When it comes to finding the best school holiday activities in Launceston this October we have you covered with these awesome Launceston family attractions and events . It can be tough for parents to continually come up with school holiday ideas with everything else we have to do as parents, sometimes even getting out of the house can be a total struggle!
So, leave the spring school holiday activities in and around Launceston to us as we have listed the best things to do in Launceston with kids so you just choose what works best for you and your family.
Kids school holiday fun activities over spring don’t have to be a chore with these Launceston family attractions. Or if you wan to stay at home (check out our stay at home ideas included below), we have ideas for the school holidays for you too. So, no matter the weather, you will find some top attractions in Launceston to entertain children of all ages with these kids school holiday activities and things to do in Launceston.
If you are looking for kid friendly things to do in Launceston you will love this article! We have compiled the complete guide to the best school holiday activities in Launceston over the October school holidays to help make your life so much easier!
State schools finish on Friday 29 September and return to class on Monday 16 October 2023
Spring school holidays in Tasmania are Saturday 30 September 2023 to Sunday 15 October 2023
Fun things to do for the Launceston school holidays
- Fun things to do for the Launceston school holidays
- 10 fun FREE school holiday activities in Launceston
- 10 fun cheap school holiday activities
- 10 BIG days out in Launceston over the spring school holidays
- 5 things to do at home these school holidays
- Theatres with kids shows on in Launceston these school holidays
- Launceston kids holiday ideas
- Even more TAS school holiday ideas:
Whether you are looking for indoor activities in Launceston and outdoor activities in Launceston, we have broken our list of Launceston school holiday activities into sections to help you:
As with everything at the moment, please check with the venue directly (either by their website or social media pages) to ensure they are open during the times you wish to attend. You should also check their current policy around advanced bookings, entry requirements and timings.
10 fun FREE school holiday activities in Launceston
As busy and often cash strapped parents we all know how awesome free things to do as a family can be when you have to fill in time over the spring school holidays. We have some great ideas for Launceston and surrounds these holidays.We have covered the top family attractions in Launceston plus things to do near Launceston with kids.
Launceston’s Cataract Gorge
Take your pick of the walk into First Basin from Kings Bridge, a stroll on the zig-zag track, the roaming wildlife, the Alexandra Suspension Bridge, the pool, rapids at times, rock climbing and the world’s longest single-span chairlift to get you from one side to the other.
Find out more about the Cataract Gorge here.
City Park
Visit the monkeys at Launceston’s City park. This well established park features children’s play area, a Macaque monkey enclosure and John Hart Conservatory. The park is rich with history and there are historical, architectural, horticultural and memorial features on site. We love City park and this makes it one of our top things to do in Launceston.
Find out more about the monkeys at City park here.
The Old Launceston Seaport
Take a stroll around the Old Launceston Seaport. It is a unique development around the Launceston Seaport which comprises residential, commercial and recreational riverfront facilities almost in the centre of the City.
Go on a bushwalk
Just outside Launceston there are some great areas to take the kids for an outdoor adventure. Liffey Falls is about 40 minutes drive from Launceston and a 20-minute walk will see you at a stunning waterfall.
Lilydale Falls is 20 minutes north-east of Launceston and there is also a children’s park nearby.
Hollybank is another great place to escape and you can take advantage of the fire and barbecues for a nice family lunch.
Tamar Island Wetlands
The Tamar Island Wetlands is a unique urban wetlands reserve just 10 minutes’ drive from the heart of Launceston. A visitor centre offers you the opportunity to learn about the value of the wetlands environment and the wildlife that live there.
Learn more about the Tamar Island Wetlands here
Riverbend Park
A new all-abilities park,Riverbend Park is divided into four zones: The River Play area, Gorge Play area, Wild Core area, and Urban Plaza.
Each zone contains a range of play equipment and experiences, including swings, diggers, sand pits, a wheelchair carousel, a water play area, musical instruments, outdoor table tennis, see-saws and a full size sports court.
Find out more about the park here.
Grindelwald
Just a quick 15 minute drive out of Launceston is Grindelwald Swiss Village.
The small Swiss town is built around an artificial lake, and the houses are inspired by the Swiss architecture style, which creates a dreamy ambience all throughout the entire village.
Visitors can shop at the shopping arcade, and check out the local gift store. Kids will love the chocolate cafe. Other activities include paddle boat hire and canoeing on the lake as well as mini golf.
Check out what more you can do at Grindelwald here.
Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm
Take a trip to Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm. You won’t be disappointed! The farm was established in 1984 when the Dornauf family planted twelve acres of raspberry canes on a north facing hill on their property. The café is now a dining hotspot for locals and tourists alike.
Find out all about Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm here.
Mole Creek Caves
The Mole Creek Caves are located in the Mole Creek Karst National Park, in the central north of Tasmania about 40 minutes’ drive west of Deloraine. There are two caves open to the public with tours operating every day of the year excluding Christmas day.
Discover more about Mole Creek Caves here.
Ben Lomond
If you are reading this in winter, that is the season for Ben Lomond’s time to shine.
Boasting one of Tasmania’s two ski fields, snow sports enthusiasts can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing and tobogganing. Those who prefer to take it easy can sip on a hot chocolate, while immersed in the ‘ski village’ atmosphere of this authentic Tasmanian winter wonderland.
Find out all about Ben Lomond here.
10 fun cheap school holiday activities
The school holidays don’t have to cost families an arm and a leg. There are lots of affordable things to do if you know where to look and set yourself some time to check out what’s on in your area these holidays.Take a look at these Launceston kids activities and add them to your list of places to visit in Launceston that wont break to bank.
Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery
Get creative these school holidays at QVMAG with their supervised school holiday program. Something for all ages.
Find out more about the QVMAG school holiday program here.
Penny Royal Adventures
Go on an adventure. If you are looking for fun things to do in Launceston, it’s hard to go past Penny Royal Adventures.
Penny Royal Adventures has been reinvented and is kind of like two theme parks in one. There are great adventures to be had including ziplining and rock climbing. All perfect things to do with kids in Launceston.
Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre
Take a quick dip. The kids will have so much fun in the interactive children’s play area and exciting pool inflatables at Launceston Leisure & Aquatic Centre.
National Automobile Museum
Perfect for the car enthusiast. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Launceston for older kids and teenagers, or if you have kids who love cars, engines, and motorbikes, then you definitely need to swing by the National Automobile Museum of Tasmania.
Bookings to the National Automobile Museum here
Launceston Tramway Museum
Take a step back in time. The Tramway Museum is a community-based organisation that works to restore and revive the old trams that once roamed Launceston Tasmania.
The museum is tram-packed with adventure, complete with a 1940’s tram ride and conductors ready to stub your tickets.
Tamazia Maze
Visit a maze. The North’s most iconic maze is Tasmazia.
Tasmazia is a fun way to spend the day getting lost in the huge maze and also seeing the Village of Lower Crackpot. The maze is located in a town called Promised Land, in the heart of the Cradle Mountain and Lakes District.
Find out more about Tasmazia and Lower Crackpot here.
Rent a bike
Take a bike tour around Launceston. The perfect activity to enjoy with friends and family. Take your time exploring the city with a choice of half-day or full day bike hire!
Launceston Entertainment Complex
Burn off some energy with the kids at the Launceston Entertainment Complex.
Fun activities include Airtime 360, Laser force, Adventure planet which includes a climbing wall, slide, bouncy castle and ninja course.
Hollybank Wilderness Adventures
This one is not for the faint hearted! If you like a challenge and want to experience some action-packed adventures like, segway, zipline and high ropes then this one is perfect for you!
Book your Hollybank Wilderness Adventure here.
Seahorse World
Take a trip to Seahorse World. Seahorses aren’t the only animals on hand at Seahorse World, there also has many other interesting creatures in their Wonders of the Southern Ocean Aquarium.
Great for families with kids of all ages, this is a personalised, friendly and informative experience to get you up-close to one of of the aquatic world’s true living treasures.
Book your Seahorse world tour here.
10 BIG days out in Launceston over the spring school holidays
Want to leave a lasting impression on the kids these school holidays? Then these brag-worthy activities are sure to have the kids talking non-stop when they return to school after holidaying in Launceston. Here are our favourite things to see and do in Launceston.
Tasmania Zoo
Tasmania Zoo is a privately owned, local family-run zoo situated 18kms from Launceston.
Tasmania Zoo exhibits the largest collection of rare, exotic and native species in Tasmania, exhibits the second largest collection of primates in any private Australian Zoo and is the only zoo in Australasia to exhibit the Celebes Crested Macaque.
Trowunna Wildlife Park
This beautiful wildlife Sanctuary has 70 acres of natural habitat to wander around and enjoy with free ranging Kangaroos and waterfowl to hand feed along the way.
They also have daily interactive guided tours which provide a wonderful, intimate and educational experience for the whole family.
Tamar River Cruises
Take a river cruise like no other! Launceston is beautifully situated across the Tamar, North Esk and South Esk rivers. You can explore these Rivers aboard your cruise, departing and returning to Home Point in Launceston.
Hot air balloon ride
One of the best ways to see the city is from the sky over Launceston, a hot air balloon ride is a wonderful way to start the day.
Float over Launceston and admire the panoramic Great Western Tiers, which are part of the Central Highlands Plateau, rich farmland and the cool city below.
Book your balloon flight here.
Watch the fairy penguins at Low Head
If you are looking for something a bit cute and cuddly then you can’t go past this one. Take the shuttle bus from Launceston up to Low Head for a guided tour to see the Fairy Penguin colony. The Fairy Penguins are the smallest of the penguin family and are cute to watch.
Treetops Adventure Daytime Tours
Perfect for those who love both relaxing and the outdoors, this daytime adventure tour sees you explore the treetops of Hollybank via zipline. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you enjoy this exhilarating adventure. Lasting for up to approximately 3-hours, you’ll soar through the different levels of trees, enjoying views of the forest floor below you. For the best way to really appreciate the natural landscape of Hollybank Forest, this is it!
Find out how to book this adventure tour here
Cradle Mountain World Heritage Day tour
Cradle Mountain National Park is filled with an incredible amount of scenery that is just begging to be explored. Ancient rainforests and glacial lakes to rugged mountains and luscious greenery, Cradle Mountain truly has it all and with five hours available to explore, you’ll be able to see more than enough.
Book your Cradle Mountain adventure here.
Platypus House
Tasmanian Platypuses and Echidnas are unique and simply amazing. Both are must-see animals that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Platypus House offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to watch live Tasmanian Platypuses and Echidnas in daylight conditions and undercover! Wet and cold days are not a problem!
Find out when and where right here.
Bridestowe Lavender Estate Tour
The Bridestowe Lavender Estate is Australia’s largest lavender farm and one of Tasmania’s signature tourism destinations.
Explore the grounds and listen to the history of the estate, and experience a private lavender fragrance workshop.
Book your Lavender estate tour here
Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park day trip
Experience a huge, action-packed day out on Tasmania’s East Coast. Enjoy hiking and exploring in Freycinet National Park, visit Honeymoon Bay, Cape Tourville Lighthouse and many more highlights on this active tour day.
Book your Wineglass Bay and Freycinet National Park Day Trip here.
5 things to do at home these school holidays
When you seriously have no more adventures left in you or you just can’t leave the house for one more day, these stay at home activities will be sure to please the kids.
Go on a treasure hunt
Make a list of things you can easily find in your backyard and send the kids out to find them. Make it even more interesting by getting them to draw some things as well.
Plant some seasonal vegetables
Plant some seeds and have a pop up garden shop in your street when the seedlings grow.
Get outdoors and get dirty
The kids love nothing more than getting down and dirty. Create a “dirt pile” for mud pies and construction projects using sticks and other debris in the backyard.
Have a clean out
What better time than being stuck indoors to have a big clean out for charity – learn how here.
Get your dance on
Use YouTube videos with lyrics to do karaoke or a sing-along with the kids.
Theatres with kids shows on in Launceston these school holidays
These Launceston theatres listed below are all very family friendly and often have lots of fun kids shows and activities on during the school holidays. Check them out.
Theatre North
Theatre North at the Princess is an independent, non-profit organisation, established in 1995, and funded by the State Government and the City of Launceston.
They showcase a great array of live theatre for the young and old.
Discover what’s on at Theatre North here.
The Star Theatre
The Star is an independently owned cinema with a bar and cafe serving quality Tasmanian food and drinks. It also holds live events, conferences and events.
Click here to discover what’s on at The Star these school holidays.
Encore Theatre Company
Encore Theatre Company was founded in Tasmania in 2008 to create top quality community shows built with creativity, innovation and excellence.
The creation of this vibrant community arts company in Launceston has generated significant interest and provided a powerful means to motivate and inspire young people throughout the region.
Find out what is showing these school holidays here.
Country Club Tasmania
Country Club in Launceston often showcase some of the best LIVE shows you will see.
Find out what is coming to Country Club here.
Launceston kids holiday ideas
If you’re looking for more things to do in Tasmania, click here.
Soooo…. what do you think? Plenty of Launceston days out ideas here to keep you and the kids entertained for the whole school holidays? These Launceston holiday ideas are updated every term, so remember to bookmark this page.
Let us know if we missed your favourite or if you would like us to add your venue or event!
Even more TAS school holiday ideas:
If you are heading off on a Tasmanian road trip these school holidays check out our other articles:
If you are heading to the mainland, check out these capital city articles:
