It’s the winter school holidays and parents everywhere are trying to find cool and captivating activities to entertain and delight. The Yarra River and surrounds always has plenty to keep your kids busy – and they might learn something too!
National Gallery of Victoria
Open House: Tromarama for Kids is a free exhibition inspired by ordinary homes, where everything comes to life! Visitors of all ages can experiment with stop-motion animation through a multimedia app, creating short films that can be shared with friends and family.
Drop-by-drawing for kids forms part of the Shifting Gear exhibition. Led by contemporary artists and designers, children and families are invited to spend time together and sketch the cars on display in the exhibition Shifting Gear: Design, Innovation and the Australian Car.
Melbourne Recital Centre
We invite you to introduce your children to the magic of opera through Opera Australia’s production of one of the best-loved Brothers Grimm tales, Hansel & Gretel. Children will be captivated by the story of two young people and the bewitching characters that they meet on their journey of hardship, forgiveness and self-discovery. Saturday 29 August 11am Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Tickets $23
Melbourne Water Taxis
Disney on Ice comes to Rod Laver Arena this July and if you really want to add to the experience, catch a water taxi to the show! Departing from Southgate (berth 4) for all sessions.
Melbourne Water Taxis will also be servicing the International soccer at MCG from July 18th to July 24th.
Polly Woodside
Melbourne's own tall ship, http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/ http://www.pollywoodside.com.au/ is open every day during the school holidays for Children’s Crew Calls. Children with loud voices, energy to scrub decks and an ability to pull scary faces are encouraged to attend!
Adult - $16.00 / Concession - $13.00 / Child (3-15yrs) - $9.50 / Family - $43.00 (2 adults and 2 children) / Single Family - $30.00 (1 adult and 2 children) / Additional children $5.00 per child
Enquiries [email protected] / 03 9656 9889
Federation Square
Momentum Energy River Rink at Fed Square
Get your skates on, as a brand new ice rink takes over River Terrace at Fed Square!
Momentum Energy River Rink at Fed Square is suitable for the young and young at heart. The rink will be open from 10am to 10pm daily and don’t worry if you’re still learning to skate - assistants in the form of 70cm high penguins can be rented for $10 to help support you on the ice.
Come and ‘Skate with the animals’ from 10am – 12pm every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, or wear your pyjamas on the ice on National Pyjama Day (Friday 17 July) when $1 of every ticket sold goes to The Pyjama Foundation, which helps children in foster care enjoy a brighter future.
During the day views of the city and Yarra River will form a dramatic backdrop for skaters, and as nightfall arrives the Momentum Energy River Rink at Fed Square will be become a fairyland of light and colour. On selected evenings the rink will come to life with an overlay of themes and live music to delight young and old. There’ll be themed nights too – 80’s Night and Christmas in July!
River Terrace, Fed Square, 27 June - 19 July | Daily | 10am - 10pm (45 minute sessions beginning on the hour every hour)
Adult: $22.00 / Concession: $20.00 / Kids (6 - 14 years): $18.00 / Junior (3 - 5 years): $15.00 / Family (2 Adults + 2 Kids): $70.00 Ticket prices include skate hire. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster or at the ticket booth on River Terrace. Please note booking fees apply for online, phone and outlet bookings.
BOATS by Polyglot
Bring your kids for an adventure on the high seas of Fed Square over the school holidays! Boats is a brand new work by Fed Square and Polyglot Theatre that allows children to use colourful vessels to navigate urban seascapes. The playful and interactive activity will transform Fed Square into an island dotted seascape exploring ideas of migration and adventure.
At a central mooring place, large lightweight boats await patiently for children’s imagination and energy. Once aboard, the boats are propelled by a flurry of feet, with kids working as a crew to find their own path and voyage across the high seas.
As they journey, Polyglot artists float as castaways to be rescued or as mysterious elements of the deep blue sea. Together they guide the boats to safe harbour ready for new crew, and the next adventure!
Running over the second week of the school holidays, large boat sculptures will travel through The Atrium to The Square. People of all ages will also be encouraged to make paper boats to add to a growing fleet.
The Atrium + The Square, Fed Square, Tuesday 7 July – Sunday 12 July 10am – 12pm + 2pm – 4pm, Free
