Spring into fun these school holidays

The spring holidays are almost here and are a great time to take a break with the kids after the long winter school term. The Sutherland Shire has some fabulous activities available for the kids. Here are 8 ideas that will have the whole family buzzing this spring. 

Illawarra Beekeepers Kids Education Program, Sutherland 

The Illawarra Beekeepers in Sutherland are excited to run interactive workshops these October holidays for primary school children aged 8-12 years. The 3 hour workshops aim to give kids a hands-on experience of bees and their hives as well as learning the important role bees play in our ecosystem. Check out the website link above for more details about times, dates and to book. Spaces are limited so “bee” quick!

Bricks 4 Kids, Lilli Pilli and Menai

Many parents have endured the pain of treading on a piece of Lego. What better way to get your little Lego fanatics out from under your feet then by sending them to a fabulous Lego workshop for a day or two. Bricks 4 Kids Miranda run holiday workshops at Lilli Pilli and Menai involving a range of themes such as Junior Robotics, Star Wars, Transformers, Ninjas, Minecraft and Superheroes! Your young creators will be having too much fun to realise they are developing their STEM skills at the same time.

Hazelhurst Arts Centre, Gymea

Hazelhurst is the arts hub of the Sutherland Shire. This spring the gallery is featuring the magical and dreamlike landscapes and portraits of local artist Alexander McKenzie. The exhibition features placards which are aimed at kids to help them engage with the artwork as well as a free kids activity book available. Kids can drop by for free origami making sessions and story books from 10am-4pm on weekdays. Alongside the exhibition, there are a fantastic range of art classes in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, drawing and digital media for all kids aged from 6 to 18 years. Places are limited, so be quick to book your little Picasso in.

Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Sutherland

This school holidays the Sutherland Entertainment Centre has two great events for kids. The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) will be running 3 day boot camps for primary school kids to develop their acting techniques in improvisation, character development and storytelling. It is a fantastic opportunity for any child who is bound for Hollywood! Again places are limited so book quickly to secure your place. The second exciting event is a dance concert by DJ Jazzy, a pioneer in kids music and whose songs seek to empower young people while getting stuck in your head for days, weeks, months...but you and your kids will have a blast at the performance and come out buzzing! Check the website for dates and details.

Sharks Leagues Club Free Movies, Woolooware

Head over to the home of the Sharkies these school holidays for free movies on the large screen in the Locker Room at 10:30am or 1:30pm on both Wednesdays and Thursdays during the holidays. Kids receive a free bag of popcorn and must be accompanied by an adult member (cost of membership is $5). The movies are yet to be announced so keep your eyes on their website for more details.

Bike rides, various locations

The mild sunny days of spring are a great time for your family to jump on their bikes. The Sutherland Shire has some fabulous places to ride that are suited to all ages of kids. Check out Lady Carrington Drive in the Royal National Park for a wide easy trail suitable for the whole family and enjoy a packed lunch along the Hacking River. Alternatively head to Cronulla and ride along the Esplanade with a ice cream treat at the end. Or perhaps start at Como Pleasure Grounds and cross the scenic footbridge across the Georges River to Oatley and back. Check out this blog for more school holiday cycling adventures!

Cooking classes, Kareela and Kirrawee

Does your family have a budding master chef in its midst? If so, there are some great kids cooking classes available in the Sutherland Shire. Shikoku is a small Japanese restaurant located in the Kareela Village shopping centre. Celine the owner is incredibly sweet with kids and runs classes in noodle and sushi making through the school holidays. The kids learn the skills and then eat together – and best of all they can take those skills home to make dinner for the whole family. Another great culinary opportunity is held at The Prince in Kirrawee where kids can learn how to make pizzas alongside a whole range of other school holiday activities including crafts, reptile zoos and themed party days.

Surfing Cronulla Surf School, Cronulla

If your youngsters are keen to hit the water as the weather starts to warm up, the Surfing Cronulla Surf School is a great place for beginners and seasoned surfers alike. The 3-4 day programs are a fabulous way to develop their surf skills and to have a lot of fun with other kids, and you can enjoy a coffee and a good book while you sit on the sand!