Keep the kids busy these holidays – pastries and babycino optional. Image: Lightbulb for VisitCanberra.
04 July 2024
Keep the whole family entertained these school holidays with activities across Canberra.
Get curious at Questacon
In addition to the new CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO® Bricks exhibition, Questacon has a school holidays program. Activities include:
- mobile play carts (ages 1-12)
- block play (ages 0-8)
- science shows (all ages).
Questacon will also be up late for four nights during the school holidays, from July 12-13 and 19-20.
Explore the Arboretum
Visit the National Arboretum Canberra these school holidays. Activities include:
- family orienteering
- a boomerang workshop for families
- a guided walk and fossil making workshop
- an animal art paper folding workshop
- Stories in the Forest, a fun educational activity.
While you’re at the Arboretum, you can check out Warm Trees, stop in at the café, and visit the POD Playground.
Join the circus
Warehouse Circus is running programs during both weeks of the school holidays.
There are three- and six-hour programs in Kaleen and Chifley.
Be a secret agent at Libraries ACT
Libraries ACT have put together a lineup of free activities for the whole family. The theme for their winter school holiday program is Spies and Detectives.
There are movies, stories, dance, board games, craft and more.
See what happens when science and nature collide
Budding artists aged 7 to 15 will love the Natural Science Art holiday program at the National Archives of Australia.
Children and their parents will be guided through the new Waterhouse Natural Science Art Prize exhibition before creating their own natural science work of art.
Catch a film
The National Film and Sound Archive is screening family-friendly films throughout the school holidays. Films include:
- Cool Runnings
- Bend It Like Beckham
- Howl’s Moving Castle
- Lilo & Stitch.
Get snappy at PhotoAccess
There are three workshops at PhotoAccess these school holidays:
- Winter Photo Storytelling for children aged 13-16
- Winter Photo Makers for kids aged 9-12
- Animate Your Dreams for children 8-12.
Become a mini glass artist
Canberra Glassworks’ school holiday program runs from Wednesday to Sunday during the school holidays.
This winter, your child can:
- blow a tumbler
- fuse a glass bowl
- craft holiday tiles
- tessellate a two-dimensional glass bird.
Get in on the Art and Action
Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s school holiday program, Art & Action, is a one-day program on 11 July.
It includes art, dance, music and drama. There is a group for kids aged 6-8 and another group for children aged 9-12.
Watch a puppet show
The Fish that Wanted to Fly follows the story of a little fish whose lagoon is drying up. It’s playing at Tuggeranong Arts Centre Theatre from 18-19 July.
Put pen to paper
The National Library of Australia is hosting a creative writing workshop with author Sarah Luke. It’s perfect for children aged 10-12 and is taking place from 18-19 July.
Learn more about Canberra’s history
Visit Lanyon Homestead on 10 July for a special tour followed by creative writing activities. This program is for children aged 8-12 years, and carers are welcome.
Be an artist for the day
Canberra Museum and Gallery is hosting two workshops over the school holidays. Kids can learn to weave with artist Lucy Irvine, or build a landscape inspired by the tale of Ned Kelly.
Explore our parks
Head to Tidbinbilla or Namadgi for outdoor fun these school holidays. Options include:
- Poos gives us Clues at Tidbinbilla (ages 5-11)
- Clubby House Rules at Tidbinbilla (ages 5-12)
- Swagman Damper and Billy Tea at Namadgi (ages 5-10)
- World of Waterbugs at Tidbinbilla (ages 6-10).
Have an adventure at Wildbark
The Wildbark school holiday program blends education and adventure in Mulligans Flat Sanctuary.
Children aged 5-12 can participate in the one-day or four-day programs.
Have a mega fun time at the Botanic Gardens
Throughout July, the Australian National Botanic Gardens is running a series of events for families. They all centre around Megafauna, the prehistoric large animals that once roamed Australia. Activities include:
- a Megafauna sculpting workshop
- talks with children’s author Bronwyn Saunders
- Megafauna hide and seek.
Channel your inner Olympian
Visit the National Museum of Australia these school holidays. Their school holiday events focus on their latest exhibition, Riding the Olympic Wave: Breakthrough Sports. Options include:
- decorating gold medals
- skateboard stencilling and decorating
- painting a surfboard key ring to take home.
More ideas
- Grab lunch at a café. Find Canberra’s best kids’ menus here
- Make the most of winter and see some snow. Here are the top places to see snow in the ACT
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