Winter School Holiday Guide

As the school holidays fast approach and the weather cools down, you may find yourself struggling to think of things to do with the kids over the break. Despite the dropping temperatures there is never a shortage of fun, entertaining things to do with little ones in Winter on the Peninsula. See below a list of some of our favourite places to take the kids this school holidays.

The Briars

The Briars is never short on amazing activities for young and old. These school holidays, you can embark on a Winter Solstice Celebration with your family or enrol your little one in the Mini Ecologist program. They are also conducting night walks with a focus on conservation for kids aged 6 - 10 years old. For more information on all that is on at The Briars, click here: https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Environment/The-Briars

Your local Library

The local libraries are full of fun and free activities for the kids during school holidays. The activities on offer these holidays range from; creating crazy sock puppets, dinosaur history lessons, digital creature creation, drawing with illustrator Nicky Johnston, learning how to draw comics and NAIDOC week storytimes. Each event can be attended at Somerville Library, Hastings Library, Rosebud Library and Mornington Library. Th cost is free, however bookings are essential, more information here:https://ourlibrary.mornpen.vic.gov.au/Whats-On/Events

Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie

A chocolate wonderland; the Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie is a great place to take the kids these school holidays. They can choose from some scrumptious chocolate creations or fill up on mouth watering ice cream. If a drop-in doesn’t satisfy their little appetites, the Gourmet Tasting Sessions or Junior Chocolatier classes surely will. As a Junior Chocolatier, kids aged 6-12 learn to make their own chocolate goodies in a fun and engaging 45 minute 'parent free’ workshop. The class includes a personalised badge, chef’s hat, apron, graduation certificate plus three creations to take home. For more information or to book a spot before they fill up, click here: https://www.mpchoc.com.au/classes/

Mini Makers

Encourage their creative sides these school holidays with a day of arts and crafts.

Paint Your World in Mornington hosts a range of art classes over the holidays, including painting for kids, painting for tweens and anime drawing for teens. https://www.paintyourworld.com.au/school-holiday-workshops

The Red Hill Candle Company also caters to kids aged 5-14 years with 60 minute classes that demonstrate the art of candle making and participants will create two personalised soy wax candles. https://www.redhillcandleco.com.au/pages/school-holiday-candle-making-workshops

Moonlit Sanctuary

The Winter Keeper Club is a school holiday program at Moonlit Sanctuary and is the stuff of many kids' dreams. Essentially kids get to be a zookeeper for the day and a typical day includes interactions with cockatoos, reptiles and nocturnal animals that are usually off-limits to the public. Junior Keepers help with feeding animals and animal enrichment activities. For more information and to book, click here: https://moonlitsanctuary.com.au/school-holiday-program/

Big Day Out

If you are looking for an all day activity that will really tire out the little ones these holidays, then a visit to Boneo Discovery Park should be put on the to do list. Boneo Discovery Park has something for everyone. Set on 27 acres of wetlands and featuring an array of indigenous flora and fauna, including many species of frogs, reptiles and water birds, Boneo Park also has an 18 hole mini golf course, hedge maze, mega games, sand sculpting exhibitions, zipline, bungie, rock wall and peddle boats. For more information, click here: https://www.boneodiscoverypark.com.au/

Enchanted Adventure in Arthurs Seat is another great place to spend a day with the family. The home of tree surfing on the Peninsula, there is also an array of activities for the young ones, including tube slides, mazes and giant puzzles. For more information, click here: https://www.enchantedadventure.com.au/

And if a day out with furry (or scaly) friends sounds more enticing, The Big Goose is the place to be. In the wildlife park you will find kangaroos and wallabies (always looking for food!) along with dingos, wombats, emus, deer and even some camels! There is also an adventure playground, pirate ship, mini golf, mazes, tractor rides and a splash park. For more information: https://thebiggoose.com.au/