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2026 Easter school holiday guide for Melbourne and Victoria
With the Easter school holidays kicking off in April, here's a guide to the best budget and family-friendly events and things to do in Melbourne and Victoria.
Running from 2-17 April 2026, here's the best things to see and do over the school holidays, from the best attractions, day trips and free activities, to ideas for a fun day at home.
RACV Members save more on a host of fun family experiences, including Puffing Billy, Sovereign Hill, SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium, Luna Park, Kryal Castle and more.
2026 Easter school holidays guide in Melbourne and Victoria
Family-friendly holiday activities in Melbourne
Spot marine creatures at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium
Melbourne's SEA LIFE Aquarium features over 10,000 underwater creatures to see and learn about, including sharks, penguins, crocodiles, and seahorses.
Make sure to visit the aquarium's new rockpool habitat, Rocky Shores, for a unique perspective on real rockpool residents like hermit crabs, sea stars, sea cucumbers, or even an octopus. It's just one of SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium's many habitat zones, from the Bay of Rays to the Coral Atoll.
Take a ride on Puffing Billy
The Dandenong Ranges make for a beautiful day immersed in nature. Take a hike, walk through the Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden, and stay for lunch.
Best of all, ride on the historical steam train Puffing Billy and enjoy the amazing views of fern gullies and temperate rainforest. Young and old will love dangling their feet over the side of the carriage as the train chugs along the mountain track, which is more than 100 years old. Make sure to book in advance to avoid disappointment.
See a blockbuster movie
The cinema is a great place to spend time with family and friends, no matter the season. The Easter break means there’s plenty of family-friendly movies on this school holidays, including:
- GOAT (PG) - an action-comedy film set in an all-animal world, following the small goat Will who's determined to prove his worth in roarball: a high-intesity sport dominated by the fastest and fiercest animals in the world.
- Zootopia 2 (PG) - return to the beloved animal metropolis with police bunny Officer Judy Hopps and her wily fox partner Nick Wilde as they take on their most challenging case yet: a mysterious pit viper named Gary De’Snake unleashing chaos on Zootopia.
- Hoppers (PG) - giggle along as an animal lover has her consciousness placed into a cute robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world.
- The Magic Faraway Tree (G) - parents may remember Enid Blyton's best-selling children’s classic novel The Magic Faraway Tree. Rediscover the magic with Polly, Tim and their children Beth, Joe and Fran: a modern family forced to relocate to the English countryside, where they discover a magical tree and its extraordinary residents.
- The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (CTC) - the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie is here, based on the beloved Super Mario Galaxy games. This epic new journey expands on the vast Super Mario universe, with new friends and new galaxies to explore.
RACV Members save up to 40 per cent* when pre-purchasing movie tickets for Hoyts, Village, Palace, IMAX, Moonlight and Event Cinemas.
Watch the Billie Jean King Cup
Kids 12 and under go free to the Billie Jean King Cup: a great opportunity to see the Australia's best female players at Melbourne Park on April 10 and 11, including Sam Stosur, Talia Gibson and Maya Joint. There will also be racquet giveaways, face painting, and other family-friendly activities.
Catch the latest family-friendly flick these school holidays.
Head to a theme park
Victoria is a state full of great theme parks for all ages; the hardest part will be choosing which one to go visit. Bookings are recommended over the Easter holidays.
The biggest Victorian theme parks are Gumbuya World in Tynong North, which features water rides, thrill rides, an animal park and explorer playground, and Adventure Park Geelong, which is home to the biggest water park in the state. Funfields is another amazing theme park in Whittlesea, complete with a heated wave pool and lazy river. If you're in Melbourne, St Kilda's Luna Park is an amusement park with a range of rides and attractions for all ages.
Strike a pose at ArtVo Docklands
Photo magic awaits at ArtVo, in Melbourne's Docklands District activity hub for kids. In this immersive 3D gallery, trick imagery makes your photos appear as optical illusions and puts you at the centre of it all. You might find yourself sitting in a fairy jar, in the clutches of King Kong, saving someone on a broken bridge or going to sleep in a mermaid's clam.
Play games at The Social Quarter, Chadstone
Roll up with the kids to Chadstone Shopping Centre's entertainment precinct, The Social Quarter, for a wealth of fun and games to enjoy with the whole family. Play through a creative mini golf course at Holey Moley, compete in immersive game rooms at Hijinx Hotel, or tackle arcade games at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq. The onsite LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre offers LEGO®-themed rides, a 4D cinema, and plenty of LEGO® to play with.
Try a new activity
Do you have an experience you've always wanted to try but never found the time? School holidays offer the perfect opportunity to break up the routine and do something different. Why not try:
Catch some thrilling rides at a theme park near you these holidays. Image: Gumbuya World
Musicals and shows in Melbourne over the April school holidays
Melbourne is Australia’s cultural capital, with plenty of great shows and musicals that will entertain the family over the school holiday break.
Some family shows in April include:
- The (Very) Big Laugh Out (3-4 April, Fed Square Main Stage) - world-class street performers present stand-up, physical and musical comedy, with all-ages programming - all for free.
- Spot Live on Stage (2-5 April, Athenaeum Theatre) - Spot the Dog and his friends are coming to Melbourne on a new adventure! Enjoy a show full of puppetry, songs and puzzles for children aged 18 months to seven years old.
- Play School Live Concert: Humpty's Big Celebration (10-12 April, Athenaeum Theatre) - celebrate 60 years of Play School with this special live concert, bringing songs, stories and joyful play to the stage for young children, starring beloved presenters and favourite toys like Big Ted, Little Ted, Jemima, Kiya and Fergus.
- Ants by Polyglot Theatre (12 April, Fed Square Atrium) - a free, interactive performance that brings children together to explore the landscape with giant costumed ants.
- The Gruffalo (16-19 April, Athenaeum Theatre) - join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in this magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, with songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged three and up.
- Disney's Beauty and the Beast in Concert (10-11 April, Hamer Hall) - be our guest as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performs the score to Disney's animated film classic, Beauty and the Beast, live in concert.
RACV Members save on a range of entertainment experiences with Ticketek.
There's always something fun to see at the theatre, like Play School Live Concert.
Best family getaways in Victoria over the school holidays
Go back in time to Ballarat
A great holiday hotspot full of activities for the kids, step back in time with a trip to Ballarat in Victoria’s Goldfields region. Book a stay RACV Goldfields Resort so that you're close to the action.
Pan for gold and visit a pantomime at Sovereign Hill, try axe throwing and view a jousting demonstration at Kryal Castle, visit native animals at Ballarat Wildlife Park or simply explore the great things to do with kids in the region.
Take a walk on the wild side in Phillip Island
Full of nature parks, animals, beaches and activities, there’s a reason Phillip Island and nearby Inverloch, where you can have a relaxing stay at RACV Inverloch Resort, are popular Victorian holiday destinations.
Take the family around the Phillip Island Nature Parks: see marsupials up close at the Koala Conservation Reserve, head on a virtual trip to Antarctica at the Nobbies Centre, interact with farm animals on Churchill Island, and visit the iconic Penguin Parade to see the largest fairy penguin colony in the world waddling up to say hello.
Get adventurous on the Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, while not travelling too far from Melbourne to feel that holiday vibe. It's also close to RACV Cape Schanck Resort for convenient access to everything the peninsula has to offer.
From a cuddle with a koala at the Moonlit Sanctuary to a roam around the Ashcombe Maze and Lavender Gardens, riding the Arthurs Seat Eagle or snorkelling with sea dragons at Port Phillip Bay, there's plenty for families to do just an hour or so out of Melbourne.
Ballarat Wildlife Park is just one of many family-friendly attractions in the area. Image: Visit Victoria
Best day trips for families in Melbourne and Victoria
If you're looking for a great day trip, from quirky offbeat towns to the best and most popular day trips from Melbourne, there are plenty of places to visit around Victoria.
Cruise down the Great Ocean Road to the iconic Bells Beach region in Torquay, or head to Queenscliff to see the dolphins and seals as they swim and dance across the sea. Or perhaps you'd prefer a day feeding kangaroos and visiting galleries and restaurants around Healesville and the Yarra Valley? You could also consider having a peaceful picnic in Daylesford or spend a day searching for dinosaur fossils in Inverloch.
Wherever you go, check the weather and be well-informed of any safety precautions. Ensure you have an emergency kit in the car, and check your emergency roadside assistance policy is up to date.
The area around Inverloch is full of great walks for the family to enjoy together.
Free school holidays activities in Melbourne and Victoria
Explore a new playground
Enjoy the best playgrounds in regional Victoria and Melbourne. Whether your kids love playgrounds shaped like a pirate ship, exploring musical play equipment, tackling obstacles or an old-fashioned swing and slide, a playground is the perfect place for some free outdoor fun.
Catch some free cinema outdoors
Fed Square is also hosting free outdoor cinema over the Easter long weekend, with deckchairs available - or you can bring your own picnic rug. Screenings including The Princess Bride, The Parent Trap, Paddington 2, and The Mitchells vs the Machines.
For bigger kids (recommended 8+), Fed Square is also screening beloved Studio Ghibli films in Japanese with English subtitles. The films include Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Only Yesterday, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya, My Neighbour Totoro, and Spirited Away.
Have a family bake day
Do you have a budding sous chef in your midst? Spend time with your children in the kitchen and help them make their own marvellous creations. Try these child-friendly recipes from the RACV Club kitchen, including easy sausage roll recipe, the popular mini pancake cereal recipe, or this delicious hot cross buns recipe.
Go on a scenic hike
Make the most of the autumn season by exploring the best picturesque walks around Melbourne and Victoria. Whether you want to see colourful foliage, go on a family-friendly walk, discover a fun dog trail or enjoy a nature hike around the state, there's always somewhere new to explore on foot. And best of all – these experiences are free.
Get on your bikes and ride
Dust off the bikes and head on a family ride around your suburb. It’s free, fun and a healthy way to experience the great outdoors. Try one of these family-friendly bike routes and pedal past sculptures of our solar system along Port Phillip Bay, or ride through parklands and past the Melbourne Zoo on the Capital City Trail. Don’t forget to brush up on the latest cycling road rules.
Visit libraries, galleries, and museums
Did you know that many libraries, galleries and museums have free entry and activities over the school holidays? The NGV, ACMI and the Australian Music Vault all have free entry to selected exhibits, while kids under 12 are also free to visit The Heide Museum of Modern Art, Scienceworks, the Immigration Museum and Melbourne Museum.
Victoria and Melbourne's best libraries offer families another place to explore history and literature, while the best modern art galleries in Melbourne and regional Victoria offer the chance to see thought-provoking art.
Free day trip guides
Did you know there are ways to explore greater Victoria without breaking the budget? Check out our guides on how to have a fun, free day in the Yarra Valley, Ballarat, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong, as well as Melbourne.
