Whether you’re planning a staycation, a road trip or getaway over the autumn school holidays, check out the local advertisers in this special holiday activity guide to find fun activities, attractions, places and events for all the family to enjoy.

Be surprised at what’s inside MOAD

Looking for something fun to do these school holidays? Be surprised at what’s inside at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House (MOAD).

The living museum has a range of activities that will be fun and interesting for the whole family! Enjoy a range of innovative exhibitions, tours and public programs that challenge and inspire along with special activities and spaces for children to explore. Children aged 5 to 15 can take part in the zine making workshop to unleash their creativity where they can write, stretch, stick or staple together their own zine with the help of an artist.

Running from 12 to 16 April, the free program is guaranteed fun. In between making zines, exploring the current exhibitions, and following the family trail, why not rediscover the lost art of letter writing while visiting MOAD? The Yours Faithfully exhibition is open now. Use a range of tools and supplies including beautifully restored typewriters and pop your creation in the post box to mail it around the world – postage is on MOAD. Entry is free but bookings are essential for all activities. 

School holiday fun at MoAD
School holiday fun at MoAD.

Experience the Wild at the National Zoo and Aquarium

Get your heart racing these school holidays with a visit to the National Zoo and Aquarium! With many different encounters to choose from, why not get up close and personal with a Giraffe, feed a big cat or have meerkats sit on your lap!

If you are wanting to make a day of it, why not join us on one of our new tours! The Awesome Roarsome Tour takes you into the heart of the zoo, meeting all of our exciting carnivores! Experience the thrill of a meeting a Lion or feel the smooth scales of a snake. If that doesn’t hit the spot, why not book the African Savannah Safari and stand in awe of our gentle giants. For something a little longer, check out our Wonders of Wildlife Tour and experience all that the zoo has to offer!

If the tours don’t tickle your tail feathers, visit the AdventureLand playground located next to the Rhino Bistro. The unique playground features a total of 55 activities including various sized fibreglass animal sculptures for children aged 2-12 to explore and play on.

national zoo and aquarium

Hop into fun at South.Point

Join us at South.Point this school holidays for some hopping fun! 

Find all of the bunnies in our Easter themed scavenger hunt to win a free prize. 

And keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny on Sunday 4 April. He will have some chocolatey treats! 

But the fun won’t end there, with Peter Rabbit hopping into Centre Court from Monday 5 to Friday 16 April. Come and play in the Peter Rabbit craft village and grab a picture with the cheeky Rabbit himself. 

Round out your day with lunch at Rashays, where kids eat free every Sunday! Then finish it off at the newly refurbished Limelight Cinemas and watch the new Peter Rabbit 2 movie! With kids’ tickets from $10.50, it’s a deal too good to pass up! 

W: southpointcanberra.com.au

school holiday activities

Alliance Française de Canberra Easter holiday camp

Hop along to the Alliance Française Easter Holiday Camp!

From 14 to 16 April, young French learners will engage in activities around the theme of the environment and learn French language through art and crafts.

Pre-kindies will practise and reinforce their French language skills, learning through activities, sports, games and crafts, while kindies will come and learn some French through activities such as board games, cinema related activities and music!

Alliance Française de Canberra provides a warm and welcoming environment to learn about French culture and to practise French language.

For more information or to enrol in the Easter Holiday Camp, visit afcanberra.com.au or call 6257 6696.

Alliance Française

Become a Ninja Warrior at B.FIRM

Take your pick of Canberra’s best adventure training activities for kids aged 4 to 17! These school holidays, health and wellbeing business B.FIRM is offering a range of kids’ programs, giving them an opportunity to play hard at Canberra’s only Obstacle Adventure Park. Approaching health and wellbeing through the lens of holistic health, the Kids Firm philosophy is bedded in teaching and building on individual and community health and wellbeing knowledge by creating impactful programs and using encouragement and positive influence as tools for change. Watch your kid become a Ninja with the Ninja Warrior, Spartan and Obstacle programs, where they can battle their friends. Or book them into a PT session where they can train with one of Australia’s premier trainers, Lee Campbell. Bookings are essential for guaranteed fun and fitness. 

kids playing in mud

Get creative at Canberra Glassworks

Looking for something creative and fun for the ACT autumn school holidays? Book into one of the Canberra Glassworks’ school holiday classes and unleash your child’s imagination in glass.

Under the guidance of some of Australia’s most acclaimed glass artists, participants will learn introductory techniques in glass making to create your own masterpiece.

This year’s autumn program features a variety of Easter-themed workshops, some of which include: Make an Easter Platter, where children design their own decorated glass plate; Easter Holiday Tiles, where small pieces of glass are arranged to create a unique tile; and a glass mosaic workshop that sees children create a mosaic egg or bunny decoration using coloured glass jewels.

The Glassworks’ autumn Holiday Program runs 5-18 April.

To find out more, call 6260 7005 or visit canberraglassworks.com/create/holidays

Canberra Glassworks EasterPlates

Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex

Explore the Solar System and beyond and discover the amazing universe around usat Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla. A part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, we provide constant contact with dozens of robotic spacecraft exploring planets, moons and stars. See Australia’s largest antenna dishes, a piece of the Moon and exhibits on space exploration history.

On your visit, see a piece of the Moon that’s over 3.8 billion years old, check out the latest images from across the Solar System and beyond, along with spacecraft models, plus flown space hardware and memorabilia.

Open 2-18 April, 10am to 4pm. Free entry. 421 Discovery Drive, Paddys River, Tidbinbilla

Canberra Deep Space

Space Squad April 2021 Camps are now boarding!

Calling all space explorers! The Y Canberra has you covered these school holidays with plenty of options in various locations.

Space Squad is Australia’s only residential holiday camp program for students in Years 2-6 (Junior), Years 6-9 (Youth), and Years 10-12 (Senior) who are interested in Space! Over five days, campers will be immersed in all things Space, learning about exploration and science, and meeting amazing engineers, astronomers, astrophysicists, and scientists who work on space mission.

The Y Canberra has over 75 years’ experience organising camps and children’s activities locally.

Please call The Y Canberra’s children’s services team or jump online for further information!

kids on excursion

Hop, skip and jump into school holidays at Canberra City Gymnastics!

Your child might have tried soccer or basketball, but have they ever jumped into gymnastics? With school holidays fast approaching, Canberra City Gymnastics is offering an opportunity to do something different! Students will be entertained and challenged by fun activities, games, and gymnastics exercises. Experienced coaches make sure each child feels happy and comfortable.

The full day program runs 8.30am-5.30pm throughout the holidays in Belconnen and Lyneham. Healthy morning and afternoon tea is provided, BYO lunch.

Contact our friendly office team to book now:

Canberra City Gymnastics

DB Tennis serves up fun

DB Tennis is offering a host of tennis clinics over the school holidays for children of all ages and skill levels. Run in small groups at the Eastlake Flinders Tennis Club, Griffith, the DB Tennis holiday program clinics serve as either a great introduction to the sport or a development pathway for more experienced players. Owner and operator David Beniamini says they are a fantastic way to experience tennis in a fun and social environment. Enrol online via the DB Tennis website or contact David directly for further information.

tennis school holiday activity guide

Perform Australia: acting classes improve confidence

Perform Australia is Canberra’s leading drama school, and these holidays they’re pleased to present two fantastic programs: ‘Do-It-Yourself Fantasy & Fairytales’ for kids aged 7-12, and ‘Hollywood Highlights’, a film acting workshop for teens. Perform Australia prides itself on its fun and educational programs which give kids confidence through participation in dramatic art. Learning the art of acting connects children with their imagination, helps them to express themselves creatively, and increases their communication skills. But it’s not all over when the holidays end – Perform Australia offers after-school acting classes right around Canberra.

For more: www.perform.edu.au

school holiday activity guide acting

Race down to Way2Fast these holidays!

Way2Fast slot car racing centre has three custom-made tracks to thrill beginners and experienced drivers with a need for speed!

A family business, we grew up with slot car racing as kids and we love sharing the experience.

Slot car racing is perfect for kids’ parties and groups of all ages. Cars are supplied, or you can BYO.

We also sell slot cars, tracks, remote control cars and a full range of parts. Get in touch for repairs or servicing.

way 2 fast cars

This feature was created in partnership with these businesses. For more information on sponsored partnerships, click here.