Top 14 Family-Friendly Things to Do in Orange, Dubbo & Bathurst These Spring School Holidays

The Ophir Hotel’s free holiday Funhouse is back, with hands-on arts and crafts for all ages. Favourites like the Slime Laboratory and Lego Mini Masters return, running daily 12pm–3pm from 26 September to 11 October at 84 Glenroi Avenue.

Step inside the world of the hit video game Untitled Goose Game in this playful touring exhibition from ACMI. It’s a great pick for gamers and anyone who loves a bit of mischief. Catch it at Orange Regional Museum, 151 Byng Street, open 9am–4pm daily until 11 October.

Free to enter and open 9am–4pm daily, the museum’s Inherit exhibition brings together more than 100 objects telling stories from across the Central West. An easy, indoor option for a cooler spring day.

Pack a picnic for Lake Canobolas, with its playground, BBQs and walking track, then drive up Mount Canobolas for sweeping views across the region. Spring is one of the best times to visit, with wildflowers starting to appear.

Cook Park in the centre of town is ideal for a run-around, with its duck pond, conservatory and heritage gardens in full spring bloom. For a longer stroll, head to the Orange Botanic Gardens and let the kids explore the paths and lawns.

Walk, cycle or drive the 6km circuit and get close to rhinos, giraffes, lions and more across open-range habitats. The zoo’s Zoo Adventures holiday program for kids aged 5–11 is booked out for these holidays, so it’s worth getting in early for next time.

Kids can explore the cells, exercise yards and watch tower, and solve Prisoner Puzzles for a prize. During the holidays, the family-friendly theatrical Twilight Tour runs on select dates ($125 for a family). Day entry is $59 for two adults and two children.

Spring nights are perfect for a guided tour of the night sky through up to nine telescopes. Sessions are family-friendly and suit kids aged 8 and up. Book ahead, as spots fill quickly in the holidays.

Dubbo Regional Council has pulled together a full September–October program, including Twisted Tales at Dubbo Library, the PCYC Spring Holiday Program, and kids’ bingo and trivia at Dubbo RSL. Download the program to plan your days.

Kids become History Detectives on a torchlit tour of this grand 1870s mansion on Wednesday 30 September, 6pm–7:30pm. Suited to kids 7+ with an adult, tickets are $25 and include a torch and hot chocolate. Rug up!

A circus show with a farmyard twist, mixing acrobatics with plenty of laughs. Catch it at Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on Thursday 1 October at 11am. Tickets are $20, or $60 for a family of four.

A gentle morning out for the whole family on Saturday 3 October, 10:30am–12:30pm. Wander the gardens, then settle in for strawberries and cream with tea or coffee ($30).

The Great Race roars into Mount Panorama from 8–11 October, with off-track events and activations across the city from 5 October. It’s a big week for young motorsport fans, and accommodation books out fast.

Fossils, minerals and a children’s play area make this a great rainy-day pick in the centre of Bathurst. It’s open 9am–4:30pm every day during the school holidays, with family entry $39 and under school age free.