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The White Hat Guide to 20 Things to do with children during the School Holidays in Melbourne

1. Go to the State Library - The State Library is like a large free theme park for thinking kids. There you will find numbers of major displays, the Stawell Gallery which has art associated with the growth of Melbourne, the Keith Murdoch Gallery with changing displays around various topics, a significant chess section where you can sit down for a game, activity areas for children and, of course, books. During the school holiday period, the State Library usually has additional activities planned for children.
2. Watch a flying display and get up close to the pilot before or after the display. The RAAF Museum at Point Cook has flying displays several times a week and they are free. The kids can also get to examine all manner of flying machines from the very earliest to the present day.
3. Go to a children's farm. White Hat can recommend the Collingwood Children's Farm as a great place to take kids to experience a farm in a bushland setting in the inner suburbs. For those in the north there is a children's farm at Bundoora Park and for those in the east there is a farm attached to Westerfolds Park.
4. The Melbourne Museum is free for children and a small entry fee applies for adults. There is a children's activity centre in the shape of a giant Rubix Cube as well as the standard exhibits. The dinosaurs are always a favourite. During the school holidays the Melbourne Museum usually has additional activities planned for children.
5. During the Christmas holidays, got to a performance of Wind in the Willows at the Botanic Gardens. (More information below)
6. Ice skating is usually popular with kids of all ages. The new Icehouse in the Docklands has plenty of facilities, and if you are on a tight budget, White Hat can recommend the half price Tuesday nights. There are several other ice skating facilities in the suburbs of Melbourne and you can find them at The White Hat Guide to Ice Skating in Melbourne.
7. Rainy days can prove a problem, but you might find some useful suggestions at The White Hat Guide to 50 Things to do on a Rainy Day in Melbourne.
8. Most kids love steam trains whether it is for their mechanics or for their sense of romance and mystery. Many steam train and miniature train locations have additional running times during school holidays. You can find numbers of suggestions at The White Hat Guide to Steam Trains in Melbourne and Country Victoria.
9. ACMI (the Australian Centre for the Moving Image) at Federation Square has lots of exhibitions and interactive displays based around video, film and video games. Some are free and other have charges attached.  Take your child along and they may come back having taken the first steps towards becoming a famous film director and supporting you royally in your retirement. Then again they might just say "boring" and you'll have to tear up that letter of resignation.
10. Go cycling. Melbourne has some great bicycle paths and there is the opportunity to hire a bike if you don't already have one. There are plenty of stop-off places on the way for an ice cream for the kids and coffee or a glass of wine for you, as well as playgrounds and other attractions. You can find some suggestions at The White Hat Guide to Cycling in Melbourne.
11. Luna Park in St Kilda is an old favourite. It may not have the same glitz of a Gold Coast theme park, but White Hat's theory is the more the kids scream on the scary rides, the less they have to scream at home.
12. Stay home with some books, puzzles and games. Not all kids get their jollies out of making loud noises in public places. A favourite series of Melbourne books which have fascinated kids for over a century is Coles Funny Picture Book. See if you can get hold of a copy. If the kids don't like it you're sure to find someone who gets a giggle out of it.
13. Scienceworks is full of things to climb on, pull apart, put together, figure out how they work and stimulate an enquiring mind. It is free for children and a small entry fee applies for adults.
14. Go to the zoo. The Melbourne Zoo in Royal Park and Victoria's Open Range Zoo near Werribee both have plenty to occupy kids for half a day or more. Both zoos usually have extra children's activities during school holidays.
15. The atrium at Crown Casino usually has a regular free animation and light show suitable for children occurring about every half hour throughout the day. If you are in the vicinity of the casino, the large gas flares on the riverfront go through a ten minute cycle on the hour starting at 6pm.
16. The City Library in Flinders Lane usually has holiday activities for children including story time for the littlies.
17. The Melbourne Aquarium has plenty to divert kids of all ages and usually has additional school holiday activities.
18. Check your local council. Councils often sponsor school holiday activities for children. You can usually look them up on the internet or get more information at your local library which is also likely to have special school holiday activities.
19. Take a day trip in the country. Some child-friendly destinations include Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, Puffing Billy in the Dandenongs and Healesville Sanctuary.
20. Go swimming. Many large suburban swimming centres are indoor with heated pools and go out of their way to provide a fun environment for kids with quirky water features, slides and so on. Several that come to mind are the State Swimming Centre in Albert Park, the large leisure centre adjacent to Highpoint Shopping Centre and Melton Waves.

1. Take your child's bestest-bestest friend with you. That way, it doesn't matter where you go or what you do, they will make their own entertainment in their own special world.

Medieval Festival Two days of Medieval entertainment including fireworks, jousting, archery, sword fighting, dancing, parades and market stalls and Medieval crafts. October 2012 ? Kryal Castle Ballarat - Enquiries: (03) 5334 7388

Family Bike Rides The Melton Cycling Club operates family bike rides along bike baths in Melton and Caroline Springs and twice a month. Caroline Springs;- Every 1st Sunday of each month leaving the Civic Centre. Melton:- Every 3rd Sunday of each month leaving Hannah Watts Park 8am to 9am - Enquiries: 0438836336

Story Time at Rippon Lea Stories & songs for the young ones  under the shady Story Tree. Spend some time exploring the gardens at the conclusion of Story Time. Mum, dad, grandma or grandpa might even like to bring a picnic lunch. Story Time is available for the cost of garden entry for adults ($7) and children over 3 years old ($3). (Note on pricing) from 11am, Thursdays Rippon Lea Estate, 192 Hotham Rd, Elsternwick -

Moonlight Cinema in the Royal Botanic Gardens Watch a movie in the night air in the magical surroundings of Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens. Tickets from $18/$16/$14 plus booking fee. Full details and bookings at Moonlight Cinema. Entry is from Gate D on Birdwood Avenue (near the intersection of Domain Road), South Yarra. Gates open at 7pm in December, January and February, 6.30pm in March and screenings start at sundown. Food and drink available together with a full bar on site. Thursday 15th December 2011 - The Descendants (M) Friday 16th December 2011 - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (M) Saturday 17th December 2011 - Alvin And The Chipmunks 3: Chipwrecked (G) Sunday 18th December 2011 - Crazy, Stupid, Love. (M) Tuesday 20th December 2011 - In Time (M) Wednesday 21st December 2011 - Drive (MA15+) Thursday 22nd December 2011 - Arthur Christmas (G) Friday 23rd December 2011 - We Bought A Zoo (PG) Saturday 24th December 2011 - Monty Python's Life of Brian (M) Monday 26th December 2011 - Midnight In Paris (PG) Tuesday 27th December 2011 - The Rocky Horror Picture Show (M) Wednesday 28th December 2011 - The Smurfs (G) Thursday 29th December 2011 - Contagion (M) Friday 30th December 2011 - The Princess Bride (PG) Tuesday 3rd January 2012 - Moneyball (M) Wednesday 4th January 2012 - Arrietty (CTC) Thursday 5th January 2012 - Immortals (MA15+) Friday 6th January 2012 - The Ides Of March (M) Saturday 7th January 2012 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (PG) Sunday 8th January 2012 - The Ages Of Love (MA15+) Tuesday 10th January 2012 - The Inbetweeners Movie (MA15+) Wednesday 11th January 2012 - The Breakfast Club (M) Thursday 12th January 2012 - Jack and Jill (PG) Friday 13th January 2012 - Puss In Boots (PG) Saturday 14th January 2012 - The Darkest Hour (CTC) Sunday 15th January 2012 - Red Dog (PG) - Doggie Night - Bring your dog along. (Rules Apply) Tuesday 17th January 2012 - Dirty Dancing (M) Wednesday 18th January 2012 - The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (M) Friday 20th January 2012 - New Year's Eve (M) Saturday 21st January 2012 - Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (M) Sunday 22nd January 2012 - J. Edgar (M) Wednesday 25th January 2012 - A Few Best Men (CTC) Thursday 26th January 2012 - The Sitter (CTC) Friday 27th January 2012 - Midnight In Paris (PG) Saturday 28th January 2012 - Dolphin Tale (PG) Sunday 29th January 2012 - Buck (PG) Tuesday 31st January 2012 - Grease Sing-A-Long (PG) Wednesday 1st February 2012 - Attack The Block (MA15+) Thursday 2nd February 2012 - Tower Heist (M) Friday 3rd February 2012 - Warhorse (M) Saturday 4th February 2012 - Happy Feet Two (PG) Sunday 5th February 2012 - The Iron Lady (M) Tuesday 7th February 2012 - Flying Swords Of The Dragon Gate (CTC) Wednesday 8th February 2012 - We Bought A Zoo (PG) Thursday 9th February 2012 - Carnage (CTC) Friday 10th February 2012 - Sherlock Holmes: A Game Of Shadows (CTC) Saturday 11th February 2012 - Don Giovanni (CTC) Tuesday 14th February 2012 - Breakfast at Tiffany's (PG) Wednesday 15th February 2012 = Melancholia (M) Thursday 16th February 2012 - The Descendants (M) Friday 17th February 2012 - The Skin I Live In (MA15+) Royal Botanic Gardens -

Shakespeare Under The Stars For over 10 years White Hat has thoroughly recommended Shakespeare Under The Stars in the Royal Botanic Gardens and this year is no exception This year the Australian Shakespeare Company are presenting Glenn Elston’s new adaptation A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Behind The Scenes. following Shakespeare's  Mechanicals as they 'workshop' which of Shakespeare's plays they should perform for the Duke at his wedding celebration. As a result this production contains well-known Shakespearian scenes from Macbeth, Hamlet, Antony and Cleopatra, King Lear, Othello and Romeo and Juliet, each given an additional comic treatment. The production aims to be entertaining for everyone. Full details, ticket prices and booking instructions at Australian Shakespeare Company. 8pm Tue-Sun(Dec,Jan); Tue-Sat (Feb,March) Royal Botanic Gardens - Enquiries & bookings: 1300 122 344

The Wind in the Willows White Hat recommends that anyone with kids packs a picnic, packs the kids... and joins Rat, Mole, Badger, Otter, Portly and, of course, Mr Toad, as they bring to life Kenneth Grahame's immortal story of life on the riverbank in what has become a deservedly well loved tradition in Melbourne. (No performance Australia Day). Full details and booking information at Wind in the Willows. 11am, Saturday 31st March 2012 Duneira, Officer Lane, Mt Macedon - single tickets, $25, family of four (1 ticket admits four people) $90, handling fee may apply Enquiries & bookings: 1300 122 344

Christmas Eve Carols and Pageant at Cruden Farm (This event is to be confirmed for 2012) Bring the family to enjoy Christmas Carols with singers and band. This popular community event includes a live re-enactment of the first Christmas with a baby, stable and donkey. Children are welcome to take part as angels or shepherds. Gate opens at 6.30pm – enter from Cranhaven Road, Langwarrin. BYO picnic, rug, insect repellent, warm clothes. NO candles or pets please. Entry by donation – net proceeds used to support the needy in the local area. 7.30 to 8.45 pm, 24th December 2012 (tbc) Cruden Farm (enter via Cranhaven Rd), Langwarrin -