A colourful scavenger hunt kids will love

Combining printable colouring pages with a classic treasure chase turns an ordinary arvo into an adventure little explorers will remember for years. Australian families often look for screen-free activities during the long summer break or the cooler winter school holidays, and a colouring scavenger hunt ticks the boxes for creativity, movement and a bit of friendly competition.

The beauty of this activity is how flexible it can be. You can run it in the backyard while the adults fire up the barbie, at the local footy oval on a Sunday morning, or indoors on a rainy day. With a printer, a stack of A4 paper and a few free designs, you have everything you need to build an unforgettable arvo.

Pick a theme that sparks imagination

Choosing a theme first makes every other decision easier, from the clues to the final prize. Think about what your child is currently obsessed with: dinosaurs, fairies, undersea worlds, or native Aussie wildlife. Kids Down Under tend to fall hard for kookaburras, koalas and wombats, so a bush critter theme often lands beautifully.

Let your child help brainstorm the theme so they feel ownership over the hunt. A simple question like "Would you rather hunt for lost dinosaur eggs or find hidden Aussie animal babies?" gets the creative wheels turning before you've even pulled out the printer.

Gather your printable colouring clues

Free colouring pages do double duty in this activity. Each hidden station can feature a printed picture that doubles as both decoration and a clue, or a partially coloured-in sheet that hints at the next location. Printable designs also let younger hunters who can't yet read solve the puzzle by matching colours or images.

Print a handful of extra copies to use as a finished colouring booklet at the end of the hunt. Kids love going back through the pages they discovered during the chase and filling them in properly once the excitement has settled down. Laminating one master set of clues keeps them sturdy if you plan to reuse the game at a school fete or birthday party.

Map out the route through your backyard or local park

Before you print anything, walk the route yourself. In your own backyard, look for natural hiding spots near the Hills Hoist, under the lemon tree or beside the sandpit. At a public space like a neighbourhood park or the Royal Botanic Gardens, count how far apart stations need to be so younger kids don't tire out before the final clue.

Mark each station number on your plan and keep the path logical so hunters don't double back on themselves. If you're hosting a bigger group, split the kids into teams with coloured armbands so each crew follows a slightly different loop. A quick photo of the map on your phone means you can troubleshoot on the day without needing to remember every detail.

Write riddles little adventurers can solve

Clues work best when they match the reading level of your hunters. Preschoolers respond well to picture-based riddles or simple rhymes like "Where the cold drinks stay nice and chill, look for your next clue with a will." Early primary kids can handle gentle wordplay involving footy teams, Aussie animals or favourite snacks.

For older children, build in puzzles that require a bit of lateral thinking. A rebus that mixes a picture of a snag with the word "sizzle" can point to the barbie area, while a rhyming riddle about a magpie's call leads to the letterbox. Keep answers short and obvious once solved, so frustrated kids don't lose momentum.

Sprinkle in Aussie touches and native animals

Local flavour makes the activity feel rooted in your child's world. Drop names of familiar landmarks like the local pool, the servo on the corner or the primary school oval into your clue wording. A line like "Walk past where Nana hangs the Hills Hoist and check behind the wheelie bin" instantly becomes hilarious and memorable.

Native wildlife prints work brilliantly as visual clues. A platypus page hidden near the garden tap, a wombat tucked beside the outdoor setting and a kookaburra perched on the trampoline ladder gives the hunt a distinctly Australian rhythm. If the weather is warm, set up a water-bottle station between clues so kids stay hydrated while they explore.

Wrap up with prizes and a sausage sizzle

The grand finale matters as much as the chase. A small prize bag with a new colouring set, some chalk for the driveway, a bouncy ball or a few gold-wrapped Freddos gives hunters something to unwrap at the end. Avoid anything too sugary; Aussie parents are usually happy with a small toy or a special outing coupon like "Choose tonight's family movie."

Finish the afternoon with a relaxed sausage sizzle on the barbie, sliced bread, onion and tomato sauce. While the kids colour in the pages they collected during the hunt, the adults can unwind with a cold drink. This easy coda turns a fun activity into a whole family memory that everyone will be keen to repeat next school break.

Setting	Best for age	Preparation time	Weather backup	Reuse value
Backyard	3–10	30 minutes	Move indoors under cover	High — swap themes each holiday
Local park or oval	5–12	60 minutes	Cancel or relocate to garage	Medium — route changes each time
Indoor home hunt	2–6	20 minutes	None needed	Very high — just hide again
School fete or party	6–12	90 minutes	Hire a sheltered hall	Low — usually a one-off event
Bush or campsite	7–12	45 minutes	Shorten route if wet	Medium — swap animal themes