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

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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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

Day Out With Thomas

Polly the legend of Polly Farmer

Soaring Eagles, Roaring Thunder: Geelong’s BMX Story

Swan Bay Express Train Rides

Where to eat these school holidays

Family-friendly eats

Pavilion Geelong

The Batesford Hotel

Norlane Hotel

Paddock Bakery Geelong

Flying Brick Cider House

Nicol's Paddock

My Bellarine Kitchen

FarmDog Brewing

Sphinx Entertainment Centre

Basils Farm

Barwon Edge

Waurn Ponds Hotel

The Dunes Ocean Grove

Little Creatures Brewery Geelong

Austin's Wines

Top school holiday activities to keep the kids smiling

Family-friendly activities

Brisbane Ranges National Park

Geelong Fishing Charters

Sea All Dolphin Swims

Westfield Geelong

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

Port Phillip Ferries Portarlington

Bellarine Arts Centre

Geelong Library & Heritage Centre

Fort Queenscliff Tours

Carousel Geelong

Portarlington Bayside Miniature Railway

Queenscliffe Maritime Museum

National Crime & Justice Museum - Geelong Gaol

Fairy Park

BOUNCEinc Geelong

Yummy Mummy Lolly Shop

Ocean Grove Bowling Club

Next Level Skirmish – Outdoor Laser Tag, Geelong

Aero Bounce Bungy Trampolines - Geelong Waterfront

Kevin Hoffman Walk

Bellarine Rail Trail

Laserquest Geelong

Barrabool Maze Estate

The Rock Adventure Centre

Curlewis Golf Club & The Range at Curlewis The Bellarine

Searoad Ferries Queenscliff

Geelong Arts Centre

Geelong Sports Museum

Go Ride A Wave - Ocean Grove

Corio Bay Fishing & Cruise Charters

Werribee Open Range Zoo

You Yangs Regional Park

National Wool Museum, Geelong

Ragged Edge 4x4

Bellarine Adventure Golf

Bellarine Railway

Curious kids. Big day out.

Fun for all ages

5 unique train experiences

Entertain the kids in Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale

Family-friendly holiday stays

Explore accommodation

Rydges Geelong

The Lonsdale Palms

Bellarine Bayside Holiday Parks

Breamlea Caravan Park

Kerleys Coastal Holidays

Holiday Inn & Suites Geelong

BIG4 Ingenia Holidays Queenscliff Beacon

Geelong Surf Coast Highway Holiday Park

Kilmoyla Farm Stay

The Oxley Estate

BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park

Regional Escapes

Novotel Geelong