6 Things To Do During The Winter Holidays In Canberra

Searching for the best school holiday activities in winter can be a bit of a task! Rain or snow might keep the kids indoors – but that doesn’t mean they have to stay stuck to a screen. 

Winter is a time to get creative and embrace the chilly weather! 

Thankfully, Canberra is a snowfield of fun and activities for your kids to enjoy these winter holidays!

This dynamic city features some of the best museums, parklands, and indoor play centres on offer. If your kids (and yourself!) can’t get motivated to get out of the house this winter, here are some ideas that will help!

1. Indoor Snow Sport

Get your kids to the snow without the drive! Thanks to Vertikal Indoor Snow Sports, your kids can take ski lessons, learn to snowboard, and enjoy winter how it’s meant to be enjoyed!

After a day at Vertikal, the kids will have learnt all the key skills and techniques needed to ski safely and confidently. Vertikal makes the slopes more accessible to families in Canberra – recreating the entire alpine experience indoors for you to enjoy all year long. 

Bonus? There’s also an indoor cafe featuring a real fireplace and winter-warming yummies including hot chocolate and woodfired pizza! A great way for you and the kids to unwind after a big day of carving it up. 

2. Our Indoor Playground

Our in-house playground will keep the kids entertained for hours!

Open daily, this playground can keep kids occupied free of charge! Catering to all ages and abilities, it’s a place where kids can come together to socialise, play, and explore. 

The playground is specially designed for children aged 1-5 years and features interactive play equipment, a slippery slide and climbing tools for all kids to enjoy. They can play on the equipment whilst the centre is open. Seating is provided for parents in front of the playground so the children can be closely supervised.

3. Canberra Glassworks

Here’s something to mosaic you smile! Canberra Glassworks gives the kids the unique opportunity to create their own glass mosaic tiles. Under the guidance of some of Australia’s most acclaimed glass artists, your child will be able to create their own mosaic masterpiece. 

From a mosaic Australian animal to glass fusing tiles and etching, Glassworks will keep the whole family entertained. The best part? You will come home with a stunning piece of work that can be treasured for years to come!

There are also School Holiday programs available, including glassblowing workshops for teens! While you’re there, take a look at the current exhibitions and marvel at the beautiful glass creations by local artists. 

4. Jet Flight Simulator

Do you have a future pilot on your hands? Make your child’s dream a reality by having them simulate being a pilot for the day!

Jet Flight Simulator Canberra gives your child or teen the chance to fly a real Boeing 737! Using virtual reality, you can escape into a virtual world of flight where you’re the captain! There’s no flight experience necessary and it’s completely safe and open to all children over the age of 6. This is a fantastic, unique experience that will have the kids talking about it for months to come! 

What’s more, you can go on a family holiday without leaving Canberra! Jet Flight Simulator also offers a Family Holiday Package that includes 2 or 3 hours of flying to any destination of your choice via virtual reality. No passport or covid check necessary!

5. Questacon

Everyone loves Questacon. School holidays wouldn’t be the same without it! 

Located at The National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra, Questacon is a fully-immersive, interactive science exhibition filled with over 200 exhibits – making science fun for all!

New and exciting activities are popping up all the time, meaning no two visits to Questacon are ever the same. 

For science lovers aged 10-15, the hands-on holiday workshop is a must! In this 3 hour session, kids can spend the morning designing and building as well as navigating engineering challenges. This is the perfect opportunity to unleash their inner inventor, designer, or creator!

6. The Kids Pantry

Have your kids cook up a storm (and learn the value of healthy eating!) with The Kids Pantry cooking school & kitchen garden!

This is an amazing way to teach children how to cook and handle food. From food prep to food safety and growing their own food, The Kids Pantry is the only cooking school designed just for kids! It also highlights the benefits of sustainability through their ‘Dirt to Dish’ and ‘Eat Well, Live Well’ philosophy. 

Kids can be tough with food at the best of times! But The Kids Pantry will reignite your child’s appreciation for food and have them wanting to help out in the kitchen all the time while taking interest in different ingredients and cooking techniques!

Stuck at home?

Some families may be stuck at home over the winter holidays due to the weather or COVID-restrictions. Don’t fret! There are plenty of at-home activities for the winter school holidays that your kids can enjoy! Here are some ideas for you to keep the kids entertained:

• Hold a cupcake decorating competition
• Go on a bug/insect hunt
• Make a pillow fort or comfy cubby house
• Indoor bowling (set up a bowling alley in the hallway!)
• Have a crafternoon (bring out the art sets and go for it!)
• Bust out the boardgames
• Set up an at-home indoor obstacle course

Making the most of winter

Many families mistakenly believe that just because it’s winter, school holidays can’t be fun! But there’s so many awesome activities in Canberra that can be best enjoyed during winter! Don’t forget that Marketplace Gungahlin offers loads of shopping, food, and fun for the whole family! Have a look at What’s On for the latest at Marketplace