Inclusive school holiday activities across Australia

From sensory-friendly museum mornings to adaptive sports days, communities nationwide are offering both free and paid programs with features like wheelchair access, Auslan interpretation and quiet zones.

For example, the City of Parramatta Council notes that its holiday programs are ‘100 percent accessible to children of all abilities,’ with trained facilitators on hand to support participants. Below, we highlight the top activities by theme and region.

Arts, museums and cultural events

• Australian National Maritime Museum — Sydney, NSW

Sensory-Friendly Sundays
On select days, the museum opens extra early for a gentle experience. Families enjoy hands-on activities and exhibitions with reduced crowds and support from trained staff — ideal for visitors on the autism spectrum or with diverse abilities.

• Taronga Zoo — Sydney, NSW

Autism and Access Services
Taronga offers resources like visual ‘social stories,’ quiet picnic zones and the Sunflower Hidden Disability scheme so families can plan a comfortable visit. Access Taronga events are sometimes held for families with autism spectrum disorders. The Zoo also provides wheelchair-accessible paths and free companion tickets for carers.

• Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art — Brisbane, QLD

Access programs
The gallery runs free Auslan-interpreted tours for deaf visitors and low-sensory morning viewings for neurodiverse guests. On these days, volumes are lowered, quiet zones are provided and sensory kits — including earmuffs, fidgets, etc, can be borrowed.  Wheelchair access, audio-described tours and braille guides are also available for patrons with vision or hearing impairments.

• Melbourne Museum & Scienceworks — Melbourne & Spotswood, VIC

Low-sensory Sessions
On the first Saturday of each month, these museums host quiet mornings for families. The programs include adapted tours and resources for visitors with autism and those with sensory sensitivities. Exhibits are visited in small groups with minimal crowding.

• Adelaide Zoo — Adelaide, SA

Adelaide Zoo runs a ‘relaxed hours’ program for people with sensory concerns, along with offering communication boards and quiet rest areas for children who need them. Companion Card holders receive discounted tickets with a free carer. Wide, paved pathways and accessible facilities make it easy for wheelchair users to enjoy animal exhibits.

• Perth’s Cultural Centres — WA

Venues, such as the Art Gallery of Western Australia and the WA Museum, offer sensory-friendly programs. For example, they provide tactile exhibits, audio guides and Auslan tours. Many events offer companion cards — free carer tickets — and provide accessible parking and restrooms.

Sports, play & outdoor adventures

• Activate Inclusion Sports Days

This national program — delivered​by Disability Sports Australia — runs free ‘Abilities Unleashed’ clinics in many states. For example, Melbourne’s Banyule Nets Stadium hosts a Variety Abilities Unleashed school-holiday sports day on July 17, with adaptive games and equipment. Similar events are held in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin — all open to children with disability who can try basketball, cricket, soccer and more in a safe, fun setting.

• Swimming & water sports

Accessible aquatic centres offer holiday swim programs with trained instructors. In Sydney and Melbourne, organisations, like Nereids, run private or small-group swim lessons for kids with disability. The MyCareSpace network also lists vacation-care options at Mt Ommaney and Holland Park in Brisbane.

• Beaches and parks

Many Australian beaches now have beach wheelchairs and matting. For instance, an Accessible Beaches program in Victoria provides sand mats, hoists and ramps at popular coastal spots. Parks Victoria in Melbourne even rents all-terrain wheelchairs so families can explore bush trails. Sunshine and Gold Coast beaches similarly offer wheelchair access. Nature reserves like Piney Lakes in Perth run sensory-nature programs and Kings Park also has accessible pathways and gardens. In Adelaide, the Cleland Wildlife Park offers wheelchair paths and quiet animal encounters.

• Adaptive playgrounds

Some cities have new ‘all-abilities’ parks. For example, Perth’s Pia’s Place and Kwinana Adventure Park feature wheelchair swings, sensory play zones and fencing for safety. These free playgrounds are designed so children with physical or cognitive disabilities can play alongside others.

• Animal encounters

Zoos and aquariums across the country have accessible features. Melbourne Zoo and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium have wheelchair-friendly routes and special breeding presentations. In fact, Zoos Victoria offers free entry for children under 16 on Victorian public and school holiday dates. Perth Zoo and AQWA Aquarium also welcome wheelchair users and provide companion tickets for carers. The Caversham Wildlife Park in Perth and Cleland Wildlife Park in the Adelaide Hills have level paths and allow close animal experiences, with staff ready to assist visitors of all abilities.

Tips for families

• Plan ahead

Book tickets early if required and register any access needs.

• Use support services

Companion Cards are widely accepted so that carers can get in for free. Many venues loan out wheelchairs, sensory kits or headphones at no cost. For instance, QAGOMA offers free sensory kits and headphones.

• Bring comfort items

Familiar snacks, toys or social stories — some zoos and museums publish them online — can help children feel prepared. Taronga and Adelaide Zoo both offer visual social stories to help you preview your visit.

• Ask for help

Trained staff are usually ready to assist. At sensory events, you might find ‘sensory booths’ or designated quiet rooms. Don’t hesitate to request an Auslan interpreter or extra support on arrival. For example, QAGOMA has staff trained in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.

What will you get up to over the school holidays? Let the team at Talking Disability know and subscribe to the newsletter for more information, news and industry updates.

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