Home » Holidays » Special Events » School Holiday Ideas

GUIDE: Cheap School Holiday Ideas | 2 Weeks of Fun for Under $200

What would you say if I said you could have 2 full weeks of school holiday fun for under $200!!

My cheap school holiday ideas for the September school holidays will have 1 adult + 2 kids having the time of their lives for under $200.

For 2 weeks of school holiday fun you can include these free, cheap or discounted activities:

Check out these budget school holiday ideas that are listed below.

Here’s my a budget holiday ideas

For these school holidays you don’t need to blow the budget showing the kids a good time. These penny pinching ideas will save you lots of money and by following my guide, you will also save time trying to figure out what to do without breaking the bank!

I’ve listed the cost of each activity, not the cost of any additional items you may choose to buy or transport (but remember kids travel for free on the weekends on Brisbane public transport!) – this guide of budget holiday ideas is purely for the activities for two kids (and 1 adult!)

I’ve planned the whole thing out day by day for the chronologically challenged.

HINT: Turn your mobile phone on its side to see the whole table – Monday – Sunday.

Budget Holiday Ideas for Parents

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday
17
FREE
Museum of Brisbane + city clock tower + Playground
18
FREE MOSAIC Multicultural Festival, Roma Street Parkland.
19
FREE
Trip to your local library to get some booksClick here
20
FREE
Day trip to Wynnum – if it is warm a swim
Click here
21
FREE
Rest day at home. Cooking & craft.
Craft
Recipes
22
$53
Theatre Trip – The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe – Brisbane Arts Theatre.
23
FREE
Imagine This
Ipswich Art Gallery
Click here
24
$33
Hoyts cinema school holiday movie – Discount voucher.
25
FREE
Visit a shopping centre for free activities
Click here
26
FREE
Zoo visit
Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Click here
27
$32
Gripd Indoor Rock Climbing – Discount voucher.
28
FREE
Rest Day at Home
Cooking & craft.
Craft
Recipes
29
$36
Spend the afternoon bouncing at Flipout Trampoline Park – Discount voucher.
30
FREE
GOMA – Children’s Art Centre
Click here
1
FREE
Roma St Parkland playgrounds. Kids travel free on public transport
Click here
2
FREE
Rest day and get ready for school!

Queens birthday ideas:

This year, Monday 3rd October is also a school holiday, so you can find out what is open for your family to do that day here.

List of budget holiday ideas

If the table above is not displaying for you, this list of ideas should keep the kids entertained:

Saturday 17 – FREE – Museum of Brisbane + city clock tower + play in city botanic garden playground. Kids travel free on public transport.

Sunday 18 – FREEMOSAIC Multicultural Festival, Roma Street Parkland.

Monday 19 – FREE – Trip to your local  library to get some school holiday books to read.

Tuesday 20 – FREEDay trip to Wynnum – if it is warm enough for a swim.

Wednesday 21 –  FREE – Rest day at home. Cooking & craft if we are up to it. – Find Craft and Recipes here

Thursday 22 – $53 – Theatre Trip – The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe – Brisbane Arts Theatre.

Friday 23 – FREE – Imagine This – Ipswich Art Gallery. Click here

Saturday 24 – $33 – Hoyts cinema school holiday movie – *Discount voucher.

Sunday 25 – FREE – Visit a shopping centre for free activities. Click here

Monday 26 – FREE – Zoo visit – Daisy Hill Koala Centre. Click here

Tuesday 27 – $32 – Gripd Indoor Rock Climbing – Discount voucher.

Wednesday 28 – FREE – Rest day at home. Cooking & craft if we are up to it. – Craft  Recipes

Thursday 29 – $36 – Spend the afternoon bouncing at Flipout Trampoline Park – *Discount voucher.

Friday 30 – FREE – GOMA – Sunpowered Exhibition – Children’s Art Centre. Click here

Saturday 1 – FREE – Roma St Parkland playgrounds. Kids travel free on public transport. Click here

Sunday 2 – FREE – Rest day and get ready for school!

Monday 3 – This year, Monday 3rd October is also a school holiday, so you can find out what is open for your family to do that day here. 

Budget holiday ideas | free is always good!

free things to do in toowoomba feature

One of the fantastic things about living in Brisbane is the plethora of free activities. The libraries and shopping centres are always a fab place to start for ideas. Why not bookmark our website’s page of FREE things to do – you can find a huge range of free school holiday ideas here.

Budget holiday ideas | cheap is also good

If you didn’t love my suggestions above – here’s five more budget holiday ideas that your kids will LOVE for under a tenner per child! Budget holiday ideas for your kids in Brisbane.

1. Brisbane Tramway Museum | Ferny Grove

You can step back in time in Brisbane and ride a tram at the Tramway Museum as many times as your Brisbane Family would like. Set in a bush land setting, you can explore restored trams and other reminders of Brisbane’s tramway era. There are plenty of spots for picnics and souvenirs and drinks available. It is open Sundays from 12.30 – 4pm. Find prices here.

2. Queensland Maritime Museum | South Brisbane

You can discover historic vessels of all shapes and sizes at the Maritime Museum. It is located on the banks of the Brisbane River at South Bank. You can take a complimentary audio guided tour to make the most of your visit. The children will enjoy the big exhibits such as the warship Diamantina. It is open daily from 9.30am – 4.30pm.

3. Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium | Mt Coot-tha

If your little ones are interested in all things astronomical, then this is the place for them. You can view regular shows in the Cosmic Skydome which are projected onto the dome. These shows are recommended for different age groups, so check that detail when deciding which show to go to. There is also the Galaxy Gift Shop where you can buy all things cosmic. The Planetarium is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Read our Planetarium review and check the website for opening times as they do vary. Find prices here.

4. Ipswich Art Gallery | Ipswich

Ipswich Art Gallery is Australia’s first permanent interactive children’s space designed for the under twelves. They are committed to delivering child-centred programs that you will not see anywhere else. They have different exhibitions that are VERY hands on for the children. This is not a place for the children to be directed by adults, it is a space for the children to really explore and self direct. The exhibits for the children range from free to around the $5.00 mark. They are open daily from 10am – 5pm. Watch our Ipswich Art Gallery video review here.

5. Bricks n Fun |  Capalaba

If you have a Lego lover in your house, then this is the place for them. They have a Lego Buildroom where the kids can go for a 1 hour or 2 hour session. There is a massive variety of LEGO kits they can choose from and sit and build them. All of the instructions are included and there is something to suit all abilities. There are only 12 children allowed per session so there is plenty of room for the LEGO creations. There is also LEGO displays to look at and become inspired from. Sessions run from 10am each day until 4.00 or 5.00pm. Find prices here.

Get our discount codes & coupons

School Holiday Discount Codes

Every school holidays we ask our friends and advertising partners to offer up their best discounts and coupons for our followers of Families Magazine (you!). We’ve listed all the best discount codes and coupons for the upcoming school holidays here.

Also, if you sign up for our e-newsletter, we will email these discount codes and coupons to you the week before the school holidays start so you will have your own handy guide of budget holiday ideas to plan your own schedule. #winning Click here to sign up to our e-newsletter so you DON’T MISS A THING!

Photo of author

Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

Leave a comment