Winter school holidays guide 2024: What's on in Melbourne and Victoria

Rail, hail or shine, Luna Park has attractions for the family year-round. Image: Tourism Australia

Winter school holidays guide: things to do in Melbourne and Victoria

Family-friendly winter holiday activities in Melbourne's CBD

Come face to face with marine life at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium 

Melbourne CBD

The Junior Penguin Keepers program is back at SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium. Take a deep dive into the world of penguins and learn about feeding schedules, habitat maintenance, and the crucial role of marine life conservation.

Melbourne’s SEA LIFE Aquarium also features more than 10,000 marine creatures, including sharks, crocodiles, and seahorses.

RACV Members save on SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium tickets.

Strike a pose at ArtVo

Docklands

Escape the cold and strike a pose at ArtVo. In this immersive 3D gallery, your photos appear as optical illusions, with you at the centre of it all – whether you’re sitting in a fairy jar, in the clutches of King Kong, saving someone on a broken bridge or going to sleep in a mermaid’s clam. Have a fun day out with the family making photographic memories. 

RACV Members save on tickets to ArtVo here.

Try to avoid jail at Monopoly Dreams Melbourne

Melbourne CBD

Monopoly Dreams Melbourne is an immersive take on the popular board game, where visitors can take the Chance to win Monopoly money, battle through a laser maze, explore Mr Monopoly’s mansion and 4DX movie, and play games to get out of Jail. Bookings are recommended over the holidays. 

RACV Members save on tickets to Monopoly Dreams Melbourne.

Thrilling rides at Luna Park

St Kilda

There's no such thing as winter at Luna Park - it's a hot destination year-round. These school holidays the kids can enjoy real-life animal encounters, thrilling rides and fun food, like dagwood dogs, hot jam donuts, churros and hot chocolate. Why not try the iconic 110-year-old Great Scenic Railway, which offers breathtaking views of Melbourne's Port Phillip Bay. 

Luna Park is the perfect destination for families, offering a wide range of attractions suitable for both kids and adults. Rain, hail or shine, it’s guaranteed to be a great day. 

RACV Members save on tickets to Luna Park.

Puffing Billy is fun for the whole family at any time of year. 

Family-friendly winter holiday activities and things to do around Victoria

Museum of Play and Art: MoPA

Bayside and Geelong

MoPA is one of the coolest places to engage young minds and is designed for one- to seven-year-olds. Designed to inspire and educate through play-based learning and creative exploration, MoPA's immersive exhibits ensure a unique museum experience.  MoPA has centres in Bayside and Geelong, with a third destination set to open in Thomastown in spring 2024.

Take a ride on Puffing Billy

Belgrave

Even in winter it's important to get fresh air, and the Dandenong Ranges make for a day of beautiful exploration in nature. Take a hike, walk through the botanical gardens, stay for lunch and have a ride on the historical steam train, Puffing Billy.

Children will love dangling their feet off the carriage as the century-old old train glides through the rainforest.

 RACV Members save on Puffing Billy Railway tickets. 

See a blockbuster movie

Around Melbourne and Victoria

The cinema can be a great place to stay warm and relax, with family movies released especially for the school holidays.

Inside Out 2 (PG), a sequel to the Oscar-winning animation, follows Riley and her emotions as she navigates her teenage years; Unsung Hero (PG) is based on a true story of an inspirational mother, and The Garfield Movie (G) sees the beloved orange tabby reuniting with his long-lost father. If your child likes anime, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle (PG) delivers a few life lessons through volleyball. 

RACV Members save when pre-purchasing movie tickets for Hoyts, Village, Palace, IMAX, Moonlight and Event Cinemas.

Winter is no barrier to children running around and having fun at playgrounds across Victoria. Image: Getty

Free winter school holiday activities and things to do in  Victoria

Explore a new playground

We’ve rounded up some of the best playgrounds in regional Victoria and around Melbourne. Whether your kids love playgrounds shaped like a pirate ship, exploring musical play equipment, challenging obstacles or just a fun play on the good old swing and slide, a playground is the perfect place for some free outdoor fun in the sun. 

Have a family bake day

Got a budding sous chef in your midst? Get the kids together for a play in the kitchen and let budding hands make some of their own marvellous creations. 

Let them experiment with these child friendly recipes from the RACV Club kitchen, including salted caramel choc-chip cookie recipe, mini pancake cereal, or a chocolate mousse cake recipe.

Go on a scenic hike

Hiking is one way to stay warm, and Victoria's rainforests and waterfalls look their best in winter.

Whether you want to go chasing waterfalls, or you’re looking for family friendly walks, fun dog trails or nature hikes around the state, there’s always somewhere new to explore on foot. Best of all – these experiences are free to do. 

Get on your bikes and ride

Children usually have energy to burn, so don't let the colder weather put you off going for a family ride around your suburb. It’s free, fun, and a healthy way to explore the great outdoors. 

If you want to explore a new region, you can head on one of these family-friendly bike routes, from a trip taking in the solar system exhibit along Port Phillip Bay, to the Capital City Trail, which goes past the zoo and through parklands.

Brush up on the latest cycling road rules here.

Visit the libraries, galleries and museums

Did you know that there are many libraries, galleries and museums with free entry and activities over the school holidays?

The NGV, ACMI, the Australian Music Vault, The Immigration Museum and The Australian Sports Museum all have free entry, while kids under 12 are also free to visit The Heide Museum of Modern Art, Scienceworks, and The Melbourne Museum.

We've put together a list of our favourite libraries and their facilities here, along with the best modern art galleries in Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Free day trip guides to regional areas

Did you know there are ways to explore greater Victoria without breaking the budget? There are plenty of things to do in the Melbourne school holidays without spending much at all. 

Check out our guides for how to have a fun, free day out in the Yarra Valley, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mornington Peninsula and even right here in Melbourne.

Hit the slopes with the family for a winter adventure. Image: Getty. 

Winter getaways in Victoria

Hit the slopes

Mt Buller, Mt Hotham, Mt Baw Baw, Lake Mountain and Falls Creek

This makes the winter school holidays the perfect time to pack the car and hit the slopes for some snowy fun.

Whether it's a day trip to toboggan, or a longer stay, there’s plenty of fun to be had in the mountain regions of Victoria. One of the closest places from Melbourne to see snow is Lake Mountain, and the drive is one of Victoria’s most scenic. Break up the journey with a meal or stay at Healesville Country Club & Resort, then drove along Black Spur Drive for spectacular views of towering mountain ash trees.

Be sure to check out our guide to driving in snow before you head off so you know what safety precautions to take.

Pan for gold at Sovereign Hill

Ballarat

Sovereign Hill comes alive once more with illuminated gardens, streets, and dazzling light projections during the Winter Wonderlights celebration between June 28 - July 21, 2024. 

As well as the regular attractions like panning for gold, pantomimes, shows and candle making, the Winter Wonderlights also provides the opportunity for photos with Santa, creating Christmas-themed gifts, and for the parents, a mulled wine and gingerbread to be enjoyed as the snow falls around you.

Book a stay RACV Goldfields Resort so you're nice and close to the action.

Get up close with the Fairy Penguins

Phillip Island

Take a drive south-east of Melbourne to visit the largest Little Penguin colony on the planet (also called the Fairy Penguin colony), just 40 minutes from the RACV Inverloch Resort.

The Penguin Parade happens nightly at the Phillip Island Nature Parks, where visitors can witness thousands of penguins make their way to shore to tend to their penguin burrows from the RACV Penguins Plus viewing platform – it really is fun for the entire family.  

Whale Watching at Logan’s Beach

Warrnambool

Why not take a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, make some great pit stops along the way, and finish in Warrnambool to watch the southern right whales and their calves. 

Head down to the viewing platform at Logan’s Beach, and if you’re lucky there will be plenty of whales frolicking in the water. 

The Great Ocean Road is also a foodie’s paradise, with fresh lobster, handmade cheese and ice-cream, local gin and whiskey, as well as orchards where children can pick fruit. 

Book in a night or two at RACV Torquay Resort at the start or end of your road trip for an experience the family will remember for years to come.  

Go on a day trip

Victoria

If you’d prefer to break up the school holidays with a day trip, there’s plenty of great day trip destinations around Victoria.

Enjoy a thermal bath at Daylesford, take the kids to a petting zoo or farm, head on a chocolate lover’s tour or admire Australia’s biggest outdoor gallery on the Silo Art Trail.