Bored kids? Not on our watch. The best family events of 2026

Swap sunshine for snow this winter at Hunter Valley Gardens!

Snow Time in the Garden returns from 27 June to 26 July 2026, transforming the Hunter Valley into a magical winter wonderland with real snow play, ice skating, thrilling rides, delicious winter treats and family-friendly fun for all ages.

What’s waiting at Snow Time in the Garden:

• Snow Play Zone: Build snowmen, make snow angels and enjoy snowy adventures
• Ice Skating Rink: Skate along to DJ Jeff’s Glacial Grooves with live winter DJ sets
• 45-metre Giant Ice Toboggan: A chilly thrill ride for adventure seekers
• New Abominable Adventure: Help free the Frozen Yeti through an interactive garden quest.
• Meet winter characters including Polar Bear, Penguin and Mr Abominable Snowman
• Family rides and entertainment: Ferris Wheel, Superslide, Venetian Carousel and Spinning Tea Cups
• Winter food favourites: Warm up with hot chocolates, crepes, woodfired pizzas and sweet treats

Step back in time to the Ice Age these winter school holidays at Sydney Zoo

Sydney Zoo’s Creatures of the Ice Age returns from 26 June to 16 August 2026, bringing a frozen prehistoric world to life with giant animatronic creatures, interactive activities and snowy surprises, all included FREE with zoo entry.

Families can expect:

• 14 life-size Ice Age creatures including Woolly Mammoths, Sabre-Tooth Tigers, Dire Wolves, Terror Birds and more
• An immersive frozen trail where kids can come face-to-face with prehistoric giants
• Brand-new Snow Dome with soft-play and sensory experiences for younger explorers
• Augmented Reality Colouring Experience where children can bring their Ice Age creations to life
• Snow machine activations adding extra winter magic along the trail
• Hands-on weekend activities and daily fun during the NSW school holidays (6–17 July)

• Where: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee, NSW
• Hours: Open daily – 9am – 5pm
• When: Ice Age Creatures: 26 June – 16 August 2026
• Cost: Included with general admission. Adults: $49.99, children: $29.99, Kids under 3: FREE

Titanic: A Voyage Through Time

Experience the Titanic like never before with this 45-minute VR adventure in Sydney. 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?  Fever Pavilion at Sydney Showground
Who? Ages 10+
How much? From $34.50
When? Choose your date and time when booking.

School holiday shows at Sydney Opera House

From circus thrills to magical storytelling, the Sydney Opera House’s July school holiday program is bringing big imagination to the stage. Packed with world-class performances, interactive experiences and boundary-pushing shows, there’s something for curious kids of all ages, from little bakers to young adventurers.

School holiday highlights include:

• YOU & ME and The Land of Lost Things (4–19 July, ages 6+): Andy Griffiths’ bestselling books come to life in a wild adventure filled with pirates, treasure and unexpected twists
• Pay No Attention (4–11 July, ages 6+): A high-energy circus performance exploring life, technology and the online world through the eyes of young performers
• MaaMaa and Nonna’s Kitchen (10–18 July, ages 2–4): A hands-on multicultural cooking workshop celebrating family, food and culture
• Antarctica! (25–26 July & 1–2 August, ages 4+): An immersive icy adventure inspired by Shackleton’s famous expedition, created for young explorers and children with intellectual disabilities

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires Exhibition Accommodation Package

Perfect for families and curious kids, Bloodsuckers dives into the weird and wonderful world of nature’s most infamous biters. With hands-on exhibits, interactive displays and fascinating facts, from medical uses to bite prevention, this award-winning exhibition is as educational as it is entertaining.

Now, you can turn it into a staycation. Pullman Sydney Hyde Park is offering an exclusive package that includes overnight accommodation, buffet breakfast, tickets to Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires at the Australian Museum, plus a kids’ activity pack.

Packages start from $399 per night. Available until 11 October 2026, subject to availability.

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.

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!

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.