The Autumn school holidays are always lots of fun! But they can get expensive.
So here’s my list of free activities to enjoy during the Autumn 2024 school holidays. Some activities may require bookings, so it’s best to check any you might want to do well in advance to avoid disappointment.
I’ve also published posts specifically for Easter events, school holidays events in Melbourne CBD and school holiday activities in Melbourne’s suburbs.
Find out when are school holidays in Melbourne.
When are Autumn School Holidays in Melbourne in 2024?
Victorian Autumn School Holidays 2024 are from Friday 29 March to Sunday 14 April 2024.
School holidays 2024 Melbourne – free events
- IT’S ‘GAMEON’ AT TIMEZONE WITH $20 BONUS VOUCHER (Mon 13 Mar – Tue 30 Apr) – Until April 30, Timezone is giving guests $20 bonus credit. To claim the bonus credit, download the Timezone Fun App and enter the code GAMEON.
- Easter Fun at Preston Market (Sun 24 Mar – Wed 10 Apr) – Preston Market is coming alive this Easter school holidays with fun FREE activities for the whole family to enjoy.
- Kids Explorer – Cranbourne Gardens (Thu 28 Mar – Mon 15 Apr) – Children ride FREE on the Kids Explorer Bus during the school holidays. Experience amazing sights, sounds and scents as you cruise through the Gardens.
- Kids Explorer – Melbourne Gardens (Thu 28 Mar – Mon 15 Apr) – Children ride for FREE on the Kids Explorer Bus during the school holidays. Experience amazing sights, sounds and scents as you cruise through Melbourne Gardens.
- The (Very) Big Laugh Out Loud Fed Square (Fri 29 Mar) – World-class street performers and the best physical and musical comedy in da biz.
- Wood and Weather Workshop (Mon 1 Apr – Fri 12 Apr) – Calling makers! Craft your paper person inspired by Melbourne’s upcoming wooden world game (weekdays only).
- ACMI + Freeplay Arcades (Mon 1 Apr – Sat 13 Apr) – Explore four new micro-games commissioned by ACMI and Freeplay Independent Games Festival. Created by RMIT students, diverse genres offer family-friendly fun.
- Po’s Dragon Warrior School at EASTLAND (Mon 1 Apr – Sun 14 Apr) – Little ones can dive into the art of puppet making and panda sandwich crafting. They’ll also love showcasing their Kung Fu skills in action-packed demonstrations.
- SkyHigh Dandenongs Easter School Holidays Fun (Tue 2 Apr – Thu 11 Apr) – dine in at the SkyHigh bistro or maze cafe while your kids can enjoy the awesome free fun on top of the mountain
- April School Holiday Fun at Casey Central (Tue 2 Apr – Fri 12 Apr) – We’ve got a great schedule of FREE activities running at Casey Central these school holidays. Bookings not required, limited spots available.
- April School Holiday Fun at The Pines (Tue 2 Apr – Fri 12 Apr) – We’ve got a great schedule of FREE activities running at The Pines these school holidays. Bookings not required, limited spots available.
- Pacific Werribee Joins Zoos Victoria in the Fight for Wildlife Conservation (Mon 2 Apr – Sun 14 Apr) – Pacific Werribee invites local families to embark on an exciting adventure during the upcoming school holidays at the ‘Endangered Zone’, running until April 14.
- Thomas the Tank Engine at Burwood One (Wed 3 Apr – Sun 7 Apr) – All aboard! Thomas The Tank Engine returns for free rides throughout the centre. Bring the kids down to experience a tour of Burwood One.
- Bees by Polyglot Theatre (Thu 4 Apr – Sat 6 Apr) – This school holidays, visit the bushland at Cranbourne Gardens for a day of bee-inspired fun and nature play led by by Polyglot Theatre.
- Kubik Frankston Music & Light experience (Fri 5 Apr – Sat 20 Apr) – Kubik Frankston is an electrifying fusion of Melbourne’s pulsating music culture and vibrant culinary food trucks, all set against the backdrop of a family-friendly environment with free entry all week and ticketed events on the weekend.
- Master Shifu’s Storytime at EASTLAND (Fri 5 Apr) – Gather ’round, young warriors, as Eastland embarks on a quest with little ones for wisdom and wonder with Master Shifu himself.
- School Holiday Fun: Design a Pencil Case (Mon 8 Apr – Fri 12 Apr) – Let the creativity flow and design your own pencil case. Free fun for kids of all ages!
- Junior Rangers (Tue 2 Apr – Fri 12 Apr) – Learn all about the history of iconic landscapes and environmental work that Parks Victoria rangers tackle every day. Jump onboard activities like rambling through rock pools, exploring tall rainforests and searching for creepy crawlies this autumn!
- Get a taste of Creative West (Sat 6 Apr) – Maribyrnong City Council will present an afternoon of music and live performance in the heart of Footscray on Saturday 6 April.
- Nature Play Melbourne (Tue 9 Apr – Wed 10 Apr) – Delight your child’s senses with free nature play experiences on Oak Lawn and in The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden this autumn.
- School Holidays at Queen Victoria Market (Tue 11 Apr – Thu 20 Apr) – Let the little ones don their chef hat for some delicious school holiday cooking workshops.
- Party in the Park Cruden Farm (Sun 7 Apr) – mini sports, an obstacle course, face painting, animal farms and lots more.
- Little Food Festival Fed Square (Wed 10 Apr – Thu 11 Apr) – Two days of fun activities that aim to teach kids about the supply chain and its relationship to the health of our bodies and the planet.
- Bluey 28 Minute Special Screening (Sun 14 Apr) – Enjoy the 28-minute Bluey special with your family and furry friends (dogs welcome!) and catch the most anticipated wedding of the year!
- Free Guided Walk (Until Tue 31 Dec) – Led by a passionate guide, discover sensational views and the remarkable plant diversity of this sanctuary in the middle of bustling Melbourne.
- Free face painting Prahran Market (Thursdays) – face painter, Alysha, from Paint The Party.
- Kids Passport Queen Victoria Market (Friday, Saturday & Sundays) – Collect your passport, then journey around the Market collecting stamps from our friendly traders, before making your way to the Queen Victoria Market Visitor Hub to claim your prize.
- Mini Twitchers Heide (ongoing) – Be a twitcher for a day and spot some beautiful birds in the Heide Sculpture park! Use a map to locate each area where the twelve painted birds are hidden in trees in the sculpture park.
- The Story of the Moving Image (ongoing) – Journey through the past, present and future of the moving image through interactive experiences, digital innovation and captivating stories. ACMI review.
- Shrine Kids (ongoing) – free discovery trail for children at the Shrine of Remembrance. Shrine Kids review
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Easter in Melbourne Events
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Victorian school holidays and public holiday dates
