School holidays are a wonderful break for kids, but they can sometimes feel a little overwhelming for parents. Keeping children entertained for two weeks (or even longer during the summer holidays) can quickly become expensive. Between holiday programs, outings, entertainment and the inevitable snack stops, costs can add up surprisingly fast.
With the cost of living rising across Australia, many families are looking for ways to enjoy the school holidays without spending hundreds of dollars on activities. The good news is that children don’t need expensive attractions to have a great time. In fact, some of the best holiday memories come from simple experiences such as exploring the outdoors, visiting local parks or spending time together at home.
With a little planning and a mix of free and low-cost ideas, it’s entirely possible to keep kids active, engaged and happy throughout the holidays while still keeping your budget under control.
If you’re specifically looking for ideas that don’t cost anything, take a look at our guide to free school holiday activities for kids.
Plan Ahead Before the Holidays Begin
One of the easiest ways to overspend during school holidays is by making last-minute decisions. When children suddenly announce they are bored, it’s tempting to book a costly activity or head somewhere that requires admission fees just to fill the day.
A little planning before the holidays begin can make a big difference. Taking some time to think about possible activities and spreading them across the break can help avoid the pressure of coming up with something new every day. Many families find it helpful to create a loose holiday plan, noting down a few ideas for each week.
This doesn’t mean every day needs to be scheduled. In fact, leaving space for spontaneous adventures can be part of the fun. However, having a few ideas ready can make those “what are we doing today?” questions much easier to answer.
Getting children involved in planning activities can also help them feel excited about the holidays and give them a sense of ownership over how the time is spent.
Take Advantage of The Great Outdoors
One of the best ways to keep children entertained during school holidays without spending money is simply to get outside. Our community is full of beautiful natural spaces that families can enjoy for free.
A visit to the local playground can easily fill an entire morning or afternoon, especially if you pack snacks or lunch and treat it like a mini outing. Kids often enjoy exploring new playgrounds just as much as visiting their usual favourite.
Beach days are another classic school holiday activity that never seems to lose their appeal. Swimming, building sandcastles, exploring rock pools or simply walking along the shoreline can keep kids busy for hours.
Bushwalks and nature trails can also be surprisingly engaging for children when you turn them into a mini adventure. Many kids enjoy spotting wildlife, collecting interesting leaves or searching for birds and insects along the way.
Even something as simple as riding bikes, scooters or walking around the neighbourhood can feel like an adventure when it becomes part of a holiday routine.
Discover Free Activities in Your Community
Many families are surprised by how many free activities are available locally during school holidays. Libraries, museums, galleries and community centres often run special programs designed for children.
Libraries in particular can be a goldmine for holiday entertainment. Many host storytelling sessions, craft workshops, LEGO challenges, coding activities and holiday reading programs. Even when there isn’t a special event scheduled, libraries provide a calm and welcoming space where children can browse books, puzzles and games.
Museums and galleries sometimes offer free entry or low-cost family activities during holiday periods. Community festivals, markets and local events can also provide entertainment without a high price tag.
Check our What’s On Guide to find out events happening during the school holidays.
Turn Home Days Into Special Activity Days
Not every day of the school holidays needs to involve leaving the house. In fact, some of the most memorable holiday moments happen at home.
Rather than seeing home days as boring, it can help to treat them as special activity days. A simple change of routine can make everyday activities feel more exciting for children.
Cooking or baking together can turn an ordinary morning into a fun family project. Children often enjoy measuring ingredients, decorating treats and of course taste-testing the results.
Backyard camping can also be a magical experience for kids. Setting up a tent, cooking simple food outdoors and telling stories before bedtime can turn an ordinary evening into a mini adventure.
For younger kids, building cubby houses using blankets, cushions and chairs is another activity that never seems to go out of style. Once the cubby is built, it can become a reading nook, a pretend shop or even a secret hideout.
Movie afternoons with blankets, popcorn and favourite films can create a cosy break during the holidays, especially on rainy days.
Board games are another wonderful way for families to spend time together. A board game afternoon can easily stretch into hours of laughter, competition and connection.
Explore Your Local Area Like a Tourist
School holidays can be a great opportunity to rediscover your local area. Many families are so busy during the school term that they rarely explore nearby places that might be interesting to visit.
Looking at your town through fresh eyes can reveal all sorts of small adventures. Scenic lookouts, walking tracks, nature reserves and historic sites often make surprisingly enjoyable day trips.
Even a simple picnic in a new park or a visit to a different beach can feel like a holiday experience for children.
Some families enjoy turning this into a challenge by exploring a different place each week. Children often enjoy the excitement of discovering somewhere new, even if it’s only a short drive from home.
Public transport adventures can also add an extra element of fun. Catching a train, ferry or bus somewhere new can make the journey just as exciting as the destination.
Choose One or Two Special Activities
While free activities are wonderful, it’s also nice to include one or two special outings during the holidays. These can become the highlights that children remember most.
Rather than filling the entire break with expensive activities, many families find it helpful to choose one or two experiences that feel a little extra special. This might include visiting a wildlife park, seeing a theatre show, going to the cinema or trying an activity the kids have been wanting to do.
Spacing these experiences throughout the holidays gives children something to look forward to and helps keep overall spending manageable.
Cheap School Holiday Activities Under $10
Not every school holiday activity needs to be completely free. Sometimes a small outing or treat can make the holidays feel extra special for kids, and there are plenty of activities that cost less than $10 per child.
Public swimming pools are often one of the most affordable ways to spend a few hours during the holidays. Many pools offer discounted entry for children, and kids can easily spend half a day swimming, playing in splash areas or relaxing on the grass with a picnic. Newcastle Pools are offering $2 entry during a trial period.
Mini golf is another activity that children love and that can often be done quite cheaply, particularly if venues offer weekday deals or family passes during school holidays. A round of mini golf can turn into a fun family challenge and usually takes long enough to feel like a real outing.
Bowling centres frequently run school holiday specials where children can bowl a game at a reduced price. These deals are often available during quieter daytime sessions and can be a great option for older kids or on rainy days.
Many cinemas also run discount sessions during school holidays, with some offering family deals, kids’ screenings or cheaper morning tickets. Watching a movie together can be a nice treat without the expense of larger attractions.
Ice skating rinks sometimes offer reduced entry for children during school holidays as well, particularly during daytime sessions. Even if kids are beginners, skating can be a fun experience and something a little different from their usual activities.
Local markets can also be surprisingly entertaining for children. Many markets include live music, street performers, playgrounds or open spaces where kids can run around while parents browse stalls. Even if you only spend a few dollars on a snack or treat, it can feel like a fun outing for the whole family.
Including one or two low-cost activities like these during the school holidays can add variety without putting too much pressure on the family budget.
Create Simple Family Traditions
Children often remember traditions more vividly than expensive outings. Simple routines that happen every school holiday can become treasured family rituals.
Some families create a weekly movie night where everyone chooses a film and enjoys snacks together. Others might plan a regular bike ride, a weekly baking afternoon or a family board game tournament.
Even something as simple as Friday night takeaway eaten outside or in a picnic style on the living room floor can become a fun holiday tradition.
These moments often become the memories that children talk about years later.
Balance Busy Days With Quiet Days
Trying to fill every day of the school holidays with activities can quickly become exhausting for both parents and children. It can also lead to unnecessary spending.
A balanced approach often works best. Mixing active days with quieter days at home allows everyone to recharge while still enjoying the break.
A busy day exploring outdoors might be followed by a relaxed day reading books, doing craft projects or watching movies. This rhythm helps the holidays feel enjoyable rather than overwhelming.
Set a Simple Holiday Budget
If you are hoping to keep costs under control, it can help to decide on a rough holiday budget before the break begins.
Thinking about how much you want to spend overall can help guide decisions about activities. When children are involved in choosing outings, discussing budgets can also be a gentle way to teach them about money and priorities.
Some families even give children a small amount of spending money for the holidays so they can decide how they would like to use it.
A Simple Week of Budget-Friendly Activities
To see how this might work in practice, imagine a week that combines free activities with a small treat.
The week might begin with a picnic at the playground and an afternoon spent exploring the climbing equipment and playing games in the park. Another day could be spent visiting the library, browsing books and joining a craft activity.
Midweek might include a beach outing with swimming, sandcastle building and a walk along the shoreline. Later in the week, a relaxed day at home could involve baking together and playing board games. The week might end with a small treat such as ice cream, mini golf or a family movie night.
A simple mix like this keeps the holidays interesting without relying on expensive attractions every day.
Share Childcare With Friends or Other School Families
Vacation care programs can be fantastic, but they can also be expensive, especially if you need to book multiple days across the school holidays. One way some families manage this is by teaming up with friends or other school parents and creating a simple childcare roster.
The idea is straightforward. Instead of each family paying for vacation care every day, a small group of parents take turns hosting the kids for a day. For example, if four families are involved, each parent might host one day during the holidays. That means each family gets several days of childcare covered while only hosting once.
Hosting doesn’t need to involve elaborate activities or expensive outings. Kids are often perfectly happy playing together in the backyard, riding bikes, building cubbies, playing board games or watching a movie. Having friends around can make even simple activities feel exciting. Beyond saving money, this approach has another advantage: kids get to spend more time socialising with friends during the holidays. For many children, playing with friends is often more exciting than attending structured programs.
Making the Most of the School Holidays
School holidays don’t have to be packed with costly activities to be enjoyable. In fact, many of the experiences children remember most are the simple ones: exploring nature, building cubbies, riding bikes or baking together in the kitchen.
By planning ahead, making the most of free local resources and mixing outdoor adventures with relaxing home days, families can create a holiday filled with fun, connection and memorable moments.
Sometimes the simplest days turn out to be the ones that matter most.
FAQs
Many free activities can keep kids busy during school holidays. Visiting playgrounds, beaches, bushwalks and libraries are great options. Families can also plan home activity days with board games, baking, crafts or backyard camping.
Free activities include visiting playgrounds, exploring nature trails, going to the beach, riding bikes, visiting libraries, building cubby houses and having family movie nights at home.
Planning activities ahead of time can help avoid expensive last-minute outings. Mixing free outdoor activities with occasional special treats can keep costs manageable.