55 things to do in the January 2025 school holidays in Melbourne and regional Victoria

Christmas and New Year are over and January has begun in earnest. For parents with kids on school holidays, this is the time of year when we stare down the barrel of another 3-4 weeks before they go back to school. If you’re looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained and to keep yourself that little bit saner, we’ve rounded up a bumper list of some things you can do in Melbourne and regional Victoria this January,

1. After leaving an indelible mark on Melbourne’s memory, Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant works will return to THE LUME Melbourne until 30 April 2025. Back by popular demand, Van Gogh is an enchanting experience that immerses you in a powerful multisensory symphony of light, colour, sound and aroma.
2. The ever-popular Skyline Ferris Wheel is back at St Kilda until 27 April. Take in the breath-taking views of the St Kilda foreshore and pier!
3. The TMNT: Heroes in a Half Shell Exhibition is an immersive experience that boasts five individual galleries that take visitors on a journey through the rich history of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. It’s now extended at District Docklands until 30 January.
4. The Silvers Circus Spectacular will be at Mornington until 26 January
5. Enjoy a curated program of free outdoor cinema on the Big Screen at Federation Square from 3 January to 25 March including major blockbusters, Kung Fu classics, silent cinema with live scores, and film festival screenings.
6. BOX MACHINE!  is a fantastic new large-scale and interactive exhibition for children and their adults at Abbotsford Convent from 4-25 January where giant heavy-duty cardboard machines, rollers, pipes, cogs and taps line the Magdalen Laundry ready for children to connect and deconstruct like giant building blocks.

7. NGV Kids on Tour brings its largest-ever program coming to 150 venues across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including galleries, libraries, community hubs, and hospitals. From hands-on workshops to live performances and story time sessions, there’s something for every young artist, explorer, and dreamer.
8. Theres new rides at Funfields theme park. Relax and escape in the brand new Lava Lagoon Heated Lazy River or zoom around in the Cyber Drift Bumper Cars. Ride Victoria’s biggest water slides, including the 9 Storey High Supanova and Gravity Wave waterslide. Chill at Volcano Beach Heated Wave Pool. Thrill out on the Voodoo 360-degree pendulum ride, swing 20m up on Blackbeard’s Fury & the Alpine Toboggan.
9. Enter Antopia at Melbourne Museum where you shrink down to the size of ants to experience a day in the life of an ant colony. Discover a complex and fascinating superorganism in this immersive, interactive experience that digitally reinterprets a world of secrets we cannot see. 
10. See the magic of Christmas and fairy tales brought to life in 3.3 million lights over 1000 dazzling light installations and displays, with theme park rides, Santa, and a spectacular drone lights show at Adventure Park Geelong’s Annual Christmas Festival of Lights until 25 January.
11. The world’s largest galaxy collection of Star Wars fan items awaits at The District Docklands! Immerse yourself in the saga’s universe at The Fans Strike Back with an amazing setup and hundreds of official items including photos, posters, costumes, figures, and models, until 25 January.

12. Summer StoryFest is a  literary festival for children and youth at Merri-Bek libraries from 6-24 January  featuring author talks, workshops, and activities galore.
13. Got a budding superhero at home? Get ready for an action-packed adventure at Kryal Castle’s Superhero Academy—the ultimate school holiday experience for kids aged three and up! Running until 28 January, Kryal Castle in Ballarat will morph into a superhero training ground where kids can unleash their inner superpowers and join the legendary Kryal League of Superheroes.
14. Make a splash this summer with a series of exciting Dive-in Cinema sessions at the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre (MAC), offering a unique indoor movie experience for all ages from 6-24 January.
15. The Blue Lotus Water Garden at Yarra Junction is one of Australia’s most spectacular seasonal gardens open to the public until 21 April 2025. The tropically themed water garden covers 14 acres featuring millions of beautiful lotus, waterlily and other flowers, stunning lakes, amazing vistas and wonderful facilities.
16. A new family of eight male ring-tailed lemurs, led by their striking patriarch, Hendrick, have arrived at Melbourne Zoo. This charming band of brothers, ranging in age from one to three years, has already captivated visitors with their antics on Lemur Island, the zoo’s immersive primate habitat.
17. Families are in for a fun-filled start to the Australian Open 2025, with 5000 free Hot Shots racquets set to be handed out during Opening Week from 6-10 January.

18. The NGV Kids Summer Festival, held from 11–17 January 2025 at NGV International and The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia at Fed Square, offers a jam-packed schedule of free events for families to enjoy a selection of all-ages events, workshops and activities led by Victorian artists and creatives.
19. Splash and sizzle your way into summer with Stonnington Leisure’s Summer pool party at Harold Holt Swim Centre in Glen Iris on 12 January.
20. Burst into the State Library on 16 January for Kids Takeover. From the forecourt through to the Dome, the Library is turning into a hub of action, colour and creativity with Bollywood dancing, singing in the Dome and more.
21. Enjoy camel rides in Port Fairy until 27 January.
22. Take the family along to one of the many summer carnivals happening across Victoria this January and enjoy the thrills of the carnival rides or try your hands at the carnival games.
23. Take part in new educational experiences that will get you up close with koalas and bandicoots at Phillip Island Nature Parks.
24. Get closer to dinosaurs than ever before at Jurassic World: The Exhibition . Based on one of the biggest blockbusters in cinema history, this immersive experience brings the iconic movie franchise to life, offering a chance to come face-to-face with life-size dinosaurs.

25. Enter Monopoly Dreams and be whisked away into the delightful world of Monopoly! Melbourne’s newest attraction is a fully immersive and interactive experience, featuring games, laser maze, and the chance to win Monopoly money. he fully immersive experience operates across two different zones: Monopoly City and Monopoly Mansion – with 15 different attractions in total.
26. Experience a stunning street art exhibition of museum quality – The Art of Banksy: Without Limits, featuring over 180 Banksy artworks, such as certified art, prints on different kinds of materials, photos, sculptures, installations, digital installations, murals, mapping shows, and more. After its incredible success in Europe, the United States, South America, Asia, and Australia – where over 1,750,000 people visited it – the exhibition is currently showing at the District Docklands.
27.  On Wednesday 8 January and Thursday 9 January, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and the Cranbourne Gardens are hosting free nature play sessions for the kids. Enjoy water play and crafts and learn more about native animals.
28. Catch a performance of Beauty and the Beast. The enchanting and timeless tale of Belle and her Beast has been brought to life in a reimagined production boasting all the spectacle and grandeur audiences know and love. The incredible new production from the producers of Aladdin, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Frozen – playing at Her Majesty’s Theatre
29. Sovereign Hill in Ballarat invites you to stay “surprisingly cool” when you visit this summer. From misty escapes to underground adventures, icy treats, and evening shows, enjoy a surprisingly cool lineup of activities to keep you chilled and thrilled. Discover hidden corners and shady spots, and uncover new adventures.

30. Join Namaste Yogis at the Point Cook Pop Up Park on 18 January for free children and family yoga classes,
31. Brickvention returns to the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton on 18-19 January when LEGO enthusiasts from around Australia and the world display their builds with hundreds of unique creative models built out of LEGO bricks.
32. Take the kids to a kite flying festival. There’s one at Akoonah Park in Berwick on 11 January, at Werribee Racing Club on 18 January, at Tarneit on 19 January and Bicentennial Park in Chelsea on 26 January,
33. The St Albans Family Fun Day is on 18 January.
34. Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition is a new immersive exhibition that relives the spectacular history of the Notre-Dame de Paris in an augmented takeover of the Long Room at the Immigration Museum until 27 April.
35. There’s a Children’s Festival at Sky High Mount Dandenong from 7-16 January with different activities each day.
36. Entering a realm of optical marvel in Docklands where ArtVo’s expansive murals transport visitors into a world where they can encounter exotic wildlife, conquer rugged landscapes, and ride epic waves. Spanning an impressive 1400 square metres, the gallery invites exploration through diverse zones, each boasting its own mesmerising illusions.
37. Get ready to be blown away by the mesmerizing metal art wonders of Metartworld! Be amazed as you step inside a massive 2,500-square-meter space filled with incredible, one-of-a-kind statues crafted from recycled materials and scrap metal. Get lost in beautifully themed areas featuring everything from anime and movies to animals, the military, cars, motorcycles, and even royalty! 

37. Get ready for unforgettable summer evenings when the Summer Night Market returns to Queen Victoria Market until 12 March 2025
38. Bring your favourite teddy bear and join un delightful picnic story time in the Williamstown Botanic Gardens on 10 January.
39. Experience the vibrant Vida Latin Festival, a three-day celebration of Latin American art, culture, food, and entertainment at King’s Domain on 10-12 January
40. Take the kids along to Bash at the Beach – a spectacular Wrestling Show at The Elements at Wyndham Harbour Marina on 11 January.
41. Bring your babies, toddlers, and kids for a fabulous morning of colourful excitement at the Midsumma Rainbow Families Extravaganza in St Kilda on 22 January.
42. The Studley Park Boathouse is being transformed into a playful circus wonderland for kids and families on Thursday 23 January.
43. Luna Park has mini golf these summer holidays from 6-26 January. Whether you’re a hole-in-fun pro or just out for the giggles, this 9-hole mini-golf course promises plenty of laughs, challenges, and memories for all ages.
44. Melbourne Museum is offering an extraordinary opportunity for families to sleep among the dinosaurs. The Museum Sleepovers event is scheduled for two nights: Thursday, 16 January, and Friday, 17 January 2025.

45. Splash Island is the new inflatable obstacle course at the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre in Frankston, made up of different modules for balancing, climbing, jumping and sliding. It truly is the ultimate water adventure with slides, slopes and balance beams. They’re running eight 30-minute sessions daily from Monday 6 January – Sunday 26 January. 
46. The Lorne Pier to Pub Swim on 11 January is a 1.2km open water swim for all ages from the Lorne pier to the Lorne beach.
47. Visit the Melbourne Skydeck – highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere and enjoy two VR experiences: the Voyager Theatre Experience. Take in extraordinary 360-degree views above the city from Level 88. While you’re there, step inside the unique Voyager Theatre to watch the stories of the city come to life on a cinematic journey in your very own VR pods showcasing 16 Melbourne icons.
48. Join a fun tour exploring Melbourne’s sports scene! Walk through iconic venues, hear from local experts, enjoy snacks at stadium cafes, and visit the Australian Sports Museum.
49. Dozens of artists will descend on Yarram to transform the footpaths into a temporary public art gallery at the Yarram Chalk Art Festival on 25-26 January
50. Celebrating over 35 years in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, The Wind in the Willows presented by the Australian Shakespeare Company is Australia’s best-loved affordable family entertainment with plenty of songs, laughs and surprises for the whole family to enjoy. Catch a performance until 25 January.

51. There’s a free Children’s Fun Day in Rippleside Park in Geelong on 26 January
52. During the summer months, audiences are invited to gather across Arts Centre Melbourne’s venues for a sizzling array of performances spanning theatre, music, magic and workshops. See IMAGINE LIVE from 8-11 January. Operation Ouch Live: Jurassic Fart! on 13 January. And Andy and the Odd Socks on 14 and 15 January.
53. Experience a breathtaking bird’s-eye-view of the rainforest canopy, just 2.5 hours from Melbourne’s CBD. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures takes your rainforest experience to new heights in the lush surroundings of the beautiful Otway Ranges. The 600 metre-long, 25 metre-high elevated walkway provides unrivalled views of the unique beauty of the region’s flora and fauna. Experience the life and beauty of the Otway Ranges from the rainforest floor, right up to the soaring heights of the treetops.
54. Melbourne’s entertainment scene is about to hit new heights with the arrival of 123BOOM! – the adrenaline-charged in-real-life arcade experience debuting at 530 Collins Street in January 2025. This immersive adventure invites thrill seekers of all ages to dive headfirst into a world brimming with challenges, puzzles, and high-stakes fun, propelling Melburnians into a nostalgic yet futuristic playground.
55. Prepare to have your world turned topsy-turvy as you step into House Down Under, the gravity-defying wonder that looks like it descended straight from the sky, Wizard of Oz style. This experience for creating wacky photos is located at at the District Dockland directly under the now defunct Melbourne Star wheel.