays
edendale@nillumbik.vic.gov.au
Visit the Edendale Environmental Farm in Elthan, Melbourne’s North East. There are plenty of school holiday activities that include: Visit the website for more.
- Animal Covers
- Eye Spy (on the farm)
- Wool Display
- Guinea Pig Patting
Tour the farm, find out about the many sustainable living workshops that are regularly held throughout the year.
Cafe eden is open every day from 9.30am to 3pm. Buy a coffee and food, bring a picnic and enjoy the outdoor and under-shelter spaces. Bring your bikes and ride the trails to Diamond Creek or the Eltham Miniature Railway.
Just across the creek and along the bike trail is the Wattletree Rd Covered Adventure Play Ground, highly popular with BBQ facilities.