If you’re a Glen Waverley parent staring down 27 June to 12 July with two weeks of cold, short days to fill, you already know the problem: the kids have energy to burn, the weather won’t cooperate, and “let’s go to the park” only works until the first rain shower. This is a parent-to-parent rundown of 11 genuinely real things to do these winter school holidays — a mix of warm indoor back-ups, free local options, and a couple of bigger day trips when you want to make a proper outing of it.
Glen Waverley sits about 22 km southeast of the city in the City of Monash, with The Glen and the Kingsway strip at its centre and Glen Waverley station running a direct line to Flinders Street in roughly 35 minutes. That train line is your friend these holidays — it turns the CBD’s big winter events into an easy outing without the parking headache.
1. Monash Public Library — Glen Waverley branch holiday program
The branch right at The Glen runs free school-holiday sessions for kids and teens — craft, storytime and activities — and being indoors and warm makes it a perfect cold-morning go-to. Tip: most sessions are free but need a booking, and they fill fast. Check the live program for the exact 27 June–12 July dates on the Monash library events portal and book the week before.
2. City of Monash School Holiday Program
Beyond the library, the council runs its own holiday activities for kids roughly 6–12 across Monash during the July break. The line-up changes each holidays, so the council’s events page is the place to see what’s running near Glen Waverley. Tip: check ahead — some sessions are free, others have a small fee, and the good ones book out.
3. Monash Aquatic & Recreation Centre
Five minutes away at 626 Waverley Road, this council centre has an indoor 25m pool, a big wave pool and warm-water/hydrotherapy options — exactly what you want on a grey, freezing day. Holiday breaks often add extra kids’ sessions. Tip: confirm current entry prices and the holiday timetable with the centre directly before you load the car.
4. Jells Park
Just over the border in neighbouring Wheelers Hill, Jells Park is 127 hectares of flat trails (9+ km of them), lakes, birdlife and two playspaces at Yabbie Hill and Jells Park East. It’s a great rug-up-and-walk option for a dry window between showers, with sheltered picnic areas, a cafe and a visitor centre. Cost: free entry. Tip: the Waverley Road entrance is closest, and the 754 bus runs there from Glen Waverley if you’d rather not drive.
5. Village Cinemas Century City + Strike Bowling
Right by the station in the Century City complex, this indoor cluster pairs a multiplex (with a 4D screen) and Strike ten-pin bowling plus an arcade. It’s the reliable wet-afternoon answer when everyone’s had enough of the house. Tip: check the holiday film times and bowling availability online — both get busy in school holidays — and look for family/matinee deals.
6. Central Reserve playground & skate park
A free local favourite in Glen Waverley with a modern playground, a rope-climbing spiral net, a skate park and BBQ facilities. It’s the spot to burn off energy on a clear winter morning before the weather turns. Cost: free. Tip: go early while it’s dry and pack a thermos — there’s shelter for the grown-ups while the kids run.
7. Firelight Festival, Docklands
The City of Melbourne’s free winter festival lands on Harbour Esplanade in Docklands from 3–5 July 2026 — right inside the holiday window — with fire performers, a large-scale laser, water and light show, live music and food trucks. Cost: free, no booking. Tip: take the train to Flinders Street and tram or walk across; rug up properly because it’s outdoors and by the water.
8. CARTIER: NGV Melbourne Winter Masterpieces
The 2026 Winter Masterpieces show at NGV International (12 June–4 October) brings around 400 Cartier jewels and watches. The headline exhibition is ticketed and leans grown-up, but the genuinely family-friendly part is free: NGV runs Kids exhibitions, activity sheets and holiday workshops, and the NGV Kids corner at Fed Square is free. Tip: build the day around the free Kids spaces; it’s a direct train then a short walk from Flinders Street.
9. Scienceworks, Spotswood
Museums Victoria’s hands-on science museum is free for under-16s (adults ticketed), and the 2026 winter program includes the interactive “Colour” exhibition plus free workshops, scavenger hunts and amphitheatre shows. Cost: free for kids; small extra fees for the planetarium and lightning room. Tip: it’s a longer trek across the city from Glen Waverley, so make it a full-day outing rather than a quick stop.
10. O’Brien Icehouse ice skating, Docklands
Docklands’ Olympic-standard indoor ice rink runs public skating sessions and lessons — a classic winter outing that works no matter what the sky’s doing. Cost: ticketed. Tip: sessions sell out in the holidays, so check times and book ahead, and bring warm socks and gloves.
11. Lake Mountain snow day trip
Melbourne’s closest snow play is roughly 90 minutes to 2 hours’ drive northeast at Lake Mountain (Marysville): three toboggan runs, a magic carpet, snowman-building and short snowshoe trails, all built for first-time snow with kids. It’s open seven days through the July Victorian school holidays, gates 8am–4pm. Cost: toboggan access is ticketed. Tip: book and check road and snow conditions before you leave, pack waterproofs, and leave early — it’s the one outing that genuinely needs a head start.
A quick planning tip
Don’t try to cram all 11 in. Pick two or three free local options (the library, Central Reserve, Jells Park) for the in-between days, then plan one bigger outing — a CBD event via the train or a snow day at Lake Mountain — as the holiday highlight. Lock in any ticketed or bookable activities (library sessions, ice skating, snow tobogganing) a week ahead, keep one warm indoor back-up like the aquatic centre or cinema on standby for the wettest day, and the fortnight more or less plans itself.
For more local ideas, browse our other guides for Glen Waverley across the seasons.
