Eight unique school holiday activities to keep the kids entertained
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We’re talking mini golf, immersive escape rooms, an indoor obstacle course, and more.
Without fail, every time school holidays come around the question of how to keep the kids entertained for more than two hours arises – and with cooler temperatures well on their way (and the possibility of days stuck inside), you might be looking for some fresh inspiration.
Here are some unique school holiday activities for children of all ages to enjoy during the term break (which takes place from Saturday 13 April, with the kiddos returning to school on Tuesday 30 April). Boredom? Consider it busted.
Playful Endeavour (City)
Brought to you by the City Renewal Authority, this free event is open for all kids to experience the magic of open-ended, self-directed play that fosters independence and a sense of self as children learn and explore.
Children are invited to let creativity rule with objects of all shapes and sizes, including ropes, boards, wooden spools, tubes, beams, and more.
Playful Endeavour is also held near Glebe Park’s nature play and traditional playground areas, offering plenty to explore.
Glebe Park | 15 – 26 April from 10 am – 4 pm each day | Free | Find more information here
Ninja Parc (Fyshwick)
Coming soon to Canberra (we promise to let you know exactly when), this will change the play scene for high-energy kids. Sit back and relax as they swing, jump, and climb over, though, and under over 20 obstacles and live out their ninja fantasies all from the cosiness of the indoors.
It’s suitable for all ages and skill levels (however children under eight need adult supervision) – which means you can enjoy the peace or join in on the fun.
11 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick | ninjaparc.com.au
Little Amigos (Fyshwick)
Eat, play, and party on this interactive playground, perfect for kids big and small. From ball pits to slides, train rides, a pamper parlour, and more, Little Amigos is designed for children aged zero upwards – which makes it the ideal location to battle school holiday boredom. And with all day breakfast, lunch, and sweet treat options, you can literally spend all day exploring the interactive play zones.
Canberra Outlet, 337 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick | littleamigos.com
Holy Moley (City)
Mini golf, ball pits, immersive game rooms, and lots of eats – this one is perfect for families looking for something everyone will enjoy. With nifty and nostalgic 80s and 90s throwbacks for the parents and a sensory labyrinth of fun for the kids, this is the craziest round of golf you’ve ever played.
Mini golf not your thing? There will also be karaoke rooms so you can sing your heart out, and plenty of amazing and mouth-watering food and options (including crazy cocktails for the adults…which you might need after a few hours on the mini golf course). Check out the children, student, and family deals to get some bang for your buck!
Canberra Centre, Corner of Cooyong Street and Ainslie Avenue, 148 Bunda Street, Canberra City | holeymoley.com.au
Hijinx Hotel (City)
With 15 immersive quick playrooms (cause this hotel is a place to play, not to stay), that combine theatre, the wonder of a quirky New York hotel, and whimsical delight, we’re warning you now: this school holiday activity will ignite some family rivalry.
Located right next to Holy Moley, each room has been uniquely designed for between two and six players to work together to complete challenges in a four-minute window to score points on a leaderboard. And from ball pits to dazzling lights and upside-down corridors (as well as some yummy food and drink to fuel you), it’ll be hours of indoor entertainment.
Canberra Centre, Corner of Cooyong Street and Ainslie Avenue, 148 Bunda Street, Canberra City | hijinxhotel.com.au
Noses on the Nile (Parkes)
Who doesn’t want to catch a whiff of ancient Egypt? You might have heard of the National Museum of Australia’s Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition (which has 220 fascinating objects spanning over 3,000 years of society and culture), but did you know that it also has an interactive element?
Great to get the kids engaged in history, ‘Noses on the Nile’ lets visitors catch a whiff of ancient Egypt, where good smells represented order, peace, and good health and bad smells represented evil, sickness, and chaos. There are four smells to discover – two good and two bad: The Nile Delta, Lotus flower, Bad breath, and Incense. It’s educational and entertaining!
National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula | nma.gov.au
Tuff Nutters Obstacle Course (Parkes)
Do your kids have some energy to burn or an adventurous spirit? This 300-metre-long obstacle course will help with that. Designed for all ages to enjoy (including adults), from 9 am until 4.45 pm from Saturday 13 until Sunday 28 April, the family can navigate a series of tunnels, slides and more as they climb, crawl, and jump their way to the finish line of Australia’s biggest inflatable obstacle course. Don’t skip the six-metre-tall slide, and make sure to grab yourself something to eat!
Parkes Place Lawns, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | tuffnutterz.com
Star Wars comes to Westfield (Belconnen and Woden)
As part of the ‘Spark Excitement’ with Star Wars collaboration, an exciting array of fun and immersive Star Wars activities have arrived at Westfield destinations just in time for the school holidays.
Families can enjoy the ‘Spark Stations’, which are offering fun for all ages including Star Wars-inspired face painting, arts and crafts, and Star Wars-themed foods, including Wookie Cookie decorating.
Westfield Belconnen and Westfield Woden
Feature image: Hijinx Hotel. Photography: Ben Calvert.
