School Holiday Activities Sydney

School Holidays Activities Sydney, Photo credit Ben Wicks

Be saved this school holidays by this super amazing list of free (and cheap) school holiday activities in Sydney!

You may also want to check out free places to ice-skate this winter, Sydney’s amazing winter festivals or why not do something unusual with the kids?

Central Business District and surrounds

Sydney Opera House
Every holidays the Sydney Opera House runs free creative play sessions in their foyer. There are also junior adventure tours which cost $22.00 per child.
More information: www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/bring-the-kids.html

Cockatoo Island
These school holidays, get to know the charlatans, rogues, thieves and cut-throats who once called Cockatoo Island home. The Crooked Characters Tour runs select Sundays (7, 14 and 21 July). Good old-fashioned fun guaranteed! Tickets available from just $5.00 per child and $12.00 per adult..
More information: http://bit.ly/Crooked-Characters

State Library of NSW
Free tours and low cost drop-in activities including fashion craft and pop up artmaking.
More information: www.sl.nsw.gov.au/learning/kids-and-families

Australian Museum
String figures free activity for the kids (kids get free into the museum with a paying adult).
More information: www.australianmuseum.net.au/event/school-holiday/

Powerhouse Museum
Some excellent activities for kids (kids get free entry into the museum with a paying adult) including Space Odyssey Tinkertoreum, Fantastical Worlds and Apollo II.
More information: www.maas.museum/whats-on/

Art Gallery of NSW
The Gallery is running two free workshops this school holidays – Face Time and NAIDOC Week craft.
More information: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/calendar/type/school-holidays/

Museum of Contemporary Art
Celebrate NAIDOC week at the MCA these school holidays. Look at work by Aboriginal artists and grab a cushion for hourly storytime sessions in the Galleries. $20.00 family ticket.
More information: www.mca.com.au/whats-on/school-holiday-programs/july-2019/

Parliament of NSW
Free tours run everyday during school holidays.
More information: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/School-Holiday-Tours.aspx

Sydney’s North

Cumberland State Forest
Cumberland State Forest run great low cost activities for 3 to 10 year olds.
More information: www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/activities/escape

St Ives Shopping Village
Kids coding ($10.00), rock art (free), Brikz for kids (free) and cake decorating ($15.00)
More information: stivesvillage.com.au/school-holidays-at-the-village/

North Sydney council
Super heroes, comics and writing!
More information: www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au

Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability
Lots of great green events for kids including a wildlife show, night time bushwalks and nature drawing.
More information: www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/Waste_Environment/

Northern Beaches Council
Lots of great free events including weaving, teddy bears story time, creative writing and comic zine.
More information: www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/library/whats-on/school-holiday-activities

Hornsby Council
Storytime, magic shows, escape room challenges and drawing manga.
More information: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/lifestyle/events

The Hills Shire Council
Low cost activities including illustration, claymation and coding
More information: www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Upcoming-Events-Activities

Mosman Council
Some excellent free events with great options for teens including Henna Painting, Youth Holiday Program, Canvas painting and art attack.
More information: https://events.mosman.nsw.gov.au/hubs/2547/winter-school-holiday-hub

Western Suburbs

Penrith Panthers
Free magic show and movies. Other low to mid cost activities including shows, craft and a disco.
More information: www.penrith.panthers.com.au/school-holidays/

City of Parramatta School Holiday program
Some amazing free events including lego engineering, slime and sport. Spots fill up quick so register now or go on the wait list.
More information: www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/recreation-school-holidays

Featherdale Wildlife Park
Kids go Free in July!
More information: www.freedays.com.au/featherdale-wildlife-park-july-offer/

Blacktown City Council
Story time, lego, pet owners sessions and more!
More information: https://view.joomag.com/school-holiday-guide-winter

Eastern Suburbs

Inner West

Hello Holidays Program, Inner West Council
An amazing school holiday program that features a tonne of free events including drawing, movies, comic books, paper mache, jewellery making, knitting, clay and paintings.
More information: www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/libraries/library-programs-and-events/hello-holidays

Fairfield City Council School Holiday Program
Lots of great events including lego, bonsai, balloon modelling, feature creatures and painting.
More information: www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/info/

Strathfield Council School Holiday Program
Low cost events including lego, games and dinosaurs.
More information: www.eventbrite.com.au/o/strathfield-library-amp-information-services

South West

Canterbury Bankstown Council
Lots of free events  being run as part of their library program. Tickets for the free activities are available half an hour before the event from the children’s desk. Paid activities must be booked and paid for in advance.They are also running a free Rugby League event.
More information: www.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/events/school-holidays-at-our-libraries

Campbelltown City Council
Lots of excellent activities including free rugby league skills clinic, $2.00 magic shows, free ninja warrior sessions and pool inflatable days!
More information: www.campbelltown.nsw.gov.au/WhatsOn

Casula Powerhouse
Way our West Festival for Children is Sydney’s only contemporary arts festival for children and families. The WOW Festival will paint the Casula Powerhouse in wild colours this July, with workshops, performances and installations suitable for kids up to 15 years of age. So many great free events for the kids to enjoy.
More information: www.wayoutwestfestival.com.au/calendar

Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living, School holiday program
Excellent program with free activities including Recycled Art & Craft, Micro Zookeeper, Operation Worm Trail and Kids Gardening & Cooking.
More information: www.camden.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/event-calendar

South

Sutherland Shire Council
Huge range of free and low cost activities including Read with the Cats, Marshmallow Houses, blocks and animations.
More information: www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Community

Kareela Village
Kareela Village is hosting a fantastic winter wonderland festivals with FREE iceskating. Kids can also enjoy free activities each day.
More information: www.kareelavillage.com.au/events/july-school-holidays-winter-wonderland/

The Shellharbour Club
Lots of great and really cheap activities including movies, craft, science, dance party and bingo.
More information: http://shellys.com.au/kids/

Wollongong Botanic Garden
Garden in space program, $ $13 per child. $24 for family of two or more children.
More information: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au/botanicgarden/whatson/Pages/schoolholidayprograms.aspx#gref

Illawarra Light Railway Museum
The museum has opening days for the school holidays. Entry is free, rides from $5.00.
More information: www.ilrms.com.au/opening_times.htm

Hurstville Gallery & Museum
Enjoy the Dragonflies Kids Club for some excellent activities which are $5.50.
More information: www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/Community/What-s-On

Hawkesbury

Australiana Pioneer Village
Join in the Colonial themed days at the Australiana Pioneer Village.
More information: www.theapv.org.au/village/events/

Hawkesbury Council
Free and low cost events including writing workshops, movies, storytime and comic art.
More information: www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/gallery/whats-on/school-holiday-activities