Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
Location
8 Warner Avenue
Ashburton
VIC 3147
Program offered
School Holiday Program opening hours
Monday to Friday
7:30am – 6:00pm
Contact us in centre
Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre
School Holiday Program
Our Ashburton holiday program provides an opportunity for your child to learn from new experiences through a fun mix of activities, while making friends along the way.
We offer a wide variety of interest-based in-house activities, themed incursions and exciting excursions. Our holiday programs are run by experienced Educators who help your child become more confident and independent.
Activities could include anything from drumming workshops to silent discos. We do regular excursions too (such as to Boroondara Sports Complex to learn gymnastics). We've even had a comedy show visit us!
Your child can also get lunch at our café when you submit an order through School Lunch Online. Simply create an account, select 'YMCA Ashburton' as the school you're ordering from, and follow the steps to place your order.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming program – we'll share the schedule on this page about four weeks before the school holidays start.
If you're looking for care for a short amount of time, we also run a Creche program from 9:00am-10:30am and 10:30am-12:00pm. The program is suitable for children from six weeks old and provides a space to socialise and play.
Spring it On Holiday Program
Bookings are now open for our Spring 2025 School Holiday Program! The program runs on weekdays from Monday 22 September to Friday 3 October 2025 (excluding public holidays).
We've planned an exciting program of school holiday activities that will interest your child over the holidays.
Activity days can include:
- In-house (activities run by our Educator team)
- Incursion (activities run by visitors to our service)
- Excursion (activities run at an off-site location)
- Self-guided incursion (premium activities run by our educator team, available at select centres)
- Supreme incursion (supreme activities run by visitors to our service)
- Supreme excursion (supreme activities run at an off-site location)
What to bring
- Lunch and snack (nutritious and nut free)
- SunSmart hat and sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Weather appropriate clothing and shoes
- Swimwear, towel and change of clothes as required (if an activity involves water)
You can also read our School Holiday Program FAQs.
The prices listed in the table below are the full fee for each day. If you're entitled to Child Care Subsidy, what you actually pay could be significantly reduced.
Date |
Activity Details |
| Week 1 | |
| Monday 22 September |
Reptile Petting Zoo WildlifeXposure is visiting us to showcase a unique and diverse range of native Australian wildlife! Delivered by experienced, qualified wildlife handlers and educators, you will have the opportunity to hold, touch, learn and experience Australia's coolest reptiles first hand. Category: Incursion Cost: $91.15 |
| Tuesday 23 September |
AFL Carnival Get ready for the AFL Grand Final in style with an action-packed day at the Oval! Enjoy an exciting and engaging health and wellbeing program run by AFL MAX in collaboration with Coles Healthy Kicks. With guest appearances and prizes to be won, it’s the ultimate AFL day out! And if footy isn't your thing, we have inflatable arenas, giant games and a face painting station too! Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Wednesday 24 September |
Gymnastics Enhance your flexibility and coordination while learning essential movement skills in a fun and active 90 minute gymnastics session. Discover how to jump, land, and fall safely, improve your balance, and build confidence through engaging physical challenges. Enjoy group games and colourful crafts throughout the day for unlimited fun! Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Thursday 25 September |
Signs of Expression Celebrate the power of communication through movement, expression, and creativity! Learn to sign your name, dive into storytelling with a roll of the dice, and explore how art and drama can speak louder than words. We’ll play games that highlight how we express ourselves in different ways and discover how sign language brings people together one symbol, sign, and smile at a time. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
| Friday 26 September |
See you next week! We are closed today for the Grand Final AFL Public Holiday. We hope you enjoy the game this weekend and we can't wait to continue on the Spring Holiday fun next week. |
| Week 2 | |
| Monday 29 September |
Spring into fun Welcome the season of growth and new beginnings with a celebration full of colour and curiosity! Craft rainbow suncatchers, create bugs and butterflies using nature, and discover the magic of pollination in a fun STEM activity. We’ll learn how flowers bloom, how bees help, and how change can be beautiful, all while buzzing through active games, joyful creativity, and springtime smiles. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
| Tuesday 30 September |
Dance Workshop Cube Sports is paying us a visit to run their high-energy dance incursion filled with music, movement, and fun. Learn new dance routines, express yourself through rhythm, and build confidence in a supportive and upbeat environment! Category: Incursion Cost: $91.15 |
| Wednesday 01 October |
Gymnastics Enhance your flexibility and coordination while learning essential movement skills in a fun and active 90 minute gymnastics session. Discover how to jump, land, and fall safely, improve your balance, and build confidence through engaging physical challenges. Enjoy group games and colourful crafts throughout the day for unlimited fun! Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Thursday 02 October |
Bad Guys 2 Join us for a trip to the cinemas to watch Bad Guys 2. Reformed criminals Mr. Wolf, Mr. Snake, Mr. Piranha, Mr. Shark and Ms. Tarantula are trying very hard to be good. However, they soon find themselves hijacked into a high-stakes heist that's masterminded by a new team of delinquents they never saw coming - the Bad Girls. Popcorn included. Category: Excursion Cost: $105.50 |
| Friday 03 October |
Koala Crew Join us for a day dedicated to Australia’s cuddliest conservation stars, koalas! Make your own playdough koala, build a miniature habitat, and join our “Did You Know?” group quiz to uncover amazing koala facts (like their unique fingerprints!). With creative crafts, games that support teamwork and care for nature, and a focus on protecting wildlife, we’ll learn how little actions can help make a big difference for our furry friends. Category: Inhouse Cost: $86.00 |
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
|
Our holiday programs qualify for the Federal Government's Child Care Subsidy (CCS). CCS helps eligible families access approved and registered child care providers by partially subsidising the cost of daily fees. The 'Fee' price listed in the table on this page is the full permanent or casual daily fee for each program without any CCS entitlements. *The 'You pay as little as' price is an example of the out of pocket fees paid by families who qualify for the maximum CCS percentage (90%). The fees above are calculated at 85% subsidy to allow for the 5% withheld by Services Australia to reduce the chances of an overpayment. When our holiday programs are open for bookings, you'll be able to see the prices for each activity on this page. These prices are the daily price and do not include any CCS you may be entitled to, which could significantly reduce your out of pocket expense. Refer to the Government website for more information about CCS funding and your eligibility. We also recommend using this CCS calculator to estimate your new subsidy payments. Our customer service and onsite teams are happy to assist you with any queries you have regarding this funding and to help you navigate the system. |
Book your place
|
You can book into our School Holiday Program through My Family Lounge (our online booking system). Read our 'How to enrol' guide and FAQs to make sure you've got everything you need to book. Returning families: Sign in New families: Register Got a question? Enquire |
Curious about chemistry? Bonkers about biology? We often run science-themed activities where your child can take part in fun research and crazy experiments.
Get active outdoors! Our Educators make outdoor play fun with opportunities to sing, dance and get moving.
Go on exciting excursions to local places such as trampoline parks and indoor playgrounds.
Enjoy a range of awesome in-house activities! Your child will get the chance to use their imagination, discover new things and have fun with friends.
Escape into the world of movies during an excursion to the local cinema. We’ll watch the latest release and experience the magic of the big screen.
Learn new art and craft skills with the support of our friendly Educators. Practise drawing, colouring, sticking and more.
Express your creativity during art-themed activities. Your child could get involved in anything from painting to pottery!
Make amazing memories with our expert team of Educators – we’ll help your child feel safe, supported and happy.
Attend thrilling excursions such as skateboarding workshops. Learn to roll, turn and perform tricks under the guidance of the Y’s specialist coaches.
Celebrate the holidays, make new friends and be your best self at the Y. Together, we’ll make the school holiday one to remember!