ideas-for-happiness-in-school-holidays

School Holiday Survival Guide: Spring 2025 Edition

These holidays are a great time to get outside, try something new, or mix low-key and special outings so downtime still feels interesting. 

Fresh air, blossoms, and longer days — Spring school holidays are here! Whether you’re after outdoor adventures, rainy-day escapes, or unique family experiences, we’ve rounded up ideas across most States.

Craft & Indoor Time

  • Try nature crafts: collect flowers/leaves and press them, make bark rubbings, leaf mandalas.

  • DIY board games: let kids invent their own board game (draw a board, make rules, use household objects as pieces).

  • Comic strip or short story writing & illustrating.

Active & Outdoors

  • Orienteering or geocaching—turn a walk into a treasure hunt.

  • Night-sky activity: if there’s a telescope or observatory nearby, do a star-gazing evening; or use phone apps to track constellations.

  • Bike or scooter circuits in local safe paths or parks.

Learning / Skill Building

  • Cooking a theme day (e.g. “foods from around the world”) so every day you cook or try something new.

  • Gardening with a purpose: grow herbs or vegetables you can eat; make successive plantings so things pop up over the holidays.

  • Photography challenge: a photo-scavenger hunt, let kids pick a theme (shadows, colours, shapes, animals) and take photos.

Relaxed / Low Key

  • Backyard camping or glamping, even just in sleeping bags or tents, with stories or a movie under the stars.

  • PJ day + build a fort with blankets, cushions, then read books or watch a family movie.

  • Swap playdates or group up with another family to share supervision and outings.

 

Also see older articles:

35 Family Fun Staycation ideas

15  Family Fun Staycation ideas

Tourism Australia’s suggestions for those travelling out of State

 


⚠️ Tips / Reminders

  • Weather check: Spring can be unpredictable. Plan at least one indoor backup plan per week.

  • Book ahead: For workshops, shows, or special places, make bookings early (spots fill up).

  • Variation: Mix free + paid, outdoors + indoors, high-energy + relaxed days. Keeps things balanced.

  • Budget: parks, free events and the local library can be great low-cost hits.

Notes & Things to Check

  • Opening Seasons / Hours: Many adventure or water parks are seasonal. Places like Jamberoo and WhiteWater World, for example, sometimes close in cooler months or for maintenance. Always check before planning.

  • Age / Height / Skill requirements: High-ropes, zipline, etc, often have restrictions (min height, supervision). Good to make sure it’s suitable for your kids.

  • Cost + Booking: Private ones often have higher entry fees + require bookings in advance (especially in peak holiday times).

  • Distance / Travel Time: Some of these involve a drive; mix some local ones with “special day trip landmarks” so not every day means a big trip.

Here are some ideas + local event/activity finds to add to your toolkit.

Pick your state below for tailored holiday inspiration:
👉 [NSW Holiday Ideas]
👉 [VIC Holiday Ideas]
👉 [QLD Holiday Ideas]
👉 [SA Holiday Ideas]
👉 [WA Holiday Ideas]


Editor
editor@childmags.com.au