What’s on: Your guide to events and things to do with kids in 2026

Let your mind bloom at the Museum of Illusions

Step into the Museum of Illusions in Sydney this Easter and get ready to see the world in a whole new way! Opened on Boxing Day 2025, this 900+ m² playground of optical tricks, gravity-defying rooms, 3D illusions, holograms, and mind-bending perspectives is perfect for Wonder Seekers of all ages. From March 30 – April 27, the museum is going full Easter mode with a series of playful, immersive illusions that spark laughter, curiosity, and awe.

Museum of Illusions visitors will experience:

• Easter-themed décor and activities throughout the museum
• Onsite interactive experiences with Easter additions including the Cloning Room, Infinity Room, Head on a Platter and Colour room.
• A walk-in Kaleidoscope experience with Easter projection.
• A museum-wide Egg Hunt, where guests are invited to track the eggs for a small prize!
• Photo Op in a mind-blooming atmosphere

The Museum of Illusions is also offering a special school holidays promotion; Buy 2 adult tickets and get $10 off to use on your next visit, either on tickets or at the MOI shop.

Check out the Hunter Valley Gardens’ annual Mega Creatures event

Visitors will journey through a captivating landscape where prehistoric giants meet legendary beasts, creating a magical fusion of ancient history and storytelling.

“Mega Creatures continues to grow each year, and 2026 is our most exciting event yet. We’re thrilled to introduce new immersive experiences like the Unicorn Garden and expanded Land of the Legends, creating even more magical moments for families to explore, discover and enjoy together,” says Julie Pettit from Hunter Valley Gardens.

What you need to know:

• 45 all-new installations, including a magical Unicorn Garden and a giant dragon in the Land of the Legends.
• Beloved dinosaurs return, plus the Night Safari brings them to life after dark
• Fun for all ages: roaming performers, excavation dig pits, Easter Egg Hunt, and daily amusement rides
• Dates: 28 March – 26 April 2026
• Cost: From $31 (Kids under 3 are free)

Over the Easter long weekend, the Mega Creatures event will also host their annual Hoppity Hollow Hunt. Tickets are $2 per child when purchased as an add-on to your Mega Creatures Day session tickets, running from 9:30am to 3pm during the Easter long weekend.

Roarsome fun lands at Sydney Zoo

Sydney Zoo has unleashed a brand-new Dinosaur Safari, turning a regular day at the zoo into a prehistoric adventure kids will be talking about long after the school holidays end.

Running from 14 March to 27 April, the Lost Kingdom Trail transforms your zoo visit into a full-blown treasure hunt. Armed with a Dinosaur Safari map, kids can roam at their own pace, tracking down 25 life-sized dinosaurs and ticking off activity stations along the way.

Expect hands-on challenges, fun dino facts and clever moments that connect prehistoric creatures to the animals kids can spot at the zoo today. Baby dinosaur meet-and-greets throughout the day add an extra dose of cute.

Parents will love the laid-back format—no session times, no queues, no pressure. Families can explore the trail while still enjoying everything else the zoo has to offer, snacks and all.

Once complete, kids can redeem a Kinder treat from the Jurassic World Dino Colour Collection.

What are the details?

What: Dinosaur Safari at Sydney Zoo
When: Saturday 14 March – Sunday 26 April 2026
Where: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee (Western Sydney)
Hours: Open daily – 9am – 5pm
Cost: Included with general admission. Adults: $49.99, children: $29.99

Monster Truck Mania Live gears up for a massive 2026 tour in Sydney, Brisbane & Melbourne

Get ready for Australia’s biggest Monster Truck event – bigger trucks, bigger stunts, and non-stop family fun.

See legendary Monster Trucks like Raptor’s Rampage, Wicked, Blazed, Wacky Doo, Buddy, and Miss Mayhem tear up the track with massive jumps and high-flying tricks. Freestyle FMX, flame-throwing Jet Cars, and exciting support acts keep the action pumping all day.

Upgrade to the VIP Pit Party for pre-show access to meet drivers, snap photos with the trucks, walk the track, and score the best seats plus a collectable autograph lanyard.

What are the details?

• Sydney – 25th and 26th April 2026 at Qudos Bank Arena
• Brisbane – 23rd and 24th May 2026 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre
• Melbourne – 30th and 31st May 2026 at Rod Laver Aren

The Looney Tunes Step Off the Screen and Onto the Sports Field in New Kids’ Program

Looking for ways to keep kids active these school holidays? Bugs Bunny, Tweety, and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang are hitting the sports field! Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products has teamed up with Sport Star Academy to launch Looney Tunes-themed holiday sports camps across Australia.

For kids aged 4–12, the camps will offer story-led drills like “Hop Like Bugs Bunny” and “Run Like Road Runner,” turning traditional sports clinics into playful, character-driven experiences.

Every participant also receives exclusive co-branded merchandise to make sport even more exciting.

With over 390 locations nationwide and around 15,000 kids taking part each year, Sport Star Academy brings trusted expertise and scale to the program. Families can register their interest now.

Catch a wave at URBNSURF

Dive into gentle, rolling white-water waves at URBNSURF’s surf park – perfect for swimming, surfing or boogie boarding in The Bays. Sessions suit all abilities, with expert coaches ready to help beginners start their surfing journey in a safe, fun environment.

Sydney: Sydney Olympic Park (25 mins from the CBD, 20 mins from the airport)
Melbourne: Tullamarine (5 mins from the airport, 20 mins from the CBD)

Perfect waves. All year. Always pumping.

Code Camp: Fun School Holiday Camps

Code Camp runs award-winning school holiday and after-school programs where kids can get creative with coding, tech, and hands-on crafts. Whether your child loves Minecraft, robotics, design, or DJing, there’s something for every interest.

Tech Camps (Ages 5–13):

• Minecraft Minis, Little Coders, Curious Minds (Ages 5–7)
• Spark Coding, Ignite Intermediate, Minecraft Engineers/Masters, Robotics, Roblox, Drones, AI, 3D Coding, Web Builders (Ages 7–13)

Creative Camps (Ages 5–13):

• Animation Minis, Bejewel & Bedazzle, Graphic Novels, Animation, Crochet & Macramé, DJ Camp, Design, YouTube Creators, Build a Mini House

Why Code Camp?
With over 250,000 kids inspired so far, Code Camp is Australia’s #1 holiday program. It’s a fun, safe space for kids to learn new skills, meet friends, and let their imaginations run wild.

Titanic: A Voyage Through Time

Experience the Titanic like never before with this 45-minute VR adventure in Melbourne. Dive to the wreck site today, then travel back to 1912 to explore the ship as a passenger. Walk the Grand Staircase, meet real-life characters, and explore iconic spaces. With immersive VR, you can move freely and interact with your surroundings. Perfect for families, history buffs, and Titanic fans!

What are the details?

Where? Level 1, 206 Bourke St, Melbourne, Vic
Who? Ages 8+
How much? From $35
When? Choose your date and time when booking.

Visit Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Just a 5-6 hour drive from Sydney, Canberra, or Newcastle, Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo is home to incredible animals from around the world. From cheetahs, rhinos, and zebras to Sumatran tigers, Asian elephants, and iconic Australian wildlife – there’s so much to see!

Pro tip: Download the Taronga Western Plains Zoo app for an interactive map, keeper talk times, and feeding schedules to help you plan your day.

Opening hours: Open 365 days a year, including public holidays.
8:30am – 4:00pm: Savannah Visitor Plaza
9:00am – 4:00pm: Zoo Circuit

Plan your visit: For more information about planning a visit to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo or to purchase your tickets online for up to 20% off, tap the link below.

Hire a GoBoat and explore Sydney’s Middle Harbour

Looking for a unique experience these school holidays? Families can explore Sydney’s stunning Middle Harbour aboard your very own electric picnic boat as GoBoat launches from D’Albora Marina at The Spit, Mosman – just in time for the Easter break.

What you need to know:

• No boat licence needed
• Dogs welcome
• Kids (and dogs!) welcome, with up to 8 people on each boat
• All safety gear provided

Since launching in Canberra in 2017, GoBoat has welcomed over 350,000 guests (and played a part in over 50 wedding proposals!).

Prices start from just $19 per person, making it an easy and affordable way for everyone to enjoy Sydney’s sparkling waters – no experience required!

Visit Taronga Zoo, Sydney

Discover daily keeper talks, check out the seal show, meet adorable baby animals, and so much more!

All this is included with your Zoo ticket or annual pass.

Plan your adventure: Taronga Zoo Sydney is open daily, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm. Upgrade to a Zoo Friends membership and enjoy 365 days of wildlife fun!

For tickets and up to 20% off online, tap the link below.

Bluey’s World

Northshore Pavilion in Hamilton, Queensland.

Created by BBC Studios, HVK Productions, the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, and Brisbane Economic Development Agency, this exciting new attraction is a must-visit for Bluey fans and families.

The immersive experience will bring everyone’s favourite Blue Heeler, Bluey, to life. Wander through life-size sets inspired by the show’s most beloved episodes.

Explore Bluey and Bingo’s bedroom, hang out in the Heeler family’s living room and kitchen, and soak in every perfectly recreated detail.

Don’t miss the outdoor area, where Bluey’s backyard comes to life under the beautiful Poinciana tree.

Afterwards, relax at the café, shop for exclusive Bluey merchandise, or let loose in the playground.

Cost: Tickets start from $49.90.

Dig IT

Tamborine Mountain, Queensland

Real excavator machinery and construction-themed fun? Grab your hard hats, throw on your high-vis gear, and get ready for the “best day ever” at Dig IT, Australia’s first-ever mini-excavator park at Tamborine Mountain, just an hour from the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Open every weekend plus school holidays: Dig IT – Australia’s first mini excavator park
Thunderbird Park – Tamborine Mountain Road, Tamborine Mountain, Scenic Rim Queensland.

Child or Adult admission $59 and Concession is $55 for 2 hour sessions.