15 activities to put a spring in your step these school holidays
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Want to keep the kids engaged and happy these school holidays?
Here are over 15 activities for any age and interest.
Unleash the inner artist
Have an artist in the family? Unlock their creativity with renowned street artist MattyBro at the Canberra Centre. Two workshops are up for grabs where attendees will be guided and instructed on how to Street Art their names. This could be the perfect chance to have the coolest bedroom door sign, that you’ve even made yourself and with snacks and art supplies included it’s a stress-free activity you need to head along to.
Thursday 29 and Friday 30 September | Monaro Mall, Canberra Centre | Tickets here
Stop and smell the tulips
What better way to wear out those little legs than walking around Floriade and exploring between the flowers? Pack a picnic or grab some tasty bites from the food stalls and soak up the sun. Kids workshops are running throughout the month, as well as a competition to find Floyd the gnome and his family. Hop onto the Ferris wheel to take in the sights and enjoy live music and entertainment.
Until Sunday 16 October | Commonwealth Park, Parkes | floriadeaustralia.com
Sing your heart out
Sing your heart out at Dendy’s cinema with three sing-along screenings being held over the holidays. Let it go with Anna and Elsa or you’re welcome to join Moana and Maui on their adventures. With the lyrics up on the screen, you’ll have no choice but to belt out these hits (bonus points if you dress like your favourite Disney Princess).
Saturday 24 September, Saturday 1 and Saturday 8 October |Dendy cinema, Canberra Centre | Tickets here
Go on a dinosaur hunt
Head along to Westfield Belconnen these school holidays to discover some of your favourite dinosaurs spread across various locations in the centre by reading clues, listening out for roars and following their footsteps to tick off all five dinosaur sightings. Once you have found where all five dinosaurs have been located, you can return your tracker to the tracker station to go into the draw to win one of 16 Family Passes to the National Dinosaur Museum.
Monday 26 September to Sunday 9 October | Westfield Belconnen, Belconnen | westfield.com.au
Check out the classics
Whole days can be spent wandering the rooms of our numerous national museums and art galleries (or scootering between them). The discovery centre at the National Museum of Australia has just opened and is perfect for your littlest. These holidays are also your last chance to check out the Connection exhibition which is leaving on Sunday 9 October.
If you didn’t get to it last holidays, now is the time to check out the Changemakers exhibition at the Museum of Australian Democracy or head across to the National Gallery of Australia and book in to see the latest exhibition by Cressida Campbell.
Head across to each institution’s websites to catch up on the latest workshops, tours and exhibitions designed to enthral all.
Be a Little Darling
The 2022 Darling Portrait Prize is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery and with a rainy holiday forecast it is a perfect activity to get out of the house. As you wander, get your little ones to wonder about the 2023 theme for the Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize ‘Me and my place’. Entries close on Friday 14 October for the competition.
Various times | National Portrait Gallery, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Get creative at the NPG
Want to level up your National Portrait Gallery experience? Their popular Art Cart is back for the school holidays! This is where you can get all creative during your visit if the mood takes you, responding to their latest exhibition, the National Photographic Portrait Prize.
Daily from Saturday 24 September until Sunday 9 October | National Portrait Gallery, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Put a spring in your step
It’s that perfect weather where you aren’t too hot or too cold when you’re hitting the hiking trails and walking tracks around Canberra (although we can’t guarantee that they are magpie free). Check out these walks below or these 10 hikes which are a bit closer to the city and are perfect for the warmer mornings.
Honeysuckle campground to Booroomba Rocks
Looking for a breathtaking walk? Either start from the Honeysuckle campground or there is a cheeky car park about halfway and climb to the top of one of the high points of the Brindabella ranges and take in the views across the mountains. The hike has just had an upgrade to help keep your boots up on dry land and is a popular bouldering spot so keep your eyes peeled for people daring the cliff edges.
Gibraltar Peak
Heat up and then cool off on the Gibraltar Peak hike. Your calves will get a good burn going up but once you’re at the top, strip off your sweaty clothes and into your swimmers as you soak in the rock pool forming the top of the waterfall. You can choose either an 8km or 15km hike so you can pick what will work best for the length of legs involved and pack lots of snacks to enjoy along the viewpoints scattered along the track.
Red Rock Gorge
Another one of Canberra’s hidden gems of the hiking world is the Red Rock Gorge walk near the Kambah pool and on the Kambah Centenary trail. Unlike the first two, this one is relatively flat so a much easier walk to meander on and take in the spring blooms. It’s also a little bit shorter so can be done before or after your other holiday adventures.
Soul Trading
Soul Trading, winner of the 2019 Junior Australian Theatre for Young People Foundation Commission, is a funny, fascinating and eye-opening sci-fi adventure that asks vital questions about human connection, and our rapidly-evolving relationship with technology. Presented by the Canberra Youth Theatre, it is a great opportunity for your little ones to see some young talent.
Wednesday 5 October – Saturday 8 October | Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatrecentre.com
Fairytales on Ice
The Canberra Theatre Centre always has something that’ll have you racing to buy tickets for, and these school holidays it is all your favourite fairytale characters from Peter Pan to Cinderella all coming together on one stage, in what has been described as Broadway meets ice-skating. The perfect way to end the school break.
Read more here.
Sunday 9 October | Canberra Theatre Centre| canberrathreatecentre.com
Elemental
Canberra’s very own circus is back! With a brand new show full of acrobatic and aerial feats, juggling wizardry and ridiculous family fun it will have you oohing and aahing as they use circus and comedy to explore the effects of weather and the seasons on the world around us.
Wednesday 5 – Saturday 8 October | The Street Theatre, City West | thestreet.org
Run away to the circus
Before they head along to watch Elemental get your little one’s juggling, tumbling and twirling at Warehouse circuses school holiday programs. Three programs are available from those who have never attempted a cartwheel to those that have already mastered a few tricks of the trade. From clowns to acrobatics this is their chance to join the circus… for at least the holidays.
Various times | Chifley + Kaleen | warehousecircus.org
Set sail
Sailing season is springing back into action on the lake. School holiday programs are run by the YMCA to give future sailors their sea legs and get them out of the house these holidays. Learn all your sailing basics and get ready to skipper a dingy across the gentle shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
Various times| Alexandrina Drive, Yarralumla | ymcacanberra.org
Lego legends
Legos overtaking your living room? Book them into the Bricks4Kids school holiday program where they will get to embrace their creativity and build some exciting Lego models where they’ll be having so much fun, that they won’t even realise they’re also learning something along the way. With locations in both north and southside, it’s the perfect option no matter where in the city you live.
Various times | Belconnen + Hughes | bricks4kids.com
A-maze-ing adventures
Looking for an adventure for the whole family? Tuff Nutterz is the answer! Parents can sit back and relax while the kids have a blast or if you’re brave enough, you are welcome to join in too. This supersize inflatable maze is packed with 30 fun and challenging obstacles to complete, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more!
Various times | Parkes Place, Parkes | tuffnutterz.com
