What to do these school holidays in the Shire

School holidays are often a welcome change of pace, the lack of routine sometimes leaves parents wondering how to fill the days ahead with their energetic tribe. School holidays are the perfect time to spend time together or to stretch your kids with new experiences. The Sutherland Shire is brimming with great activities that will keep everyone in the family happy

Get active

Many kids are bursting with boundless energy, and thankfully the Shire has some great physical activities that will burn some of that off.

Sky Zone Miranda offers an amazing range of activities for kids (and let’s face it those who are still kids at heart)! Your kids will be literally bouncing off the walls with 100 interconnected trampolines, floating in a sea of foam, climbing the walls in the Sky Climb or testing their Ninja skills on the Enduro course.

For some old-school sporting fun why not sign the kids for the Sylvania AMF Bowling Camp. Over the course of 3 hours kids will learn bowling basics, play two games, refuel with some snacks and unwind with classic arcade games.

The Sutherland Shire Leisure Centres also offer some great activities for kids over the school break. At the Menai Indoor Sports Centre there are programs offering experiences in bubble soccer, rollerskating and “acrogym”. The Sutherland Leisure Centre offers endless fun with it’s ever popular giant inflatable water obstacle course.

Get into nature 

Make the most of warm autumn days and get into nature with your kids. The water is still warm enough to enjoy a swim on a sunny day at one of the many beautiful Sutherland Shire beaches. Or take a hike or bike ride along Lady Carrington Drive from Audley in the Royal National Park finishing with a milkshake at the Audley Dance Hall.

Or for something a little different sign up your kids for the Sutherland Shire Council Bushcare’s Scamper through the Jungle on April 18 where teams will race through the gardens of the Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve looking for clues.

Get creative

For those children who seem to have never ending imaginations and a constant desire to “make stuff”, the Shire offers some great creative outlets. The Hazelhurst Gallery in Gymea offers some fabulous workshops for kids ranging for 6-18 years during the April school holidays. Kids can learn skills in drawing, painting, sculpture and clay as well as digital media.

Down the road in Kirrawee, Free Range Living offers a variety of workshops for kids to develop skills in sewing and design creating projects such as bunting, pj pants or dream catchers.

Get brainy 

Just because school is on holidays doesn’t mean those little minds can’t keep learning and exploring! ANSTO (short for Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) is open to the public and families can visit the Discovery Centre which also runs some fabulous programs for kids in the school holidays. There are workshops in robotics, physics, biology and 3D printing amongst other interesting topics, all pitched at kids! Check out the details here.

 The Sutherland Shire Libraries network also offer a range of holiday activities to keep kids engaged including creative construction workshops, forensic science, digital microscopes and coding. Places are limited so book in soon to secure a spot!

Get entertained

Spending time together as a family is a great way to create some special memories these school holidays. Try your hand at mini-golf at Putt Planet in Miranda which will transport you to the streets and lane-ways of Mombasa, Kenya. Or catch the latest kid’s flick at Events Cinemas Miranda or GU Filmhouse in Cronulla. Or pop into one of the shopping centres such as Southgate Sylvania, Marketplace Menai or Westfield Miranda to enjoy one of the free school holiday entertainment activities.

So however you and your family choose to spend the April school holidays, there is no reason to be at home and bored when you can get out in the Sutherland Shire!