The best school holiday activities in Canberra this winter

Canberra’s city centre comes alive during Winter in the City (5-19 July). Families can enjoy free entertainment by day and fire performances by night. Highlights include Mission to the Moon, a family-friendly theatre experience; the high-energy antics of the Circus Firemen; and the large-scale ensemble acts of Circus Oz, who also light up the evenings with their fire shows. The event wraps up with a special city edition of The Forage (19 July), a street food festival with live music, performances, and delicious local fare.

At the Australian National Botanic Gardens kids can journey back to the Ice Age with MEGAfauna: Look Alike (1-31 July). The MEGAfauna Look-Alike Trail introduces families to the massive creatures that once roamed Australia, the plants they fed on, and their modern-day relatives. On select dates between 8-17 July, there will be free art workshops where kids can sculpt their own megafauna using natural materials such as native leaves, seeds, sticks, and clay.

The National Museum of Australia invites children into the magical world of puppetry, inspired by the Mr Squiggle and Friends exhibition. A series of creative workshops lets kids explore shadow puppets, marionettes, and performance art. Shadow House and the Stories Inside, led by Wiradjuri-Irish artist Bria  McCarthy, encourages children aged 5 to 12 to craft their own characters and bring them to life inside a shadow tent. Younger children can join Make, Move, Perform! with puppeteer Marianne Mettes, while older kids aged 10 to 15 can dive into the art of marionette-making in a hands-on session designed for emerging artists and imaginative thinkers.

Just 45 minutes from the city centre, Corin Forest offers Canberra’s closest snow experience. It’s the perfect destination for first timers to see snow and families looking for a winter adventure without a long drive from the city centre. Families can try tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding on gentle beginner slopes, build snowmen, make snow angels, and warm up with woodfired pizza and hot chocolate at the cosy indoor café. For those seeking a thrill, the alpine slide offers a 1.2-kilometre ride through the forest.

Experience spectacular science shows, exciting experiments, and hands-on galleries tackling science concepts in a fun and engaging way at Questacon, winner of the 2024 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 'Major Tourist Attraction'. The Mini Q area is perfect for kids aged 0-6, so the little ones don’t need to miss out on the fun.

One of this winter’s cultural highlights is the National Gallery of Australia's latest major exhibition, Cézanne to Giacometti: highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie (until 21 September). Children aged 0–17 enjoy free entry, and there’s an interactive space designed by artist Sanné Mestrom. Here, kids can build, play, and explore their imaginations in an environment that encourages artistic expression and collaboration.

Sanné Mestrom, The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Her Parts, 2025, installation view, Cézanne to Giacometti: highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie, National Gallery of Australia, Kamberri/Canberra, 2025

Animal lovers will enjoy a day at the National Zoo & Aquarium is a great way to spend the day with the family, where they can encounter a wide variety of animals, both native and exotic. 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.

For a more natural encounter, make your own way to a self-guided adventure through Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve to spot wallabies, emus, koalas, and maybe even a platypus.

Creative kids can get hands-on at Canberra Glassworks, one of Australia’s most exciting art facilities. Under the guidance of some of Australia's most acclaimed glass artists, choose between blowing your own tumbler in the Hotshop, fusing your own glass bowl, or crafting your own holiday tiles with their exclusive school holiday program (9-20 July).

For Harry Potter fans, a visit to Quizzic Alley is a must. Alongside the country’s largest range of official merchandise, the store offers wand-making workshops during the school holidays, allowing young wizards to craft their own magical wands.

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.

Finally, the Canberra Centre offers a full day of indoor entertainment. Start at Hijinx Hotel a quirky venue filled with challenge rooms designed to test teamwork. 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.