20 things under $20 to keep the kids busy this summer

Posted on 9 January, 2020

With just under four weeks until school goes back, there’s still a whole lot of time to fill—and that can get expensive! We’ve rounded up 20 things under $20 per person to keep the kids busy this summer.

On days when air quality isn’t so fabulous, be sure to check openings with the venue.

Sunset Cinema

Gather your friends and family, sit back, relax and watch the stars at your new summer local. Open multiple nights each week through to 12 January at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

The season is packed with new release blockbusters, quirky comedies, award-winning features and cult classic—perfect for a date night, girls’ night out or some family fun.

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | sunsetcinema.com.au/Canberra | Adult $20, Concession $17, Child (3 – 12) $13, Under 3 Free, Group rates also available.

Canberra Aqua Park

We can’t think of anything better during summer than to get in the water and stay cool. The Canberra Aqua Park along the shores of Lake Burley Griffin at Black Mountain Peninsula is a summer school holiday must.

The kids will go gangbusters over this giant 1,600 square-metre inflatable obstacle course made up of ladders, slides and a giant jumping pillow. Not a bad way to keep them cool and burn that excess energy off.

Read our article here for everything you need to know before you go.

Get 20% off tickets by entering her20 at the checkout!

Black Mountain Peninsula, access via Lady Denman Drive |  Tickets for one session are $20 per person, per session, $70 per family (four people from the same family) | canberraaquapark.com

Kingpin

Kingpin— just opened in Canberra Centre—offers music, escape rooms, karaoke, Kingpong, state of the art bowling lanes, huge projection screens, Top Spin Table Tennis, Karaoke, pool tables, and more than 100 arcade games.

A great way to keep kids of all ages occupied when it’s too hot or smoky.

Canberra Centre, Bunda Street, Canberra City | One activity from $15 – see website for details | kingpinplay.com

Game Masters

Game Masters: The Exhibition has turned the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) into Australia’s biggest video game arcade with the world’s greatest designers, characters and 80 playable games.

Game Masters is divided into three sections: Arcade Heroes, Game Changers and Indies. It features unique experiences such as a spectacular multiplayer dance stage for Dance Central 3 (2012), hands-on experiential music booths and a selection of original classic arcade machines from the 1970s and ‘80s acquired especially for the exhibition, all playable in their original form.

National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | Adult $19, Concession $15, Ages 5 to 17 $12, Kids 0 to 4 free, Family ticket $50, Groups (10+) $12 | nfsa.gov.au

Dreamworks Animation: The Exhibition – Journey from Sketch to Screen

From the makers of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and Trolls, comes and extraordinary exhibition celebrating over 25 years of DreamWorks Animation.

DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition – Journey from Sketch to Screen brings together rare concept drawings, models and original artworks, interviews and interactive displays from DreamWorks’ much-loved animated classics.

Take a thrilling journey, from original sketches of grumpy ogres and friendly dragons, to amazing stories and fantasy worlds brought to you by DreamWorks’ award-winning artists.

National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | $20 adult, $16 conc, $12 child (ages 5-16), $50 family (2 adults and 2 children), $14 Museum Friend, MKids free | nma.gov.au

MoAD at Old Parliament House

From hands-on activities and imaginative play spaces that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head to giant lawn games and dress-ups in iconic outfits of historical and contemporary figures, there’s a whole lot to keep young minds engaged at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Behind the Lines: The Year’s Best Political Cartoons 2019 allows visitors to hit rewind on the most significant political moments of the year through political cartoons. You are offered an all-access pass to be thunderstruck by Australia’s leading political cartoonists as they amp up the satire on 2019’s greatest political hits.

Rediscover the lost art of letter-writing in Yours Faithfully or discover PlayUP – The Right to Have an Opinion and Be Heard, where kids can explore the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child in a playful way. Adults can even join in the fun too!

From listening pods and a roleplay Kindness Café to a fuzzy felt wall and craft activities, PlayUP has a range of exciting and immersive experiences that flip the traditional idea of museums completely on its head.

18 King George Terrace, Parkes | Admission $2 adults, $1 children and concessions, and $5 family | moadoph.gov.au

National Library of Australia

The National Library of Australia is hosting Summer Word Play these school holidays—suitable for kids aged four and over. Drop in to read stories from the collection, unleash your creativity with drawing, and challenge your brain with games and puzzles.

Or experience the wonder of Story Time, an exhibition of Australian children’s literature from the colonial period through to the present day, will appeal to anyone who has experienced the magic of these stories. It will take you on a nostalgic tour through childhood, looking at the works of great Australian authors and illustrators including Bronwyn Bancroft, Mem Fox, May Gibbs, Bob Graham, Emily Rodda, Ivan Southall, Shaun Tan and Ethel Turner.

Families can also have fun in the kids’ section Playtime where they can have a go at writing a short story of their own, watch stories from Story Box Library and more.

National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | Free admission | nla.gov.au

National Gallery of Australia

The NGA is an awesome place to bring the kids and get creative. There’s plenty on offer with regular programs and interactive opportunities to engage with the national collection and exhibitions on display.

They offer free self-led activities whenever you visit and dedicated gallery spaces for families and students such as the Tim Fairfax Learning Gallery and forthcoming Studio, right through to large destination events that are a must for your family calendar.

From 10 am to 5 pm every day until 2 February kids can join the Gallery’s roving Mobile Studio to cut and make paper shapes inspired by works of art in the Matisse & Picasso exhibition. All skill levels welcome. Drop-in any time during the day. No bookings required. All materials supplied.

See the NGA’s range of special events for kids here.

National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | Free entry | nga.gov.au

National Portrait Gallery

From interactive Instagram filters to free portrait-inspired activities, story time to art workshops, the National Portrait Gallery has a range of cool (and free!) things to do this summer.

National Portrait Gallery, Parkes Place, Parkes | Free entry | portrait.gov.au

K Space

K Space is the National Museum of Australia’s interactive adventure centre for kids. Build your own time-travelling robot then blast off to explore a mystery location in Australia’s past. Open daily to school groups and general visitors at specified times.

National Museum of Australia. Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula | Free | nma.gov.au/kspace/visit

Swim at one of Canberra’s pools

Hot day? Air quality halfway decent? You might like to head to one of Canberra’s pools. With the exception of Big Splash, they’re all under $20.

hercanberra.com.au/canberra-pools-to-cool-off-in

Arc Cinema

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is screening a packed schedule of films at its Arc Cinema.

This year’s summer school holiday special ‘We can be (kid) heroes’ showcases the heroic power of kids. Pop in and catch a screening of Up!, The Incredibles, Matilda and more.

National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | $12/10 | nfsa.gov.au

Inflatable World Kambah

Yes, you heard right, this indoor playground is completely inflatable and the perfect way to stay shaded while letting kids run wild. Be warned, though, it can get really, really hot in here.

Although you’re going there to entertain the kids, try holding yourself back from getting on—trust us, it’s very tempting.

6 Jenke Circuit, Kambah, Canberra | Entry is $15 for children five years and over, $8 for four and under, adults $15 | inflatableworldoz.com.au

Phillip Swimming + Ice Skating Centre

Could there be a cooler way to spend a hot summer’s day? And if you feel like cooling off in a more traditional way, the pool is right outside!

1 Irving Street, Phillip | Morning and Afternoon $17, After School $14, Evenings $17.00. All Sessions Skate Hire $3 | swimskate.com.au

BlocHaus

Fyshwick bouldering hang BlocHaus has become a favourite among families, gym junkies and daredevils alike.

Family Haus offers a dedicated space for kids to explore the joy of bouldering. Climbs are designed specifically for little people, while following a coloured grading system. Kids five years and over tend to get the most out of bouldering at Family Haus—all children require adult supervision.

Unit 2, Building 2, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | Adult $20, Concession $18, Youth & kids $16 |  blochaus.com.au

Flip Out

Need to burn off some energy? Head to indoor trampolining centre Flip Out in Mitchell. You’ll find large foam pits and a special kids arena for the smaller ones.

4/45 Dacre St, Mitchell | $16 for one hour | flipout.net.au

Mini Golf King

This American-style themed indoor mini golf centre has been packing them and is a great choice for hot or wet days. Experience the Lost Jungle, Pharaoh’s Tomb, and the Dragon’s Lair all in the one 18-hole indoor course.

Mini Golf King, Canberra Outlet Centre, 337 Canberra Ave, Fyshwick | Children 15 and Under $10, Concession (Student and Seniors cards) $12, Adults $15, Family Pass (2 Adults & 2 Children or 1 Adult & 3 Children) $40 | minigolfking.com.au

Canberra Indoor Rock Climbing  

Both Hume (south) and Mitchell (north) offer incredible facilities to assist in teaching kids of all ages how to rock climb. The walls range from an easy level to a moderate-hard level allowing kids of all ages to have a great time while getting some exercise. It’s the verti-cool thing to be doing these school holidays while indoors!

26 Raws Crescent, Hume OR 38-40 Essington Street, Mitchell | $12 – $19 (depending on day and time) | canberrarockclimbing.com.au 

Zone Bowling

If the incredibly fashionable shoes don’t entice you, Zone Bowling is a great way to spend the day with a big group competing for the title of bowling champion and there are centres in Tuggeranong and Belconnen.

Zone Bowling in Tuggeranong has expanded its activities to include arcade games, making it an all-in-one activity centre for all ages.

Belconnen has also just reopened following a refurbishment as a dual Timezone & Zone Bowling entertainment centre, including a fully-fledged Timezone featuring the latest games and attractions from around the globe including a brand new, state-of-the-art Prize Shop with thousands of options to choose from. There are also be ‘Spin Zone’ Bumper Cars—spin around on the modern version of a traditional bumper car for loads of fun!

76 Cowlishaw St, Greenway or 1 Emu Bank, Belconnen | $13.90 – $16.90 (depending on centre, time, day and number of games) | zonebowling.com 

National Dinosaur Museum

The National Dinosaur Museum offers free public tours (with the general admission entry price) every weekend and school holiday period (NSW/ACT). Join one of their expert staff to experience a journey through time.

Take a camera, some friends, those burning dinosaur questions and join the knowledgeable staff for a fun and educational tour suitable for all ages.

National Dinosaur Museum, 6 Gold Creek Road, Nicholls | Adult $16, Child (4-16 Years Old) $10.50, Concession $12, Family $45 | nationaldinosaurmuseum.com.au