Winter school holiday guide: What’s on near you
The school year is half way done, make the most of your winter break by getting out and about and checking out what is on near you.
Feels like we all blinked in January and ended up heading towards July! Incredibly, another school year is at the midway point and it’s time to rug up, head out and make some lifelong memories together during the school holidays.
Not sure what to do? We’re rounding up the most fun events happening around the country for you.
TERM 2 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 2022
Australian Capital Territory: 2 July to 17 July
New South Wales: 4 July to 17 July
Northern Territory: 25 June to 18 July
Queensland: 25 June to 10 July
South Australia: 9 July to 24 July
Tasmania: 9 July to 24 July
Victoria: 25 June to 10 July
Western Australia: 2 July to 17 July
Take a look at what is on near you in the state by state guide below …
New South Wales
Disney On Ice: Into the Magic
It’s time for magic! Disney On Ice presents Into the Magic now touring around Australia.
See all your favourite Disney stars including Moana, Coco, Frozen and more, live on ice this winter!
Check out the remaining tour dates below:
- Melbourne 30 June – 4 July
- Newcastle 7 – 10 July
- Sydney – 13 -17 July
- Hobart – 22 -25 July
For ticket information visit Disney On Ice.
Snow Time in the Garden, Hunter Valley
Winter has made its arrival well and truly known in New South Wales, so embrace the icy temperatures and make the most of the frosty air at Hunter Valley Gardens as they celebrate the return of their coolest event Snow Time in the Garden.
Kicking off from Saturday 25th June to Sunday 24th July, Snow Time features an ice-skating rink, 45-metre-long Ice Toboggan slope, Snow Play Zone and roving performers including fluffy penguins, snowmen, and adorable polar bears.
If that’s not enough, you can enjoy the 25-metre Ferris Wheel which oversees the winter wonderland and indulge in several other heart-racing rides.
Activities will operate every day from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm from 25th June – 24th July, 2022.
- Adult: $35.00
- Children 4 – 15 years: $26.00
- Children 3 years and under: Free
Wild Winter holidays at the museum, Australian National Maritime Museum
From Sea Monsters to a Cockatoo Island adventure, the school holidays are overflowing with fun this Winter at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Head up a lighthouse, venture aboard our fleet of vessels, explore touchable objects and specimens at the Cabinet of Curiosities and celebrate NAIDOC week with acclaimed artist Alick Tipoti.
Catch a new exhibition or get hands-on with creative activities; chill with a film, or jump onboard a workshop featuring fossils, photography and underwater drones. People with hidden disabilities or who are on the autism spectrum can access a quieter museum experience, through the Sensory Friendly Sundays Programs.
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Celebrate Colourful Creatures at the SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo.
Dive into an underwater world bursting with colour at the aquarium to enjoy the kaleidoscope of wonder whilst venturing through the aquarium’s nine immersive zones, encountering a myriad of marine creatures.
Encounter even more colour at the zoo, located just next door to the aquarium. Journey through 10 interactive zones and appreciate the bright range of colours present through the unique variety of animals that call Australia home.
Upon entry to each attraction kids will receive a free activity booklet to create their very own adventure storybooks as they journey along the colourful creatures adventure trail, which will keep them entertained with a range of fun and interactive activities.
For the best Colourful Creatures value, visit both attractions and save:
- $58 Adult
- $41.00 Child
- Children (0-2) Free
Taronga on Ice at Taronga Zoo Sydney
Make a trip to the zoo even more memorable with Taronga Zoo Sydney‘s pop-up ice rink this winter, which is perfect for kids big and small.
Normal zoo parking costs apply but the ice rink is outside the zoo, so you can just skate, if preferred.
Sessions run hourly from 10am to 7pm, and include 15 minutes for skate fitting and 45 minutes for your best Frozen moves. Ages 2-3 are free with a paying adult ($28) while kids from 4-15 are $23.
No experienced required as penguins can be hired ($8) for little ones that need some help.
Parents NSW vouchers can be used to buy skating tickets at the Taronga Zoo Sydney counter.
Queensland
Bricktionary: The Interactive LEGO® brick Exhibition, HOTA
From life-sized animals to fashion and fantasy discover the biggest and best LEGO® creations at Bricktionary: The Interactive LEGO® brick Exhibition.
Inspire LEGO® builders’ imaginations and challenge visitors with 6 new interactive build zones.
Filled with over 150 models from the book, the exhibition also includes models from TV’s LEGO®, Masters Australia, never-seen-before creations and over 45 new models from the imaginations of the Brickman team!
Including brand new interactive challenges, and over 1 million LEGO® bricks, Bricktionary: The Interactive LEGO® brick Exhibition has something to spark everyone’s creativity and inspire them to build their imaginations.
Wed 22 Jun – Sun 7 Aug
Surfers Paradise, QLD
Curiocity, Brisbane
Let your imagination roam free! Curiocity Brisbane is a celebration of science, art and tech, where new possibilities play and big ideas collide. Explore a packed program of interactive installations and events. Watch as the city around you is transformed into a world of discovery.
Curiocity Brisbane returns to transform Brisbane’s cultural heart over 17 days, from 24 June – 10 July 2022.
Rebuild The World with Lego, Robina Town Centre
Bring the kids along this school holidays to help REBUILD THE WORLD with LEGO!
This interactive zone features a huge themed progressive build table with a range of environments, and invites attendees to “Rebuild the world”.
The little ones can build and add to the scene over the day and are invited to have photos with their creations.
There are various building themes including, city and buildings, trees and forests, along with a magical pink island filled with unicorns. Your kids will have their hands full at this exciting LEGO experience.
WHERE: Robina Town Centre
WHEN: Monday 27 June – Sunday 10 July
TIME: 10am – 2pm daily
COST: Free
Daisy Hill Koala Centre, Daisy Hill
Located 25 kms south of Brisbane, families can explore the eucalypt forests of the Daisy Hill Koala Centre in search of these sleepy mammals.
This free centre, situated in the Daisy Hill Conservation Reserve, is open seven days a week from 10am-4pm and little nature lovers can meet wander the koala enclosure enjoying interactive displays and learning about these cuddly-looking Aussie icons.
Victoria
Neighbourhood Earth, Emporium Melbourne
A multi-sensory space exploration exhibition has landed in Melbourne in time for the school holidays with NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH, brought to life by leading entertainment discovery platform Fever.
NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH features a truly immersive projection experience utilising surround sound and a giant projection-mapped dome that will transport visitors to space inside an epic cinematic environment. The multi-sensory experience also contains engaging learning activities for all ages, space artefacts, museum-quality models and examples of spacecrafts, tools and astronaut suits.
NEIGHBOURHOOD EARTH will be housed at Emporium Melbourne (287 Lonsdale St, Melbourne) from Friday, 17 June until Sunday, 28 August. Tickets are available here at $30 per person for adults, $22 for students and $17 for children (Note: these are weekday prices, peak pricing applies on weekends). 90 minute sessions will commence every 30 minutes from 11am to 8pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (last entry at 6:30pm) and 11am to 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays (last entry at 7:30pm).
Lightscape, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Lightscape is making its Australian debut at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne this June.
Featuring luminous walkways and vistas, vibrant bursts of colour that run up trees like fireworks and large-scale installations such as the Winter Cathedral, comprising more than 100,000 tiny lights, Lightscape takes audiences on a 1.8km journey of light and sound through Melbourne’s iconic Botanic Gardens.
Tickets from $32.
Tasmania
Bush Adventures, Hobart
With activities for children of all ages, families and adults, Bush Adventures is a great way to connect with your local environment.
Learn about the native creatures who call Hobart home, and enjoy the multitude of benefits spending time in nature gives.
Activities include:
Bush Stories (2- 5 yrs.)
Nocturnal Tours (all ages)
Waterbug monitoring (all ages)
Discovery walks (all ages)
Nest Box Workshops (all ages)
Go Wild Go Solo adventures (10-14 yrs.)
Dorney House Tours (adults)
Rockpool rambles (all ages)
Western Australia
School’s Out Winterfest, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Schools Out Winter Fest will have you enjoying the magic of ice-skating, flying down the snow slide, falling “snow”, carnival rides and entertainment for one all-inclusive ticket price!
Saturday 2 July to Sunday 17 July 2022
9am- 5pm
South Australia
Cirkidz, Bowden
Get off the couch and run away to the circus in the school holidays!
Cirkidz are hosting 2 weeks of awesome half-day and full-day sessions of circus learning and fun. Flip out on the trampoline, soar among the rafters, learn acro tricks certain to impress, or try a bit of everything to discover YOUR circus superpower… all while keeping warm and dry in our indoors & air-conditioned circus centre!
Half day booking $55, Full day booking $100
Northern Territory
Junior Desert Eco Ranger, Kings Canyon
Discovery Kings Canyon have launched a unique kids club experience for the upcoming July school holidays.
The ‘Junior Desert Eco Ranger’ program will take a small group of children out to explore the surrounding desert landscape to learn about the flora and fauna of the Red Centre. There will be an emphasis on learning from the bush garden and the importance of bush natives.
And it wouldn’t be a ranger experience without some wildlife spotting too!
Set outside the peak of the heat, kids can head off on their supervised desert adventure while the parents can have some ‘down time’ enjoying the resort’s sunset drinks at the Luritja Lookout.
After enjoying some arts and crafts and dinner indoors, each child will receive an Eco Ranger certificate, and a bag or compass.
Time: 4-7pm
$30per child, includes dinner
Available for children aged between 5-13 years
Bookings are essential
Fun Bus – Various Locations, Darwin
All parents and carers with children up to 5 years of age are invited to play on The Fun Bus!
Please bring along your own hat, appropriate clothing, and water bottle.
For further information, please call our Customer Service Centre on 89300556 or the Fun Bus mobile 0419031651 between 9.30am-11.30am Monday to Friday.