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12 Christmas + Summer School Holidays Activities + Events In The Southern Highlands

Plenty of events, activities and ideas to keep the kids entertained these school holidays.

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Whether you love them, or you can’t wait for them to be over – they’re approaching and approaching fast! School holidays!!

And they’re the loooooooong summer ones but all good – there’s plenty for kids to see, do and sign up for to keep them busy, active and happy.

So, here’s a list of fab things for kids to do in the summer school holidays right here on our doorstep!

1 :: Check out the Archibald Prize

This summer, the Archibald Prize 2024 exhibition is heading to Ngununggula, bringing an iconic art moment to the region. Adding to the excitement is the Student Art Prize, a celebration of the creativity of our youngest local talents.

We’re big fans of getting little ones involved in the arts, and Ngununggula is a great spot for it.

2 :: Bradman Museum + Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk 

We love a good combo deal and this one is pretty darn good.

Get entry to both the Bradman Museum and Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk with a discounted combo ticket… that’s two days of fun sorted!

The Fold Southern Highlands Summer School Holidays Highlands Tennis Summer Camps

3 :: Join the Circus

Who’s got a little performer at home?This Holiday Circus Workshop sounds awesome!

Kiddos will learn how to climb, invert, balance, spin, twizzle and drop, on Aerial Silks + Lyra.

There’s both beginners and improvers workshops for those who have done it before. Suitable for ages 6-13.

4 :: Get creative

These look like fun! Got a creative kid who loves to draw or channel their inner artist?

The Christmas classes with Rachel Moodie & Sami Sparrow on Thursday the 19th or Friday the 20th of December will defo get ‘em in the festive spirit.

The wonderful Mary Lou Pavlovic is also running 3-day art camps, where kids will be creating ice crystal palaces, coloured salt paintings, ooblek, nature mobiles and so much more!

And the Creative Youth Drop In Sessions by River Road Academy provide a wonderful space for  young people aged 12-18yrs to learn to make music, create art, and be themselves.

The Fold Southern Highlands Summer School Holiday Activities Events Creative Art Workshops

5 ::  Wonderful puppet shows

We love the ImaginArta team at The Australian Puppet Centre in Sutton Forest. They put on such fun and creative puppet shows every Sunday at 11am throughout the year and will be running their shows all through the school holidays.

6 :: Keep your budget in check with these free activities to do

School holidays don’t have to be exey. Keep the wallet in the pocket and your money in the bank with this list of fun things to do for free in the Highlands.

7 :: Dive in 

If the kids are wanting to up the ante on their swimming prowess in summer or build their confidence in the water, have a look at the School Holiday Intensive Program happening at Aquabliss Frensham.

Here’s an article we wrote about why school holiday intensive programs are a great idea for your little fishes if you’re thinking about signing up.

The Fold Southern Highlands Summer School Holidays Activities Events Horse Riding

8 :: Backyard scavenger hunt

You don’t have to leave the house to have fun, right? Download our backyard scavenger hunt. Or keep little ones busy and using their creativity with these 6 creative play ideas.

9 :: Camp Wombaroo is back

So exciting to see the awesome day camps at Camp Wombaroo back in action again this year!

Loads of fun to be had outdoors – choose from different themed days or sign up for all of them – everything from age appropriate bushwalking, abseiling, archery, raft-building, canoeing, orienteering and [our favourite] the giant swing. Wheeeee…..!

The Fold Southern Highlands Summer SChool Holidays Activities Events Camp Wombaroo

10 :: Pass the popcorn

Empire Cinema in Bowral has some awesome holiday movies lined up for all ages- Moana 2, The Polar Express,
Wicked are all on the program.

And one we’re pretty darn excited about…. Paddington in Peru! If you’ve seen Paddington 2 then you know why we’re so pumped!

Don’t forget about their Empire Kids Club too.

11 :: Walking adventures

If your kids are anything like ours, you have to run them around like greyhounds to wear them out! That’s why bush walks are such a good idea in the school holidays.

Here’s a list of 6 family-friendly walking adventures with options to suit all ages.

Waterfalls of the Highlands

Image; @dimsim_outdoors

12 :: Bradman Museum Summer Cricket Clinic

Free for all young people over the age of 12 who live in the Wingecarribee Shire Council area…. Amazing!

Not only will they get entry into the Bradman Museum they’ll also get coaching on cricket skills including batting, bowling and fielding, as well as morning tea and a BBQ lunch.

Head to their website to register a spot.

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