School holiday survival guide: budget-friendly ideas for summer in Australia

Packed with budget-friendly tips and fun activity ideas, this guide will help Aussie parents tackle the chaos of summer school holidays, keeping the whole family happy!

Looking for school holiday activities that won’t drain your bank account? You’re in the right place. This guide brings you the best free and cheap activities across Australia, plus tips to plan your school holiday budget so you can enjoy the fun without the financial stress. If you’d love more structure, you can start a personal budget with us to help keep holiday costs under control.

Need help remembering when school goes back? Check out the term dates across Australia for a full list of school holidays.

What are the best free school holiday activities in Australia?

The best free school holiday activities include beach days, local parks, library programs, walking trails, splash parks, backyard camping, bike rides, and DIY craft sessions. These activities keep kids busy for hours, require little to no spending, and are suitable for families across every state.

Free outdoor activities for kids

Beach day adventures

A beach trip is the ultimate low-cost family day out. Pack snacks, sunscreen, buckets and spades, and settle in for swimming, sandcastle building, wave jumping or simply relaxing under a hat. Whether you’re in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne or the Gold Coast, a beach day never fails.

Park play, family bike rides and nature trails

Local parks, bike paths and walking tracks offer free entertainment that burns energy (yours and theirs). Create a scavenger hunt (find a feather, a funny rock, a leaf shaped like a star) or turn it into a full day out with a picnic. Council parks in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide often have water play too.

Free indoor activities for hot days

Library school holiday programs

Public libraries run free school holiday activities such as storytime, craft sessions, robotics, STEAM workshops and writing labs. They’re air-conditioned, calm, and perfect for keeping kids engaged away from screens. Check your local council page for programs in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and regional areas.

Backyard camping and DIY movie nights

Pitch a tent in the backyard, add fairy lights, tell silly stories, toast marshmallows over the BBQ or set up an outdoor cinema using a simple projector. It feels like a mini camping trip with zero cost and zero packing stress.

What are the cheapest school holiday activities for families?

Cheap school holiday activities include discounted movie sessions, low-cost zoos or museums, splash parks, DIY craft days, local attractions, train trips, op-shop treasure hunts, and affordable workshops at community centres. Most activities cost under $20–$30 per child, depending on your city.

Budget-friendly day outings

Cinemas and school holiday movie deals

Most cinemas offer family specials, off-peak pricing or kids’ movie deals during school holidays. Bring your own snacks to avoid the pricey candy bar. Look out for promotions in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Water parks and splash parks (free or low-cost)

Many councils offer free splash zones in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. If your budget allows, affordable water parks make a great full-day outing.

Local attractions: zoos, museums and gardens

Zoos and museums often run holiday discounts or free child entry during peak seasons. Botanical gardens, heritage sites and interactive exhibits are ideal for low-cost outings with a dash of learning.

Low-cost creative and at-home activities

DIY craft days

Grab inexpensive supplies from Kmart and set up a craft station. Think tie-dye shirts, slime kits, bracelet making, painting canvases or building mini cities from cardboard. Creative chaos encouraged.

Cooking, baking and gardening projects

Kids love being hands-on. Bake muffins, plant veggies, cook a themed dinner or try a DIY pizza bar at home.

Summer school holiday activities near me

If you’re searching for local school holiday activities, here are ideas that work in every state:

• Local parks, gardens and playgrounds
• Free library school holiday programs
• Botanical gardens
• Bike rides and beach days
• Backyard camping and movie nights
• Museum free days
• Community sports events
• Kmart craft sessions.

How do I create a school holiday budget?

Creating a school holiday budget starts with setting a total spend, then dividing it across outings, activities, food, travel and a small buffer for spontaneous fun. A simple tool like MyBudget’s free Personal Budget Template makes it easy to plan ahead and avoid overspending.

My real school holiday budget example

As a single mum, our school holiday budget is $250 and the kids help allocate it. It teaches them money skills while keeping expectations realistic. Here’s how ours looks this year:

• $100 for a big adventure (tree-climb or water slides)
• $50 for a movie outing
• $50 for DIY activities
• $50 for spontaneous fun (ice cream, op-shops, scooter hire)
  I also encourage my kids to declutter and sell unused items on Marketplace or eBay. Last year they earned enough for mini-golf and a day at The Beach House. Budgeting and life skills? Yes please.

Teach your kids financial literacy with MyBudget’s free Money & Me kids workbook.

Do kids actually need expensive activities?

No. You don’t need to spend a fortune to create lasting memories. The best holiday moments often come from the simplest things, like a backyard cricket match, dancing around the lounge to your kids’ favourite bops, or my daughter telling me her highlight was when I jumped in the ocean with her and we body-surfed together and gave her piggy backs under the water. That one got me in the feels! It’s not about the dollars; it’s about those quality moments with your kiddos that they’ll remember forever.

How MyBudget can help you plan stress-free school holidays

If you haven’t set aside a school holiday budget yet, now is the perfect time to start. At MyBudget, we’ve helped over 130,000 Australians take control of their money, stay on track with spending and build long-term savings. We can help you plan for school holiday fun, birthdays, Christmas, travel and everyday expenses so you never feel caught off-guard.

Start planning your happiest, calmest school holidays yet.
Enquire online or call 1300 300 922. There’s no obligation and it could be the easiest win of your year.

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