Spring school holiday guide: Best things to do around Melbourne and regional Victoria

Spring school holiday activities in Melbourne

Immerse the kids in the spirit of Connection

Connection is the latest immersive experience at THE LUME Melbourne. An art exhibit for all ages, Connection features the work of over 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait artists who have told their story through themes of land, sea and sky. 

Families can watch videos, walk around the 3,000 square metre immersive exhibit, engage with the ArtPlay sensory exhibit, and explore the works of the world’s oldest living culture through print, video, song, dance, and sound. 

RACV Members save on tickets to Connection.

Catch the historic Puffing Billy steam train 

Spring is the perfect time to get on board the historic Puffing Billy steam train for a ride through the stunning Dandenong Ranges.

Dangle your legs out the train into the open air, explore the leafy areas of Lakeside or Gembrook, and take in the scenic views of lush rainforest, town villages, meandering lakes and tranquil mountain ranges. 

RACV Members save on Puffing Billy tickets.

Build and play at the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Melbourne

Rainy day? Time to head to the LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre at Chadstone, where families can marvel at incredible professional LEGO® builds, head on rides, watch films in the 4D cinema and, of course, play and create with all the LEGO® on hand! 

RACV Members save on LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre tickets.

Explore the Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature exhibition

The latest exhibit at Melbourne Museum is a collection of costumes, creatures and artefacts from the popular Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series. 

Featuring items loaned from London’s Natural History Museum collection, book and movie fans will love feeling a part of the Wizarding World. 

Plan your journey to the Melbourne Museum with arevo.

Hanging little legs out of the Puffing Billy steam train is a well-loved Australian activity. Image: Supplied. 

Ride the big dipper at Luna Park

If you’re looking for a day of fun and adventure, there’s nothing better than experiencing the thrill of rides and attractions at Melbourne’s iconic Luna Park.

Located in St Kilda, take a dip on the Great Scenic Railway, bump into your friends on the dodgems, grab some fairy floss, and cruise around the carousel at Australia’s oldest and most endearing theme park for all ages. 

RACV Members get discounted tickets to Luna Park. 

Find Nemo at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium 

Constantly updating its exhibits and activities is the SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD. 

Featuring over 10,000 sea creatures from around the world, get up close and personal with Gentoo penguins, fishes Nemo and Dory, and Pinjarra the saltwater crocodile. 

Over the school holidays, the aquarium also offers educational programs and behind-the-scenes tours, where kids and parents can find out more about our friends of the sea. 

RACV Members save on SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tickets.

Cosy up at the latest blockbuster movie

There’s nothing like a great movie to keep the whole family entertained, and these school holidays are no exception.

Some great new movies coming out for families include Disney’s Haunted Mansion, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.

RACV Members save up to 40 per cent on movie tickets* 

Have a swing on a mini golf course

From glow in the dark golf in the Docklands to playing through a set from Friends or The Simpsons, a day on the green at one of these Melbourne mini-golf courses is sure to keep everyone on their toes. 

RACV Members save on mini golf at Boneo Discovery Park and Grampians Adventure Golf.

Build it and they will come to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre. Image: Supplied.

Spring school holiday activities across regional Victoria

Glide the sky on the Otway Fly

On a trip down the Great Ocean Road, head on a treetop walk through the Otways and stroll across the highest and longest rainforest walk in the world. 

Take the forest walk to the 47-metre-high observation tower, or soar a zipline almost 2kms long before resting your heads at the RACV Torquay Resort.

RACV Members save on Otway Fly Treetop Walk tickets.

Go back in time at Sovereign Hill

Panning for gold, making rainbow candles, singing along with a pantomime, and dressing up as 1800s royalty? Experience all this and more at Ballarat's historical village experience, Sovereign Hill. 

An interactive, immersive experience, teach kids about Victoria’s famed Gold Rush era at his unique regional living museum. Eureka!

RACV Members receive discounted tickets to Sovereign Hill, and save on stays at the nearby RACV Goldfields Resort. 

Joust with the knights of the round table at Kryal Castle

Just down the road from Sovereign Hill on a trip to Ballarat is the Medieval-themed Kryal Castle.

Designed as a medieval village with labyrinths, mazes, jousting performances, axe throwing, archery, roaming knights and spell-casting wizards, spend a day going back in time in this sprawling castle attraction for all ages. 

RACV Members save on General Admission, with 12 free archery arrows at Kryal Castle.

Get up close with the fairy penguins at Phillip Island

Phillip Island is so full of activities, you’ll be wondering where to start! You can’t miss a viewing of the only blue-feathered fairy penguins in the world, a colony of 40,000 Little Penguins who parade the Phillip Island sandbar each night.

You could also head on a fur seal or whale watching cruise along the coast, visit the Grand Prix track, explore the Phillip Island Nature Parks or head on a family hike to Cape Woolamai. 

Head back in time with a visit to Kryal Castle in the Goldfields. Image: Supplied. 

Explore the desert at Cactus Country

Spring is here, so what better time is there to explore the great outdoors? Bring the dog for a family-friendly exploration of Cactus Country, right near the RACV Cobram Resort.

Located near the famed Murray River, cruise over eight different walking trails featuring over 1,000 varieties of cacti and succulents at Australia’s largest cactus farm. 

RACV Members save on entry to Cactus Country Garden.

Talk to the animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park

Meet some of Victoria’s cutest residents at Ballarat Wildlife Park and get up close to animals including kangaroos, koalas, wombats, birds, meerkats, snakes, crocodiles and even a giant tortoise called Hugo. 

Admission includes a view of all the animals, as well as informative keeper talks. If you want a one-on-one animal experience, you can book in for your very own animal encounter.

RACV Members save on entry to Ballarat Wildlife Park. 

Have a day of adventure and thrills at Gumbuya World 

Not sure if you want to visit a water park, wildlife sanctuary or thrilling theme park? Get the best of all three with a visit to Gumbuya World, Victoria’s largest theme park that's less than an hour out of Melbourne. 

Feel the adrenalin rush on the Mining Race Coaster, spin in classic teacups, ride bumper to bumper on the Desert Derby dodgem cars and book a close-up animal encounter with a koala or python. If it's warm, head to Oasis Springs for a cruise along the Lazy River, or simple have a play in the aquatic jungle. 

RACV Members save on Gumbuya World tickets.

Kids will love getting up close and personal with the animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park. Image: Visit Victoria. 

The best family-friendly holiday and resort stays in Victoria this school holidays

The best kind of holiday stays have something for everyone, from great meals, spacious rooms and fun activities, to nearby experiences and attractions that are budget-friendly and keep everyone happy. 

When having a stay at the RACV Resorts in Cape Schanck, Healesville, Torquay and Inverloch, kids will have a wild time exploring the activities on offer, from the outdoor playgrounds and tennis courts, to splashing about in the indoor pools and competing for glory at the onsite Games Rooms.  

Up at RACV Cobram Resort, as well as a giant playground and pools, take a ride on the BMX tracks, or enjoy the great outdoors with a family game of basketball or tennis on the Resort courts. 

Out in the RACV Goldfields Resort, families can enjoy the above plus a visit to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, with some exhibit pieces on show right at the Resort. 

Parents will also be happy to know that RACV Resorts at Cobram, Goldfields, and Inverloch will be running school holiday programs, perfect for keeping little people busy - and older people happy! 

Members save at RACV Resorts.

Head on a bike ride with the family around your suburb or one of the RACV Resorts. Image: Visit Victoria.

Free school holidays activities around Melbourne and Victoria this spring

Try out a new playground

Sick of the same old slide and swing routine? You’re spoiled for choice in Victoria, with hundreds of free children’s adventure spaces waiting to be explored. 

In Melbourne, try the very first public playground at Lincoln Square in Carlton that features slides from a real-world treehouse, or go to St Kilda’s Adventure Playground, where kids can adventure through a castle and draw bridge, pirate ship, trampoline and flying fox. 

In regional Victoria, have fun with water play at Point Cook’s Crocodile Park, run around the portholes and lighthouses at the Rye’s Up! Community Playground, and play in the bush at Bollygum’s musical playground in Kinglake. 

Find new treasures at the library 

Libraries aren’t just for borrowing books and quiet study. Some of the best libraries in Victoria provide a range of activities for book lovers young and old, as well as a collection of both new and treasured classics. 

Give kids a play in the State Library’s storybook castle, head to a crafternoon at the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre, join the Kid’s Book Club at Bunjil Place Library in Narre Warren, or have a play with LEGO® at the Wodonga Library Gallery. 

Wander through the flower fields

Fancy a stroll through some springtime blooms? As the country’s garden state, Victoria is home to a range of botanic gardens, flower-lined parks, seasonal flower shows and perfect picnic spots for enjoying the lush greenery of the outdoors. 

Stroll through over 8,5000 species of flora and fauna at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Melbourne, take in the spectacular sights of the rhododendrons in the Dandenong Ranges, go bird watching at Wilson Botanic Park in Berwick, or simply enjoy a stroll through the cherry blossoms at your local flowering oasis. 

Bake your own delicious desserts

Give mini chefs a helping hand with a day making delectable desserts in your own kitchen café.

Little hands will love helping to make these tasty creations the whole family will enjoy, from a classic chocolate cake to these mouth-watering salted caramel chocolate chip cookies.

Get on your bike and ride

Cycling around your neighbourhood or heading on a scenic trail is a wonderful way to spend time with the family on a free and healthy activity outdoors. 

Check out our guide to family-friendly bike rides for a range of fun routes around the state, from a sunny solar ride through Milky Way monuments along Port Phillip Bay, to kangaroo spotting on the Bass Coast Rail Trail. 

Head on a day trip

Mountain ranges, waterfalls, sandy beaches and historic villages. Victoria has it all, so bundle up the car and head on an adventure to a place that’s yet to be explored – from a drive to the surf beaches of Torquay, to a day of activities on the Mornington Peninsula, one of these day trips from Melbourne is sure to get the family excited. 

**Vouchers must be pre-purchased from RACV Retail Store or at racv.com.au/movietickets. Discount does not apply to postage or credit card fees for tickets purchased online. Exclusive to RACV Members and RACV membership number and/or card must be presented at time of purchase. Tickets valid at participating cinemas for traditional cinema sessions only, excluding Victorian Public Holidays and School Holidays. Not valid with any other ticket offer or promotion unless otherwise stated. Vouchers valid until the last calendar day of the month indicated on the voucher. Tickets cannot be refunded, exchanged or transferred. Tickets purchased from RACV are for personal use only and cannot be on-sold. Candy Bar voucher redeemable 24 hours after purchase for one regular or frozen drink and one regular popcorn and must be surrendered at the Candy Bar on use. Alternate food and beverage items may be substituted should the advertised options no longer be available. For more details visit an RACV Retail Store or refer to the terms and conditions printed on the voucher. Restrictions apply including weekends, Saturday nights and public holidays and a 1.5% processing fee. HOYTS: Vouchers cannot be redeemed for LUX, Directors Suite, HOYTS IMAX® or group or special events. Before purchasing any vouchers please check with the cinema on the classification. HOYTS tickets are not valid after 2pm Saturday and Sunday or anytime on a public holiday. Vouchers are valid at all HOYTS cinema locations. Vouchers are not valid at HOYTS affiliated cinemas. Village: Not valid for Gold Class, group bookings, movie marathons, special events or in conjunction with any other offer or promotion unless otherwise stated. Mailout vouchers are valid at all Village cinema locations. Digital vouchers are not valid at Bendigo, Rosebud, Sorrento, Warragul and Warrnambool cinemas. Palace: Vouchers are valid at all Palace cinema locations.