Need a quick low-cost summer school holiday activity? There are heaps of free workshops, performances and exhibitions all around Australia, with many operating drop-in sessions – a busy parent’s dream.
Australia-wide
Log five books or five days of reading in the Big Summer Read. Photograph: IPGGutenbergUKLtd/Getty Images
Big Summer Read
Kids and teens can take part in a mega reading challenge this summer. It’s free for anyone under 18 and open to children across the country. Little bookworms log five books or five days of reading to be entered into a prize draw. Prizes vary across states and territories. For bonus badges, complete the Big Summer Read’s online activities too.
On now until 31 January
Adelaide
Comics and Characters with Layne Dhu-Dickie at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Photograph: Clare Elvia
Comics and Characters with Layne Dhu-Dickie, Art Gallery of South Australia
Goodie or a baddie? Entirely original or based on your favourite superhero? Kids can create their own comic characters using bright, bold colours in a drop-in creative space at Agsa. Banyjima artist Layne Dhu-Dickie has a comic book on display called Captain Headland versus The Fisherman which you can use for inspiration. His characters are based on life in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
On now until 26 January, open daily 10am to 5pm
Get snap happy at the South Australian Museum. Photograph: d3sign/Getty Images
Junior Photography Quest, South Australian Museum
The South Australian Museum has created a photographic scavenger hunt, featuring artefacts and objects from the natural world. Pick up a free booklet from the info desk and explore the museum’s many levels and outdoor spaces. The challenge is best suited for ages eight to 14. If you’d rather make something, drop in to the main foyer from 10am to midday during the holidays where you’ll find a craft table and materials. No fee or bookings required.
On now to 26 January, 10am to 5pm
Moon Builders Wanted, State Library of South Australia
Got a budding engineer or architect at home? Put that creative imagination to work in a drop-in workshop where their mission is to design the first city on the moon. Would they turn craters into skate parks? Make lunar rover rollercoasters? All materials are provided in the foyer, where you can add your inspired structure to the giant collaborative moonscape.
On now and ongoing, various opening times
Brisbane
The Big Hose by Tony Albert and Nell at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. Photograph: © Tony Albert and Nell/N Umek © QAGOMA
Express Yourself, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art
Nervous. Excited. Sad. Happy. Surprised. Summertime brings a whole range of emotions, and Thailand-born Australian artist Vipoo Srivilasa wants kids to explore their feelings in a participatory artwork at Qagoma. You can dance with digital “flower bears”, draw a picture of food you’d like to share with someone you love, or challenge yourself to sit quietly for nearly a whole minute in Srivilasa’s Quiet Quest. While you’re there, explore a giant garden hose that looks like a snake, made by artists Tony Albert and Nell. The permanent outdoor sculpture also has critters hidden around it to discover.
On now, open daily 10am to 5pm
MoB Kids: Dazzle Discs, Museum of Brisbane
The summer school holiday program at MoB has a mix of free and paid activities. One of the freebies is a drop-in workshop for all ages where you can make a glittering sun catcher using sequins, recycled items like CDs (ask your parents about those) and other sparkling materials. While you’re there, pick up a free activity sheet from the front desk and go on an art hunt playing eye-spy in the five exhibition spaces.
On now to 26 January, daily 10am to 1pm
Canberra
Flying over Indulkana by Kaylene Whiskey. Photograph: Kaylene Whiskey/Supplied by National Portrait Gallery
Creative Space at Super Kaylene Whiskey, National Portrait Gallery
People under 18 can visit one of the most joyful exhibitions on right now, Super Kaylene Whiskey, for free. It showcases the work of the playful Yankunytjatjara artist, who is obsessed with pop culture icons such as Dolly Parton and Wonder Woman. In the National Portrait Gallery’s creative space, young visitors can also draw their own eye-catching creations which are then added to a collaborative party scene. Soccer more your game? Design your own football cards or fan bracelets at the Matildas: Make and Move drop-in space (13 December to 1 February, 10am to 4.30pm).
On now until 9 March, open daily 10am to 4.30pm
Darwin
Hunt for minifigures at MAGNT. Photograph: Mark Sherwood/MAGNT
Lego® Minifigures Let Loose at MAGNT!, Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory
Look high! Look low! Look where you least expect to find them! Throughout the school holidays, children of all ages can drop in to MAGNT and hunt down mini Lego figures hiding in the exhibits. While you’re exploring, check out the free exhibition Transformations: the changing nature of the Territory which includes displays about megafauna that once roamed the NT and deadly creatures you’ll still find today.
On now until 25 January, 10am to 4pm, closed New Year’s Day
Launceston
BUGS, Museum at Inveresk
It’s a bug’s life at the Museum at Inveresk this summer. Inquisitive minds can marvel at fascinating butterflies, beetles, millipedes and spiders in a free exhibition designed for kids. BUGS has interactive displays, hands-on activities and games which help young children understand the vital roles insects have in our ecosystems.
On now and ongoing, open daily 10am to 4pm in December and until 5pm in January
Melbourne and surrounds
The National Gallery of Victoria will feature dress-up zones with costumes, a party-ready jukebox and 35 outfits on display from the NGV’s collection. Photograph: Phoebe Powell/National Gallery of Victoria
Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids, National Gallery of Victoria
Strike a pose, wearing an oversized lightning bolt accessory, on a glittering disco dancefloor. Let’s Party! Fashion for Kids has dress-up zones with costumes, a party-ready jukebox and 35 outfits on display from the NGV’s collection, including costumes by Romance Was Born, Issey Miyake and Jean Paul Gaultier. It’s a mini stylist’s dream come true. Melbourne interior designer Danielle Brustman is the mastermind behind the major free exhibition, which is all in aid of expressing your kids’ creativity. When you’ve chosen your custom fit, take the whole family to the photobooth for a fridge-ready keepsake.
On now until 3 May, open daily from 10am to 5pm
NGV Kids Summer festival, NGV International and the Ian Potter Centre
Join a joke-making workshop with one of the Listies, listen to a story read by Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri artist and educator Tania Rossi, weave with Ngarrindjeri artist and educator Emma Stenhouse, or drop by and create your own fish puppet – all at the week-long NGV Kids Summer festival (10 to 16 January). Can’t make it to Melbourne? NGV Kids on Tour is taking the fun to more than 160 community venues in Victoria, including Ballarat Library, Bendigo Art Gallery, East Gippsland Art Gallery and Wangaratta Art Gallery. Kids can make fashion headwear, design their own cakes and perfume bottles, plus heaps more.
NGV Kids on Tour is on various dates and times, NGV Kids Summer Festival runs 10 to 16 January
Funny figures and bright colours at Beci Orpin’s Making Faces, Geelong Gallery. Photograph: Andrew Curtis/Geelong Gallery
Making Faces – Beci Orpin, Geelong Gallery
Melbourne-based designer, illustrator and maker Beci Orpin is known for big bold colours, striking shapes and jolly characters. Her favourite collaborators are kids, so it makes sense that Geelong Gallery asked Orpin to paint the walls of their Learn Space with funny figures and bright colours. Little ones can use the interactive pieces to make their own portrait and play with the magnetic board and modular boxes to create an identity from their imagination.
On now until 8 February, open daily 10am to 5pm. Closed New Year’s Day
Spin your own yarn at the Once upon a time … exhibition at Shepparton Art Museum. Photograph: Shepparton Art Museum
Once upon a time …, Shepparton Art Museum
Spin your own yarn in the Ryan Family Children’s Gallery. The free space invites kids to invent stories or give their favourite tales a twist through fill-in-the-blank activities, word magnets and free picture books. In January, kids aged five to 12 can explore the museum with a self-guided booklet of puzzles and scavenger hunts in the free SAM Kids Summer Art Trail (20 December to 1 January), plus there’s a free creative workshop led by artist Tully Moore where you can make your own soccer mascot (17 January, 10am to midday, no registrations required).
On now and ongoing, open Wednesday to Monday, 10am to 4pm. Closed New Year’s Day
Seek and Find Nature Cards, Melbourne Gardens
Need to get outside? Artist Claire Mosley has created nature-inspired prompt cards that kids and families can collect from the visitor centre at Melbourne Gardens which will send you on an adventure to seek out different plants or discover a new fact about the landscape.
On daily, ongoing
The Whale by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre will take pride of place at Arts Centre Melbourne. Photograph: Tashi Hall
The Whale, Arts Centre Melbourne
A gigantic 10 metre-long puppet whale is coming to the forecourt at Arts Centre Melbourne in January, and you can be one of the puppet masters by tugging on the ropes to open its mouth or flick its aquatic camouflage-print tail. Spare Parts Puppet Theatre is behind the installation, which comes with a magical soundtrack and story to listen to. You’ll learn about the role whales play in our ecosystem, as well as just how huge they are.
On 17 and 18 January and 20 to 24 January
Perth
Broken and forgotten objects are fuel for creativity and joy in Re-PLAY at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Photograph: Matthew Reilly/All artworks courtesy of the Artist and The Art Gallery of Western Australia. © Maxxi Minaxi May
Re-PLAY, Art Gallery of Western Australia
Western Australian artist Maxxi Minaxi May loves to repurpose everyday objects into sculptural art installations. In Agwa’s free exhibition, you might recognise a pink gumboot, or an orange lunchbox, or a road sign saying “slow down”. All these broken and forgotten objects are fuel for creativity and joy. All ages are welcome to touch, play and imagine what these beautiful, ugly, once-loved objects could be. There’s nothing digital about Re-PLAY – no screens to swipe, or interact with – and that’s all purposeful. May wants families to forget their schedules, reconnect with each other, and lose a few hours in play.
On now to 22 February, open daily 10am to 5pm, with workshops at varied times
Mermaids: the Splash Zone, Fringe World
High-five a mermaid at this year’s Fringe World, which has hundreds of free and ticketed events across Perth. Finned friends will be splashing about in the Mermaid Tank at 3.30pm and 5.30pm on select days during the annual festival. Rock up to the Pleasure Garden (no registration required) and wave hello to the pretty sirens of the sea. Other free events include a Saturday evening glow-up of Northbridge Piazza, a Taylor Swift tribute act at Hillarys Boardwalk and an eclectic samba band who love to dress up.
On 21 January to 15 February, select times, runs for 30 minutes
Sydney and surrounds
Creature, Carriageworks
Jump around like a kangaroo and slither like a snake in a free 360-degree interactive play space, where digital native animals respond to your every move. Created by Sydney artists, researchers and performers Box of Birds, the installation runs for 30 minutes on a loop. It’s drop in, so no need to book.
On select days, 13 December to 10 January
Bestselling children’s author Andy Griffiths has chosen weird and wonderful objects tied to paper for kids to explore. Photograph: Powerhouse
Powerhouse Materials: Paper, Castle Hill
Bestselling children’s author Andy Griffiths has chosen weird and wonderful objects tied to paper, such as papier-mache dolls and typewriters (the keyboards of the past!), for kids to explore in a free exhibition at Powerhouse Castle Hill. Inquisitive minds can pick up a free activity book to help them imagine their own stories, and from 20 December to 1 February children can create their own hand puppets and collage posters during free drop-in workshops.
On Saturdays and Sundays until 8 March, 10am to 4pm
Kids are encouraged to make a fabric friend that represents something they desire to be – such as courageous, silly or crafty Photograph: Diana Panuccio/Art Gallery of New South Wales
Plushie pals and Hive festival, Art Gallery of New South Wales and Wollongong Art Gallery
Snip, stuff and sew a plushie pal in the Art Gallery of NSW’s drop-in workshops designed by artist Kate Mitchell. It’s open to all ages (under 12s must be supervised by a grown up) and kids are encouraged to make a fabric friend that represents something they desire to be – such as courageous, silly or crafty. Plan your visit for 17 and 18 January, and you can also watch free performances from Zindzi & the Zillionaires, jump around in a free soft play set-up for under fives, or decorate a giant doll’s dress in the Patchwork Portal by Raquel Caballero – all at the annual Hive festival, which travels to Wollongong Art Gallery on 20–21 January.
On 5 to 26 January, 10am to 5pm (Wednesdays until 9pm)
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat, Art Gallery of New South Wales
A one-stop shop for cool, shaded fun with freedom to play, New Zealand-born artist Mike Hewson has created a sculptural wonderland in the Nelson Packer Tank space with hanging bars, a slide, toy cars, barbecues, a sauna and steam room, bucket showers to soak yourself or your friends, working washing machines (toddler catnip) and a cafe cart with icy poles. It’s free to enter all summer, but on 17 and 18 January at 2pm there’s a 45-minute kid’s disco with DJ Diva Cups on the decks.
On now and ongoing into 2026. Daily 10am to 5pm
Create whatever you want at TOO~B, a free play space for under-12s at Sydney Opera House. Photograph: Sydney Opera House / Jacquie Manning
TOO~B, Sydney Opera House
Crawl into a silky tube and pretend to be a wriggly worm, drape yourself in shiny fabric and pose like a princess, or stack cubes into the tallest tower you’ve ever seen. Create whatever you want at TOO~B, a free play space for under 12s at the Sydney Opera House. It’s the brain child of playful Sydney artist HOSSEI, who loves to create colourful costumes and interactive art. Registration is essential for this one, as spaces are limited. All children need to be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.
On 5 to 23 January, 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm (Thu and Fri 10am sessions for ages 0-2 only)
Dig It!, Museum of Sydney
Become an archaeologist for the day at the Museum of Sydney’s free excavation site. The whole family can help unearth artefacts in a digital experience that feels like you’re playing a video game from the 1980s – including mishaps, like sudden rain showers ruining your site, or a mischievous dog wanting to join the dig.
On now and through 2026. Open daily, 10am to 5pm
Rosie Deacon’s Neon Bushland features abstract forms from shaggy pom-pom rocks to beady-eyed critters at Bundanon. Photograph: Cindy Live
Neon Bushland, Bundanon
Artist Rosie Deacon is known for her vibrant, childlike sculptures – always made by repurposing waste, such as old stickers and beads. At Bundanon this summer, Deacon is making a Neon Bushland of abstract forms, from shaggy pom-pom rocks to beady-eyed critters. There’ll be a making space for all ages where you can create your own flora and fauna from recycled materials to add to the colourful installation.
On Wednesdays to Sundays from 3 to 18 January, 10am to 2pm
