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School holidays can be the most expensive weeks of the year if it feels like every day needs an outing with an entry fee. The good news is some of the best-loved school holiday activities cost little or nothing, and a bit of planning goes a long way toward keeping both the budget and the boredom in check.
Free and low-cost outings
- Local parks and playgrounds. Most councils maintain a good spread of playgrounds, many with shade, water play or nature trails attached. Rotating between a few different parks across the holidays keeps things feeling fresh without any cost at all.
- Public libraries. Councils run free school holiday programs at libraries almost everywhere in Australia, from craft sessions to reading challenges and free movie screenings. It’s worth checking your local library’s holiday calendar in the first few days of the break, as sessions often book out.
- Free museum and gallery days. Many state museums, galleries and cultural institutions offer free general admission, with school holiday programs layered on top for a modest fee or none at all.
- Beach, creek or lake days. For families near the coast or a river, a swim and a picnic is one of the lowest-cost full days out there is.
At-home activities that don’t feel like “nothing to do”
Set up a simple activity roster
A basic weekly plan, even a loose one on the fridge, helps avoid the constant “I’m bored” cycle. Mixing structured activities (a craft afternoon, a baking day) with free play and downtime tends to work better than trying to fill every hour.
Backyard and indoor projects
A cubby built from cardboard boxes, a scavenger hunt around the house or garden, baking something simple together, or a family movie afternoon with homemade snacks all cost very little and fill real time. For younger kids, a water play station in the backyard on a hot day is an easy win.
Swap playdates with other families
Hosting another family’s kids for an afternoon, and having the favour returned later in the week, gives everyone a free day of entertainment and a break for the adults involved.
Adjusting activities by age
Younger children are often happy with short, simple activities like park visits, water play or craft, while primary-aged kids tend to get more from library programs, scavenger hunts and short bike rides. Teenagers usually prefer free-form time with friends, a cheap cinema session, or a day at the beach, so it’s worth asking older kids what they’d actually enjoy rather than planning every day for them.
Making the most of council and community programs
Local councils across Australia typically publish a school holiday activity guide before each break, covering everything from free workshops to discounted vacation care sessions. These are worth checking early, since popular free sessions can fill quickly. Many councils also run free or low-cost holiday sport clinics, environmental programs and school holiday markets.
Budgeting for the holidays without overspending
If you do want to include a few paid activities, setting a rough holiday budget at the start (even a simple one, like “two paid outings and the rest free”) helps avoid the creeping cost of saying yes to every suggestion. Off-peak discounts, family passes and weekday pricing, often cheaper than weekends, can also stretch the budget further at paid attractions.
A simple checklist for a low-cost school holiday break
- Check the local council’s school holiday program guide in the first few days of the break
- Book any free library or museum sessions early, as they fill up fast
- Plan two or three paid outings maximum, and fill the rest with free options
- Mix structured activities with genuine downtime so the whole break doesn’t feel rushed
- Line up a playdate swap with another family for at least one day
None of this requires a big spend to feel like a proper break. A mix of parks, library programs, backyard projects and the occasional paid outing usually keeps kids entertained without the holidays blowing the household budget.
Families in the Redbank Plains area can also see our local guide to parks and family activities in Redbank Plains for nearby options.
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