Keeping the kids entertained can be tough. But this spring, you won't have any trouble with that. Canberra is packed with activities over the October school holidays.
Pixar Putt
Where: Civic Square, in front of the Canberra Theatre Centre.
When: Open seven days a week from 10:00am to 6:45pm, through to Sunday, October 13th.
Price: From $19.90 to $39.90 per person. Family tickets are also available at a slight discount.
Inspired by an array of Pixar films, stories, and icons, putt your way around either 9 or 18 holes with statues of your favourite characters.
The open air mini-golf experience is suitable for all ages throughout the school holiday period.
Featured Pixar icons include Toy Story, Cars, Monsters Inc, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, A Bug's Life, Wall-E, and Inside Out.
For more information, visit pixarputt.com.au. Tickets are available on Ticketek.
Booking is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity. Limited walk-up sales are subject to availability.
Tony Armstrong's Extra-ordinary Things
Where: National Museum of Australia, Acton.
When: Open seven days a week, from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
Price: Free.
From the ABC TV series Tony Armstrong's Extra-Ordinary Things, this exhibit brings together 25 personal experiences to reveal how seemingly ordinary things have the potential for extraordinary stories.
The exhibit runs through February 2025. The museum is also running a series of holiday program workshops through to October 11. For more information, visit nma.gov.au.
Tuff Nutterz
Where: Parkes Place Lawns, Parkes.
When: October 5th to 13th, 9:00am to 4:45pm. Last entry is at 3:00pm.
Price: From $25 to $40 per person for a 105 minute session, excluding fees. Family and group tickets are available.
This event features Australia's biggest inflatable obstacle course. Work your way through a 300 metre series of obstacles designed to challenge and test your skills.
For more information, visit tuffnutterz.com. Tickets can be purchased at entry, dependent on availability. Booking online is strongly recommended.
Family Orienteering
Where: National Arboretum, Molonglo Valley.
When: Daily until October 13th from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Price: $5 per family.
Navigate the National Arboretum Canberra on a hunt for clues to solve puzzles. A great holiday for little legs and active minds - collect a map and clue sheet from the Village Centre Information Desk before heading out to the forest and gardens.
The course is spread throughout the arboretum's forest, and may encounter uneven terrain during the search for clues. Wearing sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothing is recommended.
For more information, visit nationalarboretum.act.gov.au. This is a drop-in activity and no bookings are required.
Treetops Adventure
Where: Off Lime Kiln Road, Majura.
When: Open seven days per week.
Price: From $21 to $65 per person.
20 minutes north-east of Canberra's city centre, explore the great outdoors with a unique bird-eye view.
Spend between 90 and 150 minutes amid a range of more than 90 aerial obstacles and 16 ziplines, while being suspended up to 15 metres above the ground.
Courses are available for little ones aged three and up, and of course, for those still a child at heart. For the school holidays, instructor guided climbs are available for ages 6-12.
For more information, visit treetopsadventure.com.au. Tickets are available online, and booking ahead is strongly recommended due to limited walk-up capacity.
Craft and design workshops
Where: Canberra Centre, 148 Bunda Street.
When: September 30th to October 11th, from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Price: Free, but bookings are essential.
Explore the theme of 'Regenerate' during hands-on and artist-run workshops. Each workshop works through a range of mediums including construction, painting, ceramics, and First National cultural weaving.
Workshops on offer include: Woven Boxes, Cultural Weaving, Painting Cultural Artefacts, Clay Seedpods, Yarn Sticks, and Paper Birds.
Not all workshops run on all days, but all workshops are held in the Canberra Centre, and are available free-of-charge for the entire school holidays.
For more information and to book, visit craftanddesigncanberra.org.
The future of filmmaking
Where: photo access, Manuka Arts Centre, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith
When: October 10-11, 9am-4pm each day
Price: $385
Stop-motion animation experts Eleanor and Giovanni are running a two-day workshop at PhotoAccess in Manuka. is the perfect way to spend your school break.
Suitable for kids aged 8-12, the workshop explores themes like "When I Grow Up", "In My Dreams", or "Once Upon a Time", bringing them to life with paper cut-out animation. Kids can learn animation techniques, create backgrounds and props, and even edit a film - The resulting creations will be showcased at the 2025 Canberra Short Film Festival. Visit photoaccess.org.au for more information.
