Schools out! Summer holidays are here! Over 30 different activities for kids and families!
18 December, 2024
Schools out, Summer holidays are here and we have over 30 different and unique school holiday activities, events and workshops to share with you!
Summer holidays are a time for fun, creativity, and making memories, split between the pre-Christmas excitement and the post-Christmas buzz. Many activity providers kick off in the New Year, while some absolute legends offer handy options to keep kids entertained in that whirlwind week leading up to Christmas.
So, what fantastic events and activities await kids and families these holidays?
Local businesses have gone all out, offering events and activities to suit every taste and budget, with plenty of options from half to full day workshops. Our What’s On Guide is your ultimate resource, packed with all the essential details: dates, times, locations (complete with Google Maps), contact info, ticket prices, and booking links.
Whether your kids are full of energy and eager to get moving, dream of creating their own masterpieces or simply crave some good old family fun, there’s something for everyone. You might be on the lookout for activities to inspire and educate, or even a unique experience for the whole family to enjoy together. It’s all here!
So, scroll through the handy sections below and let the holiday magic begin!
PLEASE NOTE: PLACES WILL BE LIMITED AND BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL FOR MANY ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS LISTED
GET ACTIVE
Circus Arts Byron Bay are one of the pre-Christmas lifesavers I was talking about. Their school holiday program opened on 16 December for 4 days to 19 December and then reopens on Monday 6 Jan 2025 to 5 February – 6 days a week! NOTE: They are closed on Sundays and on all Public Holidays including Monday 27 January.
Circus Arts pack their programs with a range of fun circus activities. Choose from full or half day programs and extend by adding special holiday options including Ninja or Parkour. It’s also good to know that they have a magical indoor circus playground suitable for ages 1-10. Socks required for playspace and session duration is up to 1 hr 15 mins. If rain is on the horizon – it’s good to book a spot in advance. You can book online here or call them direct on: 02 6685 6566 during their open hours.
Lace up your skates and join Rollerworld Lismore for one of their popular holiday skating sessions. Open daily, you can enjoy a two hour session of skating fun, music, games and more. There’s an onsite cafe with hot and cold snacks and drinks available.
For the Summer Holidays they are open seven days a week (closed on Public Holidays) and you’ll get at least 2 hours of skating, music, games and more per session! Whether you are a rollerskater (like me) or a rollerblader (like my son and daughter), Lismore Rollerworld has you covered! Both my kids love going for an outing here during the school holidays and it’s fun for all the family with a 2 hour session from just $12pp.
We’ve got some pretty good skateparks here and I can highly recommend Jarjumirr Skatepark in Byron Bay but if you really want to up your skills, why not come and spend a day at Byron Bay Skateboard School Holiday Skate Camp. These super popular sessions run 3 days a week during January 2025 and are a unique and fun experience for kids age 6 – 12 years old. Suitable for all levels of skateboarding – from beginners to advanced, the session takes place at their purpose-built coaching facility in Byron Industrial Estate.
Spaghetti Circus are offering just 3 magical days of circus holiday classes at the end of the holidays (Tuesday 28 to Thursday 30 January 2025) so get in quick! Half day classes for 4-6 years and full day for 6 – 14 years with early drop-off available. Heaps of circus activities to enjoy including tightrope, trapeze, trampoline, German wheel, hula hoops, juggling and more!
Discover the excitement of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail – perfect for kids and families. Walk, ride, and explore the scenic routes between Murwillumbah & Crabbes Creek (24km) or Casino to Bentley (13.4km), enjoying breathtaking views, bridges and tunnels! A new recently completed part of the trail opened in early December from Lismore station, providing a safe off-road route for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders to travel from Lismore to Bentley. This new section of the trail links up with the Casino-Bentley trail which opened earlier this year.
Join Brunswick Bush School for some healthy nature connection time and spend the entire day outdoors in wild nature and learning new skills. Build a ninja warrior course, practice knife skills and whittling, make model pirate boats, have fun with water blasters and more! They’ve added some exciting new activities, one or two day workshops and family adventures too! The Main School Holiday Program is suitable for ages 6-12 and Wild Wallabies program for ages 3-5.
BE CREATIVE
Oceana offers a number of delightful and creative summer holiday arts and craft sessions for different age groups – inviting kids between the ages of 4 to 6, 6 to 10 and 10 to 15 to embark on an artistic adventure with clay, watercolours and paints, supporting them to enjoy the creative process, refine abilities and embrace a variety of artistic techniques. All materials are included in these 2 or 3 hour workshops in Bangalow or Federal.
Located in the heart of Byron Bay, take your kids on a journey of discovery and exploration of the creative arts with Art & Wine Co Suitable for ages 5-15 years, the sessions will explore a range of mediums including paint, clay, collage and illustration. This holidays they are offering a special 2 ticket bundle (bring friend or sibling on same day) with 50% OFF a 2nd Ticket!
Young chefs can get creative at North Byron Hotel and learn from the best as Head Chef, Jedd Rifai is running his ever popular interactive cooking classes during the school holidays. Teaching kids how to make pizza from scratch, from dough to toppings in a state-of-the-art pizza oven or learn the secrets of gnocchi-making. Kids get to cook their chosen creation to perfection and devour for lunch along with a drink and dessert! Suitable for ages 5 -13 years.
Swap boredom for brilliance at Home Makers Club with their huge range of fun-filled creative sessions packed with imagination and play. From hands-on crafts and painting to clay play and DIY projects, there’s something for every young maker to enjoy. Little Creators is suitable for ages 7+ and Youth sessions for age 12-16.
Two brand new, fabulous, creative 2-day workshops for ages 10-14 are being held at the Mullum Youth Cottage Discover the magic of botanicals and art in the Cyanotype Workshop and create stunning blue-and-white prints kids can proudly take home. Or get ready to stitch and create with an Embroidery Workshop that’s perfect for beginners while letting participants create their own original embroidery artwork.
As always, our local libraries can be counted on to offer a diverse range of fun FREE and practical activities throughout the school holidays and these Summer school holidays are no exception. Places are limited and bookings essential for many activities – visit rtrl.nsw.gov.au and select the NEWS AND EVENTS tab.
BE INSPIRED
A school holiday favourite! Kids love Farm Kids Byron Bay fabulous holiday program. Choose from hands-on 3-hour farm-themed workshop – think, bees, cows, chooks, nature craft and more! Or enjoy their hugely popular full day Mini Farmers experiences which run from 9am to 3pm Suitable for 5-15 y/o, this full day program introduces children to real life farming.
Designed for NDIS participants, Auscare Support have an absolutely fantastic line up of Social Clubs with the Kidz Club suitable for ages 6 – 12 and the Teenz Club for ages 13 – 16. From tenpin bowling to social gaming, Lego, waterplay, geocaching, tie-dyeing, S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics) creations, and a trip on Byron Solar Train, it can be paid for with NDIS funding – Core and Capacity Building. Each club is capped at a maximum of 6 children. Call 1800 940 515 to book your spot!
From 7 December 2024 to 4 January 2025, join Otherworld for the Australian premier of the enchanting and 360 immersive film “What Santa Sees”. PLUS, come and explore new amazing exhibits and interactive displays created by some of the world’s best digital artists. Engage with immersive digital walls that react to your movements, wander through captivating infinity mirror rooms, and meander among towering, illuminated flowers.
Be captivated and informed this school holidays at Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue. It’s a fantastic opportunity for kids to learn about the hazards marine life face and a real life insight into seabird and turtle rescue and how we can be more proactive in their protection. Call 02 6686 2852 to book.
BE ENTERTAINED
Cherry Street Sports and Club Lennox Sports have plenty of FREE kid and family friendly activities and events happening every day of the holidays. There’s heaps of fun to be had with long time favourites Mr Brad from Fitness Kidz and Miss Beka who will be running a weekly disco. Following a huge hit last holidays, there’s also all-abilities soccer skills with the Rainbow Roos, and pizza making fun. Plus on Saturday 18 January October, bring your bathers for the annual Splash Bash Waterslide Day at Cherry Street Sports – bookings essential!
Ballina Tenpin Bowl is open almost day of the school holidays and is the perfect all-weather entertainment option to enjoy a super fun morning or arvo social bowling and Putt Putt with family or friends. They have a school holiday special price on Tenpin Bowling and light up the lanes for GLOW bowling sessions. If you have little ones who want a go, they have lightweight balls and bumpers/ramps for your convenience. Call 02 6686 5342 to reserve your lane!
Ballina RSL are putting on some fantastic entertainment for kids these holidays. Not to be missed is Pop Squad on Thursday 9 January and The Tay Tay Tribute Show on Tuesday 21 Jan These sell-out shows pay tribute to three of the world’s most loved Pop Music icons: Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa. Suitable for all ages, these performances will be a hit – make sure you book tickets soon!
If that’s not enough, kids can also enjoy side-splitting fun with Shorty Brown and her hilarious FREE Bingo and Kids Disco, Wildlife Trivia and Meet & Greet The Wildlife Twins, a weekend of Lego at the Ballina Brick Event Expo and Catch & Release, Kids Free Fishing Competition. Don’t forget the daily Special $5 epic value Kids Meal Deal!
PLACES ARE LIMITED AND BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL FOR MANY ACTIVITIES – SEE THE WHAT’S ON GUIDE FOR DATES, TIMES, AGE SUITABILITY AND BOOKING DETAILS.
Choose from eight family friendly movies showing at Palace Cinema Byron Bay and Palace Cinema Ballina Fair. Both movie theatres are thrilled to be presenting Wicket, Moana 2 and Mufasa with Byron Bay also showing Red One and Wallace and Gromit – Vengeance Most Fowl. Sonic 3 is released on Boxing Day an, Paddington In Peru on New Years Day and much loved Alison Lester book-turned-movie: Magic Beach opens on 16 January. Visit Palace Cinemas for showing times and bookings.
On Saturday 4 January A Little Bit of Blue puppet show is performing at Byron Theatre. An interactive detective story, it involves learning about the extraordinary habits of the Australian Satin Bowerbird, and their fascination for the colour blue. Children can also join Little Wing Puppets and book into the Puppetry of Paper Workshop after the show to learn about making simple puppets from paper and bringing them to life!
Welcome to BALLINA SUMMER FAIR and LISMORE SUMMER FAIR by Aussie Night Markets. At Missingham Park in Ballina, you can have heaps of fun at this two-day Outdoor Family Festival Event on 10 and 11 January and at Lismore Showgrounds on Sunday 12 January. Enjoy delicious food, exciting games, rides and live music entertainment. Let the adventure unfold with an unlimited games and rides wristband. Have fun on the Ferris Wheel, Rock n’ Tug, Bouncy Castles and more!
And summer holidays in our beautiful region would not be complete without a trip to McGregor’s Family Carnival. Open nightly – except Christmas Day – from 6.30 – 9.30pm (weather permitting), it’s located by the river at Banner Park, Brunswick Heads for the duration of the school holidays. Without doubt our favourite is the dodgem cars – it’s so much fun. The carnival is FREE ENTRY and pay as you go attractions, Rides & Games. Food is also available and there are sometimes special guests roaming –There are Two for One ride coupons available in local ECHO newspaper to use every Sunday and Santa will be arriving on Christmas Eve at 8pm!!
So, there you have it.
That is apart from heading down to one of the many beautiful beaches, enjoying a coastal or hinterland walking trail or enjoying a scoot or a skate or a play at any number of our local skateparks and playgrounds… all of which you can find out more about by clicking on the links.
We hope you enjoy a fun-filled, joyful and memory-making Summer Holidays with your family and feel inspired to try some new exciting activities!
Michelle xx
Have a look at what you fancy doing with the kids and make a morning, afternoon or a day of it!
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