Kids Activities & School Holiday Programs in Melbourne (2026 Guide)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What school holiday programs are running in Melbourne these holidays?

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  Summer holiday dates are still being published. Current options include holiday pottery in Collingwood, a seasonal kids art class in Northcote, and sensory play with a 30 December session. Check each listing for live availability.

• When are the Melbourne summer school holidays?

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  Victorian government school summer holidays run from Saturday 19 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, and students go back on Thursday 28 January. Holiday programs usually go on sale a few weeks before the break.

• Are there school holiday sports camps in Melbourne?

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  Yes. The Footy Coach runs school holiday footy camps in Belmont (Geelong), Frankston South, Kialla (Shepparton) and Waurn Ponds, with the Geelong camp rated 4.8 from 107 reviews. Future Football runs Skills Camps for 6-12 year olds in Brighton. Soccer Pro Academy runs separate School Holiday Programs for under-8s and under-14s at Point Cook.

• What is there for kids who aren't into art or sport?

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  Wild Action runs a hands-on Zoo Experience with TV zoologist Chris Humfrey in Macedon, rated 4.96 from 394 reviews — the highest-rated kids activity in Melbourne on WeTeachMe. Reptile Encounters holds Open Days in Burwood. There are also cupcake decorating classes in Ringwood East and kids sewing courses at Thread Den in Fitzroy.

• Are there after-school classes rather than one-off workshops?

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  Yes. Paint With Me in Northcote runs Learn to Paint After School kids art courses and Kids Drawing Classes as ongoing courses. Art Smart runs professional art programs at Kingswood, Parkdale, St Kilda and Elwood. Montsalvat in Eltham runs Friday Kids Pottery and Monday Kids Pottery as regular weekly classes, and Slow Clay in Collingwood runs Clay Club for kids and a separate Clay Club for Teens.

• What ages are Melbourne kids classes suitable for?

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  It varies by class and is listed on each page. The youngest is Messy Sensory Play in Northcote for ages 1-5. Future Football runs a Future Kicks program for 4-5 year olds and Skills Camps for 6-12s. Several studios split by age — Learn to Draw runs separate Kids 8-11 and Teens 12+ streams, and Slow Clay runs Clay Club for kids and Clay Club for Teens separately.

• Can parents join in, or are these drop-off classes?

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  Both exist. Paint With Me in Northcote runs a number of explicitly family sessions — Family Day Painting, Family PAINT SPLATTER, and all-ages classes where parents and children paint together. Most holiday programs and sports camps are drop-off. The class listing says which it is.

• Which Melbourne suburbs have the most kids classes?

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  Northcote has by far the most, driven by Paint With Me's near-daily schedule. South Melbourne, Eltham, Collingwood, Brighton, Mornington, Caulfield South and Port Melbourne all run regular kids programs, and there are options further out at Taradale, Macedon, Point Cook and Geelong.

• Do I need to book school holiday programs in advance?

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  Yes, and earlier than you would expect. Holiday programs run on fixed dates with capped numbers, and the popular ones fill before the break starts. Every class on this page shows its real remaining availability, so if a date is listed you can book it now.