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Free and not.... Things for the Holidays in the City

50 Free things that you can do...

Spend a day in the park. If a trip to the theme park is off the cards then a local park is just as good. Choose one with a colourful and extensive playground area and your afternoon is set. Pack a picnic lunch too for when they get tired and hungry.
Take a coastal walk. On a nice day taking a coastal walk is a relaxing way to get out.
Build an arts and crafts table. If you don't mind spending a bit, you can buy arts and crafts materials like pipe wire, cardboard, glue, colouring in pencils and buttons and ask them to go nuts. However, to keep this activity free, instead find scrap material and packaging around the house they can use to craft with.
Go camping. If you can’t get out-and-about for a family camping adventure you can keep it local and make this an in-the-house or backyard affair. Pitch a tent or grab a table and lay a long cloth over it. They can camp during the day or stay inside at night - with a dinner delivery service, naturally.
Netflix it. Watch the flicks from the comfort of your home. Although Netflix is not free, if you're already paying for it then it's no added expense. If your plan allows for multiple devices you don’t even need to watch the shows with them -- leave them with cartoons while you catch up with House of Cards. Alternatively, you can watch flicks on free-to-air if you don't have an account and want to keept hsi one free.
Visit an art gallery. Many galleries offer free entry to their general exhibition spaces.
Make an indoors obstacle course. Grab all the pillows and move the couches to build an obstacle course they can run around in.
Throw the footy around. Get out of the house and throw the footy around, play basketball or hit a tennis ball.
Visit family. The school holidays are perfect for taking the kids to visit relos. You can even drop them off for a day to play with them… (hint, hint, nudge, nudge).
Learn origami. Download a free design online to get them crafting with paper.
Catch public transport. The thrill of hopping on a train, bus or ferry to anywhere is one of the simple joys of being a child. Melbourne offers a free city circle tram ride.
Go star gazing. Set up some blankets in your backyard and lay yourself down to stare at the stars.
Bake and decorate. Bake cupcakes (or biscuits) and get the kids to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. Their reward? A delicious treat.
Visit your local botanical gardens. Bursts of colour and wildlife will distract kids no end.
Stroll through a forest.
Play dress ups. They can do this with their clothes or your clothes. (If they wreck your clothes, well, that's an excuse to go shopping!)
Get them gardening. Visit the shops with them and let them choose the flowers or plants of seeds they’d like to grow and have them plant them in the garden. They can watch them grow and look after them throughout the holiday period. To keep this one free you can have them help weed or replant botanicals you already have in your garden.
Draw a picture. All you need is some card and colouring pencils and they’ll take care of the rest.
Write a story. Got a chatterbox on your hand with a huge imagination. Ask them to write it down.
Go fishing. Grab the tackle and fishing rods and go on a fishing trip.
Perform simple science experiments. Google "simple science experiments". There are heaps and use household materials you already own.
Complete a puzzle/activity book. Activity books are a fun way to keep them occupied throughout the day. You can even download activity pages online.
Read a book. Harry Potter anyone? It really is best to start them off early.
Walk the city. To little ones, anywhere outside of home is an adventure. Take them on a trip through the city to explore its iconic sights.
Make fingerprint animals. All you need is an ink-pad, paper and a pen. Press your fingerprint onto the sheet and use it as a head or body to draw animals.
Hold a family board games night. From Monopoly and UNO to Game of Life and Ticket To Ride, the possibilities are endless.
Visit the beach. Spend a sunny day at the beach.
Go on a treasure hunt. Create a map for your kids to find a bounty that you’ve stashed somewhere.
Create a paint station. Grab some butcher’s paper and a couple of pots of colourful paint and the rest is up to their imagination.
Build a scrapbook or collage. All they need is some old magazines, a pair of scissors and some glue to create a collage or scrapbook.
Make crazy fruit juices. This is a top way to get them eating fruit and having fun in the kitchen. Give them a station of fruits to choose from and mix them up in the juicer with some ice. PS: Shops like Woolworths offer free fruit for kids with your shop.
Visit a museum or public library. Free museums and libraries for kids in Australia include the the National Gallery of Victoria., Melbourne Library and the Art Centre has a free area. melbourne museum is free for children.
Visit a farm. Heaps of local farms offer fruit picking or allow you to visit the animals. For something closer to home, try a petting zoo.
Go bush walking. Bush walks for every strength are available in national parks
Be a photographer for a day. Give them the camera for a day and see what shots they come up with. You can choose to print or frame their best ones after.
Make masks. Paper plates and spare card are perfect for these. They can then roleplay their characters with the masks after.
Go to the markets. A visit to the market is a fun day out and who knows, they could even come home with a trinket afterwards.
Play hide and seek. Two words: endless fun. You might also like to play tag, dodgeball or pretend the floor is lava.
Perform a play. Have the kids write and perform a play for you.
Do face painting. You can do this or you can let them have fun. Just don’t forget the baby wipes!
Make macaroni necklaces. A fundamental component of any childhood! All you need is a piece of string and a packet of dried macaroni and the rest is up to their imagination.
Make fairy dust dough. For a unique scientific play session they can create fairy dust dough by mixing hair conditioner and corn-flour and adding food colouring and glitter.
Go for a bike ride. Cycle the streets wherever you are. Melbourne boasts a bike share scheme that gives you 30 minutes free hire
Go to the pools. A low-cost day out in general.
Host a sleepover. Invite your kids’ friends over for a night of movies, games and all-round fun.
Host a fashion show. This could be with their own clothes or with yours. Your choice!
Have a dance party. Pull up the volume on the radio and cover the lights with cellophane for a musical evening.
Make eggheads. Give eggshells a new lease of life by filling them with alfalfa and asking the kids to draw faces on them.
DIY Aquariums. This super fun activity is perfect after a day at the beach. Ask them to collect shells and pebbles which they can them place into jars of coloured blue water to marvel at and keep.

Not so free things to do in Melbourne City...

It's all about Winter and fun with Ice, snow and food!

Winter Night Market

One of the city’s most beloved experiences, the Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market is back every Wednesday night from 6 June to 29 August. Head over after work for a fragrant choice of over 30 global street food stalls and a selection of warm bevvies or cold beers. Warm up with open fires, quirky entertainers and Melbourne’s finest live music acts, and browse over 50 specialty and locally-made retail stalls.

Docklands’ Firelight Festival

The opening weekend of the Docklands’ Firelight Festival (Friday 29 June to Sunday 1 July) is returning bigger and better in 2018, the explosive opening weekend features pyrotechnics, flame jets, fire drums, food and fun. A giant wooden sculpture will be cast adrift in Victoria Harbour and set ablaze to create an amazing visual for festival goers. Fabulous food and family fun will help ease the chill of the winter solstice. Fire breathers and fire twirlers will provide roving entertainment, alongside live music from a punked-out New Orleans brass band, jazz performers, Gypsy beats and a one-man band! Read our Ultimate guide to the Firelight Festival to find out more.

New York! New York!

This interactive, multimedia installation for kids coincides with MoMA at NGV: 130 Years of Modern and Contemporary Art. Celebrating the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s hometown, New York! New York! is a winter school holiday saviour for your sanity and savings. Daily until 7 October.

Firelight Festival Storytelling: We all know stories are best told by the fire. Join special guest Jo Stanley as she reads from her literary series, Play like a Girl. Enjoy the stories alongside a Docklands dining hamper, a warming hot chocolate or Italian delights from Saluministi. 5 July, all ages.

Gold Rush 20 Objects, 20 Stories: Travel through Victoria’s Gold Rush era through individual stories told by 20 unique objects of the time. From tiny manuscript diaries, to a replica of the largest nugget found in the world at the time, piece together the history of this turbulent era. Open daily except Saturdays at the Old Treasury Building, all ages.

Origami school holiday craft workshops: This workshop teaches the basics of origami and each little artist will walk away having learnt how to create their very own 3D penguins and butterflies. 5 – 11 July at the Royal Botanic Gardens, ages 7 to 13.

Party Animals: Find your ‘party animal’ persona in a fun and interactive drama workshop. Play games, create animal costumes and show your moves at the Party Animal Disco. 4 – 5 July at ArtPlay, for ages 5 to 8, and 9 to 12.

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure JR: Alex the Lion, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the hippo come to life in the stage production of Madagascar. Follow their journey as they escape from their home in New York Zoo and all the troubles that ensue. 11 – 14 July at the University of Melbourne, for ages four and up.

Circus Oz Precarious: Roll up, roll up, the circus is coming to town! Acrobatics, aerials, foot juggling, hula hooping and more. Situated in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Precariousexplores what can happen when the balance of the natural world is put to the test. 29 June – 15 July, suitable for all ages.

The Big Bubble show: Guinness World Record holder Samsam Bubbleman brings bundles of fun in this mesmerising mash up of bubble magic, comedy and theatre. It’s brilliant bubble magic that will blow their minds. Thursday 5 July at the Athenaeum Theatre, suitable for all ages.

Cooks’ Cottage: Rug up and take the kids outdoor to explore Cooks’ Cottage in the beautiful Fitzroy Gardens. Enjoy good old-fashioned fun with hopscotch, quoits, skittles and more. Open daily, suitable for all ages.

National Sports Museum: For the future sports star in the family, the National Sports Museum is a must visit. These school holidays enjoy visits from AFL stars, play virtual tennis, test your goal kicking skills and more. Open daily, suitable for all ages

Fire Services Museum: Warm up, but not too much, at the Fire Services Museum. Located in the beautiful Eastern Hill Fire Station, the museum showcases equipment from yesteryear including a range of vintage fire vehicles. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, suitable for all ages.

Vikings: Beyond the legend: Discover the history behind Viking culture, debunk the stereotypes and learn about their domestic life, rituals and beliefs. Explore remains of ships, rare pendants and striking swords, along with over 400 artefacts from this fascinating culture. Until 26 August at Melbourne Museum, suitable for all ages.

ACMI: From claymation workshops to movie making sessions, there is something for all ages at ACMI during the school holidays. Standouts include ACMI Family Sundays sessions which include everything from creating an art-making robot, filmmaking and animation to coding your own video games. Don’t forget to visit the Wonderlandexhibition. Open daily, check individual events on the ACMI website for age suitability.

For the budding foodie in your family, Ultimate Foodie Tours at Queen Victoria Marketare free for kids all July. Taste the fresh produce, discover unique ingredients and pick up handy shopping and cooking tips. Tours run Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

AFL Sunday Funday is back! With plenty of pre and post-game action, and free general admission for the kids, it’s the perfect Sunday out at the footy. Every Sunday, for children under 15.

Pirate Sundays at Polly Woodside: Pull out the band