There’s only so many times you can take the kids to the beach and movies during the six-week school holiday break. Thankfully there’s plenty happening around town to keep them engaged and entertained. They might even learn something.
We’re Going on a Bug Hunt at the Royal Botanic Garden
For two weeks in January, the Royal Botanic Gardens
botanicgardens.org.au is putting on a special bug scavenger hunt for any budding entomologists. Grab a net (and probably a hat – it is January, after all) and search high and low throughout the gardens for land-dwelling invertebrates. You can dip-net for water bugs in the pond and even make take-home buds from clay and other natural materials. Tickets are $21 for kids, who must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
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SIGN UPHive Festival at the Art Gallery of NSW
Hive Festival is returning to the Art Gallery of NSW in January for a fun-filled (free) weekend packed with activities, crafts, workshops, storytelling and performances just for the little ones. This summer, Sydney artists Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro are hosting Flights of Fancy, a hands-on workshop where kids can add their own drawings and designs to the panels of giant tetrahedral kites. The pair are also hosting the Take Flight workshop where attendees can make their own kites inspired by Japanese koinobori kites, traditionally flown on Children’s Day in Japan. Other highlights of the festival include a ukulele workshop, screenings of director Albert Lamorisse’s The Red Balloon, and low-sensory movement workshops. Hive takes place across the weekend of January 18–19.
Nature programs at Centennial Parklands
There’s no better time of year for being outdoors, and attendance at Centennial Park’s nature programs is a great excuse to get the kids unplugged and actively engaged with nature. Join the education rangers in Centennial Parklands for full-day programs focused on either arts or science. The [Park Arts – Print Making]https://www.centennialparklands.com.au/park-arts-print-making-2025) program will see kids learning a range of unique art techniques such as nature print, cyanotype printing and ephemeral art making, and using a range of materials from clay, to natural dyes, to natural materials that they’ll collect themselves. Meanwhile, the Park Science – Marvellous Machines program allows kids to become little engineers for the day, participating in a challenge to build a Rube Goldberg machine – a machine designed to complete a simple task in a hilariously elaborate way. Sessions will be held on select dates throughout January. For kids five to 12 years. Tickets are $100.
centennialparklands.com.au
Sunset Cinema at North Sydney Oval
If the kids are going to be plugged into a screen, it may as well be in the great outdoors. Sunset Cinema at North Sydney has a bunch of films to keep the little tykes entertained. Over Christmas expect seasonal favourites like Elf and Home Alone. Come January it’s kid-friendly flicks galore, including the new blockbuster Wicked, plus Moana 2, The Princess Diaries and Mufasa: The Lion King. There’s popcorn and choc tops for the young ’uns and parents can enjoy an adult moment at the licensed bar. Sunset Cinema North Sydney runs from December 5 to March 15; kids’ tickets are $15 (under-threes are free) and adults are $27.
sunsetcinema.com.au
Burra at the Australian Museum
At the Australian Museum’s state-of-the-art learning and play space, take your kids on an immersive journey through the eyes of burra (eel) where they’ll learn about both Western science and First Nations culture. Following the life cycle of the eel and its migration across various estuaries, rivers, rockpools and out to sea, you’ll find out more about Australia’s native environment and caring for Country. Touch, listen and explore the giant burra, sensory walls, interactive play zones and more. The exhibition is also completely free. Win-win.
Kids Workshops with Class Bento
Online portal Class Bento is offering hundreds of classes and workshops that’ll teach your kids hands-on skills, to inspire and get them moving. Help your little one perfect their kick-flip by booking them into a skateboarding class, or burn up extra energy at a hula-hooping workshop. There are also [chocolate-making lessons], pottery lessons and heaps more. classbento.com.au
Colour In Worlds at the Sydney Opera House
If you’re dreading the thought of cleaning up after home crafting sessions this school holidays, grab the kids and take them to the Opera House instead for Colour In Worlds. The immersive installation and play space by Thai artist Mit Jai Inn allows kids aged four and older to make their own markings with paint across various blank canvases. Paint will be splattered, colours will be flying, and the kids (and parents) are sure to have a ball.
Sydney Dance Company Workshops
Get your kids pirouetting, pivoting and popping across stage with workshops from Sydney Dance Company. There are courses for all skill levels. Aspiring dancers can learn the basics of dance, as well as contemporary, jazz and even musical theatre styles. There are one- and two-day workshops; some require a little bit of experience in dance. From $38 to $350; classes run at Sydney Dance Company’s studios at Walsh Bay.
sydneydancecompany.com
London International Animation Festival at Sydney Opera House
Aimed at kids aged two to 14 and their families, the London International Animation Festival is returning to Sydney to transform the Playhouse into a cinema bursting with visually delightful animated short films. Screenings will include films made using stop motion, claymation, 2D and 3D CGI and more. Kids can even have a go at animation themselves at the Flipbook Animation Creation Station or a half-day stop motion animation workshop. Tickets are $20 plus booking fees.
This article was originally published on November 30, 2022. It has been to reflect new events and remove out-of-date details.
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