I say this every term, but seriously, how quickly have the holidays come around? And because we live somewhere where winter seems to drag on a little longer, we are showcasing a range of indoor and outdoor activities for your favourite little people, tweens and teenagers. These range from being FREE or having modest costings to larger investments, depending on the activity and who is running it – so there is something to suit every budget.
Macedon Ranges Libraries: Our libraries in Gisborne, Woodend, Romsey and Kyneton always have a range of FREE fun activities for children over the school holidays and this one is no exception. There is: an interactive performance by Pete the Plumber, DIY Lava Lamp making, creating Spring Flowers out of bottle tops and buttons for the library display, marble run, 3D Pens come and try, make your own Message Bead Keyrings, Corn Toss and other games, Wet and Wild show by Curious Kids about water, how to become a Water Hero and water stories and a community pop up near Kyneton at the Coliban Water Gazebo with various activities. Gisborne Library is also showing two movies, Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse on 20 September from 10 am to 12.20 pm, and Super Mario Brothers Movie on 27 September from 11 am to 12.30 pm. These are ticketed events so be sure to book via this link to avoid disappointment.
Woodend Neighbourhood House: Book in for some school holiday fun at the Woodend Neighbourhood House these holidays. There’s active fun and games with Lovaball, a drama workshop, and a gaming session. See the image below for more information and click her to book.
Gisborne Village Shopping Centre: These September holidays enjoy footy fever fun by showing off your handball skills or enjoying craft activities every day from 10.30 am until 12.30 pm. All activities are free. More details to come.
Sunbury Square Shopping Centre: Enjoy FREE crafts from 11 am to 2 pm daily outside of Toyworld. On Monday 25th September there is Wooden Birdhouse Making and Decorating, on Tuesday 26th there is Face Painting and Balloon Sculpting, on Wednesday 27th there is Pot Decorating and Seedling Planting, and on Friday 22nd Bug Hotel and Bug Guest Making. These events are fully supervised and there is no need to book.
Gisborne Fitness and Aquatic Centre and Kyneton Toyota Sports and Aquatic Centre: Book your child in for intensive swimming lessons over the holidays to keep their water skills up to date or visit one of the centres for inflatable fun.
School’s Out! Holiday program: School’s Out has done it again with a range of amazing excursions and incursions these holidays so you can get your work or errands done while the kids have some fun! There are many amazingly fun days to participate in including: Master Chef Day, Bring your Bike or Scooter, Colour Day, Mario Kart Day, Picnic Day, Footy Disco Day, Combat Day and much more. See the flier below for the booking process for new enrolments and existing families or click here to see their website.
Applewood Equine Assisted Learning Workshops: These workshops are a great learning experience for all involved and are particularly helpful if your child is struggling with finding calm and regulation, awareness, boundaries, negative thinking, anxieties, or just simply want to spend time doing fun, confidence building activities with horses. Check the website for more details or email mel@applewoodequine.com.au.
Creative Writing Class: Kat is a local writer and qualified teacher offering two 2 hour workshops for children 8 years and up. The first workshop is on Wednesday 20 September from 9.30 to 11.30 am and will be tailored to writers and artists – they will receive a range of templates and can choose their own adventure and do as much writing, drawing, crafting or combination of these as they like. The second workshop is on Friday 22 September and is for those children who would like to work on a short story or extended piece of work and is writing based. Spaces are limited to 10 and filling fast so be sure to email Kat at kbutttigieg@macedonrangeswriters.com to secure your child’s place.
Design Pirates Holiday Camp: Artist and designer, Anna, is running a three day design and creativity camp for kids to build creative confidence, practice problem solving and learn positive collaboration whilst having fun. The workshops are running out of Macedon & Mount Macedon Community House for children aged 7 to 12 years old on the 25 – 27 September from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm and it is a $360 investment for the 3 days. Morning and afternoon tea are included. For more information and to book, contact Anna via Anna@protoproto.studio.
School Dance Holiday Program: Do you have a little performer in your family? The council has a School Dance Holiday Program incorporating Hip Hop, Acting and Acro for children aged 6 – 12 years and running on Monday 18th, Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th September from 9 am to 12 noon each day at the Buffalo Stadium. Book by emailing studio2tinytackers@mrsc.vic.gov.au.
Trentham Neighbourhood Centre: There are some fun school holiday activities happening in September at the Trentham Neighbourhood Centre including workshops on music, pizza making, the Great Space Escape and crocheting. Check out the image below for dates and booking details.
Kyneton Neighbourhood House: Another amazing neighbourhood house with the goods these holidays. Choose from Makeup for beginners, Bush Theatre and Art with Wedgetail Studio.
Dromkeen Cartooning Workshops: Dromkeen in Riddell is offering Cartooning Sports Action art workshops on Monday 25th September from 9.30 to 10.30 am and 10.45 to 11.45 am. See the flier below for more details and book by emailing Bernadette on 5428 6799 or at bernadette@dromkeen.com.au.
Futsal Program: Macedon Ranges Futsal is running school holiday programs for Junior Primary students on Tuesday 26 September, Intermediate Primary on Wednesday 27 September and Senior Primary on Thursday 28 September from 10 am to 3 pm at Gisborne Secondary College. The cost is $55. For more information contact mrfacademycoordinator@gmail.com.
Josh’s Rainbow Eggs Farm Tour: This free event is on Sunday 17th September from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm. You can meet Josh and his family, cuddle the hens, collect some eggs, help pack some eggs with their 40,000 egg and hour machine on the Farm Tour. Book via the link here.
Sunbury Bowls Club: On September 21st and 28th the Sunbury Bowls Club is running a free event for kids from 11.30 am to 12.30 am which is perfect for beginners. For more information and to book, contact reception@clubsunbury.com.au or on 9744 1211.
Woodend Golf Club: Do you have a budding Adam Scott or Karrie Webb? There are Junior Golf Programs available these holidays via JK Performance Coaching. Register online here.
Fallen Freight, Gisborne: This local eatery is providing Arts and Crafts, Face Painting, a Colouring Competition, Play Dough Fun and Messy Play between 10 am and 12 noon on Mondays and Tuesdays in the school holidays. See the finer details on the flier below.
Myths and Legends Story time and Art and Craft: On Thursday 21 and 28 September, Myths and Legends is hosting a one hour story time on Thursday 21 September from 10.30 am and 3 hour art and craft session from 1 pm (the latter for school age kids). See image below for booking details.
All About Fibre and Yarn Festival: Do you have a little crafter or knitter? See the best Australian wool, natural fibres and Australian Indie Dyers and crafters at the Romsey Mechanics Hall on Sunday 17 September.
National Insect Expo: Do you have a child who is intrigued by insects? Check out the Insect Expo at Woodend Buffalo Sports Stadium from 22 to 24 September. See the image below on how to book.
Active Kidz: Take the kids for a casual play session at Active Kidz at Sunbury Indoor Sports Centre these holidays on Tuesday 19, Thursday 21, Monday 25 and Friday 29 September between 10 am and 12 noon for $10 a child. The kids will have a great time on the jumping castle and sports equipment. No bookings are required.
McDougall Playhouse Cafe: This playcentre in Sunbury is open 7 days a week these holidays from 9 am to 2.30 pm on weekdays, 9 am to 4.30 pm on weekends, closed on the public holiday.
Maze House: Have some amazing fun at Maze House, which is located in between Creswick and Daylesford and open every day of the school holidays. Find the clues in the maze to win the prize. There are also various old carnival games to try out. Be sure to book a ticket to secure your place.
Daylesford Spa Railway: Daylesford’s popular school holiday train rides are back on both Wednesdays during the school holidays. Trains depart Daylesford at 10:30 am, 11:45 am, 1:15 pm and 2:30 pm. Bookings are now available online.
Nature Treasure Hunt – Macedon Regional Park: Parks Victoria runs nature treasure hunts throughout the school holidays across Victoria. The Macedon session has sold out already but if your child is interested in this type of thing, I would encourage you to follow Parks Victoria so you can be one of the first to know about these for upcoming holidays.
Best day or weekend trips from the Ranges: If you are after a full day out of fun, check out our blog on our favourite destinations outside of the Macedon Ranges. Head to Castlemaine, Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne and the Bellarine. We have a list of activities for you to choose from when you get there.
Fresh Air Fun Destinations: We have reviewed many amazing local walks and landmarks. From mountains and rocks to waterfalls and watering holes, we have you covered for your local Fresh Air Fun.
Amazing Playgrounds: We are spoilt with first class playgrounds in the Ranges and surrounds. Kyneton, Taradale, Gisborne, Woodend, Riddell, Romsey and many more, offer lush grassy areas, flying foxes, ropes courses, climbing frames and multi-directional swings.
Wet weather ideas: Just in case Spring throws some more wild weather at us, we have blogs on wet weather excursion ideas, wet weather activities to do at home, and some resources we created during lockdowns such as School Holiday Project Ideas, Treasure Hunt Clues, Time Capsule Questions, Boardgames to try, and fun food ideas for kids (from guest blogger and foodie, Anita).
Did we miss your school holiday event or program? Get in touch. We are always looking for new advertisers to support our social enterprise. If you would like to work with us, fill out a form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We love helping local businesses and organisations thrive.