School Holidays
School Holiday Adventures
Open every day of the Victorian school holidays in Clayton, with free parking and a cafe for the grown-ups.
Happy Hippos Playcentre and Cafe, 1924 Princes Hwy, Clayton, is open every day of the school holidays — Monday to Friday 9am–5pm, weekends 9am–4:30pm and public holidays 10am–3pm. Entry lasts the whole day, adults are free, and there is a dedicated soft play area for under-3s.
A holiday day that actually works
Beat the crowds before 11am
Mornings are quietest in the holidays — arrive at opening for a calm run at the slides and ball pit.
One entry, all day
Play, break for lunch in the cafe, then head back in. Your entry covers the full day.
Rain or 40 degrees
Everything is indoors, heated and cooled, so the plan never changes with the weather.
Bring the cousins
Adults are free and there is no limit on grown-ups, so big family groups are easy.
Mothers group rate
Weekend and public holiday mothers group entry is $8.99 per child.
Holiday birthdays
Party rooms book out fast in the holidays — request your date at least two weeks ahead.
School holiday questions
Happy Hippos Playcentre and Cafe in Clayton is open every day of the Victorian school holidays from 9am. Children aged from babies to 14 years can play in the ball pit, slides, climbing zone and toddler soft play, while parents use the cafe.
No booking is needed for casual play, but holidays are busier — mornings before 11am are the quietest.
Entry covers the whole day, so you can leave for lunch and come back the same day.
Yes — the cafe serves breakfast, wraps, Turkish rolls, adult meals with chips and a drink, Kids Happy Meals from $9.95, plus coffee, shakes and frappes.
How to get here
Free parking out the front, right on the Princes Highway in Clayton.
- 1924 Princes Hwy, Clayton VIC 3168, Australia
- Free on-site parking directly in front of the centre.
- Clayton Station is a short drive away; buses stop on the Princes Highway.
- +61 414 571 351
Opening hours
- Monday — 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Tuesday — 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Wednesday — 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Thursday — 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Friday — 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Saturday — 9:00am – 4:30pm
- Sunday — 9:00am – 4:30pm
- Public holidays — 10:00am – 3:00pm (check availability)