School holidays guide: what to do in Sydney this spring
There are plenty of free activities, fun adventures, creative workshops and exciting shows happening across Sydney to keep the kids entertained during the school break.
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From outdoor adventures to crafty workshops, there are plenty of family-friendly activities and events happening all over Sydney throughout the school holidays.
Here’s our pick of some of the best ways to keep the kids entertained during the spring break:
FREE ACTIVITIES
Little Creators Project — October 2-7
Kids can make music, create original art, and take part in an interactive story time at these free inspiring workshops that will be held at the Village Green North. All ages.
Where: Darling Quarter
Details: darlingquarter.com
Spooksville — September 28 to October 14
This new Halloween family festival will pop-up on Lavender Green with a free trick or treat trail. Kids can also enjoy face painting, dance parties with spooky characters and quirky food such as spooky face pies and scary floss. Ages 14 and under.
Where: Luna Park Sydney
Cost: Free to enter and participate in the trick or treat trail. Face painting and other activities will be $2 each, with all profits donated to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals
Details: spooksville.com.au
Hello Koalas — October 4 to November 30
Follow the trail to find more than 20 one-metre high koala sculptures, which have been handpainted by Australian artists. The trail aims to promote the conservation of koalas and other threatened animal and plant species in Australia.
Where: The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Details: rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Event Cinemas’ Arts and Crafts — September 30 to October 13
Kids can make take-home artworks including bookmarks, hats, masks and more which are themed to the family films showing during the school break at Event Cinemas’ free arts and craft activities program. Ages 3-13.
Where: Select Event Cinemas
Details: eventcinemas.com.au
The Armory Scavenger Hunt — September 30 to October 4, October 8-11
Participants are given a clue card to find hidden objects in and around the armory and take photos of them to win a prize on this self-guided scavenger hunt. Ages 5-12.
Where: Newington Armory, Sydney Olympic Park
Details: sydneyolympicpark.com.au
FUN ADVENTURES
Spot On Children’s Festival — October 1-5
Kids of all ages can enjoy some of the best children’s entertainment around at this festival, which will include theatre, musical performances, workshops, film and free activities.
Where: Riverside Theatres, Parramatta.
Cost: $0-$29.
Details: riversideparramatta.com.au
Pizza Party in the Bush — September 30
Kids will learn all about native Australian plants and how they were used by the Aboriginal people and then bring all the ingredients together to make their own yummy pizza. Ages 5-12.
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre, Centennial Parklands
Cost: $29
Details: centennialparklands.com.au
Aquatopia — Until April 28
Fairfield City’s water park has returned for its biggest season yet with two new attractions — the Fishpipe, and the 20m high-speed slide tower with three exciting slides. All ages.
Where: Prairiewood Leisure Centre
Cost: $15-$20
Details: fairfieldcityleisurecentres.com.au
Zoo Adventures — September 30 to October 4, October 8-11
Go on an exciting zoo journey to learn about animals and meet the wonderful keepers who care for the animals that live at Taronga Zoo. Ages 5-10.
Where: Taronga Zoo
Cost: from $69
Details: taronga.org.au
Play World Australia — October 5-6
Enter a creative wonderland with the latest games from Nintendo, crazy activations, STEM activities, fun workshops, performances from popular kids personas and more. Ages 4-12.
Where: ICC Darling Harbour
Cost: $0-$24.96
Details: playworldaustralia.com.au
Aussie Bush Wildlife Sleep Out — October 11-12
Camp out under the stars among wildlife and enjoy an evening of wildlife shows, animal encounters, an Aussie bush tucker barbecue, marshmallow toasting and cooking damper over a campfire. Ages 4+
Where: Australian Reptile Park
Cost: $500 per tent per night with a minimum of one adult per tent.
Details: reptilepark.com.au
CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
Young at Art — September 30 to October 11
Kids can get creative with classes in drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, photomedia and printmaking. Ages 6-18.
Where: National Art School
Cost: from $130
Details: nas.edu.au
Messy Science — October 1
Learners will get messy in this hands-on workshop as they combine materials and learn all about scientific inquiry. Ages 6-7.
Where: Powerhouse Museum
Cost: $100-$121
Details: maas.museum
Kids on Deck - Prehistoric Aquatic — September 29 to October 13
Cast your own mini sea monster fossil, make a dramatic diorama, an origami-saur or prehistoric creature prints, play with science experiments and dress up as your favourite sea monster. For primary-school aged children.
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum
Cost: Free entry with any paid ticket
Details: sea.museum
Tell Your Own Story — October 2
This one-day workshop run by established drama facilitators teaches kids to share their stories through creative expression, enabling them to create a performance piece based on their own life experiences. Ages 10-14.
Where: Casula Powerhouse
Cost: $30
Details: casulapowerhouse.com
Slime Workshop — October 2, 4, 8 and 10
Kids can learn how to make colour, fluffy, scrunchy and glitter slimes to take home and then get active with dancing and games.
Where: Plaster Funtime, Entertainment Quarter
Cost: $35
Details: plasterfuntime.com.au
Space Odyssey Tinkertoreum — September 28 to October 13
Take part in a series of tinkering challenges to help start new habitats in space and build moon buggies to race down the Moon scape terrain. Ages 2+
Where: Powerhouse Museum
Cost: Included with museum admission; Free for children aged 16 years and under and MAAS members.
Details: maas.museum
Teens Digi Animation — September 30 to October 2
Explore 3D animation with an industry professional, using Photoshop, After Effects, Adobe Animate and Blender, and experiment with green screen animation. Grades 7-12.
Where: The Australian Film Television and Radio School
Cost: $450
Details: aftrs.edu.au
IT’S SHOWTIME
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo — September 28 to October 12
Journey back in time and meet prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet, in this uniquely entertaining and educational performance experience. Ages 6+
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: $29-$49
Details: sydneyoperahouse.com
Fairy Adventures — October 1, 2 and 3
Go on a magical journey through the gardens and meet some mischievous and magical creatures from the hidden world of the fairies. Ages 3-8.
Where: The Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney
Cost: $14
Details: rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au
Billy Elliot the Musical — October 10 to December 8
Follow Billy’s journey out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family, the whole community and changes his life forever.
Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre
Cost: tickets from $65
Details: sydneylyric.com.au
Little Red Riding Hood — October 11
This classic tale takes a few twists from the original story as the characters interact with and choose volunteers from the audience to come up and be part of the action. Ages 4+
Where: The Australian Botanic Gardens Mount Annan
Cost: $19 (carers are free)
Details: australianbotanicgarden.com.au
Cinderella — The Children’s Musical — October 14
This beautiful age-old fairy tale will have kids captivated as they get lost in the world of magic, the Prince and the glass slipper. All ages.
Where: Evan Theatre, Panther’s Penrith
Cost: $22.20
Details: penrith.panthers.com.au
GRAB A MOVIE
Dora and the Lost City of Gold
Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora for her most dangerous adventure ever — high school. She quickly finds herself leading Boots, Diego, a mysterious jungle inhabitant, and a rag tag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost city of gold.
The Angry Birds Movie 2
When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red, Chuck, Bomb, and Mighty Eagle recruit Chuck’s sister Silver and team up with pigs Leonard, his assistant Courtney, and techpig Garry to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.
Abominable
Go on an epic 3000-mile journey from the streets of Shanghai to the breathtaking Himalayan snowscapes. When a mischievous group of friends encounter a young Yeti, they embark upon a quest to reunite the magical creature with his family at the highest point on Earth.
UglyDolls
An animated adventure in which the free-spirited UglyDolls confront what it means to be different, struggle with a desire to be loved, and ultimately discover who you truly are is what matters most.
BILLY ELLIOT STAR
