Winter Holiday Things to Do

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Are you wondering what to do with the kids during the Winter school holidays? Well this HUGE list that I scoured the internet for will hopefully give you some ideas.

NSW

Arts

Scenic Skyway and Three Sisters. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.

Scenic Skyway and Three Sisters. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.

Sydney Olympic Park have great activities for kids of all ages.  Some are free and others are under $25. So that is great value.  The below links are from the Sydney Olympic Park’s Website.

Creative Kids

Sporty Kids

Adventurous Kids

Clowning around

Clowning around

  • Taronga Zoo. There’s always plenty happening at Taronga Zoo. With over 4,000 animals to see, over 20 keeper talks and shows a day, tours, events & concerts, there’s always a new reason to visit Taronga Zoo.
  • Darling Harbour Quarter Playground – This is an amazing playground for kids. Make sure to pack a spare set of clothes and a towel for the kids. There is a wet area that they are drawn to and if you don’t have spare dry clothes you will suffer the whining of the child. Trust me!
  • Visit the Blue Mountains and surrounds. Have family drives and explore all that there is to offer. Take the kids to see the Three Sisters and go on bush walks.
  • Explore Scenic World in the Blue Mountains. Travel on the Skyway, Cableway and breath the wonderful fresh air on the walkway. It it is a great day out.
  • Newington Armory – Discover one of Sydney’s most unique heritage precincts adjacent to the scenic Parramatta River. It is open every weekend.
  • Bathurst Winter FestivalFrom the 7 – 22 July 2018 – Staged in the beautiful, heritage CBD of Bathurst, the festival is a showcase of all that is vibrant, creative and unique in the region.  Watch buildings come alive through static and interactive illumination breathing life into the historic architecture. Amuse yourself in the Winter Playground sampling the charm of the outdoor McDonald’s Bathurst Ice Rink, the giant Ferris wheel and magical two-story carousel every day of the Bathurst Winter Festival.
  • SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium – SEALIFE always has fun exhibitions and things to do. Keep your little ones entertained by taking them to learn more about marine life and our environment.
  • WILDLIFE Sydney Zoo – Visit the animals in the heart of the city. Learn more from the wonderful daily talks about snakes, Tasmanian Devils and much more.

QLD

The following links are from the Queensland Government Website:

Programs and activities

Art and culture

Sport and recreation

Camping

Camping

VIC

The below links are taken from the Victorian Tourism Website. There are plenty to do to keep kids entertained and also adults as well.

ACT

SEMAPHORE AND FORT GLANVILLE TOURIST RAILWAY. Image from their website.

SEMAPHORE AND FORT GLANVILLE TOURIST RAILWAY. Image from their website.

SA

Prices for this unique scenic and relaxing train ride are as follows:

Adult    $8
Child    $5 (3 years to 15 years)
Family  $20 (2 Adults with 2 Children)

  • Adelaide Zoo – Come and have a great animal experience
  • Botanic Gardens of South Australia – Find out all the fun things that the gardens are doing these school holidays. Creating crowns and masks, making fire, making glue, listen to aboriginal stories, and much more.
  • Haigh’s Chocolate – Free guided tour
  • South Australia – Learn about all the attractions from all the regions within Adelaide and surrounds.
  • Drive-In Cinema at Gepps Cross. Stay in your PJ’s, bring your pillows and blankets and have fun watching a great film with the kids.
  • Granite Island – Take a family drive to Granite Island to see the penguins. Why not get a guided tour. Tours start at dusk every night.
    Costs
    $12.50 Adult
    $7.50 Children
    $36.00 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children).
    Bookings are essential.
    Phone (08) 8552 7555
  • Adelaide Planetarium – “Come to the Planetarium these school holidays and take a journey to outer space. Travel to the moon and back this school holiday break.  Adelaide Planetarium’s Night sky presentations and full dome movies offer educational entertainment for all ages.”
  • Winter Wonderland at the Bay (Glenelg’s Moseley Square from the 1st July-23 July 2017)
  • South Australian Maritime Museum – Monsters, Myths & Madness. Sail a haunted ship, watch out for mermaids and monsters. Dress up and come on a fantastic voyage.
Fairy Penguin at Granite Island

Fairy Penguin at Granite Island

WA

Ages: 7 to 12 year olds

Costs:

Basic Robotics -$100

2 Day Workshop – $170

  • Sam Sunday’s Trek to the Goldfields – The Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie-Boulder
    Bookings required if more than 10. Phone: (08) 9021 8533
  • Light, Lenses and Luminescence – The Western Australian Museum – GeraldtonTimes: 9.30am – 4.00pm
    “Discover the mysterious magic of light at the WA Museum – Geraldton during the school holidays. There is a range of fun, creative and challenging activities and workshops where you can explore what happens when light is reflected, refracted and blocked.”
  • Time Trekker – Dino Dig – Western Australian Museum – Perth
    Time: 9.15am – 12.30pm
    Weekday: kids only 8-12 years.
    Weekends: Family friendly experience. Kids 6-12 years.
    See website for costs.

    Rottnest Island Map. Image www.rottnestfastferries.com.au

    Rottnest Island Map. Image www.rottnestfastferries.com.au

  • Rottnest Island – 19km west of Fremantle
    Check out the island activities
  • Surfing Lessons – Perth
    2 Day Course – School Holidays ONLY
    Our courses run Mon & Tue / Wed & Thur / Sat & Sun (great for getting dad and mum out there!)
  • Adventure World – Progress Drive, Bibra Lake
    Little kids will love the slides, kingdom falls, pools. The whole family will enjoy the bumper boats, dragon express (rollercoaster), go carts, and the tunnel of terror.
    Open every day from 10am to 5pm during the school holidays. You can purchase tickets online to avoid the queues.

NT

  • Daily Fish feeding at Aquascene
    Check out the times for feeding the fish. They do vary from each day.
    Adult: $15.00
    Child (3-15 years): $10.00
    Seniors: $10.00
    Families (2 Adults plus 2 or 3 Children aged between 3-15): $43.00
  • Australian Aviation Heritage Centre
    See the B52 Bomber and other exhibits from Darwin’s role in WWII
    Open daily from 9am – 5pm
    Adults $14.00. Seniors / Pensioners $10.00. Children (under 12) $7.00. Family $30.00.Students $7.50
  • Berry Springs Nature Park 
    “Whilst enjoying the pools, if you swim with goggles you can see many small native fish and other aquatic life that live in the clear pools. Wildlife is abundant.”
    Remember: Swim only where recommended, observe warning signs.
    Facilities: Picnic tables, walking tracks, Kiosk (open during high visitation periods but generally from late morning to mid afternoon)
    The Park is open from 8.00 am to 6.30 pm daily.

    Berry Springs Nature Park

    Berry Springs Nature Park

  • Darwin Wave Lagoon
    Open from: 10am – 6pm

    15yrs and over $7
    Under 15yrs $5
    Under 2 yrs Free
    Seniors Concession $5
    Family (max 2 adults & 3 children) $18
    Wave Lagoon. Image from the Travel NT website.

    Wave Lagoon. Image from the Travel NT website.

  • Nightcliff Markets
    Every Sunday from 6am to 2pm all year round
    “Enjoy a relaxing morning, listening to some great entertainment while the kids play nearby in the playground. Sample our array of tasty foods such as curries, soups, crepes, satays, sushi, samosas, burgers, noodles.. and locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables.”
  • The Rock – Darwins Indoor Climbing Centre
    Business Hours – Tuesday to Friday 12noon till 9pm.
    Saturday & Sunday 12noon till 6pm.
    Closed Mondays
    Phone: (08) 8941 0747
    email: helpnt@bigpond.com.au
The Rock - Darwin's Indoor Climbing Centre. Image from Travel NT's Website.

The Rock – Darwin’s Indoor Climbing Centre. Image from Travel NT’s Website.

  • Indo Pacific Marine
    Check out the tours that are offered.
    Opened from 9am to 4pm
    April to October and from November to March 9am to 1pm weekdays and 10am to 2pm weekends and public holidays. Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.

    Showing the beauty of the Northern Territory marine environment. Image from Travel NT's website.

    Showing the beauty of the Northern Territory marine environment. Image from Travel NT’s website.

TAS

  • The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG
    Tours at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Image from Museum's website

    Tours at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Image from Museum’s website

  • The Phenomena Factory
    “The Phenomena Factory is a free-entry interactive science centre providing hands-on education for kids of all ages. You can challenge yourself in the Perception Tunnel or test your reactions while you touch, switch, pull and crank your way around the Phenomena Factory, actively learning about science along the way.Exhibits also include Death at a Distance, Dice with Death, Sniff a Snack, and Squeeze and Serve – all from Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre in Australia. You will also find the Jaffa Machine donated by Hydro Tasmania which turns human mechanical energy into kinetic energy. Crank the handle and sustain the energy output long enough and you’ll be rewarded with a jaffa.”
    Cost: FREE!
    Times: Open 10am – 5pm daily
    For all ages
  • The Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery
    If you visit The Phenomena Factory the Museum is very close so why not pop in for a visit too.
    Learn about the Heritage Trail, and how the railways transformed Tasmania, plus lots more!

    Telephone 03 6323 3777
    Fax 03 6323 3776
    Email enquiries@qvmag.tas.gov.au

    Two Destinations
    Museum at 2 Invermay Road, Inveresk TAS 7248
    Art Gallery at 2 Wellington Street, Launceston TAS 7250

    Opening Hours (Admission free)
    10am to 4pm daily (both destinations)
    Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day

  • 2015 Huon Valley Mid-Winter Festival
    Dates: 15, 16 & 17 July 2022
    See the website for costs

    The Apple Shed
    2064 Huon Highway, Grove TAS
    Suitable for all ages

    Planetarium. Image from QVMAG Planetarium's website.

    Planetarium. Image from QVMAG Planetarium’s website.

  • QVMAG Planetarium
    Free Admission
    Age Group: 5 years and up. Admission fees for shows are very reasonable.
  • National Automobile Museum of Tasmania
    The museum is located at Cnr Willis & Cimitiere Sts, Launceston, Tasmania, 7250, Australia.
    See website for costs for admission.
    Open every day except Christmas Day, 9am – 5pm summer hours. Winter hours: 10am to 4pm.
  • Learn about more great activities for the school holidays, Zoo Doo (An African Safari just 6km from Richmond), Allport Library and fine arts, Maritime Museum of Tasmania, Museum of Old and New art has great holiday programs for kids, and Bush Kids that is a brilliant holiday program that takes kids on exciting nature-based adventures.

This is just a list of things I found online and thought looked interesting and fun. It is by no means a full list of everything in Australia.

If it was this blog post would be way longer than it already is.

I hope you have fun and some of these events make the holidays fun for all. We are on a holiday countdown in our house.

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1 Response
  • Rahul Chawla
    April 8, 2016

    Hi Suzanne,

    You are such a champ for posting this amazing list!

    I didn’t have to spend hours and hours of searching the internet to gather a list of places,
    so thanks for that! If you’re ever thinking of visiting canberra, Please add the Canberra Zoo to the list as it is a great place to visit.

    Be sure to do the ‘Meet a Cheetah’. It is an experience not to miss. I learnt about this as I had to write a blog on it http://technowand.com.au/blog/national-zoo-and-aquarium-canberra-meet-a-cheetah-web-experience

    Hope you keeping adding the attractions to the list and make this a great ever green list.

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