Oh the school holidays are a mixed bag aren’t they?! You love to spend time with the kids but you equally don’t want to go insane trying to keep them entertained and if your kids are anything like mine, they never stop.
This is my first year of school holidays as previously the kids were in child care and I do like to take some time off for the holidays to enjoy time with Finn provided that I have enough annual leave. The last school holidays we went to Japan so these school holidays I have had to come up with some fresh ideas on what to do to excite them and take the pressure off me. HA!
These activities don’t just have to be for school aged kids either as Leo has enjoyed them all so it’s really ideas for kids in Melbourne.
Enjoy!
Ballarat Wildlife Park
We recently just found out about this place and what a gem. Located about an hour out of Melbourne in Ballarat, the park is like a mini Steve Urwin zoo with lots of great interaction for the kids. You can purchase feed for the kangaroos for $4 when you enter which allows you to get right up close to snuggle with them (they are so soft and fluffy!). Each child also gets a ticket for marshmallows on a stick to toast them on a bonfire. The kids will get up close to snakes and baby crocodiles and if you opt to then you can pay to have your photo taken with a snake for $30, which Finn did and was super brave! You can also get your photo with a koala and the giant tortoise.
You’ll spend at least 3-4 hours here so pack snacks or grab some lunch at the cafe which serves up sandwhiches and hot food. Try and time it around the interactive animal presentations as the keepers are really knowledgeable and the kids will love learning about the animals.
Also, best to grab your tickets online before you go to receive a 10% discount. See below for some of the fun we had!
Rabbit Hole Playcentre
I will be the first to admit that I really DON’T like going to play-centres. They are always loud and you don’t really get to relax as you’re usually knee-deep in ball pits playing with your child or following their every move (when they are little). However, my kids absolutely love them and I have to say that I did enjoy visiting Rabbit Hole recently which has recently opened in Braybrook. It’s really clean and modern and encourages adults to actually get in on the play equipment with their kids to have a bit of fun themselves. They also play great tunes and serve up good food and coffee. The highlight for Leo and I was the giant ball-pit and Finn loved going down every single slide.
Tickets are on the more pricier side of around $18.50 for children over 3 on weekends and 1-2 are $15.50 so you would want to make sure you stay for a few hours (it’s $1 cheaper during the week). You leave your shoes in lockers before entering and must wear socks or you will have to purchase them for an extra $2. Their party packages also look great if you’re thinking of outsourcing!
Also, pre-warning! There is an awesome souvenir shop at the exit so you may want to blindfold your kids as you leave or risk spending lots of money!
Fairy Park, Anakie
We have been to Fairy Park a few times now and always find it a nice day out for the kids and a good way to get some fresh air while having fun. It is a bit outdated but it still provides the magic of fairy tales we grew up with and the kids love the playground. Anakie is situated about an hour from Melbourne and the park is situated on a hill so it involves a bit of incline walking so wear a good pair of shoes. I have taken a pram both times and although it will make you work harder on those hills, it is manageable. Pack some snacks as I have found there is limited food available unless it is the weekend or school holidays where they often have a hot food truck. There’s picnic spots where you can have your lunch as well.
Kinds under 3 are free, kids are $10 and adults (age 14+) are $18.
Go to mini-golf
I love a good game of mini-golf but unfortunately I struggle with ignoring my competitive side as I allow Finn to bash the ball 100 times to try and get it in the hole! haha. However, Chance and I like to have a cheeky competition on the side whilst Finn does his thing and Finn loves playing at his own pace. We would recommend Yarra Bend of Adventure Mini Golf in Bundoora, however with the colder weather you could find an indoor place to keep nice and warm and have fun as well!
Animal Land Children’s Farm / Digger’s Rest
Another wonderful children’s farm that allows the kids to get up close with the animals on scheduled tours. Finn got to feed the ducks, ride a pony, cuddle the chickens and milk a cow. You have to book in for a two-hour tour and can’t wander around the park on your own which we actually liked because it meant the kids got to interact more with the animals when taken around the park and it was a bit more structured. They only operate 6 tours a week throughout winter so it is best to check and book online prior to going in. They also have a cafe with a few snacks but I would suggest packing some lunch. Overall a really great day out!
Adults are $15 and children are $22.
ArtVo
Finn and I had a great mother/son date at Artvo and laughed together as we tried out all the different poses. Finn absolutely loved getting the photos and then looking at them afterwards and I would say this is a great outing for the kids aged 5+. You’ll spend about an hour navigating your way around the art gallery’s 11 different themed zones and why not check out some of the other great spots in Docklands while you’re at it!
Tickets are $28 for adults and $18 for 5+ while kids under 5 are free.
0
Leave a Reply