What’s On These School Holidays for families in and around the Blue Mountains? We’ve got you covered with our Blue Mountains Autumn School Holidays Activities Guide! It’s packed with fantastic active and creative ideas for exciting school holiday fun this Autumn.
NSW school holidays run from Monday 10 April to Friday 21 April 2023. We wish you and your family a wonderful Easter and Autumn School Holidays and hope that this guide gives your plenty of inspiration for a relaxing and enjoyable break.
Click on the quick links below or scroll down to view the full Blue Mountains Autumn School Holidays Activities Guide.
Blue Mountains Autumn School Holidays Activities Guide 2023
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre – Two exciting zine making workshops.
Are We There Yet? Live On Stage At The Joan – A beautiful celebration of Australia, with songs, fun and quokkas!
Drama Workshops For Ages 5 – 13+ At The Joan – Interactive and fun drama workshops to build confidence on stage and behind the scenes.
Art Workshops For 5- 16 Years at Penrith Regional Gallery – Clay and mixed media workshops for kids and teens.
Pick Your Own Walnuts & Chestnuts in Mount Irvine
Blue Mountains City Library School Holiday Workshops
Easter Long Weekend in the Blue Mountains – What’s on locally this Easter?
MYST Blue Mountains Free Skate & Workshop Comp at St Ives Skatepark
Visit Mount Wilson – Soak up the majesty of Autumn colours in Mount Wilson.
Luddenham Easter Festival – Rides, games, food, show bags, hair braiding, Easter hat parade and much more fun!
Become a Blue Mountains Junior Ranger – A fun two hour exploratory adventure using navigation skills in Blackheath.
Aboriginal Games For Kids – Kids will learn to play a range of Aboriginal games at the Blue Mountains Heritage Centre, Blackheath.
Thrive Services Art & Craft Morning, Katoomba
MOCS Family Fun Morning
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre
USE COLLAGE, HAND LETTERING AND CREATIVE COMPOSITION TO MAKE YOUR OWN ZINE
Calling all creative kids and teens! The Blue Mountains Cultural Centre are hosting two zine-making workshops in April:
WORKSHOP 1: Let’s Make Zines!
In this workshop, we will be making ‘how to’ zines. You will be making a zine that teaches the reader how to do something… this might be a recipe (how to bake a cake), an art tutorial (how to draw a tiger) or something super silly (how to tickle an octopus!). The best thing about zines is that there are no rules, so you can let your creativity run wild!
WORKSHOP 2: Frankenstein-style Zine-making.
In this workshop you will be scavenging through magazines and old books for interesting sentences, words or images that you will reconfigure and mash together (Frankenstein-style!) to create your own zine! Taking sentences out of context often results in surprising (and hilarious!) new meanings.
WHEN: Let’s Make Zines! : Wednesday 19 April, 10 AM – 11.30 AM Frankenstein-style Zine-making : Friday 21 April 2.30 PM – 4 PM
WHERE: Blue Mountains Cultural Centre 30 Parke Street Katoomba, NSW 2780 (View map).
SUITED FOR: Let’s Make Zines! is suited for primary school children aged 7 to 12 years.
Frankenstein-style Zine-making is designed for high school students aged 12 to 18 years.
COST: $20 / $15 InSight Members
HOW TO BOOK: Bookings for both workshops are via Eventbrite: bmculturalcentre.eventbrite.com.au
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram
Are We There Yet?
LIVE ON STAGE AT THE JOAN
Join Grace and her family on their adventurous and sometimes funny expedition around Australia!
The team behind the successful national tour of Magic Beach return with a new adaptation of another multi award-winning classic picture from Alison Lester AM.
Featuring songs, fun and quokkas, Are We There Yet? is a celebration of family, love and the diversity of our beautiful country.
WHEN: Tuesday 18 April at 12:30pm (Relaxed Performance) & 6pm and Wednesday 19 April at 10am (Relaxed Performance) & 12:30pm.
WHERE: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith, NSW, 2750 (View map).
SUITED FOR: Ages 3 – 10 and their families.
COST: Standard Ticket $25, Family of 4 $90.
HOW TO BOOK: Book via The Joan’s website here or call Box Office on (02) 4723 7600.
WEBSITE
SOCIALS: Facebook, Instagram, #TheJoan
Drama Workshops For Ages 5 – 13+
SPARK YOUR IMAGINATION AT THE JOAN
Develop your performance skills these School Holidays with our series of interactive and fun drama workshops.
From learning the art of spell-binding storytelling through character development and playbuilding, to intensive workshops for script writing and monologue performance, there is something for young artists looking to build confidence on stage and behind the scenes.
Plus, enhance your theatrical experience with our pre- and post-show workshops for Are We There Yet?, playing at The Joan 18 – 19 April.
WHEN: 11 – 20 April 2023
WHERE: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith, NSW, 2750 (View map).
SUITED FOR: Ages 5 – 13+
COST: $30 – $85.
HOW TO BOOK: Book via The Joan’s website here or call Box Office on (02) 4723 7600.
WEBSITE
SOCIALS: Facebook, Instagram, #TheJoan
Art Workshops For 5 – 16 Years
GET CREATIVE THESE HOLIDAYS AT PENRITH REGIONAL GALLERY
Budding artists can get creative these School Holidays with a range of clay and mixed media workshops inspired by the Gallery’s current exhibition Margo Lewers: A House Full of Paintings. Explore Margo’s paintings, sculptures and gardens before creating colourful mini houses, clay succulents, or recycled plastic art.
WHEN: 12 – 21 April.
WHERE: Penrith Regional Gallery, Home of The Lewers Bequest, 86 River Road, Emu Plains, NSW, 2750 (View map).
SUITED FOR: Ages 5 – 16 years.
COST: $35 per workshop.
HOW TO BOOK: Book via the Gallery’s website here or call (02) 4735 1100.
WEBSITE
SOCIALS: Facebook, Instagram, #PenrithRegionalGallery
Nut Picking In Mount Irvine
PICK YOUR OWN WALNUTS AND CHESTNUTS
Gather the family to pick your own walnuts and chestnuts these Autumn school holidays! Bring your own gloves and experience a unique experience this Autumn at a cool climate nut farm. For more information about fruit and nut picking in the Blue Mountains, click here.
WHEN: Nutwood Farm – Season begins Saturday 25 March 2023. Weekends only for the 5 to 6 week season (mid-March to mid-April) + Easter, 9am – 4pm.
Kookootonga Farm – Season begins Saturday 25 March 2023 until late April, open every day from 9am – 4pm. No bookings are needed.
WHERE: Nutwood Farm 22 Danes Way, Mount Irvine, NSW 2786
Kookootonga Farm 247 Mount Irvine Road, Mount Irvine NSW 2786
SUITED FOR: Anyone (if you have a nut allergy though, it is best not to visit a nut farm).
COST: Nutwood Farm: Walnuts and chestnuts ($11/kg – subject to change). Cash only at Nutwood Farm.
Kookootonga Farm: $10/kg for chestnuts and $12/kg for walnuts. EFTPOS available at Kookootonga Farm.
HOW TO BOOK: No bookings are needed.
WEBSITE: Nutwood Farm; Kookootonga
SOCIAL MEDIA: Nutwood Farm Facebook Page; Kookootonga Farm Facebook Page
Blue Mountains City Library Autumn School Holiday Workshops
EIGHT CREATIVE SCHOOL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT THE LIBRARY
Dive into these fantastic Blue Mountains Autumn school holidays activities at your local library! Blue Mountains City Library is excited to offer eight creative workshops for kids during the April school holidays! View all of the workshops here.
Beading Workshop
Thursday 13 April 2023. 10:00am – 11:00am. Springwood Hub. $6
Animation Box, Lower Primary
Friday 14th April 2023. 10:00am – 11:00am. Blaxland Library. $6
Animation Box, Upper Primary
Friday 14th April 2023. 11:30am – 12:30pm. Blaxland Library. $6
Wind-Up Toys, Lower Primary
Tuesday 18th April 2023. 10:00am – 11:00am. Katoomba Library. $6
Wind-Up Toys, Upper Primary
Tuesday 18th April 2023. 11:30am – 12:30am. Katoomba Library. $6
Tiny Creations
Wednesday 19th April 2023. 11:00am – 12:00pm. Katoomba Library. $6
Collaborative Creations
Saturday 8 – Sunday 23 April 2023. Branch hours. All Libraries. Free
Free Writing Workshops
Monday 17th April 2023.
10 – 15 year olds. 11:30am – 1:00pm. Katoomba Library. FREE
16 years and over. 2:00pm – 3:30pm. Katoomba Library. FREE
HOW TO BOOK: Online via Eventbrite
CONTACT: bmlibrary@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter
Easter Long Weekend In The Blue Mountains
WHAT’S ON LOCALLY THIS EASTER?
What’s on in the Blue Mountains this Easter long weekend? There is an Easter egg hunt, bushwalks, markets, local family friendly church services, an Easter carnival and more.
MYST Blue Mountains
FREE SKATE & WORKSHOP COMP AT THE NEW ST IVES SKATEPARK
MYST has planned an amazing day trip to the newly renovated St Ives Skate Park in Sydney. You will be treated to a skateboard workshop with Concrete Skate Supplies to help you develop your skills followed by a competition so you can show off your skills.
There will also be some free time just to have fun and enjoy all the skate park has to offer, with a BBQ lunch provided. This is a free event for all 12-17 year olds. No experience is necessary, transport is supplied and equipment is supplied (if need be). Places are limited so make sure you book today.
WHEN: Friday 14 April 2023.Leaving Springwood Youth Centre at 9.30amand returning at 4pm in MYST vehicles.
WHERE: St Ives Skate Park (View map)
SUITED FOR: Ages 12 – 17 years
COST: FREE. All costs are covered by MYST Blue Mountains.
HOW TO BOOK: Online
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
Visit Mount Wilson
EXPERIENCE THE MAJESTY OF AUTUMN IN MOUNT WILSON
Mount Wilson is well known for the myriad of colours that emerge from its deciduous trees during Autumn. They paint the town in an amazing variety of yellows, oranges and reds. Visitors are attracted to Mount Wilson’s small town charm and enjoy the walks and picnic spots here. The Cathedral of Ferns (view map) is a must. Bowen’s Creek Picnic Ground is another nice spot.
Gardens in Mount Wilson that you may like to visit include Breenhold Garden (View map). There are many beautiful spots to see at Breenhold Garden, including Laburnun Steps, Pine Tree Avenue, Compass Garden, Promontory Lookout, Bailey Paths and Socrates Garden), Yengo Sculpture Gardens, Nooroo, Sefton Cottage, Windyridge. More gardens can be found here. You may also be interested in visiting Wynne’s Rock Lookout, Pheasant’s Cave and Du Faurs Rock.
Please keep in mind though that mobile phone reception is patchy or non existent and that there are no shops, petrol stations or medical services in Mount Wilson (the closest are in Mount Victoria and Lithgow). You will also need to take ALL rubbish with you as the local bins cannot cope with too much rubbish.
WHEN: Autumn school holidays (many gardens are open from March to May – check websites and Facebook Pages before your visit to ensure gardens are open).
WHERE: Mount Wilson (View map).
SUITED FOR: Everyone
COST: Many gardens have entry fees. Breenhold Garden, for example charges $15 per adult and $5 for children over 5 years old. The family rate for 2 adults and 3 or more children is $40.00. EFTPOS preferred.
Luddenham Easter Festival
RIDES, GAMES, SHOWBAGS, CIRCUS AND MORE!
Games, dodgem cars, hair braiding, kids’ rides, pony rides, merry-go-round, showbags, free circus, food, drinks, dagwood dogs, coffee, fairy floss and much more!
WHEN: Good Friday to Easter Monday – 7th – 10th of April 2023.
12.30pm- 8pm Good Friday, Easter Saturday & Easter Sunday.
12.30pm – 6pm Easter Monday. The Harrington Circus Show is daily from 2pm – 5pm.
WHERE: Luddenham Showground, Cnr Park Road & Campbell Street, Luddenham NSW 2745 (View map)
SUITED FOR: Everyone. This is a family friendly event.
COST: $2 entry, free parking, ride prices TBC
CONTACT: For enquiries, please contact Karen at karenblades@hotmail.com or on 0437 108 026
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
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 two hour 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: Thursday 13 April and Monday 17 April 2023, 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
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: Friday 14 April and Thursday 20 April 2023, 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
Thrive Services Art & Craft Morning, Katoomba
MOCS Family Fun Morning
We hope that this edition of the Blue Mountains Autumn School Holidays Activities Guide has helped to inspire you and your family to book some planned fun these holidays.
Let us know in the comments below what you enjoyed the most during your break. Happy holidays!
