Spending time outdoors is one of the best ways to keep kids active and engaged during the school holidays. When planning your school holiday activities, make nature the focus of your family adventures.

From exploring nature with park rangers to problem solving through a playground, here are 10 of the best school holidays nature activities in Victoria.

 

1. Join a Junior Rangers activity

The Junior Rangers program run every school holiday in Victoria and offer exciting outdoor nature activities for kids led by experienced and passionate park rangers. Through interactive wildlife spotting, flora exploring or nature treasure hunt sessions, primary school aged kids can discover and learn more about Victoria’s diverse parks while developing a deeper connection with nature.

Best of all, these family-friendly activities are free, but bookings are required.

View the full school holiday program and book a Junior Rangers activity today. Be quick as spots fill up fast! 

Junior Rangers activities are a great activity for the kids.

 

2. Enjoy an all-ability playscape

Designed to encourage creativity and outdoor play, playscapes give children of all abilities the opportunity to have fun, socialise, and engage with the natural environment around them. Whether climbing, balancing, or exploring sensory play elements, there’s something for every child to enjoy.

 

Olinda Precinct

Families looking for a fun and inclusive outdoor experience can now enjoy the Olinda Playscape at Olinda Precinct on Wurundjeri Country. This has been designed for children of all ages and abilities, offering a welcoming space for inclusive outdoor play.

The park is equipped with picnic facilities and toilets, making it an ideal destination for a day out.

Dogs are welcome to play in the dedicated off-lead dog area, along with a network of scenic on-lead walking trails. However, dogs are not permitted within the playground area.

While the kids are scrambling through the playscape, parents can enjoy a coffee or hot drink from the coffee kiosk situated nearby.

 

Jells Park

At Jells Park on Wurundjeri Country, kids can enjoy playing at two all-abilities playscapes designed for hours of fun.

At Yabbie Hill, they can climb, hide, swing, and slide across giant sculptures, while Jells Park East features traditional and nature-based play elements.

Parents can grab a coffee from the café, T house at Jells, and accessible pathways to make it easy to explore with bikes and prams.

A Changing Places facility is available for visitors with high-support needs (MLAK key required).

 

Brimbank Park

Brimbank Park on Wurundjeri Country has a playscape designed for children of all abilities to play, explore and socialise.

The all-abilities playscape includes swings, an accessible sandpit, a build-it-yourself cubby, and Braille and Auslan signage. It is also part of Parks Victoria's Autism Friendly Visits initiative, with dedicated resources to help support a child’s visit to the park.

Families can explore walking tracks, spot native birds, enjoy picnic areas with barbecues, or grab a coffee at the café, Lumbar & Co.

Children playing at Brimbank Park.

 

3. Take a pram-friendly walk

Getting out into nature with young children during school holidays is a great way to boost everyone’s wellbeing while enjoying quality family time outdoors.

Pram-friendly walks make it easy for the whole family to experience Victoria’s parks. It allows the younger children to take in the sights and sounds of nature from the comfort of their stroller.

Find out more: Top pram friendly walks

 

4. Go camping at a family-friendly site

Camping is a great way for kids to immerse themselves in nature, whether it’s setting up tents, exploring trees, or discovering local wildlife. During these school holidays, enjoy cooler, more comfortable weather and explore a variety of family-friendly campgrounds.

Or, if you’re looking for a quieter camping experience in Victoria, consider exploring alternative campgrounds to avoid the crowds, including the best times to visit.

Tip: Camping is free currently in Victoria! Read our guide to free camping in Victoria.

 

5. Take the kids on a hike

Hiking can be a rewarding activity for kids, encouraging them to explore, learn, and stay active.

Before visiting a park, look for easy, family-friendly trails with gentle grades and close amenities, like picnic areas and toilets. Short walks through forests or along rivers offer the perfect scenic viewpoints to see wildlife and plants.

 

Corrigan Suspension Bridge, Tarra Bulga National Park

Walk to Corrigan’s Suspension Bridge in Tarra-Bulga National Park on Brataualung Country, offering stunning views of the rainforest canopy and lush fern gully below.

• Distance: 1.2km
• Time: 25 minutes one way
• Difficulty: Easy

 

Suspension bridge in Tarra Bulga National Park. Image: Visit Victoria.

 

Fort Nepean, Point Nepean National Park

At the tip of the peninsula in Point Nepean National Park on Bunurong Country, Fort Nepean lets visitors explore military fortifications, tunnels, and gun emplacements from the 1880s.

• Distance: 1km
• Time: 1-2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy

 

Serendip Sanctuary

With no trail longer than 2km return, Serendip Sanctuary on Wadawurrung Country offers four easy, family-friendly walks. You can see kangaroos, wallabies, emus and a huge variety of birdlife in their natural habitat.

1. Wildlife Walk (1.1km)
2. Wetland Walk (1.1km)
3. Wader Walk (1.3km)
4. Farm Dam for Wildlife Walk (1.3km)

 

6. Visit a dog-friendly park

Want to include your four-legged friend in the school holiday fun?  Many of Victoria’s parks offer dog-friendly trails and picnic areas.

So, grab the leash, pack some treats, and set off on a family adventure where your pooch can join in the fun!

Find the best parks for you and your pup: Dog-friendly parks

Family with their dog at Yarra Bend Park.

 

7. Explore Buchan Caves on a guided tour

These school holidays are the perfect time to visit Buchan Caves Reserve on Krauatungalung Country in Gippsland.

Above ground, the autumnal maples and golden ash provide a burst of colour through the park.

Below ground, you can explore two caves that are part of Victoria's largest cave system. Guided tours of either Fairy Cave or Royal Cave will take you into limestone caves, carved by an underground river almost 400 million years ago.

Families can extend their adventure with a stay at the leafy campground, a popular family favourite.

Buchan Caves Reserve is just 45 minutes from Lakes Entrance or 60 minutes from Bairnsdale.

 

8. Step back in time with a visit to the State Coal Mine

Kids (and adults!) will love to take a trip back in time on a visit to the State Coal Mine on Bunurong Country in Wonthaggi. It’s the only historic coal mine experience in the southern hemisphere.

Here, families can explore underground tunnels on a guided tour. The mine remains just as it was in its working days so you can really get a feel for what life was like for coal miners back in the day.

Above ground, visitors can explore the heritage trail, visit the old miner’s cottage, and enjoy the space with your family dog (allowed in all outdoor areas). Be sure to pop into the café on the way out for some yummy food and drinks.

Children can explore the underground passages of the State Coal Mine.

 

9. Wander around Werribee Park

For a school holiday activity that blends history and nature, head to Werribee Park on Bunurong Country.

This grand estate offers kids a chance to step back in time on a tour of the 148-year-old mansion. They can also run around the formal gardens and the Victoria State Rose Garden, where 5,000 roses bloom in a spectacular display of color.

Pack a picnic and explore the gardens or enjoy a self-guided walk through the heritage-listed mansion. Best of all, entry to Werribee Park Gardens and the Victoria State Rose Garden is free!

 

10. Take the kids for a stress-free camping trip at the Point Nepean Discovery Tents

Want to experience camping with kids but without the hassle of setting up a tent? The pre-pitched Discovery Tents at Point Nepean National Park on Bunurong Country offer a stress-free way to enjoy nature during the Easter school holidays.

With many of the essentials ready for you, including pre-pitched tents, hot showers, toilets, a camp kitchen, and an outdoor dining area with a herb garden, you’ll have more time to explore the park. There’s even a recreation room with lounges, books, board games, and a table tennis table!

But don’t wait too long. The season ends on 26 April, with perfect weather for walking and cycling through the park. Or rugging up to sit on the beach and watch an epic sunset.

Note: The Discovery Tents reopen on 1 September 2025 and are not included in the free camping initiative.

Family walking at Point Nepean Discovery Tents.

 

With so many exciting and accessible outdoor activities to choose from, this Easter school holiday is the perfect time to get the kids outside, explore Victoria’s stunning parks, and create lasting memories.