School holiday idea #3: get creative and learn about critters!
Key information
When: Saturday 11 April, from 10am (optional program for Sunday 12 April)
Time: Half a day, morning (with options for afternoon sessions)
Suitable for ages: Primary-aged children
Cost: Free – just the price of your lunch (or BYO)
Schedule
10.45am – Free ice-cream!
When you arrive, head via the Atrium to pick up your free ice-cream before making your way to the Test Garden (on the top of the Fed Square car park). Yum!
11am – Critter Hero Talk
In the garden, find a seat for the Critter Hero Talk with Dr Luis Mata. Dr Mata is an insect expert who will introduce the kids to the wonderful world of insects, and how these tiny Critter Heroes help keep our ecosystem healthy.
11.30am – Search for critters in the garden
After the talk, have a little look in the Test Garden to see if the kids can spot any insects busily going about their business. What can you find?
11.45pm – Lunchtime!
Time to regroup and refuel before the afternoon of gentle fun continues. Maybe pop into Time Out café for a relaxed meal and a coffee, or head to Chocolate Buddha for their famous sushi train. Delish!
12.30pm – Draw your own Critter Super Hero
Inside the Atrium, you can join in a free creative activity where kids can draw their own Critter Super Hero. Check out the activity sheet together to discover some interesting facts about how truly SUPER tiny insects are, so the kids can get inspired for their creative masterpieces!
- The native Blue-Banded Bee is very likely hibernating now, but in the Test Garden there will be other insects that you can find!
1.15pm – Make some ant antennae!
Head inside into the Atrium before the Ants performance, to join in a free antennae-making workshop with Polyglot Theatre. The kids will want to look their ant-y best for the show!
1.30pm – Join in Ants by Polyglot Theatre
Now it’s time to follow the Polyglot Theatre artists who will become human-sized ants in Ants! This interactive performance doesn’t use any language and kids can choose how the interact with the big insects.
- Kids can join in the free, interactive performance of Ants by Polyglot Theatre in the Atrium.
2.30pm – Snack time!
If the blood sugar is flagging, you can head into the ACMI café to grab something quick to get ready for the film!
3pm – Catch a film
After playing ants themselves, the kids can relax and watch the animated film The Ant Bully in The Edge. The film is about a boy who is shrunk to the size of an ant and has to learn to live among a colony of ants – learning empathy for the tiny insects on the journey.
Test Garden Open Day: Critter Heroes is on 11 April 2026 from 10am until 4.30pm. Check out the full program of activity to learn more, and help plan your day.
For more free school holiday activities, check out our April School Holidays page.
Optional
Hungry after the film? Head to Riverland for family pizzas and a debrief on your day – or pop into ACMI to check out the Play School: Come and Play exhibition – free, but booking is essential.
If you can’t make Saturday 11 April, Ants by Polyglot Theatre is also on Sunday 12 April at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm. Each session is drop-in, so there’s no need to book. Arrive 15 minutes before the session to join in the free antennae-making workshop.
Discover more low-cost and free school holiday itineraries
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