Find plenty to do with the kids in NSW these summer holidays.
For VIC school holiday listings, read Summer activities for the kids on Essential Baby.
Historic ghost tours or prehistoric dinosaurs, breadmaking or flying foxes - here are some activities across Sydney and beyond for these summer holidays.
Little Green Thumbs gardening workshops
There's nothing more relaxing than spending time in the garden and Eden Gardens at North Ryde has a school holiday program to introduce children of all ages to the joys of digging in the dirt. The Little Green Thumbs gardening workshops have programs for three age groups: - one to four years, five to seven and eight to 12. The toddlers' workshop mixes craft with horticulture in an hour-long session, which costs $11. For the older children there are two separate programs: Plant Puppetry and Paper Cycles. These sessions will run from January 15-22 at a cost of $15. To reserve a spot, see edengardens.com.au.
Send shivers up your spine
Ghost stories and haunted houses are a favourite topic for young adults and during the school holidays, 13- to 17-year-olds can get thrilled and chilled with a real-life ghost hunt through the historic Rocks area in Sydney. A ghost host will get the goosebumps rising with gruesome tales of the eerie past while walking through the lantern-lit narrow laneways. Ghost Tours caters for groups of up to 16 for $29 each, leaving from Cadman's Cottage at 7.45pm. To make a booking, see ghosttours.com.au.
Step back in time
Learn just how hard it was for the first convicts who landed in Sydney Cove on Goat Island, with a discovery tour run by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Mums and dads can relax with a picnic lunch while their little convicts solve clues and plan a dash for freedom during the Island Break. The Goat Island Kids Day Out is on January 10, staring with a ferry ride from Circular Quay at 10.30am and the last ferry home leaves at 4pm. Adults $23, children $16.50 and a family pass (for four) is $70. Phone 9247 5033 for details.
Follow the clues - free
Choose a clue-trail map and discover the wonders and secret history of Sydney Olympic Park, following the hints to solve the message and claim a prize. The Clue Trail is for children from three to 12 and is suitable for both readers and non-readers. The family can also bring their bikes down and take off on an Amazing Chase around the park, solving puzzles at each checkpoint. Activity sheets are available from the visitor centre and bike-hire shop in Bicentennial Park. The Pole-to-Pole Clue Trail is also available on the weekends from the information booth at Blaxland Riverside Park so you can discover even more with the new navigation trail around Newington Armory. For more information see sydneyolympic park.com.au/whatson.
The Last Living Dinosaur
Come face-to-face with the world's deadliest predator at Sydney Wildlife World from December 22. The Last Living Dinosaur exhibit, an expansive re-creation of a Kakadu National Park gorge, will be the new territory of a fearsome crocodile weighing more than 700 kilograms and measuring almost five metres. But it's not just the giant croc that will keep children enthralled. Youngsters can take a journey back in time and explore the ancient Kakadu Gorge. The interactive exhibition features animatronic hatchlings, a fossil and crystal cave, live baby crocodiles and a full-sized scale model of the crocodile's prehistoric ancestor, the 15-metre long Deinosuchus. Costs are adult $31.95; child $17.95; concession $22.50; one adult, two children $58; two adults, two children $85. See myfun.com.au/croc.
Free fitness program for teens
One of Australia's largest health-and-fitness companies is encouraging teenagers to keep active during the school holidays with a challenging program. Fitness First is running its FFIT - Fitness First Initiative for Teens - throughout the holidays, giving teenagers free access to gym equipment and group fitness classes. FFIT Holidays participants need to bring in a pre-exercise form signed by a parent or guardian. Forms can be collected from any Fitness First outlet or downloaded at fitnessfirst.com.au/community/ffit. Once registered, students receive a FFIT Holidays membership card for the holiday period and must take part in a scheduled induction to learn how to use the equipment safely. See fitnessfirst.com.au for more.
All the world's a stage
Help the children to use their imagination with a range of workshops from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney. The workshops are designed for children from six to 18 who are interested in the performing arts. For the younger performers (six to eight ) there's Dinosaur Park (January 4-5), NIDA Space Academy (January 11-12) and NIDA Who (January 6-8). For the older children there's TV Presenting: The Cooking Show (January 11-13), music video production (January 4-8), filmmaking at Vaucluse House (January 5-8) and circus and clown school (January 20-22). There is also a workshop for children with intellectual disabilities, from January 16-17. For bookings see nida.edu.au or phone (02) 9697 7626. Prices range from $195-$525 and an early-bird discount is available.
Treetops adventure
The National Parks and Wildlife Service runs Discovery Tours at all NSW parks throughout the school holidays. One of the newest attractions is the Tree Tops Adventure Park at the Blue Gums Hills Regional Park at Minmi. The adventure park includes 80 challenges with 18 flying foxes and tree-to-tree suspension bridges all 15 metres off the ground. Each course is designed with different levels of difficulty for children as young as three. The high-wire activities are safe and once participants are equipped with technical equipment and briefed on safety, they can travel over their chosen courses for up to three hours. Tickets to the park cost $20 for children three to nine years; $30 for those 10-17 years; and $40 for adults, with family and group discounts available. The Blue Gum Hills Regional Park, Minmi, is 14 kilometres from Newcastle. The venue is open seven days a week from 9am-6pm. Check out treetop adventurepark.com.au or phone 4026 7617.
Snowy Mountains detectives
Just because there's no snow doesn't mean there's nothing to see or do in the Snowy Mountains. Discovery Tours at the Kosciuszko National Park include the Water and Bush Detectives, where children learn to investigate for signs of life in the Snowy River, identify native animals by their tracks and discover the variety of bugs keeping the waterways clean. All children must be accompanied by an adult. It costs only $4.50. There is also the Yarrangobilly Caves Aboriginal Cultural Tour where participants learn about indigenous culture through a hands-on experience, taste and smell bush treats and make an artefact or traditional bush tool for only $5.50. Bookings are essential. Phone (02) 6947 7025.
BAKE AND TAKE AT BRASSERIE BREAD
Bring out your child's inner chef with Brasserie Bread's Summer Holiday Baking Program for kids. From its kitchens in Botany Road, Banksmeadow, children will learn to bake in a specially designed training room with its own stone-hearth oven and dough mixer. They will learn about traditional, natural food production and how to choose their own healthy toppings for sweet and savoury treats. The program will run from January 12-25 and the two-hour classes cost $30, which covers all materials. The menu includes pizza, chocolate animals, bread plaits and Chelsea buns. The Brasserie also runs free children's baking classes on Saturdays at 10am and noon. Bookings are essential for both programs at brasseriebread.com.au.
DOWN IN THE ALLEYS, THEY'RE BOWLING 'EM OVER
AMF Bowling Centres are offering school holiday sessions for $8 a game including shoe hire. Buy three or more games a person and get a free hot dog, fries and drink. The offer is for the Christmas school holidays at all AMF Centres, of which there are 44 around Australia. And they'll be open on Boxing Day. For more information call 132 AMF (132 263) or go to amfbowling.com.au.
For VIC school holiday listings, read Summer activities for the kids on Essential Baby.
Source: The Sun-Herald
