The best school holiday activities in Canberra this autumn

Head to the National Folk Festival (17-21 April) for five days of music, folk dance, and community. With multiple stages, workshops, dance spaces, markets, food stalls, and even on-site camping, this festival has your long weekend sorted. Be warned though, the saying goes that once you’ve gone to the festival just once, you’ll want to come back year after year.

Celebrate Canberra’s rich history and culture with over 130 events during the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival (18 April – 11 May). Explore fascinating tours, talks, workshops, open days, exhibitions, and activities suitable for all ages.

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The National Museum of Australia is home to more than 210,000 objects that tell the stories of Australia’s history and cultural heritage. During these school holidays, they’re offering exciting hands-on workshops for children, inspired by nature. In the "Rock On" workshop, children aged 5-12 can explore the Great Southern Land Gallery’s collection of ancient rocks and crystals, crack open geodes, and create watercolour and sand art. For teens aged 12-17, the "Terrariums and Climate School" invites participants to learn about climate change impacts on Australia, hear from experts, and build their own sustainable terrarium ecosystems.

Or head to the museum’s major exhibition, Pompeii, to discover what life was like in the ancient city before the fateful eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. This memorable exhibition features remarkable artifacts and a multi-sensory immersive experience (on now until 4 May, costs apply).

The museum also offers family trails, which provide a fun, self-guided way to explore the exhibits (for children aged 2-8), while the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is perfect for young minds (ages birth to 6), offering interactive play experiences related to Australian history. Some activities require booking in advance, but general entry to the museum is free.

If your family is craving adventure, head to Majura Pines, just a short 20-minute drive from the city. Here,  Treetops Adventure Canberra offers over 90 aerial obstacles and 16 ziplines, suspended up to 15 metres above the ground. It’s an adrenaline-pumping experience that the whole family will love.

Take the family over to Namadgi National Park, where you can explore the ancient and diverse landscape that the Ngunnawal People have been custodians of for tens of thousands of years. The park protects 106,095 hectares of alpine, sub-alpine and mountain bushland and makes up almost half of the ACT, making it the perfect landscape to enjoy beautiful walks and breathtaking picnic spots. While you’re in the area, take a turn on the 1.2-kilometre alpine slide located in Corin Forest which winds down the Mountain Ash forest.

Experience spectacular science shows, exciting experiments, and hands-on galleries tackling science concepts in a fun and engaging way at Questacon. The Mini Q area is perfect for kids aged 0-6, and you won’t want to miss the CURIOSITY: Building Breakthroughs in LEGO Bricks exhibit (until 11 May).

LEGO braille bricks have been integrated throughout CURIOSITY, helping to make the exhibition accessible to visitors with low vision or blindness and their accompanying families and carers, thanks to a partnership with Vision Australia.

A visit to the National Zoo & Aquarium is a great way to spend the day with the family. This attraction offers the chance to see a wide variety of animals, both native and exotic, and has the largest inland saltwater aquarium in Australia. The zoo also has an epic playground, known as AdventureLand, with 55 activities and various life-size fibreglass animal sculptures to capture memories of your visit.

During the school holidays, the zoo also hosts  Zoocation, which offers a unique experience for primary aged children. Throughout a fun-filled day, children will get up close and personal with many of the zoo’s animals, play games, make toys for the animals, and learn something new along the way..

Or make your own way to a self-guided adventure through Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to spot wallabies, emus, koalas, and maybe even a platypus. There are plenty of programs exclusive to the school holidays including Tidbinbilla Bush Detectives and Cubby House Rules (free, bookings required).

Uncover the inner workings of Canberra Glassworks with a hands-on workshop in one of the most exciting art facilities in Australia. Children can create a kiln-formed bowl, while teens can try their hand at glassblowing with guidance from expert artists.

For Harry Potter fans, a visit to Quizzic Alley is a must. Besides having the biggest range of official Harry Potter merchandise anywhere in the country, this magical store offers a wand-making class during the April ACT school holiday period, where your little wizards can craft their own magical wands.

The Australian National Botanic Gardens is the perfect place for kids to learn about Australia’s unique flora. Discover the amazing secrets of the plants that live in the Australian bush on a family-friendly tour on the Flora Explorer Bus. Be sure to book ahead as spots fill up quickly.

The tracks at Power Kart Raceway are sure to get your heart racing. Take the whole family to try racing the world-class electric go-karts on a Formula One style indoor circuit. You’ll also find an indoor glow-in-the-dark mini golf course, virtual escape rooms, and arcade machines to keep everyone entertained.

A short drive away you’ll find BlocHaus within the Dairy Road precinct. This bouldering centre is perfect for kids to get a taste of rock climbing, with a section of the gym dedicated to families – with the walls shorter and padded mats below.

Go behind the scenes on a 90-minute tour of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Australia’s premier elite sports precinct. Discover where Australia’s sporting champions are created and gain insight into the life of a leading athlete. You might even catch some of Australia’s top athletes in training.

Your tour includes a visit to Sportex, one of Australia's premier interactive sports exhibits, nestled among an impressive collection of sporting memorabilia. Try wheelchair basketball, virtual downhill skiing, rock climbing, football penalty shootouts, and more. It's an exciting, hands-on experience for all ages and athletic abilities, making it the perfect activity for sports enthusiasts and families alike.

The Canberra Centre isn’t just for shopping. Start at Hijinx Hotel (a place to play, not stay), for a mind-bending experience filled with quirky challenge rooms that will keep everyone entertained. Next, test your mini golf skills at Holey Moley, where each hole is uniquely themed. The fun doesn’t stop there – head over to Kingpin for an exciting mix of arcade games, bowling, karaoke, and immersive escape rooms that will keep the whole family engaged for hours.

Let the kids run wild at the award-winning POD Playground at the National Arboretum Canberra, a truly magical play space designed to ignite curiosity, wonder, and imagination. Inspired by the concept of seeds as the beginning of life in the forest, POD Playground offers a thrilling range of activities that challenge and excite children of all ages.