Our Blue Mountains Summer School Holidays activities guide is packed with the most exciting fun for kids these school holidays. From family friendly Christmas events, creative workshops and the best places to stay cool, this Summer is set to be one to remember!
Click on the quick links below or enjoy browsing these amazing activities and adventures for a truly memorable Summer break!
Blue Mountains Summer School Holidays Activities 2024/2025
Art Workshops at Penrith Regional Gallery – A range of exciting creative workshops connecting with the Gallery’s exhibitions for ages 3 – 12.
Performances and Drama Workshops at The Joan – Immerse yourself in the world of drama and dance with these engaging sessions for children, teens and
adults.
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah – We’re Going On a Bug Hunt! An invertebrate adventure this summer holidays!
Blue Mountains Christmas Markets – Enjoy shopping locally this Christmas.
Water Play In And Around The Blue Mountains – Discover 34 Spots To Cool Off This Summer.
Christmas In The Blue Mountains 2024 – Local community carols and events for the whole family.
Wascoe Siding – Ride miniature trains in Blaxland on December 1.
Blue Mountains Library School Holiday Creative Workshops – Art and craft workshops for ages 5 – 18.
Blue Mountains Library Summer Reading Challenge – Win book vouchers by reading this Summer.
Aboriginal Games For Kids, Blackheath – Kids will learn to play a range of Aboriginal games at the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre.
NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Junior Ranger Program – A fun orienteering tour at Blackheath.
Penrith Regional Gallery
ART WORKSHOPS FOR AGES 3 – 12
Get busy making art at the gallery with holiday workshops to inspire and engage young artists. Our current exhibitions have inspired a range of exciting art making projects from panther puppets, to charcoal drawings, and glittering treasure boxes.
All programs are led by our team of experienced artist educators and include all
materials and equipment.
Bottom Right-Hand Image: Maja Baska.
When: 19 December 2024 and 14 – 23 January 2025.
Where: Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest, 86 River Road,
Emu Plains, NSW, 2750 (View Map).
Suited for: Ages 3 – 12 years.
Cost: $25 (1-hour workshops) and $40 (2-hour workshops).
How to book: Book via the Gallery’s website here or call (02) 4735 1100.
Website: Website
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, #PenrithRegionalGallery
The Joan
PERFORMANCES AND DRAMA WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS AND ADULTS
Immerse yourself in the sensory-friendly shadow puppet performance Shadow House at The Joan. This enchanting show invites you into a magical tent, where captivating stories and stunning visuals will delight and mesmerise the whole family.
For those looking to develop their performing arts skills, Q Theatre’s summer program at The Joan is jam-packed full of interactive workshops and masterclasses and is open to children, adults, HSC students, and teachers alike.
Led by a mix of local, national, and internationally acclaimed artists, the program covers everything from musical theatre and improvisation to storytelling, character building, set design, Suzuki training, monologues, and film.
Photos by Christopher Hayles, Eddy Summers and Fusion Studio
When: 21 – 31 January 2025.
Where: Joan Sutherland Performing Art Centre, 597 Hugh Street, Penrith, NSW,
2750 (View Map).
Suited for: Ages 5 – 18 years.
Cost: $35 – $180 (Creative Kids Vouchers accepted).
How to book: Book via Q Theatre’s website here or call (02) 4723 7600.
Website: Website
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, #TheJoan #QTheatre
Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah
WE’RE GOING ON A BUG HUNT! AN INVERTEBRATE ADVENTURE THIS SUMMER HOLIDAYS
Let’s get hunting! It’s all about bugs these school holidays! Bugs, bugs everywhere!
Join us as we search for land-dwelling invertebrates amongst the leaf letter. We’ll dip-net for bugs on the water’s edge and make our own take-home bugs from clay and collected natural materials. This will be great day out amongst the beauty of the Blue Mountains Botanic Garden.
Recommended for children aged 5–12 years with an accompanying adult.
When: Wednesday 15 January and Wednesday 22 January 2025, from 10:30am – 12pm
Where: Meet at the Waratah Centre, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah, Bells Line of Road, Mount Tomah, New South Wales 2758 (view map).
Suited for: Children aged 5 – 12 years
Cost: $21 per child | $18.50 for Foundation and Friends members
How to book: Online. For enquiries contact programs.info@botanicgardens.nsw.gov.au
Website: Click here
Social media: View event on Facebook, Facebook Instagram.
Blue Mountains Christmas Markets
ENJOY SHOPPING LOCALLY THIS CHRISTMAS
Discover local Christmas markets happening this December as well as many other wonderful local markets throughout the Blue Mountains.
Water Play In And Around The Blue Mountains
34 SPOTS TO COOL OFF THIS SUMMER!
Are you looking for ways to keep your family cool this Summer? Where can you find water play fun in and around the Blue Mountains that is free or low cost? We have found 34 perfect spots to cool off this Summer. Check out the best places in and around the Blue Mountains to take your family this Summer for water fun.
FIND OUT MORE
What’s On For Christmas In The Blue Mountains 2024
LOCAL COMMUNITY CAROLS AND FAMILY EVENTS
End the year with joy, hope and jubilation with one of these local Christmas events. Christmas in the Blue Mountains 2024 features community carol events, late night shopping in the Blue Mountains, Christmas church services, gingerbread decorating and other special events and activities for the whole community to enjoy.
Wascoe Siding, Blaxland
RIDE A MINIATURE TRAIN ON DECEMBER 1
Wascoe Siding Miniature Railway Blaxland is a Blue Mountains school holiday classic. Riding the miniature trains at Wascoe Siding is a fun and unique family activity in the lower Blue Mountains, suitable for all ages. Learn about steam engines from local miniature railway experts and create wonderful memories at the historic Wascoe Siding Minature Railway.
WHEN: Sunday 1 December 2024.
WHERE: 15 Grahame Street, Blaxland NSW 2774 (map).
SUITED FOR: Primary aged children aged 5 – 12 years
COST: Train ride tickets are for up to 4 people per carriage (purchase one ticket for $15). Entry Fees: Children up to 3 years: FREE; Ages 4 to 16 years: $2; Ages 17+: $5; Pensioners/concession holders: $2.
HOW TO BOOK: Train ride tickets are only available on the day from our ticket office – no bookings are required for train tickets. Book online for undercover table bookings; Contact: wascoesiding@gmail.com
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
Blue Mountains Library School Holiday Workshops
ART AND CRAFT WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AGED 5 TO 18
Blue Mountains City Library is excited to offer workshops for kids during the Summer school holidays! View these exciting activities here on the Library’s website.
WHEN & WHERE: Katoomba, Springwood and Blaxland Libraries
SUITED FOR: Students from Kindergarten to 18 years
COST: Free or low cost / $6 per session
HOW TO BOOK: Online
CONTACT: bmlibrary@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr
Blue Mountains Library Summer Reading Challenge
READ AND WIN THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!
Summer wouldn’t be the same without Blue Mountains Library’s Summer Reading Challenge. Read great books over the summer, record them on your reading logsheet and earn book vouchers. The Summer Reading Challenge is open to kids and young adults aged from 0 to 18 years. The challenge runs from December 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025.
When you have completed a logsheet return it to any library branch during opening hours to receive a book voucher. Vouchers will be sent via post if log sheets are submitted via email src@bmcc.nsw.gov.au. There is a limit of 4 vouchers per participant. Vouchers must be redeemed by 31 March 2025. Discover more here.
These Summer School Holidays, the Blue Mountains Library’s eLibrary is always open. It provides FREE online entertainment and information options including eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, streaming movies and documentaries on Beamafilm, Creative Corner Online, eLearning games, fantastic At-Home Activities for kids and a wonderful Storybox Library.
WHEN: The Blue Mountains Library Summer Reading Challenge runs from December 1, 2024 until January 31, 2025. Submit your completed logsheets by 7 February 2025.
SUITED FOR: Summer Reading Challenge suitable for 0 – 18 years. Download your logsheet here for 0 -12 years and here for 13 -18 years.
COST: FREE
CONTACT: bmlibrary@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
WEBSITE: https://library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr
Aboriginal Games For Kids
FUN ABORIGINAL GAMES FOR CHILDREN 7 – 11 YEARS
Looking for a fun-filled kids’ activity these school holidays? Learn to play a range of Aboriginal games at the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, near Blackheath.
WHEN: Thursday 9 and Wednesday 22 January 2025, 10am to 12pm. Meet at 9.45am.
WHERE: Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Blackheath, 270 Govett’s Leap Road, Blackheath NSW 2785 (View Map).
SUITED FOR: Recommended for children 7 to 11 years.
COST: Child $20 per person. Adults free.
HOW TO BOOK: Bookings are required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Become a NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Junior Ranger!
A FUN ORIENTEERING TOUR FOR CHILDREN 8 – 14 YEARS
Become a Junior Ranger this school holidays, on this fun orienteering tour at Blackheath. You’ll learn some useful navigation skills along the way.
Come along on this 2hr exploratory adventure at the heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park.
Walking alongside an NPWS Discovery Ranger, you’ll navigate the picturesque Grose Wilderness, while learning some important bushwalking skills, like how to read a map and how to use a compass.
Once we’ve mastered the basics, your ranger will put your skills to the test!
WHEN: Wednesday 8, Tuesday 14, Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 29 January 2025, 10am to 12pm. Meet at 9.45am.
WHERE: Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Blackheath, 270 Govett’s Leap Road, Blackheath NSW 2785 (View Map).
SUITED FOR: A medium grade guided class. Recommended for children 8 to 14 years old. You will go on a short hike with some stairs and uneven ground.
COST: Child $20 per person. Adults free.
HOW TO BOOK: Bookings are required. Phone 1300 072 757 for more information or book online.
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
What an exciting lineup of events and activities in our Blue Mountains Summer School Holidays Activities Guide! We hope that it inspired great adventures for you this Summer with cherished memories made.
We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New Year filled with joy, hope and plenty of Summer fun together!
