Summer Fun: The Best School Holiday Activities in Melbourne

Summer school holidays in Melbourne arrive with long, golden days and a city buzzing with family-friendly fun. From creative play spaces and dazzling outdoor installations to splash-ready adventures, pop-ups, live shows and museum experiences built for curious young minds, there’s no shortage of ways to fill the break. Whether you’re chasing cool indoor escapes, sunshine-soaked outings, Christmas dazzle or a touch of theatrical folly, Melbourne is overflowing with brilliant things to do for every age and energy level.

Here are the best school holiday activities in Melbourne to make this summer unforgettable.

Cookie Monster Cafe – Melbourne Central

Melbourne has scored a world-first with the Cookie Monster Cafe — a limited-time pop-up devoted entirely to everyone’s favourite blue cookie fiend. Hidden on Melbourne Central’s Lower Ground, it’s a riot of colour, nostalgia and unapologetic sweetness. The menu leans into pure Sesame Street joy: double-choc cookies, OM NOM doughnuts, Oscar’s pistachio swirl, Ernie’s crème brûlée doughnut, and cookie-studded shakes, including a blue-spirulina Cookie Monster milkshake and a Milk n’ Cookies classic. There’s an icy blue lychee refresher, vegan and gluten-free treats, snack packs for little hands, and exclusive merch for die-hard fans — a guaranteed hit for holiday fun.

Melbourne Central

Alice in Wonderland

Tumble headfirst into summer magic as the Australian Shakespeare Company brings Alice in Wonderland to life at The Capitol. This high-energy, song-filled production whisks families straight down the rabbit hole, complete with a frantic White Rabbit, a grinning Cheshire Cat and a tea party that gets wonderfully out of hand. Kids will be giddy with the nonsense, adults will grin the whole way through, and everyone leaves feeling a little more curious. A school holiday must-see.

2nd to 18th January, 2026

The Capitol, Melbourne

MoPA Nunawading – Museum of Play and Art

MoPA’s newest home in Nunawading is a dream world for curious kids, offering more than 2,000sqm of creative, play-based exploration. Little ones can paint, build, experiment and immerse themselves in hands-on exhibits designed by educators to spark imagination and confidence. The space is bright, beautifully considered and easy for families, with undercover parking, lifts, family facilities and a cafe on site. With art classes, parties, excursions and memberships, MoPA Nunawading is set to become Melbourne’s go-to destination for summer play and discovery.

372 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading

Family Museum Sleepovers

Because sleeping under dinosaurs is the ultimate summer flex, Melbourne Museum is throwing open its doors after dark for Museum Sleepovers. In this overnight adventure, families and grown-ups can explore exclusive behind-the-scenes tours, catch premium IMAX screenings and dive into hands-on activities before dozing off beneath towering dinos on plush Ecosa mattresses. Wake to a hot breakfast and serious bragging rights. Spots are limited, so gather your crew and book your summer night at the museum.

Various dates

Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens

Tiny Tours at Melbourne Museum

Big adventures for your littlest explorers. Curious minds, this one’s for you. Tiny Tours at Melbourne Museum are specially designed for kids and their grown-ups to explore, discover, and play together. Each tour has hands-on activities and interactive storytelling, guiding little adventurers through some of nature’s most fascinating tales. It’s a joyful introduction to the museum world — sparking wonder, fuelling imaginations, and making learning feel like the ultimate adventure. Perfect for pint-sized explorers with big questions and even bigger curiosity.

Fridays, various dates

Melbourne Museum, Carlton Gardens

Pixar Putt at Marvel Stadium

Pixar Putt is back — bigger, brighter and ready to steal the school holidays. This open-air mini-golf course brings Toy Story, Cars, Inside Out, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and more to life with interactive holes that kids and grown-ups will race to play. There’s even a brand-new hole from Pixar’s upcoming film Hoppers. By night, it levels up with After-Dark sessions and a pop-up bar. A guaranteed hit for summer days (and nights).

Until 18th January, 2026

Stadium Square, Gate 2/3, Marvel Stadium, 740 Bourke Street, Docklands

Game Worlds at ACMI

Step into Game Worlds, ACMI’s massive new exhibition celebrating 50 years of play. With more than 30 iconic video games — from Minecraft and Stardew Valley to Final Fantasy XIV and The Sims — plus 44 playable moments, rare builds and hands-on prototypes, it’s a summer dream for gamers big and small. Kids can dive into favourites, adults get a hit of nostalgia, and everyone will love the exclusive microgames created by Australian developers.

A must-do activity for the school holidays in Melbourne.

Until 29th March, 2026

ACMI, Fed Square, Melbourne

The Wind in the Willows

Now in its 35th year, The Wind in the Willows transforms the Royal Botanic Gardens into a lively riverside romp, complete with songs, mischief and plenty of audience giggles. Join Ratty, Mole, Badger and the ever-chaotic Mr Toad as Kenneth Grahame’s classic springs to life under the trees. Kids become “rabbits,” grown-ups get swept up in the nostalgia, and everyone ends up part of the adventure. A sun-soaked school holiday tradition.

19th December until 25th January

Oak Lawn Gate, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria – Melbourne Gardens

Legoland Discovery Centre

Let the kids loose in a world built entirely for them at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre at Chadstone. With over two million bricks and 13 immersive zones, it’s part theme park, part creative workshop — and all fun. There’s a 4D cinema, indoor rides, a DUPLO® Farm for littlies, and even a pint-sized replica of Melbourne built from LEGO®. Budding engineers can race their car creations, while future master builders get hands-on in the Creative Workshop. A rainy-day hero or school holiday staple, this is one for the memory books — no stepping on bricks required.

Chadstone Shopping Centre, Level 2/1341 Dandenong Road, Chadstone 

Now that you are sorted with the best school holiday activities in Melbourne, why not plan a little day trip with the family once you’ve ticked off the city highlights? Take a short road trip to explore everything Phillip Island, the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsula have to offer. 

Writer

Kelsey Harrington

12 December 2025

Kelsey Harrington is a Melbourne-based writer with a sharp eye for the city's ever-evolving food, wine, arts, and culture scene. Her journey into the creative industry took the scenic route—what started as a passion for capturing Melbourne’s energy through a camera lens led her to Sitchu, where she worked her way up to Melbourne Editor. With over four years in the industry, she’s all about uncovering the best places to eat, drink, and explore. Off the clock? You’ll find her diving into a platter of fresh oysters and crudo, gallery-hopping, or sipping an extra dirty martini while plotting her next adventure.