As the youngest child of three and the aunty to four nieces and one nephew, my ‘cool’ aunty status is something that’s very important to me.
So much so that I go out of my way regularly to retain it. I try to spend as much quality time as I can with them — going to watch them play sport (and hitting Maccas afterwards), booking all the fun school holiday activities, sitting through all their school concerts, and giving them the birthday presents that make so much noise and mess that it drives my siblings wild.
Honestly, it’s my birthright to be the cool aunty. I take it so seriously that when the school holidays roll around, I take a couple of days’ annual leave so I can take them on epic adventures. If you’re anything like me, you know it takes a little bit of planning (and a healthy dose of convincing) to get these days off the ground. Luckily for us, Experience Oz has done the heavy lifting and found a bunch of stellar school holiday activities across the country to get you excited to spend time with the fam.
Melbourne School Holiday Activities
Melbourne is a pretty top-tier winter holiday destination, packed with major indoor attractions, thrilling wildlife encounters, and distinct cultural charm. If you’re staying in the heart of Melbs, you can take advantage of the Free Tram Zone in the city centre and grab a Youth MYKI card to make regional public transport totally free for the kids.
As with any school holiday adventure, I highly recommend pre-purchasing attraction tickets online via Experience Oz beforehand so you don’t have to wait around in cold queues with restless little ones. Whatever you decide to do, just remember to always pack a rain jacket for that unpredictable Melbourne weather!
Where to head:
- Southbank: If you’re basing yourselves here, you’re surrounded by heavy hitters like SEA LIFE Melbourne , the Southbank Boulevard Play Space, the quirky recycled metal marvels at Metart World, and the sky-high views from the Melbourne Skydeck.
- Fitzroy & The Sports Precinct: Perfect for active kids. Wander through The Conservatory, or book a Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Tour and explore the interactive Australian Sports Museum.
- Chadstone: For the locals or shoppers, head straight to LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Imaginationation indoor play centre, or challenge them to arcade games and mini-golf at Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq and Holey Moley.
- St Kilda: Venture out here for vintage thrills at Luna Park, a stroll to see the wild penguins at St Kilda Pier, and a sweet treat in Acland Street Village.
- Day Trips: Run out of things to do in the city? Take the groms on a historic steam train ride on Puffing Billy, head down to see the world-famous Penguin Parade at Phillip Island, or make tracks for Mount Buller for a proper snow day.
Gold Coast School Holiday Activities
Visiting the Goldie with the family is an absolute, non-negotiable crowd-pleaser. You get gorgeous winter sunshine, iconic beach trips, and endless entertainment without the frantic peak-summer crowds.
If you’re travelling from interstate, you’ll want to base yourselves in Surfers Paradise so you’re within easy walking distance of good eats and central entertainment. Plus, you can’t exactly go to the Gold Coast and not grab a theme park pass. You can easily bundle entry to iconic spots like Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet’n’Wild, Paradise Country, and the spectacular Australian Outback Spectacular dinner show.
If you’re looking to keep things a bit more low-key between big coaster days, there are plenty of incredible daytime activities. You can explore the lush grounds of Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, book a high-speed Jet Boating ride, try indoor skydiving at iFLY Gold Coast, hop on the amphibious Aquaduck Tour, or head out for some prime winter whale watching.
To turn standard commuting into part of the adventure, use the Hopo Ferry to get around the waterways. And if you’re looking for good laughs, great theatre, and a cheeky cocktail for the adults while the kids are entertained, Dracula’s Cabaret Dinner and Show is always an unforgettable time.
Sunshine Coast School Holiday Activities
The Sunshine Coast is a beautifully cosy winter escape — the weather is so warm and sunny up here that you might genuinely forget it’s July. It’s the ultimate place to visit when you or the kids just need to get outdoors, unplug, and touch some grass. Winter is peak whale-watching season on the coast, and the water is often still warm enough for a midday ocean dip (just pack a light jacket for those crisper coastal evenings).
There’s a massive lineup of outdoor action to choose from. You can visit the marine life at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast, splash around on an Aquaduck Tour, ride the classic roller coasters at Aussie World, or get lost in the giant puzzles at Amaze World. For the real adrenaline junkies, there’s a huge high-ropes obstacle course suspended over the trees at the Big Pineapple.
If you fancy a cruise or a beach day, head to the beautiful waterways of Noosa on the north end or Caloundra down south. But arguably the best part about the Sunshine Coast is the very real chance you’ll bump into Robert, Bindi, or Terri Irwin at Australia Zoo. You can check out all the incredible wildlife, catch a live croc show in the Crocoseum, grab lunch at the new Warrior Restaurant & Bar, and take a peek at the amazing work being done at the onsite Wildlife Hospital.
Cairns School Holiday Activities
If you are looking to escape winter entirely, Cairns is the absolute gold standard. It effortlessly pairs bucket-list natural wonders with lush tropical rainforest adventures.
Right in the heart of the city grid, you’ve got the vibrant Cairns Night Markets, the world-class Cairns Aquarium, and the iconic Esplanade Lagoon.
The saltwater lagoon is the ultimate place for a family swim because it gives you that beautiful beach vibe while keeping the kids completely safe from marine stingers and crocodiles.
If you’d rather head out onto the open ocean, winter is an incredible time to cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef. You can lock in a day trip to the Moore Reef Pontoon (perfect for kids to snorkel safely) or take a tropical island escape over to Fitzroy Island.
For the older, more adventurous kids, look into family-friendly white-water rafting down the Barron River. If you want a mix of wildlife and ancient greenery, head up to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures for a boat cruise through croc-infested waters, or take a day trip up the mountains via the historic Kuranda Scenic Railway and the stunning Skyrail Rainforest Cableway.
Sydney School Holiday Activities
Last, and certainly not least, is Sydney. If you live in or near the harbour city, the CBD turns into a massive, interconnected playground for the school holidays. The best part? Sydney has public transport entirely figured out. While jumping on buses, trains, and ferries might feel mundane to us adults, to the littlies, tapping a credit card and riding a double-decker ferry across the harbour feels like a grand adventure.
You can use the harbour ferries to head straight over to Taronga Zoo for world-class wildlife encounters paired with the best city views in the country. If you want a classic family day out, hop off at Milsons Point for the bright lights and vintage roller coasters of Luna Park.
Right in the central CBD and Darling Harbour precinct, you can easily walk between SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, and the highly interactive exhibits at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Plus, if you visit mid-year, you can catch the pop-up open-air ice skating rinks right on the water or book a dedicated Whale Watching Sydney vessel to see the massive humpback whale migration passing right by the heads.
Keen to book in some activities? Head to Experience Oz here.
Lead Image: Luna Park / Robert Irwin / Warner Bros. Movie World.
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