Top things to do these school holidays

Victorian autumn school holidays: Friday, 3 April to Sunday, 19 April 2026

Geelong and The Bellarine is made for school holiday memory-making. Local picnics, scooting along scenic trails, and letting the kids loose at local playgrounds while you kick back with a coffee are all part of the line-up.

There’s plenty here to fill a day, a weekend or a whole run of school holiday adventures.

What's On

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Where to eat these school holidays

Whether it's a menu that gives the kids plenty of options or somewhere they can burn off some energy between bites, there are plenty of child-friendly spots to eat in Geelong and The Bellarine. If the waterfront is your destination, grab a bite or two to-go from Pavilion Geelong, right on Eastern Beach Reserve with the ocean, iconic children's pool and a playground right at your fingertips. Or wander a little further and enjoy the extensive kids menus at Wharf Shed Geelong where the menu doubles as a colouring sheet.

For a relaxed afternoon, head to Austin’s Wines (open Thursday to Sunday). Parents can sip on local drops while kids run free on the lawns, making it an ideal vineyard hangout. If cider or craft beer is more your style, FarmDog Brewing and Flying Brick Cider House both have plenty of outdoor space, laid-back menus and family-friendly atmospheres perfect for spring weekends.

Indoors or out, there’s more to discover. The riverside play space at Barwon Edge Café is a favourite for families with an outdoor playground, and Little Creatures Brewery is still a go-to with its indoor playspace and buzzing vibe.

Playgrounds, open lawns, pub snacks and waterfront classics… Geelong and The Bellarine has no shortage of spots where fresh flavours meet plenty of room for kids to burn off energy these school holidays.

Family-friendly eats

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Top school holiday activities to keep the kids smiling

Longer days and sunny skies make it the perfect time for big days out and family fun.

Kick things off with a round at Bellarine Adventure Golf, where winding greens and quirky obstacles make it just as much fun for parents as it is for kids. Over in Anakie, Fairy Park is open for the school holidays, a true Geelong icon with castles, dragons and storybook characters waiting around every corner.

It's always a great day out on the Geelong waterfront, where there’s no shortage of family fun. Ride the giant Ferris Wheel, bounce on Aero Bounce trampolines (open during the holidays, weather permitting) or hop on the mini Thomas train. Kids can cycle the bollard trail, throw in a line from the pier or have a swim at Eastern Beach. At the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, school holiday activities add a creative twist. This year’s line-up includes everything from how to be an astronaut and movie sessions to creating your own mini-golf. It’s the perfect spot for curious minds. See all the activities here.

If your crew is into sport, stop by the Geelong Sports Museum—for the bike-enthused there's currently an exhibition showcasing the vibrant culture of BMX. Or try your luck fishing with Geelong Fishing Charters or Corio Bay Fishing Cruise Charters, a chance to reel in dinner and enjoy time on the water.

Nature lovers will find plenty to smile about too. The You Yangs are bursting with trails to tackle together, and Serendip Sanctuary is ideal for spotting kangaroos, emus and birdlife in the fresh air.

For a slower pace, spend an afternoon in the coastal towns of The Bellarine, where fish and chips on the beach is a tradition worth keeping. And, if you’re after something a little different, both Ocean Grove Bowling Club or Geelong RSL offer lawn bowls with a relaxed, family-friendly vibe.

There’s no shortage of adventures to keep the kids grinning. Just pack the snacks, pick your spot, and go.

Family-friendly activities

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Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, Geelong

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Curious kids. Big day out.

If you’ve got kids with energy to burn, this is a good place to bring them. One minute they’re inside a fairytale castle. The next they’re riding a steam train along Swan Bay.

Fun for all ages

From puzzling hedge mazes and mystical theme parks to children’s themed vintage train rides, there’s plenty to see and do for little ones of all ages in Geelong and The Bellarine. Rain, hail or shine.

5 unique train experiences

From cheesy delights to soulful blues, coastal culinary delights, and miniature marvels, we’ve got the most unique train adventures like no other. Spoiler alert – they’re not all on wheels…

Entertain the kids in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale

There’s plenty to entertain kids and the family in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale. Rain, hail or shine, something on this list will keep your crew out of trouble for an arvo.

Family-friendly holiday stays

There’s something about a coastal holiday that sticks with you. Packing the car, setting up the tent, and falling asleep to the sound of waves, it’s the stuff childhood memories are made of. These holidays, give your kids the same kind of getaway you remember.

Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks, Barwon Heads Caravan Park, BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park, Breamlea Caravan Park and BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon all put you right near the coast. Beach cricket, fish and chips on the sand, and nights that drift from sunset into starlight.

Not everyone’s into camping, and that’s okay. Stay at Kilmoyla Farm Stay for fresh air and wide-open paddocks, or book into The Oxley Estate B&B, where families love the pool, giant chess board and friendly farm animals. For a little extra space, The Lonsdale Palms is a homely base close to Queenscliff beach. In Geelong, both Novotel and Holiday Inn offer family-friendly comfort right in the heart of the city.

Or keep it simple with a holiday house through Kerley’s Coastal Holidays or Regional Escapes—with heaps more to choose from too.

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Getting here

There are plenty of ways to get to Geelong & The Bellarine. Being so close to Melbourne means it’s just a short 1-hour train ride from Southern Cross Station to Geelong via V/Line and with public transport free for the month of April, it's the perfect low-cost day out.

You can turn your travels into an experience with kids sailing FREE from Melbourne to Portarlington on Port Phillip Ferries.

In Sorrento? Hop aboard Searoad Ferries to spend the day in Queenscliff, they have free on-board kids activities including dolphin discovery workshops, a visit from the Easter Bunny and more.

And if you're flying to Geelong from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney, Adelaide or even Bali, you're only 25 minutes from Geelong CBD!

Find out more

School holidays

What's On

Australia's biggest inflatable adventure - Geelong

Bellarine Railway: Easter Weekend - Queenscliff

Cottage by the Sea Easter Festival 2026

Day Out With Thomas

Dinos at the Zoo - Werribee Open Range Zoo

Easter Family Fun at Queens Park Golf

Easter Festival

Easter Weekend at Tempo Geelong

Good Friday Appeal Trips

Hansel and Gretel

Kids Baking Classes at the Paddock - Easter Holidays

Maritime Themed Art Exhibition

Melbourne Renegades Junior Academy Camp – Geelong

Melbourne Renegades School Holiday Camp – Geelong

Polly the legend of Polly Farmer

Puppy Yoga - Pavilion Geelong

Round 6: Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs

School Holiday Chocolate Pizza Making Workshop

Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder: Geelong’s BMX Story

Swan Bay Express Train Rides

The Farmy Farm

Wild Night Pyjama Party

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Where to eat these school holidays

Family-friendly eats

Little Creatures Brewery Geelong

Norlane Hotel

Nicol's Paddock

Paddock Bakery Geelong

Sphinx Entertainment Centre

Basils Farm

FarmDog Brewing

The Batesford Hotel

Barwon Edge

My Bellarine Kitchen

Waurn Ponds Hotel

The Dunes Ocean Grove

Pavilion Geelong

Flying Brick Cider House

Austin's Wines

Top school holiday activities to keep the kids smiling

Family-friendly activities

MoPA: Museum of Play and Art - Geelong Children’s Museum

Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

Carousel Geelong

Bellarine Adventure Golf

Brisbane Ranges National Park

Go Ride A Wave - Ocean Grove

Yummy Mummy Lolly Shop

Fort Queenscliff Tours

Aero Bounce Bungy Trampolines - Geelong Waterfront

National Crime & Justice Museum - Geelong Gaol

Westfield Geelong

BOUNCEinc Geelong

Fairy Park

Barrabool Maze Estate

Geelong Library & Heritage Centre

Ocean Grove Bowling Club

Geelong Fishing Charters

Kevin Hoffman Walk

Searoad Ferries Queenscliff

Corio Bay Fishing & Cruise Charters

The Rock Adventure Centre

Ragged Edge 4x4

You Yangs Regional Park

National Wool Museum, Geelong

Sea All Dolphin Swims

Bellarine Arts Centre

Bellarine Rail Trail

Next Level Skirmish – Outdoor Laser Tag, Geelong

Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway

Laserquest Geelong

Port Phillip Ferries Portarlington

Geelong Arts Centre

Geelong Sports Museum

Curlewis Golf Club & The Range at Curlewis The Bellarine

Werribee Open Range Zoo

Bellarine Railway