When planning for the school holidays, it can be tough if the weather's unbearable. Whether it's rainy or too hot, you need to always have some ideas in your back pocket for when the kids are sick of being in the house. Looking for ideas? Here are 15 great options for spending time indoors with the kids without having to stay in the house.
| Category | Type | Age Range | Price | Highlights | Good to Know | Example Venues |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Galleries & Creative Spaces | Indoor / Art & Culture | All ages | Free – $$ | Creative workshops, hands-on exhibitions, storytelling sessions | Ideal for rainy days; many galleries offer free family programs | Art Gallery of NSW (Sydney); NGV Kids Space (Melbourne); QAGOMA (Brisbane); Art Gallery of SA (Adelaide) |
| Museums & Science Centres | Indoor / Educational | All ages | Free – $$ | Fossils, interactive experiments, cultural artefacts | Most major museums are free; plan for 1–3 hours per visit | Australian Museum (Sydney); Scienceworks (Melbourne); Queensland Museum (Brisbane); WA Museum Boola Bardip (Perth); SA Museum (Adelaide) |
| Planetariums & Space Centres | Indoor / Astronomy | 6+ | $ – $$ | Star-dome projections, telescope sessions, space programs | Pre-book sessions; limited seating | Sydney Observatory; Adelaide Planetarium; Scitech (Perth); Melbourne Planetarium |
| Aquariums & Marine Life Centres | Indoor / Marine Life | All ages | $$ | Ocean tunnels, touch pools, penguin and reef exhibits | Combo passes available; best visited in mornings | SEA LIFE Sydney; SEA LIFE Melbourne; AQWA (Perth) |
| Indoor Adventure & Climbing Centres | Indoor / Active Play | 3+ | $ – $$ | Ropes courses, trampolines, zip lines | Closed-toe shoes required; weather-proof fun | Bounce Inc (various cities); Latitude (Melbourne & Perth); Urban Xtreme (Brisbane) |
| Wildlife & Animal Encounters Indoors | Indoor / Wildlife | All ages | $ – $$ | Reptile encounters, feeding sessions, guided talks | Indoor zones are great for half-day visits | WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo; Australian Reptile Park (NSW); Perth Zoo Reptile House |
| Children’s Theatres & Live Performance Spaces | Indoor / Performing Arts | 3–14 | $ – $$ | Story-driven productions, musicals, puppetry | Check seasonal programs; short morning shows | Monkey Baa Theatre (Sydney); Windmill Theatre (Adelaide); Arts Centre Melbourne |
| Indoor Play & Edutainment Centres | Indoor / Recreation & Learning | Toddlers – 12 | $ – $$ | Slides, obstacle zones, STEM play tables | Include cafés and toddler areas | The Beachouse (Adelaide); Inflatable World (nationwide); Timezone / Archie Brothers (major cities) |
| Craft Studios & Maker Workshops | Indoor / Creative Learning | 4+ | $ – $$ | Pottery, recycled crafts, DIY art projects | Book ahead; some drop-in options | Little Picassos (Adelaide); Reverse Garbage (Sydney); The Art Factory (Melbourne) |
| Cinemas, Arcades & Retro Gaming | Indoor / Entertainment | 6+ | $ – $$ | Movies, arcade games, retro exhibits | Ideal for tweens; family tickets available | Event Cinemas (nationwide); The Nostalgia Box (Perth); Palace Nova (Adelaide) |
Art Galleries and Creative Spaces
There are art galleries across Australia that now welcome kids with hands-on areas for them to draw and paint. Art activities are great for their imagination and can teach the youngest kids about colour, form, and storytelling through art. These are peaceful and friendly environments for the parents, too, and major cities like Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne all have great art galleries!
Famous Examples
Museums and Science Centres
Museums make a great indoor activity for rainy days or during the school holidays. They're perfect for inquisitive kids who always ask questions. With hands-on displays, bright visuals, and often interactive exhibits, even toddlers can be engaged by some of the country's better museums. It's an excellent opportunity for kids to think critically while having fun during the holidays.
Not every indoor activity needs to cost much. Many of Australia’s best museums, galleries, and science centres offer free entry or low-cost workshops during the school holidays. Families can explore new exhibits, join art sessions, or attend live demos for less than the price of a movie ticket — a great way to enjoy quality time without breaking the budget.
Famous Examples
Planetariums and Space Centres
With fascinating shows about planets, galaxies, and astronauts, planetariums across Australia, from the Melbourne Planetarium to the Sydney Observatory, deliver information in a way that all ages can enjoy. Combining science with wonder is great for kids who love the stars and space. Since they're entirely indoors, these are great options for rainy days.
Famous Examples
Aquariums and Marine Life Centres
Aquariums are often a peaceful space where kids can watch colourful fish gliding through the water or penguins waddling about. With most aquariums now offering interactive, family-friendly experiences, like the AQWA in Perth, they're an excellent option for rainy days or during the school holidays across Australia.
Famous Examples
Indoor Adventure and Climbing Centres
Indoor climbing adventures and adventure parks are great when the weather turns bad and you need a way for the kids to burn off all their excess energy. These places, like Urban Xtreme in Brisbane, offer a safe place for kids to climb walls, balance on beams, and race across obstacle courses.
When the forecast turns gloomy, Australia’s indoor attractions shine. From aquariums and play centres to planetariums and creative studios, these venues are purpose-built to make rainy days fun. They’re climate-controlled, family-friendly, and designed to keep everyone entertained for hours; proof that bad weather doesn’t have to mean staying home.
Famous Examples
Wildlife and Animal Encounters Indoors
Though many zoos are outdoors, you'll find that many have indoor and covered exhibits, like reptile houses, where kids can see snakes, lizards, koalas, and crocodiles up close. Feeding sessions and talks are also available, allowing you to spend even longer in the covered sections. Certain zoos will be even quieter on rainy days.
Famous Examples
Children’s Theatres and Live Performance Spaces
Live theatre is a great way for kids to laugh and sing along. Australia has plenty of family-friendly venues, such as the Windmill Theatre Company, which puts on shows in Adelaide with music, puppetry, and humour. These are particularly good for kids with short attention spans, as they can be both educational and entertaining at the same time.
Famous Examples
Indoor Play and Edutainment Centres
Indoor play centres are another great option for energetic kids. Slides, ball pits, and climbing frames, kids can run around until they're exhausted. Nowadays, modern centres try to mix traditional play with educational elements like building zones and simple science games.
Indoor activities aren't just a backup plan for bad weather; they're essential for keeping kids active, curious, and creative year-round. Structured indoor play helps children develop problem-solving skills and fine motor control while staying safe from Australia's unpredictable weather. Whether they're painting, climbing, or exploring a museum, these experiences help balance fun and learning for the whole family.
Famous Examples
Craft Studios and Maker Workshops
Craft studios are places where kids can paint, sculpt, or create crafts. A great way to step away from screens, and it's a creative solution that keeps the mess away from your home. There are often classes and options for different ages and levels. Look for them at community art centres and professional art studios.
Famous Examples
Cinemas, Arcades and Retro Gaming
A classic escape from bad weather, cinemas and arcades are tough to beat. Lively, accessible, and exciting, they're a guaranteed hit for all ages. These are indoor venues that are easy to plan for and offer quick or full-day outings.
Famous Examples
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