The Victorian school holidays run 27 June to 12 July 2026. By day two, the cold has set in properly — dark by 5pm, nothing organised, and two kids who have already watched everything on the tablet. If you are a Glen Huntly parent staring at that two-week gap, here is what is actually on and what is worth the trip.
1. Free Council School-Holiday Craft and Storytime (Glen Eira Libraries)
Glen Eira Council runs free drop-in and booked school-holiday programs across its libraries every July. Sessions typically include craft workshops, storytime, LEGO builds, and science activities for kids aged 4–12. Sessions are short, free, and genuinely good at eating up a morning. The catch: they fill fast. Check Glen Eira Council’s events page and the Glen Eira library Eventbrite listings as soon as holidays are announced — popular sessions are booked out within days of opening. Free.
2. Warm Up on Glen Huntly Road (Local Cafes)
When the wind is coming off the bay and the kids are mutinous, a slow morning in a warm cafe is not a cop-out — it is a strategy. Glen Huntly Road has a run of cafes that suit this well. Remnscnt Cafe at 1212 Glen Huntly Road opens from 7:30am Monday to Saturday and runs a consistent kitchen that does not overcomplicate things. Workshop Glenhuntly at 1146 Glen Huntly Road and Whyte Cafe at 1122 Glen Huntly Road are both reasonable options for a hot chocolate and a toasted something while you plan the rest of the day. None of these are designed as play centres — they are cafes — so bring a book or a quiet activity for the under-5s. Cafe budget.
3. Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre — Heated Indoor Pool
GESAC (Glen Eira Sports and Aquatic Centre) in Caulfield East is Glen Huntly’s closest heated leisure centre — about a 10-minute drive or a short trip on the 67 tram. An indoor heated pool in July is exactly what it sounds like: warm water, tired kids, dry weather irrelevant. Family swim sessions run most school-holiday mornings. Check Glen Eira Council’s GESAC timetable for holiday session times and admission costs. Lessons and holiday programs also run through the two weeks; book those ahead. Council admission pricing.
4. Glen Eira Vacation Care (YMCA / Council Programs)
If you are working part or all of the holidays, Glen Eira’s YMCA-run vacation care operates across several sites with 8am–6pm cover. Activities rotate daily — art, sport, excursions — and the July program usually has a winter theme (movie days, cooking, craft). Booked-out programs are the norm, not the exception. Register through your child’s school or directly via Glen Eira Council before the holidays begin. Fee applies; some concession rates available.
5. NGV Free Permanent Galleries — City Day Trip
The NGV International on St Kilda Road is about 20 minutes from Glen Huntly by tram or car. The permanent collection is free, and the kids’ spaces and activity sheets make it genuinely manageable with under-10s. The Egyptian collection, the decorative arts, and the Australian art wing are the reliably engaging sections for primary-school kids. Winter holidays are busy at the NGV — go on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning to avoid the weekend crowds. Free (permanent galleries).
6. NGV Melbourne Winter Masterpieces — Cartier Exhibition (Ticketed)
If you have older kids or teenagers who are interested in design, fashion, or jewellery history, the Winter Masterpieces show this year is Cartier, running at NGV International from 12 June through 4 October 2026. It is ticketed and on the pricier end for families, but it is a marquee wet-weather day out that you can pair with a free gallery visit and lunch nearby. Book online in advance — school-holiday sessions sell out. Ticketed; check ngv.vic.gov.au for pricing.
7. Firelight Festival, Docklands (3–5 July — FREE)
This is the standout free event of the July school holidays. The Firelight Festival runs at Harbour Esplanade in Docklands on Friday 3, Saturday 4, and Sunday 5 July 2026, with light and water shows at 6:30pm and 8:30pm each night. There are food trucks, fire pits, and enough spectacle to hold the attention of kids from about 5 upward. The 6:30pm session is the better call for families with younger children — you are not pushing through to 9pm on a cold night. From Glen Huntly, it is around 25–30 minutes by car or about 40 minutes via PTV (train to Flinders Street, then a short walk or tram to Docklands). Arrive early for a food truck spot near the fire pits. Free entry.
8. Queen Victoria Winter Night Market (Wednesday Nights — FREE Entry)
The Queen Vic Winter Night Market runs every Wednesday from 5–10pm through until late August. Street food from around 50 vendors, fire pits, mulled wine for the adults, and the general atmosphere of a city that has made peace with winter. It is an easy school-holiday evening if you are looking for something that works across ages. Free to enter; budget for food. From Glen Huntly, it is about 20 minutes by tram (route 67 to Melbourne Central or Swanston Street). Free entry; food budget.
9. Ice Skating at O’Brien Icehouse, Docklands
The O’Brien Icehouse in Docklands has public skating sessions through the school holidays, an under-8s area with lower traffic, and skate aids for kids who have not done it before. It is reliably popular in July — book a session online before you go rather than turning up and finding a 45-minute wait. Wear warm, flexible layers; the rink is cold even in winter gear. From Glen Huntly, pair this with the Firelight Festival (3–5 July) or the Night Market on the same trip rather than making two separate Docklands runs. Session fees apply; skate hire extra.
10. Indoor Play Centre or Trampoline Park (Nearest Options)
Glen Huntly does not have an indoor play centre within the suburb itself, but there are options within a 15-minute drive in nearby Carnegie, Caulfield, and Moorabbin. A trampoline park will absorb 90 minutes of school-holiday energy in a way that a park in 12-degree weather will not. Search for your nearest option and book online — the July school holidays are peak season for these venues and walk-in availability is unreliable. Entry fee applies; socks required.
11. Lake Mountain Snow Day Trip
Lake Mountain near Marysville is the closest snowfield to Melbourne and is accessible as a day trip from Glen Huntly — allow around 2 to 2.5 hours each way, so it is a genuine full-day commitment, not a morning excursion. The snow-play area does not require ski gear; toboggan hire is available on-site (around $33 for ages 6 and up in recent seasons — check current pricing at lakemountainresort.com.au). The season runs approximately 6 June to 6 September, but natural snow coverage varies. Do not drive up without checking the resort’s snow report the morning you plan to go. Chains are sometimes required; hire them in Marysville if needed rather than buying. Leave Glen Huntly by 7am to reach the mountain by mid-morning and avoid the worst of the afternoon return traffic. Resort entry + toboggan hire; full-day budget.
Planning note
Book council and library sessions first — they open weeks before holidays and close fast. The Firelight Festival (3–5 July) requires no booking but rewards early arrival for food truck access. The NGV Cartier exhibition and ice skating sessions both sell out during the school holidays; buy online before the holidays begin. For Lake Mountain, check the snow report and road conditions the morning of — a wasted 2.5-hour drive is a hard sell to kids who were promised snow.
Victorian school holidays: 27 June – 12 July 2026. Always confirm event dates and prices directly with venues before you go.