With Easter out of the way, there’s still two weeks of school holidays looming before the kids go back to school. If you’re at a loose end for things to do these Autumn holidays, here’s a round up of all the fun things that are happening around Melbourne:
1. Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Adventure
Following a successful tour in the USA and UK, it’s Melbourne’s turn get ready for the Harry Potter: Forbidden Forest adventure on the Mornington Peninsula from 6 April util 19 May when The Briars Community Forest in Mount Martha will turn into a legit dark and magical forest. This nighttime woodland trail experience is filled with magical creatures and wizarding wonders from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films and has been brought to life by award-winning theatrical designers and experiential creators.
2. Marshmallow Laser Feast immersive digital experience at ACMI
Nature and technology come together in this major exhibition from one of the world’s leading immersive art collectives at ACMI. Marshmallow Laser Feast: Works of Nature features five large-scale digital works, and uses cutting-edge technology to explore the majesty of the natural world – from droplets of water and cells of the human body all the way through to black holes. It is running at ACM until 14 April.
3. School holiday activities at Federation Square
Fed Square will host free dance parties and costume and craft workshops led by performers Turtle and Sugar Rush, a kids-only act created by Victorian creative company All the Queens Men. From 10-11 April, the Square will also play host to the Little Food Festival, Australia’s first and only food festival for kids.
4. Experience the immersive ArtVo ‘trick art’ gallery Docklands
Entering a realm of optical marvel in Docklands where ArtVo’s expansive murals transport visitors into a world where they can encounter exotic wildlife, conquer rugged landscapes, and ride epic waves. Spanning an impressive 1400 square metres, the gallery invites exploration through diverse zones, each boasting its own mesmerizing illusions. Departing from conventional art exhibitions, ArtVo revolutionizes the museum experience, allowing patrons not only to admire but also to embody the art through interactive posing.
5. Visit the luscious Blue Lotus Water Garden
Spanning more than 50,000 square metres, the Blue Lotus Water Garden is a seasonal garden at Yarra Junction containing over 40 different ponds, lakes and water features. Here, you’ll find the biggest display of lotus and waterlily flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. You can see it this year until 14 April.
6. See Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition at Melbourne Museum
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of history – grab your boarding pass and embark on a journey to explore the powerful stories of those who travelled and worked onboard the legendary ship in Titanic: The Artefact Exhibition, before it closes on 21 April.
See more than 200 real artefacts recovered directly from the wreck site and be captivated by the compelling human stories behind each one as you journey through the events on that fateful night.
7. Catch a show at this year’s Comedy Festival
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival has something for every comedy lover with free family entertainment, world-class special events, trail-blazing solo shows and late-night fun – running until 21 April.
8. Visit the Kubik Frankston Music and Light experience.
An outdoor live entertainment venue constructed from light-filled water tanks that change colour in response to music, Kubik is the concept of a Berlin-based architecture firm. Kubik takes over the Frankston waterfront fro 5-20 April providing an electrifying fusion of Melbourne’s pulsating music culture and vibrant culinary food trucks, all set against the backdrop of a family-friendly environment with free entry all week and ticketed events on the weekend.
9. Catch the Dinos Alive immersive experience before it leaves Melbourne
Dinos Alive is a dinosaur exhibition featuring life-size animated replicas in an immersive Jurassic venue in Brunswick. Walk alongside the massive creatures that roamed our world millions of years ago! Travel back to the Jurassic in a thematic park full of realistic dinosaurs—see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat! Come face to face with over 80 specimens of life-sized, moving replicas: T-rex, Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Velociraptors, and many more. These school holidays are your last chance to have this experience – it is leaving Melbourne on 14 April.
10. Visit the Tesselaar KaBloom Festival of Flowers
Tesselaar KaBloom Festival of Flowers is returning to the Dandenong Ranges this autumn until 21 April 2024. KaBloom offers visitors the chance to roam through fields of well over three million flowers, enjoy live entertainment and be enchanted by contemporary circus performances.
11. See The BBC Earth Experience
Take a majestic 360-degree audio visual journey and explore iconic landscapes and connect with mesmerising animals from around the world at the BBC Earth Experience, on until 28 April. This immersive experience features narration by Sir David Attenborough and awe-inspiring footage from the BBC Studios Natural History television series, ‘Seven Worlds, One Planet’, hosted at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
12. Experience the Air Playground at Scienceworks
Play with air, the amazing invisible elemental force, and experience the science of aerodynamics. Whoosh, swirl, gust, squish, flow, float and more at Air Playground. Float objects in mid-air, place material in fast moving air-jets, squish a giant inflatable tentacle sculpture with your body, launch balls sky-high with compressed air, craft paper planes to soar and more.
13. Walk along a rainforest canopy in the Otways
Experience a breathtaking bird’s-eye-view of the rainforest canopy, just 2.5 hours from Melbourne’s CBD. Otway Fly Treetop Adventures takes your rainforest experience to new heights in the lush surroundings of the beautiful Otway Ranges. The 600 metre-long, 25 metre-high elevated walkway provides unrivalled views of the unique beauty of the region’s flora and fauna. Experience the life and beauty of the Otway Ranges from the rainforest floor, right up to the soaring heights of the treetops.
14. Experience the NBA’s first and only global touring exhibition at the District Docklands
The NBA Exhibition is the ultimate experience for basketball enthusiasts! This basketball exhibition is a one-of-a-kind adventure through the amazing universe of the NBA. The event offers over 20 themed sections combining the NBA’s rich and storied past with interactive elements that transport you into the world of basketball.
15. See Cirque du Soleil’s latest touring show Luzia
Cirque du Soleil is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Australia with its critically acclaimed and jaw-dropping production Luzia. Featuring breathtaking acrobatic performances and the first rain curtain on a touring show, Luzia takes audiences on a surreal escape to an imaginary Mexico. under the Big Top at Melbourne Showgrounds until 19 May.
16. Have a day out at a poop museum
Unko Museum, translated as the “Poop Museum”, is a fun and interactive exhibit with super adorable decor. Enter a world of colour and unleash your inner child in a uniquely Kawaii (cute) poop universe imported from Japan! Unleash your inner child with a treasure trove of interactive games, embark on a hilarious voyage as you capture priceless moments against a backdrop of whimsical Instagrammable settings, and take home curious souvenirs. This unique exhibit is on until 14 April.
17. Experience life-sized animatronic dinosaurs at all four of Victoria’s zoos
Victoria’s zoos are being transformed into prehistoric playgrounds with Zoos Victoria’s new Dinos at the Zoo immersive experience providing an unforgettable journey back in time until 14 July.
18. See Wicked at The Regent Theatre
The Broadway sensation Wicked looks at what happened in the Land of Oz… but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin, who is smart, fiery, misunderstood and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships… until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” See it at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre until 30 June.
19. Experience Joy at the Immigration Museum
Celebrating culture, nostalgia, and the pursuit of happiness, the Immigration Museum’s expansive exhibition Joy features seven Victorian-based artists showcasing their interpretations of joy through immersive installations, until 29 August.
20. Take part in an immersive board game experience at Monopoly Dreams
Enter Monopoly Dreams and be whisked away into the delightful world of Monopoly! Melbourne’s newest attraction is a fully immersive and interactive experience, featuring games, laser maze, and the chance to win Monopoly money. he fully immersive experience operates across two different zones: Monopoly City and Monopoly Mansion – with 15 different attractions in total.
21. Visit the biggest metal art gallery in Australia – Metartworld
Get ready to be blown away by the mesmerizing metal art wonders of Metartworld! Be amazed as you step inside a massive 2,500-square-meter space filled with incredible, one-of-a-kind statues crafted from recycled materials and scrap metal. Get lost in beautifully themed areas featuring everything from anime and movies to animals, the military, cars, motorcycles, and even royalty! And that’s not all – buckle up for an impossible adventure through a dreamy, starry sky exhibition
22. See a stage adaptation of beloved children’s book Room on the Broom
CDP presents Tall Stories’ production of Room on the Broom adapted from the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children’s books. It’s on at the Athenaeum Theatre from 11-14 April. The witch and her cat are flying happily on their broomstick – until a stormy wind blows away the witch’s hat, bow and wand. A helpful dog, bird and frog find the witch’s lost things, and they all hop on the broom for a ride.
23. Experience RIFIFI: Jean Jullien for Kids at the NGV
The children’s gallery at the NGV is transformed into an underwater world inspired by art, having fun and caring for the environment – a sea adventure that welcomes the youngest and oldest of visitors. This enchanting installation is the creation of French artist Jean Jullien, who has made the work, titled RIFIFI: Jean Jullien for Kids, especially for NGV Triennial.
24. Visit the new Leonardo da Vinci experience at THE LUME
Step into the mind of genius! Explore original sketches and inventions by Leonardo da Vinci at THE LUME Melbourne. Be amazed by a 360º Mona Lisa replica, AI, VR tech, and a Renaissance culinary journey at Caffé Medici. Immerse yourself in the Renaissance with multisensory galleries taking you through the world of da Vinci.
25. Unleash your kid’s inner creativity at Chaos Lab
Things are about to get fun and creative! Chaos Lab is the ideal place for little ones to have fun being creative while discovering the scientific facts behind the play. Explore a mirror maze, a slime station, a neon graffiti wall, a ball pit, and many more surprises. Meet the manic mad scientist and their lab assistants who will guide you through different zones to play, create, learn, and get just a little bit messy. It’s on until 14 April.
