If you’ve got a LEGO-mad kid (or you are the LEGO-mad one), this is the ultimate school-holiday adventure. We cannot wait to go and experience RELICS: A New World Rises with our family!
Created by former LEGO® Masters champions Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS turns ordinary objects into extraordinary LEGO worlds. Imagine:
🔹 A fridge transformed into a cryogenic health resort 🔹 A typewriter running a bustling newspaper empire 🔹 A Volkswagen Beetle powering a futuristic energy revolution
Every build is packed with Minifigure mischief, playful storytelling, and tiny details that will have you looking twice… and smiling every time.
See It Before 26 January
This isn’t just another exhibition—RELICS closes on 26 January 2026, so now’s the time to plan your visit. With strong crowds expected over the school holidays, book early to make sure you don’t miss out!
RELICS Highlights
14 massive displays combining vintage objects with LEGO creations
Interactive LEGO build zone—create your own miniature worlds
Custom scavenger hunts for kids and adults alike
A futuristic story set in 2130, where LEGO societies rise from the remains of a human-free world
More to Explore at the Australian Museum
The fun doesn’t stop with RELICS! Over the summer holidays, the museum is also hosting two free spectacular photographic exhibitions:
Unfinished Business– the stories of 30 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with disabilities across Australia
Plus, visitors can explore the stunning permanent galleries: Dinosaurs, Minerals, Birds of Australia, and award-winning First Nations galleries including Garrigarrang, Wansolmoana, and the Burra play space.
A Story in Every Brick
Jackson and Alex have poured years into this passion project, giving every Minifigure its own story. The result? A playful, imaginative, and surprisingly thoughtful world you’ll get lost in—together as a family.
Don’t Miss Out
We cannot wait to explore RELICS with our family—and you shouldn’t miss it either. Bring your kids, bring your inner LEGO fan, and get ready to be amazed!
What: RELICS: A New World Rises exhibition Open now — closes 26 January 2026 Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney NSW Exhibition Tickets: Adult: $29.00, Concession: $25.00, Child 4-15: $19.00, Child 0-3: Free
The Australian Museum offers free general admission and is open every day except Christmas Day (25 December). Tickets for RELICS are available now at australian.museum – strong demand is expected for the summer holidays. Gift cards for the exhibition are also available via the AM website.
We love LEGO® and absolutely adore the Australian Museum – it’s the perfect place to spend a day (or even just a few hours) keeping the kids entertained. And now there’s a new reason to visit: RELICS: A New World Rises, opening Saturday, 16 August 2025.
Created by former LEGO® Masters champions Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, RELICS transforms everyday objects into incredible LEGO® worlds filled with tiny Minifigure stories and mind-blowing creativity. From refrigerators turned into cryogenic health resorts to typewriters as bustling newspaper headquarters, there’s something to discover at every turn.
With an interactive LEGO® build zone, scavenger hunts, and endless imaginative inspiration, RELICS is perfect for LEGO®-obsessed kids – or adults who never outgrew their love for LEGO®. It’s a fun, creative, and totally unique way to spend a few hours at the museum.
Whether you’re a LEGO® fanatic or just love seeing creativity come to life, RELICS is an experience you won’t want to miss. Get ready to explore a world where the past and the future collide in the most imaginative ways.
📅 When: Opens Saturday, 16 August 2025 and will run until Tuesday, 27 January 2026. 📍 Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney NSW 🎟 Tickets: Adults $29 | Concession $25 | Children 4-15 $19 | Under 4 free
Exhibition Highlights:
14 immersive displays that transform vintage objects into detailed LEGO® worlds
Created by LEGO® Masters champions Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler
Engaging, layered storytelling filled with hidden details to delight curious minds of all ages
Interactive build zone where visitors can design, build, and display their own LEGO® creations
Custom scavenger hunts tailored for both children and adults
Audio guide available – download the free,accessible guideto your device before arrival and bring your own headphones for the best experience
RELICS at the Australian Museum is the perfect way to spend a day with the family. LEGO® fans of all ages will be captivated by the incredible displays, interactive build zones, and imaginative stories, while everyone can also explore the museum’s fascinating exhibits. It’s a day full of creativity, discovery, and fun – a must-do for kids and adults alike!
Note: We have had non-stop rain again, and it is 2025. In 2021, it caused chaos, flooding, road closures and landslides too, not much has changed, right? Also created difficulty travelling anywhere! You will see a quote from my little boy from 2021, as the post was first published on 21st March 2021.
We have had non-stop rain, and according to my little boy, it has been raining for ages and ages, see his quote below for how long it has been raining.
“It’s been raining for 100 weeks”
Alexander 21st march 2021
And yes 100 weeks of rain is what it has felt like and currently no end in sight of when it might stop.
Here are the 31 Indoor Activities
Having movie night with my girls. We are so happy and excited to be watching SING on DVD.
Watch a movie with the kids Set up your living room with pillows, cushions and blankets. Get the movie popcorn ready and put on a new film or a family favourite. Watch the whole series of Harry Potter, Addams Family, Back to the Future, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Jumanji: The Next Level or anything that takes your fancy. There is nothing better than being cosy in warm blankets while it is raining and watching a fun film with your family.
Draw and Paint Set up tables, paint, crayons and textas ready for kids to create future masterpieces. Make sure that you have kids in old clothes and put newspaper or a cloth down to ensure you don’t get heaps of mess on the floor. See if the kids can draw a self-portrait or maybe do a picture of another family member.
3. Make your own Paint I wanted to get the kids painting, and I did not want paint that causes issues with clothes or bad if you accidentally eat it. So I made my own paint. How I hear you ask??
Cornflour
Water
Food dye
I started with 1 cup of cornflour and enough water to make a paste. I created all the mixture before I added the colour as I wanted different colours that would allow the kids to paint a picture and not be restricted to two colours only. I added the mixture without the colour into a cupcake tin and then added the colour to each area of the tin.
I decided to make, yellow, purple, orange, blue, green and red. I ended up using more cornflour as it was not quite a paste consistency and I used more water than I should have as it was my first attempt at making this. To make each paint set I put it in the freezer to set. I am not sure if that is the done thing but it worked out quite well.
It might have been in the freezer for a bit long but after adding a bit of water with the paintbrush the colour melted a bit and it was just like real paints but with cornflour and water.
5. Read books Read books to the youngest kids and older ones can have some quiet time in their room reading too
Act out your favourite scenes or part of the book you just read Put on a play for your family – it could be from the story you just read or a story you have just made up.
6. Shadow Puppet Show Create a shadow puppet show. You can make paper characters or just use your hands. All you need is a darkened room and a torch…oh and shadow puppets and a fun story.
7. Create Painted Rocks While the weather is not great and you are indoors it is a perfect time to decorate rocks with the kids.
7. Make a blanket fort Grab all the blankets to create a blanket fort. It is helpful to have some rubber bands and string to help tie the blankets to chairs and other furniture. You can also knot blankets together so that they all stay intact to allow you to have a bigger fort.
8. Camp out for the day in your blanket fort Now you have your own hidy hole and it is all comfy with more blankets, pillows and cushions you can now camp out here for the day. Bring your most favourite toys, teddies, cars and a torch to allow you to have fun in your secret base.
9. DUPLO/LEGO Skittles Make your very own skittles from DUPLO or LEGO. Super easy and fun to make and once your skittles are created all you need is a tennis ball or something similar to use to knock them down. Hours of fun can be had for the whole family.
10. Playdough Fun Make your own Playdough. It is so easy and you can create so many unique colours. Everyone can get involved in making their own playdough masterpiece. I love using McKenzie’s Playdough Recipeand I think the magic ingredient is McKenzie’s Cream of Tartar as it makes the playdough so soft!
Playdough all made and ready to play with
11. Bake your Playdough Now that you have made a stunning piece of art in playdough you can keep it by baking it in the oven
Put the playdough creations on a baking tray with baking paper. Have the oven on for 200 degrees for around 30mins.
Baked Playdough Creations
12. Make Salt Dough Ornaments Super easy and fun for the kids to make, these ornaments will be able to be given as gifts or just hung up around the house. You can use them for Easter, Christmas or for any occasion.
13. Make Raspberry Playdough – Smells Amazing! Playdough is fun and playdough that smells fantastic is even better! Make this super easy raspberry playdough
Raspberry Playdough
14. Make Jewellery, brooches and character statues with Fimo When I was younger and still in primary school, I made Fimo jewellery, beads and characters with my sister. We were rather good at it and sold them at the local markets. It is a fun activity to do with the kids and fosters creativity. Fimo is so much fun and something I want to do more of again.
15. Bake a cake Make a cake with the kids for afternoon tea or just because. It can be a yummy choc chip one or if your little one is like mine you might have to make vanilla cakes with blue icing.
16. Make Gingerbread People If cakes are not your thing, get creative and make some fun and yummy gingerbread people. I have the best gingerbread recipe to download. Everyone will enjoy decorating their gingerbread people.
17. Bake cookies or brownies Cookies and brownies might be easier to create and also allow for more people to have something little to eat.
18. Cook Hot Chips from Scratch in the Airfryer Cooking chips from scratch in the airfryer is super easy and also a healthier option. Give it a go for a movie night or an addition to a quick dinner.
19. Play dress-ups If you have a dress-up box you will have hours of fun dressing up as all sorts of different characters, police, magician, princess, firefighter, superhero’s and more!
20. YouTube Tutorials For older kids and adults you can learn online with YouTube. One of my girls has taken to watching art tutorials on YouTube and has created stunning drawings as a result.
22. Decorate Your Own Handerchiefs with Stained Sharpies This is a great project and fun for all. You can make a unique design on handkerchiefs and either use them as gifts or keep them for yourself.
23. Learn to Code with Tynker.com Tynker.com has great online lessons for kids who would love to learn to code
24. Piper Computer Kit – Learn how to program and build a computer My kids love their Piper Computer Kit and it is so fun to use.
25. Decorate Cups with Sharpies The kids decorated some mugs for Father’s Day but you could do it for any occasion or just for a great project. Having constant rain is a good idea to just do something fun.
Decorated mug for Daddy
26. Make a Paper Chain Calendar This is a fun activity to help kids learn more about dates for each month.
27. Play Sight Words Bingo While stuck indoors, why not play a game that is fun but also educational? Play Sight Words Bingoto help your kids recognise more letters for reading at school.
28. Fizzy Dyed Easter Eggs This is a fun way to dye Easter Eggs and could be a messy one. Make sure to have ample protection and old clothes for this activity.
Years ago, I went to Cirque du Soleil shows with my mum, and I was completely enchanted. The magic was undeniable. Fast forward to 2023, and I took my youngest to Cirque du Soleil CRYSTAL while his big sisters and daddy were off overseas. It felt like the perfect chance for a special show together—and wow, it did not disappoint. From start to finish, it was mesmerizing! I found myself completely immersed in the performance, almost in a trance, as the acrobats and performers did feats that left me spellbound.
Now, here we are in 2024, and I’m gearing up for another jaw-dropping Cirque du Soleil experience with LUZIA. Bring on the magic!
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
We are super excited to attend the premiere show of Cirque du Soleil’s LUZIA. This event is happening on Wednesday, 27 November.
What is LUZIA about?
LUZIA is often described as a “waking dream of Mexico.” It takes audiences on a journey through vibrant landscapes. The show also features surreal settings and awe-inspiring acrobatics. The show includes everything from a cascading waterfall to jaw-dropping aerial acts. Each element is designed to transport you to a world where dreams meet reality. It looks absolutely magical—like stepping into worlds within worlds! I can’t wait to be whisked away on a fantastical journey to another land. What about you—ready to dive into the magic?
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
Fun Facts about LUZIA’s Big Top
Capacity: The Big Top seats more than 2,600 people—perfect for an unforgettable experience!
Set-Up Time: The entire site, including the Big Top, VIP Tents, and rehearsal spaces, is assembled in just 8 days.
Dimensions: The Big Top stands 19 meters (62 feet) high with a diameter of 51 meters (167 feet), supported by 4 steel masts that rise 25 meters (82 feet) tall.
Stability: Anchored by 550 pegs, the tent firmly covers 48,500 square feet of asphalt and can withstand winds up to 120 km/h (75 mph)!
International cast: The touring cast and crew include 115 people from 26 countries, showcasing a truely international collaboration. Among the 47 artists, 18 nationalities are represented, including talent from Australia, Canada, Mexico, Ukraine, and more.
How many jobs are involved: Behind the scenes, there are over 40 unique job titles ensuring the seamless production of the show.
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
The Big Top isn’t just a tent—it’s a travelling village, bringing the wonder of Cirque du Soleil to cities around the globe. Honestly, with everything it takes to pull off the show, it might as well be its own city!
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
This show is a school holiday dream! Snag some tickets, gather the family, and give them a surprise they’ll never forget!
Grab the details for tickets, venue and more!
Currently, there are all sorts of deals for tickets. You can snap up a 25% discount for Black Friday, grab a family offer for the whole family with 15% off or enjoy a night out offer for the purchase of 2 tickets with up to 15% off. Tickets are selling fast so make sure to grab them while you still see them.
The Entertainment Quarter is located at 122 Lang Road, Moore Park NSW 2010 (next to the Sydney Cricket Ground).
If you would like a map or other help about the venue then click here to learn more about The Entertainment Quarter.
Photos: Matt Beard & Anne Colliard Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi Cirque du Soleil 2022
Grab tickets for the family and let them experience the magic! It’s the perfect way to spark their love for theatre, acrobatics, and the arts—pure delight and inspiration all in one show.
A BIG thank you to Cirque du Soleil for the tickets for my family to attend the premiere. We feel very special attending the event and are really looking forward to the time together and to experience the show. I will let you know about all the fabulous things that you shouldn’t miss when you go, so stay tuned for more info soon!
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Note: This post was originally published June 23, 2014. There might be some info that is not accurate but a simple google search will help get updated info.
Do you have plans for the July school holidays? Stuck for ideas on keeping the kids entertained? How about taking a day trip to the Blue Mountains or why not stay over to experience more of what we have to offer. There are so many things to do!
Activities in The Blue Mountains & Surrounds
(The below list is supplied by Blue Mountains Tourism)
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Bells Line of Rd, Mt Tomah
Combine education with natural wonder and plenty of fresh air. Browse the garden at your own pace, join an organised tour and check out the “dinosaur’’ tree, the Wollemi pine. Check out the Offshoots: A Florilegium exhibition of contemporary botanical illustrations by Cairns artist Julie McEnerny will be a feature during the holidays. Cost: free entry. Details: mounttomahbotanicgarden.com.au.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah. Image by David Hill
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, 30 Parke St, Katoomba
A great all-weather family activity, the cultural centre includes Into the Blue (the Blue Mountains World Heritage Exhibition) featuring high-tech interactive exhibitions exploring the natural as well as social landscapes of this unique area. Children of all ages can navigate their way through these stories through an immersive exhibition experience, introducing them to the richness and wonders of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Cost: $5 adults, $3 concession (children under-16 free). The centre also includes the Blue Mountains City Art Gallery, Blue Mountains City Library, a shop and café. Details: bluemountainsculturalcentre.com.au.
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus and Blue Mountains Trolley Tours
Ditch the car and jump aboard a red double-decker Explorer Bus or vintage-style maroon Trolley Tour hop-on/hop-off service to access all the famous sights and sites of Leura and Katoomba without the hassle of parking. Both provide all-day tickets. Details: trolleytours.com.au or explorerbus.com.au.
Explorer Bus 20. Image by David Hill.
Bygone Beautys, Megalong and Grose streets, Leura
Take time out and indulge in a silver-service traditional high tea of ever-popular Devonshire tea. You might even meet Mr Teapot himself. Details: bygonebeautys.com.au.
Traditional tea at Bygone Beautys Leura. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.
Everglades Historic House & Gardens, 37 Everglades Ave, Leura
There’s plenty to explore at this 1930s property, with 12.5 acres of tiered European-style gardens and the native Australian bush, breathtaking views over the Jamison Valley and even a waterfall. Walk up an appetite before refuelling in the tearooms (book ahead so you don’t miss out). Entry: $10 adults, $8 concession, $4 children (National Trust members free). Details: everglades.org.au.
Everglades Historic House & Gardens. Image supplied via Blue Mountains Tourism
Featherdale Wildlife Park, Kildare Rd, Doonside
Hand feed a kangaroo, wallaby or emu; have a face-to-face encounter with a koala and meet the whole gamut of native animals at the home of one of the nation’s largest private collections of Australian native animals and bird life. Pack a picnic or buy refreshments at the café. Cost: $29 adults, $16 children (3-15 years), $22.50 students, $20 seniors, $82 family (2 adults/2 children). Details: featherdale.com.au.
Bumble the baby wombat at Featherdale Wildlife Park. Client: Blue Mountains Attractions Group. Image by David Hill.
Jenolan Caves, Jenolan Rd, Jenolan
Discover the underground at the world’s most magnificent cave system. Explore a spectacular show cave, go on an adventure or special children’s or night tour. For grownups and older children there is a fascinating tour every night (go on the Legends, Mysteries & Ghosts tour on Saturday or Wednesday – if you dare). Explore the outdoors on some new bushwalks or traipse through a self-guided tour of the Nettle Cave (free with any show cave tour) including a lively commentary for young children – there’s even an Aboriginal culture tour. The cafe serves light lunches, snacks and drinks or enjoy a delicious dinner at the award-winning Chisholm’s Restaurant. Why not choose one of the many accommodation options to suit all family budgets and stay the night? Details: jenolancaves.org.au.
Coloured lights add another dimension to a chamber in the Chifley Cave system. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism.Image by David Hill.
Nana’s Teddies & Toys, Kidman St, Blaxland
With 15,000 teddy bears and plush animals at Australia’s largest and most awarded specialist teddy bear haven, you’re bound to meet the furry friend that’s just right for you. Details: teddys.com.au.
Nana’s Teddies. Image By David Hill.
Norman Lindsay Gallery, Norman Lindsay Ave, Faulconbridge
Draw inspiration from one of Australia’s most loved authors and artists, Norman Lindsay, at the home of the Magic Pudding at special holiday children’s workshops. Make your favourite character out of clay at The Magic Pudding in Clay (July 2) or transform your favourite character from a drawing to your own relief print at Artist’s Printmaking Like Lindsay (July 3). Both workshops are for children aged 5-12. Cost: $25 for one, $40 for two includes all materials and aprons. Explore the historic gallery and grounds while you are there. Bookings and details: info@normanlindsay.com.au or normanlindsay.com.au.
Scenic World Blue Mountains, Violet St and Cliff Drive, Katoomba
Enjoy the thrill of a high altitude adventure these winter school holidays with early bird discounts before 10am (June 28 to July 13), fantastic family packages, free Magic Pudding movie screenings (July 2 and 9), new light options menu including great value children’s meals and, of course, the chance of snow. Planning your visit is simple with a range of tailored itineraries catering to bushwalkers, grandparents with kids, thrill seekers or even those a little scared of heights. Get insider tips on what the locals love to make the remainder of your stay unforgettable. Details: scenicworld.com.au.
Scenic Skyway and Three Sisters. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.
Scenicworld’s Cableway cable car takes visitors through hanging swamps and lush mountain rainforests to climb up sheer rock faces with spectacular views of Katoomba Falls and the Jamison valley. Photo: Blue Mountains Lithgow & Oberon Tourism. Image by David Hill.
Talisman Gallery, Hartley Historic Site, off the Great Western Hwy, Hartley (10am to 5pm Tuesday to Sunday)
Located at the picturesque Hartley Historic Site, visitors can snap up truly unique hand-forged and crafted pieces of wall art including decorative wall mirrors, clocks and dragon sculptures. Warm up by watching metal artist Ron Fitzpatrick create a masterpiece from the glow of his forge downstairs before heading upstairs to browse the gallery of fascinating artwork and jewellery. Details: talismangallery.com.au.
Talisman Gallery. Image by David Hill.
The Brook Art & Craft Co-op, 1a Ross St, Glenbrook
A not-for-profit retail shop, The Brook is staffed and operated by its members, who themselves make most of the products on display. The range available covers just about any craft you can name and every handmade item is unique to the shop.
Waradah Aboriginal Centre, World Heritage Plaza, Echo Point Rd, Katoomba
Witness Australian Aboriginal culture in a contemporary gallery. Experience traditional dance, take part in interactive didgeridoo performances, examine authentic artworks and take home genuine Aboriginal souvenirs. Learn about Australia’s living Aboriginal culture from the local Darug and Gundungurra tribes through informal cultural discussions and lectures.
Waradah. Image by David Hill.
Hope that this gives you some great ideas for family getaways and day trips with the kids. Enjoy the school holidays! Stay warm.
Ready in his safety harness and helmetGetting fitted for his safety gearEnjoying the climbing fun
I wanted to take Alex somewhere fun, somewhere different from the usual park.
But where?
Why not Treetops Adventure at Western Sydney. You don’t have to visit the Western Sydney location, this is the one we visited. The Western Sydney Treetops are within the Western Sydney Parklands.
In fact, Treetops Adventures are available in 8 different locations in NSW, also in Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.
I looked online for a great spot to take my active six-year-old and settled on Treetops adventure. I magically booked one of the last times for their adventures that day and of course, high-tailed it down the mountain to get there on time. I was however about 15 minutes late, but I soon discovered that was okay. Thank goodness for that!
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He had the safety rope on the course to make sure he was safe even if he fell
We were in time for my little boy to join a group of other kids, he just needed to get his harness fitted and wait for the group to have their safety induction and their guide to tell them the rules of what to do and of course not do. If they needed help there were staff there with their harness on ready to climb to help out.
At first, my little boy was a bit shocked we didn’t end up at the park he thought we were going to…however, I did tell him we were off on an adventure to do something different.
See our YouTube video of our Treetops Adventure
Balancing to make sure he has the edge
Brave and keen to climb all the courses
Alex grew his confidence with the different courses.
One course had my six-year-old fall off the timber or logs that were there. He did have a harness and was also strapped on with the metal safety line, so no worry about falling. However, losing his footing was a bit scary and I had to talk him through how to get back on the logs.
I did get the attention of one of the staff there and they were on their way and then Alex managed to sort it all out himself.
These ones move and Alex took a bit longer making sure he put his foot on the next one correctly
The courses that had moving logs or missing parts where you would put your feet made my little boy a bit worried at first, he did get the hang of how to work the ones that were moving and then with the ones that had missing parts he favoured the area that had more timber for him to stand.
Getting across the course slowly but surely
He also was very focused on what he was doing and how he managed each course.
When Alex got to the Ziplines he was able to take off the zip fitting and put it on the metal line for the zip adventure himself. He got really good at it and even though he fiddled a bit sometimes getting it off the metal rope he yelled at me that he didn’t need help, he would say very loudly “I don’t need help!”
Was a bit worried about the gaps and the logs…at least they don’t move
Got the hang of the net
This was a great decision to take my little one to Treetops Adventure at Western Sydney, he loved it. In fact, he really didn’t want to leave.
Having heaps of fun climbing
I now really would like to take the twins to experience more Treetops Adventures throughout Sydney. For all kids to do a park together I would need to have courses for the bigger kids and many courses for the younger person too.
If you are looking at an activity for the holidays, weekend or any time climbing at TreeTops is something I would highly recommend. Not only is it great for kids as they are outdoors, it helps with their confidence and problem-solving abilities it is also fun and different from your standard park.
Alex had never climbed at Treetops before and was racing around and doing the courses multiple times, he seemed to be an expert after doing it many many times!
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Note: First published July 2014..although this is great no matter what year.
Have you wondered what to do with the kids these school holidays? Worried that if you take them somewhere or do anything it will cost you? Well, I have a list of fun things to do that will not break the bank. Yes, these fun things will keep the kids happy as well as your bank balance.
1. Playdough Fun
The night before I made a whole batch of playdough. I created multiple colours and also some had glitter in them as well. I added the food dye to each batch and made sure they were very bright vivid colours to make it even more fun. (Make sure you wear gloves as my hands were stained for a couple of days – yes I had green and red hands)
Playdough – In resealable bags so that the dough remains fresh and does not dry out.
I gave the kids cookie cutters, rolling pins, toothpicks and more so they could make patterns and be as creative as they wished.
I made the playdough recipe from McKenzie’s Cream of Tartar for playdough as it gives a nice smooth fluffy feeling. If you use this way to make playdough it will come out so nice and soft, just like the ones at the store. Yes, you heard that right! Give it a go and see. Make a big batch and put it all in containers for a rainy day. The kids loved this and played with the dough and their creations for hours.
All the kid’s playdough creations drying. Once all is done we can have them on our shelves to display. Don’t they look amazing?
2. Baking Fun
My girls love to make cakes and of course, after the cake is in the oven, they love to lick the mixing bowl and spoon. I did that as a kid and it is the best as the mixture always tastes wonderful and is so chocolatey!
I created a marble cake and added a vanilla cake mix to a chocolate one that had chocolate bits added to it as well. Once mixed in it created a marvellous marble mixture and looked great once it was cut into. Sorry I did not get any other pictures than the one before it was all eaten. Yes, it was that good. Maybe I should be a Masterchef????
Yummy Marble Cake – Get your little chefs busy with this easy-to-make cake
If you have a packet of cake mix this keeps things easy and all you need to do is add the eggs/egg and milk, stir and then put it in the oven. Simple cake made! You can ice it or add chocolate bits as we did, the choice is yours. Enjoy!
3. Painting Fun
I wanted to get the kids painting, and I did not want paint that causes issues with clothes or bad if you accidentally eat it. So I made my own paint. How do I hear you ask??
These are the ingredients I used:
Cornflour
Water
Food dye
I started with 1 cup of cornflour and enough water to make a paste. I created all the mixture before I added the colour as I wanted different colours that would allow the kids to paint a picture and not be restricted to two colours only. I added the mixture without the colour into a cupcake tin and then added the colour to each area of the tin.
I decided to make, yellow, purple, orange, blue, green and red. I ended up using more cornflour as it was not quite a paste consistency and I used more water than I should have as it was my first attempt at making this. To make each paint set I put it in the freezer to set. I am not sure if that is the done thing but it worked out quite well.
It might have been in the freezer for a bit long but after adding a bit of water with the paintbrush the colour melted a bit and it was just like real paints but with cornflour and water.
Having fun painting. Such creative artists.
Great paint mummy! What else can I paint?
4. Movie Fun
It is always fun to watch a film you have never seen before and to have lunch. I fed the kids some food while they all sat and watched Frozen. Yes, we are late to the party and have just seen Frozen.
Mesmerized watching Frozen
Now all the kids are singing is, “I want to build a snowman!” AHHHHH Oh well, so glad they loved it and sat still to watch it. Winning I think!
So grab a film that no one has seen as it will capture their interest for longer. If you want why not make a bed on the floor of the living room and make a treat of the film. You can even popcorn if the kids like that.
5. Park Fun
Around the corner of the house is a park. So I walked the kids to the park and they all ran amok at the park. One went on the swing, the other on the monkey bars and one other was going down the slippery dip. Fresh air and exercise always help keep kids happy.
The park is free and if you are not near one you can drive to one and bring the bike/scooter the child can get more enjoyment out of playing with their toys.
Swinging is fun! I am doing it all by myself now mummy!
Look at me, I can do the monkey bars all by myself. How clever is she!
I hope this list of some fun things to do with kids helps while they are on school holidays or for the weekends. Enjoy!
We visited Portland Night Markets in April and had a great time, there were plenty of stalls, craft fun for the kids, and also food trucks. The markets and silos are managed by the Foundations at Portland.
The stunning mural on the Portland Silos
While we were at the Portland Twilight Markets in April we did the following:
Looked at the stalls and bought things
Ate food from the food trucks
Looked around at the silos
Enjoyed a bit of music
My youngest had fun creating art at the kid’s corner
We are keen to enjoy the cracker and bonfire night at Portland Silos. It is freezing here already so we will need to rug up as it is really windy.
If you are going see the details below and maybe I will see you there.
Checking out the silos at the Portland Markets
At the markets early before it was night
Looking at the stalls at the Portland Twilight Markets
Creating art at the Portland Markets
June 11th is Cracker and Bonfire Night at Portland
June long weekend at the Foundations in Portland
“Fireworks, a massive bonfire, over 70 market stalls, food trucks, and more on the night.
Lounge Katz will keep you entertained in the markets while out by the fire, local musicians and performers will keep you entertained while you warm up. For the kids, the STEAMWorks Craft Corner will be back, and we are welcoming Fizzics providing exciting engaging shows for kids of all ages throughout the night.”
We are lucky to live in a city where we can be at a beach or the mountains. A few weeks back (in fact it was Mother’s Day), the kids, hubby, and I decided to take the ferry to Manly. We thought it would be fun to explore and spend the day at the beach.
Even Bark the Dog had fun on the ferry
Waiting for the Manly ferry at Circular Quay.
It was a stunning time on the harbour, the weather was great and it was lovely to have no rain for a day. I am sure that it rained the next day and didn’t stop. I must say that the constant rain has been hard to live with, so when it was finally good weather we leapt at the chance and embraced the time out.
Playing with sand is so much fun. We had fun making sandcastles on Manly Beach.
Alexander loved playing at Manly Beach
My little boy had never been on a ferry before, so hubby and I thought it would be extra fun for him and also fun for the older kids too.
Some things we did while we were on our adventure to Manly:
Obviously, catch a ferry to Manly and back to Circular Quay
Teach the older kids about the sides and areas of the boat, Port (left), Starboard ( right) Bow (front), and Stern (back).
Walked around and looked at the shops
Spent time at Manly Beach
Had fun with our six-year-old playing on the beach and running away from the waves
Have an ice cream at Manly Wharf
On the ferry ride there and back, notice the houses, and boats on the harbour and explain to the kids why the waves get choppier when we get close to the heads (heads that go directly out to sea).
See how a simple ferry trip can be a fun adventure and allow you to explore new areas of your own city. It is also a cheap day out with the kids.
Why not grab fish and chips while you are in Manly and bring your swimmers to enjoy the beach. Hopefully, it will still be warm enough for a swim.
Happy kids and especially my little boy who had fun being on a ferry for the first time.
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The actual date we attended was in March and I was happy that the kids were still excited, even though I gave it to them in December of the previous year.
To make the whole event more fun we made a weekend of it in the city. I booked a hotel right next to the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, it was so close that we just had to walk next door to fall into our beds after the show.
The day of the show the kids and I trained it in and managed to check in earlier than expected. This allowed us to leave our bags in the room and to then explore Sydney for the day.
Our show was at 7.30pm at night so I had a whole day to fill with the twins. So what did we get up to?
We looked at shops in the QVB
We walked around Paddies Markets
Had Yum Cha in Chinatown
We all got manicures
Went to Myer and David Jones to check out what is there
Looked at the toys at Myer
Walked back to the hotel to rest and then change for the show
What did we think of the show?
The girls were super excited and so was I. We all had never been to the Capitol Theatre before, I must say that the detail of the theatre is amazing. So much detail, statues and more! A very old world theatre experience.
We were super early for the show and decided to get drinks and pre-dinner snacks. Once we dined on our treats and ate some food it was finally ready to enter the theatre. I had organised seats that were so close to the stage…the kids were amazed at how close we were.
We sat down and looked at the fabulous theatre while waiting for the show to start.
We were only 3 rows away from the stage…. how fantastic!
The backdrop of the set was the Willy Wonka Factory, and left of the stage was the Bucket house and the right of the stage was the candy shop that Charlie Bucket frequented drooling over chocolate bars that he couldn’t afford.
The way they moved between the Bucket house and the candy shop was very clever. Once Charlie was in the candy shop, the shop owner was enticing him to buy…but Charlie couldn’t. Also, Charlie had no idea that the Candy Man was indeed Willy Wonka himself.
Willy Wonka was very boom tish and so were some of the other characters, some lines were hilariously funny.
Two very excited kids waiting to see the show! I must say I was excited too!
Once they moved to Willy Wonka’s factory the background changed digitally to create the vibrantly colourful world of the Wonka Factory. Seeing Roald Dahl’s story come to life on stage was so magical.
The cast did an awesome job and they had such personality and presence.
Violet and Mr Beauregard had such great interaction between each other, every time they smiled and winked I couldn’t help but laugh. Also when Violet Beauregard became a huge purple grape and then finally popped it was so well done.
Augustus and Mrs Gloop were amazing as well, so funny and naughty. You actually forgot that these people were actors and not the actual characters from the film.
Jake Fehily – Augustus Gloop- Octavia-Barron-Martin-Mrs-Gloop-and cast in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
The glass elevator was magical too…yes more magic. It looked like it was actually moving. The background was stunning and created such a great effect.
The Glass Elevator: Ryan Yeates as Charlie and Paul Slade Smith as Willy Wonka in CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, photo from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory website.
The whole show looked stunning and was so enjoyable for kids and adults.
We loved the show and if you want to go, please do, you will LOVE IT!
There are so many fun activities that will help kids learn and know more about Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. There is English activities, Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, Media Arts, and Music. Not only can teachers freely download the packs to help with their class but parents can do so too. I downloaded mine to help my kids before we saw the show.
You can also re-read the book again or get it as an audio book to help inspire the work or refamiliarise yourself with the story again. Below is a quote from the Education Pack Writers, Elia Erez and David Perry about the worksheets and activities.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory offers an excellent opportunity to explore the Australian Curriculum, with specific references to English, and The Arts (Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music
and Visual Arts) as well as all seven of the General Capabilities (Literacy, Numeracy, Intercultural Understanding, Information & Communication Technology, Critical & Creative Thinking, Personal & Social Capability AND Ethical Understanding). These relationships to the production are examined in the document CONNECTIONS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM. We trust that the activities and resources in this Education Pack will provide teachers with the ability to fully appreciate the educational opportunities of this
spectacular musical production. Using Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as a focus, this Education Pack contains engaging activities that can be used by teachers, or even keen fans of Roald Dahl who want to gain a richer understanding of the production.” Eli Erez and David Perry Education Pack Writers, for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory the Musical.
I booked the family room which had 1 queen sized bed and a single bed. Just perfect for 2 kids and 1 adult.
The hotel was not flash but was just what we needed. Beds and close by to the theatre.
Our family room at the Capitol Square Hotel
See how close we were to the Capitol Theatre
Have you seen Charlie and The Chocolate Factory? If so what were your thoughts?
I’m aiming to have more theatre experiences this year rather than buying things.
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Model Citizen was part of The Sydney Festival. The festival is a month-long art and cultural celebration that have free, cheap events, and workshops.
Previous to going to the show I told the girls about Circus Oz. Circus Oz is a circus with no animals, the circus consists of acrobats, performers, entertainers, musicians, and more!
Waiting to see the show.
This year Circus Oz is celebrating their 40th year. The circus was formed in 1978 in Melbourne, read more about Circus Oz’s history.
What is Model Citizens all about?
The show starts with a whole group of people that are wearing similar looking clothes and all act the same. They all act happy and seem to be interacting with each other well.
Then suddenly a stranger is introduced to this group of people or maybe I should say society, they are not too fond of this stranger.
The model citizens want the stranger to wear the clothes that they wear. They give them a pair of blue overalls like the other model citizens are wearing.
Some highlights were when Freyja Edney used her special hypnotic powers while hula hooping. Freyja could manoeuvre a hula hoop around in her arm and it looked like it was gliding on air…it was magic and like no effort was used at all (although I know that this would have taken years and hours and hours of practice).
Not only did Freyja make a hula hoop look seamless in the air with barely any assistance, she flipped up hula hoops on the ground and shimmied until they were in different positions on her body.
She ended up having about 5-6 hula hoops all going on her body at the same time. It looked amazing.
Other highlights were the fabulous Mitch Jones with his escape from a straightjacket and also his super knife throwing. Tara Silcock was fabulous balancing parasols on her feet and toes in a giant martini glass.
Everyone was so amazing to watch. The acrobats, balancing on the string and then the artists on the trapeze made us all oohhhh and aahhhhh!
Everyone seemed to be able to do multiple jobs, sing, dance, be a strong acrobat by holding others on their heads or other parts of their bodies.
Circus Oz is full of extremely talented people. It is a fun and entertaining show and an excellent family event.
Go and have fun with the family, you will be so glad you did.
PRINCE ALFRED SQUARE CIRCUS OZ BIG TOP
CNR CHURCH STREET AND MARKET STREET
PARRAMATTA 2510
WHEN
WED, THU, FRI, SAT AT 7.30PM (EXCEPT 18 & 26 JANUARY)
SUN AT 3PM
SAT AND WED AT 1.30PM (EXCEPT 3 JANUARY)
18 & 26 JANUARY AT 1.30PM
AUDIO DESCRIBED: 12 JANUARY AT 7.30PM (TACTILE TOUR AT 6.45PM) & 20 JANUARY AT 1.30PM (TACTILE TOUR AT 12.45PM)
AUSLAN INTERPRETED: 20 JANUARY AT 1.30PM
DURATION: 2 HRS 20 MINS WITH INTERVAL
TICKETS
RINGSIDE $90
PREMIUM ADULT $80/ CONC $70/ CHILD $65
A RES ADULT $60/ CONC $50/ CHILD $45
B RES ADULT $45/ CONC $40/ CHILD $35
A RES FAMILY (2 ADULTS & 2 CHILDREN) $170
B RES FAMILY (2 ADULTS & 2 CHILDREN) $110
RESTRICTED VIEW $35
+ BOOKING FEE
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42,000 years into the past to be precise. How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world.
Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
How are we time traveling? Well, we don’t have a Delorean or a Tardis. Personally, this is a tragedy but not the end of the world. Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
Due to not having any of these fancy time travel machines, we will be roughing it by walking to our destination after parking the car.
Woolly Mammoths Mural. Illustration by Velizar Simeonovski, The Field Museum.
So where are we off to that requires us to flash back thousands of years?
We are having a sneak peek at the Australian Museum’s latest exhibition. Yes, we are visiting a museum and in a way that means we are being whisked away in time. The kids, hubby and I are going to learn about the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age
The Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age is an exhibition that is in partnership with Destination NSW, the Australian Museum (AAM’s) major exhibition will feature Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth, discovered in 2007 by a Siberian herder and his two sons. This will be the first time the near fully intact baby mammoth has been on display in the southern hemisphere.
Lyuba , (pronounced Lay – oo – baa ) – a 40,000 – year – old baby woolly mammoth.
Fancy having history come to life and getting closer to what these animals would have been like.
Australia didn’t have mammoths, so this might be your only chance to see them.
What will you see at the exhibition?
Developed by the internationally renowned Field Museum in Chicago, the exhibition includes a rich collection of fossils, casts and cave drawings showing evidence of how early humans hunted and honoured these massive creatures. Mammoths lived alongside humans for thousands of years and were a source of food for early people, as well as artistic inspiration. Artwork dating from between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago will also be on display in the form of miniature carvings made of bone, stone and mammoth ivory from mammoth tusks. How amazing is it that this artwork has survived.
Did you know? Mammoths are an extinct group of elephants of the genus Mammuthus, whose ancestors migrated out of Africa about 3.5 million years ago.
This image of a human next to mammoths gives you an idea of how big they were. I must say I wouldn’t want to be next to one, it would be rather scary.
I cannot wait to show the kids these amazing and enormous animals. I’m also keen to learn more at the exhibition about what life must have been like alongside this massive creatures. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be close to a mammoth and to learn more about the time, the animals and much more. Make sure that you don’t miss this amazing exhibit from the Australian Museum.
What are the dates of The Mammoths Giant of the Ice Age Exhibit
The Mammoths Giants of the Ice Age is open from 19th November 2017 to 13th May 2018
Book your ticket today to see the Mammoths – Giants of the Ice Age at the Australian Museum.
Get tickets to see this amazing event
You can purchase tickets online at the Australian Museum website. Online prices: Adult $10 AM Member, $20 non-Member, Concession $8 AM Member, $16 non-Member, Child 5+ $6 AM Member, $12 non-Member. Kids under 5 go free. Having this on the list of things to do for the soon to be summer school holidays is a good idea. I always like to have some good places to take the kids that they don’t normally go to often. A museum is a good excuse to stay in the city, relax at a swish hotel and have dinner out. Follow the blog on Instagram to see all the updates at the exhibition and while we are in the city.
A big thank you to The Australian Museum for our invite to look at the exhibit before it officially opens. We are all very excited and cannot wait.
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Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum. Details of the Egyptian 'mummy' which was exhibited in 'Life Beyond the Tomb' Exhibition, 2005
I love museums and history.
History was one of my favourite subjects at school. Was it yours as well?
I liked thinking about what it must have been like in ancient Egypt or in the early days of Australia.
Going to a museum allows you to see treasures from explorers like Captain Cook and Sir Douglas Mawson, plus all sorts of other amazing things. It also allows you for a brief moment to experience what it might have been like for the early settlers of Australia, Explorers, allows you to learn more about animals and different cultures.
The Australian Museumhas a new permanent exhibition opening tomorrow (14th of October 2017).
Theban mummy and coffin from the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum.
Not only does the museum have a fantastic new exhibit, they have also restored the oldest part of the museum. Many people worked many hours to preserve the
The Westpac Long Gallery has been restored with a $9 million dollars of funding. This was in equal partnership with Westpac, the NSW Government and the Australian Museum Foundation. Below you can see the drawings and learn how long it has taken to revamp this historical space at the museum. This part of the museum is one of my favourite spaces as it has all the charm of the old original building.
The 100 treasures of history, science, and culture also include:
The body of a preserved Thylacine pup, dating back to 1886;
The Sydney funnel-web spider responsible for the only recorded human death by this species;
A bird-shaped stone pestle made in Papua New Guinea between 3000 and 8000 years ago;
A 2800-year-old Egyptian mummy in a wooden coffin painted with mythological scenes;
A sledge and ice pick from Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition to Antarctica, 1911-1914;
A prehistoric Irish Elk skeleton with enormous antlers, discovered in peat bog deposits;
Australia’s first bank note, issued on April 8, 1817; and
A 10-kilogram gold nugget discovered in 1887, the only remaining example of its kind from the early gold-rush years in NSW.
The 100 treasured objects are matched by 100 people who have helped shape the nation through contributions to history, science, nature, sport or culture, such as Cathy Freeman, Sir Donald Bradman, Professor Fred Hollows, Eddie Mabo, Ned Kelly and Kylie Minogue.
A great video from The Australian Museum about conserving our treasures
DID YOU KNOW?
The Australian Museum marks its 190-year this year. Happy Birthday Australian Museum, not sure what card or pressie I get you for being 190. Maybe a nice cup of tea and a lunch might do.
Free after general admission. Adults $15, kids go free
Exploring a museum with kids is always fun. Everyone learns something, sees something new and it is a great day out.
Another reason to love museums is that they are educational, although the learning is not considered learning when it is a fun family day out. (Just don’t tell the kids this!)
I hope this gives you another fun place to take the kids or just for you if you wish to see this wonderful exhibition.
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Lillian my little Animal Planet Ranger. She is having fun spotting all the animals at WILDLIFE Zoo in Darling Harbour.
I was invited to try out the new Animal Planet Ranger activity at SEALIFE and the WILDLIFE Zoo. This fab new exhibition that is run across both the aquarium and the zoo in Darling Harbour.It was super fun and the kids loved racing around finding all the animals and learning more about the animals on their collectible animal planet ranger cards.
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So what do you do when you are an Animal Planet Ranger?
Children get an Animal Ranger Pack that have animal planet ranger cards, facts on animals, colouring in and much more!
Once my girls and their cousin got their packs they were keen to find the animals on their cards. First we found a cassowary. It is a big bird like an emu…well not exactly but the size might be similar to an emu.
We found the cassowary that was on the Animal Planet Ranger cards.
Kids can dress as a ranger, swap animal facts to earn more ‘animal planet ranger cards’, and make it your mission to find the animals before anyone else does.
If you wish to be an animal planet ranger it ends soon so be quick to not miss out.
The baby lost it after this picture. So this was the best one with all the kids. Score really when you are out and try and get a group photo.
There is a viewing area so that you can look at the big enormous crocodile. It is great that this is now built as the last time we were at the aquarium it was still under construction.
The kids mission pack. Armed with this they raced around to find the animals on their cards and to learn more fun facts about the animals too.
So much in the animal pack…. the kids will not be bored at all!
Finding Dory and Nemo is always fun
Julia loved taking photos while on our adventures at SEALIFE and WILDLIFE the other day.
The Art Aquarium is so much fun
Just before you leave the aquarium you have the chance to colour in a fish or creature to appear in the art aquarium. Once you have coloured in your art work, you then get it scanned in and in minutes it appears animated on the projected wall of fish and other sea life.
This is super fun for kids and I must say adults too.
I was so pleased that this was still at the aquarium. My girls loved it and so did their cousin as well.
Make sure you add your artwork to the art aquarium before you leave.
The twins and their cousin colouring in fish for the art aquarium at SEALIFE Sydney.
The twins and their cousin. All the kids had a fabulous time and there was so much for them to see and do. Just perfect for weekends, holidays or anytime actually.
A HUGE thank you to Merlin Entertainment for our fun family day out. It was such a pleasure to be with family and to experience your fun new exhibition. The kids had a blast and raced everywhere to learn more, see more animals and to explore everything. Everyone was super tired after our huge fun day out.
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.
NIDA – School Holidays Classes – In fact NIDA have classes for all states, so check out the link.
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.
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!
Newington Armory – Discover one of Sydney’s most unique heritage precincts adjacent to the scenic Parramatta River. It is open every weekend.
Bathurst Winter Festival, From 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.
Cockington Green Gardens– See miniature buildings within beautifully landscaped gardens. Why not stay for afternoon tea at the Parsons Nose Garden Cafe.
The National Dinosaur Museum – “Focusing on education and entertainment, the museum offers a wide variety of activities to schools and the general public. From guided tours of the museum, to birthday parties for the kids, there is sure to be something to suit your needs.”
SEMAPHORE AND FORT GLANVILLE TOURIST RAILWAY. Image from their website.
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.
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.”
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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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Getting away is always great. A huge holiday to a foreign destination is fab but in my book just an escape to somewhere different and for a few days is just as good. It is even better when you stay somewhere where the cooking and cleaning is all done and you can just relax. As a mummy this part is one of the best, not having to do much at all.
On our way to the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Valley is a great place for a quick weekend escape, and a great place for the whole family.
We drove to the Hunter and I thought that would not be fun with three kids but it was not as bad as I thought. The trip was broken up with a lunch stop and so that we could have a rest.
One thing that was said multiple times from hubby was that we were travelling in a huge heat wave. Predicted temperatures in the Hunter were meant to get to over 40 degrees. In fact, it got to 44.5 degrees on one of the days while at the Hunter… the whole family thought this was a good excuse to visit the dessert café and order a whole lot of very cold ice-cream and drinks. Mind you some don’t need an excuse to have ice cream at all.
I received tickets to go to the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular this year. Luckily this year we could go, last year I was very pregnant with Alexander (at the time we had no idea if it was a boy/girl) and thought that a trip when we had no idea when the baby would come might not be a good idea.
However, the same time this year I’m not pregnant, or just had the baby and we can get about more easily with a family of three kids.
We were all looking forward to seeing the lights; on the Hunter Valley Gardens website, they have such lovely pictures of all the different gardens and videos so that you can experience a little bit before you go. A great idea to get you all super excited.
What Can you See at the Christmas Lights Spectacular?
There are many different gardens that are decorated with such lovely displays of lights and characters. Some of the things on display are:
Candyland
The Twelve Days of Christmas. This is a sound and light display. I loved this one. You need to stay for a little bit to see all the days and enjoy the full display.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Fairy Garden – the girls loved this one
Waterfall and lights – This was another one of our favourites. You can see dolphins, the waterfall and all the creatures lit up on the water. Very magical.
Underwater scene – whale, jellyfish, fish, and shark and much more.
Mega Trees – Trees had lights displayed in them and some were moving and very mesmerizing.
North Pole Scene
Santa’s Plane
Present Tree
Music Room
And so much more….Trust me you will be amazed at all the lights, work and detail that has gone into this wonderful event.
Tokens for individual rides in the Fun Zone are $6 each, unlimited rides* wristbands are $15 pp.
“This awesome Fun Zone includes: unlimited play on the super fun Jumping Castles, Obstacle Courses, Arcade Alley and the massive, colourful HVG Super Slide (weather permitting). Please note that the Fun Zone requires an additional entry fee alongside Christmas Lights entry).” Fun Zone is open during the Christmas Lights Spectacular from 5.30pm – 9.45 pm daily.
The girls loved the huge mega slide and the obstacle courses and the jumping castles. The Fun Zone is located near the food and beverage area. While the kids play you can relax with a drink and they can run wild for a while.
The mega slide at The Hunter Valley Gardens
The girls loved the slide and had about a million goes, I lost count.
My little photographer. She loved taking pictures with her new camera she got for Christmas.
This girl was amazed at the wonderful colours of the lights.
Alice In Wonderland. She is at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Look Tinkerbell is behind the girls…. shhhhh they have no idea!
Cinderella’s castle and her huge wedding ring. Now where do I find a ring like this, and a real one!
I loved these pretty flowers.
Look dinosaurs! Be careful!
This was a huge tree and so pretty with all the different coloured presents.
So what did we do while we were at the Hunter Valley?
We had fun at the Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular. Did you know that the Hunter Valley gardens has over 60 acres of gardens to look at. No wonder we were all tired when we got back to the hotel, well we were exhausted after we got back to the car.
Enjoyed relaxing at our hotel The Mecure at the Hunter Valley – this was a great place to stay due to the fact that it was right next to the Hunter Valley Gardens.
We all cooled down in the pool at the Mecure due to very hot days. The pool was a huge hit with the kids and even Alexander finally felt comfortable enough to get fully into the pool for the first time. He had only ever wanted to put his feet into a pool before.
Relaxed! Did nothing for a while.
Where did we stay and why?
We chose to stay at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley Gardens. This was for two reasons, firstly that we would be really close to the lights and secondly that it looked like a lovely family friendly place to stay.
First I looked online to see what types of rooms they had on offer and we were lucky enough to book a family room. Our stay was with the lead up to New Year’s Eve and therefore many places were booked out as were many restaurants.
The people at the Mecure were so helpful, friendly and nothing was an issue. It was very family friendly and the room was great for kids and adults. We were in a huge room for just everyone and that was fine for us. Maybe next time when we have more time to book we will get a bigger room or say two rooms, one for the kids and one for us.
Breakfast at the Mecure was yummy and filled us up, the kids were happy that they could make their own pancakes and they had weet-bix as well. As per usual our little boy made a mess but we did our best to tidy up so that we did not leave a horrible disaster for the lovely staff. Make sure to get breakfast with your room package as it really made it so much easier.
Having a cold drink in 41 degree heat. It was much needed. We were waiting for our dinner at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
After he had some strawberries Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
Jumping castle fun at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
The kids loved the jumping castle at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
NOTE: If you book make sure to organise dinner reservations. I did not think of this until we were at our hotel room. I normally do this but it did not happen until we were at the hotel. It must have been forgotten about in the rush to pack and leave the house.
We managed to get a booking at the Mecure for dinner Friday night, and the Thursday night we ate at local pub down the road at Harrigan’s Irish Pub.
The kids settled in well in our hotel room.
All three kids loved the room, and so did we.
Hubby had to cool down with a bath while the kids and I went off to the pool.
The buildings and grounds at the Mecure are just amazing. So looked after.
This is where we ate dinner at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley.
The area where we ate dinner had a massive fireplace.
My chicken dinner that I had at éléments
Steak dinner that hubby had at éléments
Dinner was good tasty food that hit the spot. The kids had fun at the jumping castle at Harrigan’s before and after their food and this allowed them to run off some energy that they needed to do due to our big drive to the Hunter Valley. Our plan was to eat something before we all went off to see the Lights at the Hunter Valley Gardens. I’m glad we did that as there is lots to see although if you did not manage to get dinner before going to the lights at the Hunter Valley Gardens there are some food stalls that you can purchase some food and sit back and relax while the kids have fun at the Fun Zone while you can relax with a refreshing drink.
Dining on Friday night at the Mecure was such a treat. The meal was divine and so tasty. The restaurant is called éléments and the Executive Chef Jean Marc Pollet fuses French cuisine with Australian produce. The soup for our starter was so tasty and our main meal was excellent as well. The kids loved their meals too.
A HUGE thank you to The Hunter Valley Gardens for the tickets to the wonderful lights. We all had a wonderful time. Also a big shout out to the lovely people at the Mecure at the Hunter Valley for booking us in with not much warning and giving us a room that we could all fit into for our two night stay. We loved our time at the Hunter and are keen to come back soon.
Make sure you check out all the things you can do in the Hunter Valley and keep it for a nice escape for just you and hubby or you and the wife, or a family getaway with the kids. The Visit NSWwebsite has a great list of places to visit, wineries, place to stay, drives to do and all things to keep everyone entertained.
This time next week the family and I will be at the launch party for Penguin Expedition at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
Genie is a gentoo penguin. She is only 14 weeks old. See Genie at the Penguin Expedition at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
We are so excited to see the King and Gentoo Penguins, experience arctic temperatures, learn more about the penguins and just have fun being immersed in all things penguin, oh and plus my little explorers are looking forward to possible surprises and treats at the party.
While we are at the party we will be able to learn more with penguin trainers giving us detailed talks to help us understand more about their habitats and the lives of penguins.
Nog is a King Penguin. He is a cheeky character and can easily be spotted due to his funny walk. He puts his head down and waddles.
First of all, once you pay to enter the aquarium you can access the Penguin expedition. No more to pay. Also this is the same for multi-attraction passes and annual passes.
What can you do at the Penguin Expedition?
Penguin Expedition was inspired by Macquarie Island which is an Australian owned island in the South West Pacific Ocean. King and Gentoo Penguins are found on Macquarie Island, they breed here and have large numbers. The island is important because it supports 3.5 million breeding seabirds of 13 species according to Wikipedia.
You become an explorer no matter what your age.
Each person can travel in a raft through a sub antarctic environment. Don’t worry it will not be too cold. They say that it is “a cool-but-comfortable six degrees Celsius.”
During your voyage on the raft you can get up close with the penguins…maybe face to flipper if you are lucky.
You can even experience snow, winds and the southern lights.
The tour also seeks to educate visitors on the impacts of plastic pollution on the habitats of penguins and other sea life.
Learn about SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium’s penguin breeding program
Come and experience the Penguin Expedition at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.
“Penguin Expedition is the world first-of-its kind penguin exhibit where guests can get up close and personal to a spectacular colony of King and Gentoo Penguins at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium.”
Make sure you follow me on Instagram , I will be posting about our time at the Penguin Expedition Launch Party and our time while in the city.
Taking the kids to the aquarium during the school holidays is a fabulous day out. They will learn so much and you can then explore the surrounds of Darling Harbour afterwards. Darling Harbour has an amazing children’s playground that can keep kids of all ages entertained for hours.
Have you been to the Penguin Expedition yet? Did you enjoy the new ride through the penguin colonies? Did your kids love seeing penguins up so close?
I hope this has given you another idea to take the kids to over the school holidays.
Oh and stay tuned for some amazing giveaways soon on the blog…..passes to some great places to take the kids this summer.
Below are some wonderful events to celebrate Christmas and the festive season. This is just a few events and is by no means a full breakdown of things to do.
The kids will love them and I’m sure adults will as well. Take the whole family and enjoy.
Christmas in the Sky at Sydney Tower Eye
Santa’s Highest Grotto 3rd December – 23rd December 2016
Santa waiting to hear what you want for Christmas. Come along to the Sydney Tower Eye to meet Santa and get your photos taken as well.
Who knew that Santa had a grotto 250 metres above street level. It is here that you can experience the magic of the North Pole in the heart of Sydney.
Parents and children will be amazed that Santa’s festive grotto is decorated just like it would be if he was at home, fireplace, Christmas tree and music to make you all feel welcome.
Santa likes to keep updated with the conditions for the reindeer for optimal toy delivery.
EVENT DETAILS: What: Santa’s Highest Grotto at Sydney Tower Eye Where: Sydney Tower Eye, 100 Market St, Sydney When: Saturday 3 December to Friday 23 December 2015 Hours: Weekdays: 4:00pm – 7:00pm Weekends: 11:00am – 6:00pm
11:00am to 6:00pm every day from Saturday 17 December Cost: Included in price of admission
SYDNEY TOWER EYE DETAILS: Where: Sydney Tower Eye, 100 Market Street, Sydney Opening hours: 9.00am – 10.00pm daily. Last admission at 9.00pm Cost: Best price guarantee when you book online. Walk-up price – Adults: $26.50, Children (4-15yrs): $17. Combination tickets are available with Madame Tussauds Sydney, SEA LIFE Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo and Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary PHONE: 1800 258 693
Gingerbread Village by Epicure – Melbourne 1st December – 24th of December 2016 FREE EVENT Corner of Little Collins and Swanston Street, Melbourne Town Hall, 90-120 Swanston Street
Gingerbread creations from EPICURE
The Gingerbread Village is now in its sixth year and looks like it is going to be bigger and better than previous years. EPICURE’s award-winning Executive Pastry Chef Deniz Karaca and his masterful team have spent about 2000 hours constructing the display, which requires 500kgs of gingerbread, 360kgs of royal icing, 150kgs of marzipan, and is topped off with 800 mini Christmas trees.
EPICURE is going to be including Melbourne landmarks such as, The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, Melbourne Town Hall, Luna Park, and The Melbourne Zoo.
If you wish to get more into the spirit of the season, then why not bake your own gingerbread too. I have Deniz Karaca’s prized gingerbread recipe. Make your own and impress your friends with gingerbread gifts.
Christmas Lights Spectacular at The Hunter Valley
4th November – 26th January 2017
Closed 25th December
Christmas Lights Fun Zone (Please note that the Fun Zone requires an additional entry fee alongside Christmas Lights entry. Open from 6:30pm – 10:00pm, $7.50 per person) – This area is just for kids. Jumping castles, obstacle courses, super slide
Santa Photos these are at additional costs and are all supplied on 4GB USB. Santa Photos are only available from 4th November to 24th of Dec 2016
Location: Nestled at the foothills of the Brokenback Ranges, in the heart of the Hunter vineyards
Contact Details:
Open 7 days from 9am – 4pm and 6.30pm – 10pm (Closed 25th December). Phone 02 4998 4000 –
Emailwelcome@hvg.com.au – Fax 02 4998 4071
This event looks amazing and we wanted to go last year, however I was very pregnant with our little boy at the time. As we had no idea he would be born on his due date of 7th of Jan we did not want to be too far from the hospital. This year I’m keen to take the kids to the Christmas Lights Spectacular and I cannot wait to see their faces light up as much as the lights are already.
What great event have you been to in the lead up to Christmas? Let us know.
I hope you have a lovely time if you do go to these great events and if you have some other fab place to tell us about I cannot wait to hear about that too. Have fun!
