School Holiday Activities
Blue Mountains
The Summer school holidays are almost upon us! We have plenty of excellent Summer school holiday activities in the Blue Mountains that will keep your children active, boost their confidence and engage them in memorable experiences. We are very excited to tell you all about these fantastic opportunities that are happening in the Blue Mountains these Summer school holidays for 2020/2021!
Summer School Holidays
Blue Mountains
Click the Quicklink below to go straight to the holiday activity of your choice, or enjoy scrolling through these fantastic school holiday opportunities in the Blue Mountains that your kids will love!
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, Kids Ride Free! Locals Ride Free*!
Wacky Workshops, Magical Art & Paint Like A Pro
Hooked On Nature, Blue Mountains Glow Worm Tours and Nature Experiences
Christmas Jazz and Family Fun at LMAP, Celebrate Christmas in the Lower Mountains
Water Play Fun In and Around the Blue Mountains, Keep Cool This Summer
High and Wild Australian Adventures, Summer Canyoning & Abseiling
Blue Mountains Library School Holiday Activities, Kids Earn $ to Read This Summer!
Featherdale Sydney, New Animal Encounters!
Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Summer Picnic Time!
Blue Mountains Markets Open For Christmas Shopping, Shop Locally This Christmas
Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum – Santa Arrives By Steam Train & Open Day
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus
Kids Ride Free! Locals Ride Free! Hop On… You’ll Love It!
Hop on hop off these summer holidays and explore the Blue Mountains in your own time. Kids Ride Free! All school-aged children ride free on the Explorer Bus when travelling with a paying parent or guardian. Blue Mountains locals ride free too when travelling with a paying passenger*. Hop On… You’ll love it!
WHEN: Weekends and selected days during the School Holidays
WHERE: 283 Bathurst Rd, Katoomba NSW 2780
SUITED FOR: Everyone!
COST: Unlimited Hop On, Hop Off Explorer Pass: Adults $55, KIDS RIDE FREE with a paying adult; LOCALS RIDE FREE with a paying passenger.
HOW TO BOOK: Online or call 1300 300 915 for more details
WEBSITE: www.explorerbus.com.au
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram
#bmexplorerbus #KidsRideFree #HopOnHopOff
Wacky Workshops
MAGICAL ART
There is no doubt that art is magical. It has the power to lift moods and make you question what you think you know. At this workshop, students will use some truly magical techniques to create art including magically appearing pictures, invisible drawings, magical eruption pictures and more.
PAINT LIKE A PRO
Wear old clothes, we’re going to be drip and spatter painting like Jackson Pollock. Students will learn about colour and create a colour wheel and experiment with patterns. Each student takes home all their creations, including a wooden canvas painting.
WHEN: MAGICAL ART – Wednesday, January 20, 10am – 11.30am.
PAINT LIKE A PRO – Wednesday, January 13, 10am – 11.30 am
WHERE: Wacky Workshops Glenbrook Studio
SUITED FOR: 4 – 12 years
COST: $35 – all materials included
HOW TO BOOK: Online: Magical Art; Paint Like A Pro, or Contact Tami on 0402732859; e: wackyworkshops1@gmail.com
WEBSITE: https://gleefulgrandiva.com/the-wacky-workshops-page/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram, #wackyworkshops
Hooked on Nature
Glow Worms to Gliding Possums, Hooked On Nature hosts family-friendly Nature Tours. We strive for low impact nature experiences out in the wilderness which are focused on fostering conservation through science and connect.
WHEN: Tour dates and times vary.
WHERE: Near Mt Tomah/Bilpin
SUITED FOR: Children 7+
COST: Glow worm tours for adults – $65. Contact Hooked on Nature for children’s prices.
HOW TO BOOK: Online or contact Tom on 0416411502; e: tom@hookedonnature.com.au
WEBSITE: https://hookedonnature.com.au/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram
Outdoor Christmas Jazz and Family Fun for Christmas
You’re invited to celebrate Christmas at Lower Mountains Anglican Parish (LMAP) Glenbrook, Blaxland and Mount Riverview! Please bring a facemask. COVID measures in place.
(CANCELLED) LMAP Mount Riverview Outdoor Jazz Christmas will start at 6pm on Saturday 19 December, with food and a jumping castle!
LMAP Blaxland Outdoor Jazz Christmas will start at 6pm on Sunday 20 December, with food and jumping castle for the kids.
LMAP Glenbrook Christmas celebrations begin at 4pm on Christmas Eve with a Kid’s Christmas Celebration. The fun continues at 5pm with a BBQ + activities + jumping castle! At 7pm enjoy a Jazz Christmas (at church + online).
Christmas Day Family Christmas at LMAP Mount Riverview starts at 8.30am. LMAP Blaxland will celebrate at 10am and LMAP Glenbrook will celebrate Christmas at 8am & 10am, with the 10am Christmas service being in church + online.
WHEN: LMAP Mt Riverview – Saturday 19 December (CANCELLED); LMAP Blaxland – Sunday 20 December; LMAP Glenbrook – Thursday 24 December 2020
WHERE: Lower Mountains Anglican Parish, Mt Riverview – 159 Rusden Rd, Mount Riverview NSW 2774 (map); LMAP Blaxland – 16 Taringha St, Blaxland NSW 2774 (map); LMAP Glenbrook – Cnr Wascoe and Raymond St, Glenbrook NSW 2773 (map).
SUITED FOR: All welcome!
COST: FREE
CONTACT: e: admin@lmap.org.au, ph: 02 4739 1316
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
Water Play Fun in and around the Blue Mountains
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 scoped out the best places in and around the Blue Mountains to take your family this Summer for water fun – and the great news is that most of these spots are free!
WHEN: All Summer
WHERE: Lawson, Yarramundi, Leura, Glenbrook, Hazelbrook, Springwood, Katoomba, Blackheath, Lithgow, Eastern Creek, Jordon Springs, Putney, Kellyville, Mulgoa Rise, Parramatta, Blacktown, Cabarita, Abbotsbury, Windsor, Penrith, Erskine Park,
SUITED FOR: Families
COST: Most places are free or low cost
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook Page, Facebook Group, Instagram
High and Wild Australian Adventures Katoomba
Experience a spectacular Half Day Abseiling Tour or Full Day Abseiling and Rock Climbing Combo with High and Wild Australian Adventures these school holidays! Suitable for anyone aged 8 years+ at all levels of ability, these are simply the best action-packed adventures you can have in the Blue Mountains.
Or experience the fantastic abseil/canyon combo with the Empress Canyon trip! This canyon is an exciting affair with water jumps, exhilarating swims, water slides and fantastic scenery. It concludes with one of the best waterfall abseils in the mountains. A truly unforgettable adventure!
WHEN: Most days of the week
WHERE: 207 Katoomba Street (inside the Blue Mountains YHA), Katoomba
SUITED FOR: The Half Day abseil minimum age is 8 years.
The Empress Canyon minimum age is 14 years.
COST: Half Day Abseil: Kids 8-13 years $95, Adults 14+ $150;
Empress Canyon Full Day: $250.
HOW TO BOOK: Online or call Aidan or Darren on (02) 4782 6224; e: info@highandwild.com.au
WEBSITE: https://www.highandwild.com.au/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Instagram
Blue Mountains Library
School Holiday Activities
Discover the Summer Reading Challenge! When your child has read 20 books (0 – 12yrs) or 10 books (13yrs – 16yrs), he or she will receive a $5.00 Blue Mountains bookshop voucher! Visit the Library’s Facebook Page or Website to keep up to date with what’s on this Summer.
A special Christmas Storytime will take place on December 9.
The 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 starts Tuesday, December 1 – and finishes Sunday, January 31 2021.
Christmas Storytime – Wednesday, December 9, 2020.
Creative Corner Online program – available from Thursday afternoons at 3.30pm.
Blue Mountains Library updates their School Holiday Programs HERE.
WHERE: Mostly online
SUITED FOR: Summer Reading Challenge suitable for 0 – 16 years
COST: FREE
CONTACT: bmlibrary@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
WEBSITE: https://library.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr,
Featherdale Sydney
Exploring the amazing world of Aussie birds and animals at Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is the ultimate experience for children these Summer School Holidays!
Featherdale Sydney has developed sensational NEW Animal Encounters for your children to enjoy these Summer School Holidays. Children aged 10+ have the opportunity to interact with koalas, quokkas, tree kangaroos, lorikeets, pelicans and penguins! Kids of all ages will love meeting Featherdale Sydney’s cuddly koalas (which also includes a professional photography package), lorikeets and dingo pups! As part of their entry, all children get to participate in all day kangaroo and wallaby feeding (food can be purchased at $3 per cup while stocks last).
WHEN: Open 9am – 4pm every day of the year (excluding Christmas Day).
WHERE: 217-229 Kildare Road, Doonside NSW 2767.
SUITED FOR: Everyone!
COST: Child (3-15 years old) – $22; Adult (ages 16+) – $35; Student – $32, For Family Pass prices please visit the website.
HOW TO BOOK: Online or at the gate (there is no difference in price). Call (02) 9622 1644 or visit the website for more information.
WEBSITE: https://www.featherdale.com.au/
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook; Instagram; Twitter; YouTube #featherdalewildlifepark
Everglades Historic House and Gardens, Leura
Escape to Everglades Historic House and Garden for a Summer adventure. Pack a picnic and spend a few hours relaxing in the gardens laying on one of the lush green lawns. Enjoy the tranquil reflection pool, the gorgeous cherry blossoms, grotto pool and a walk the winding paths down the terraced garden with your family. Visiting the Everglades House and Garden is a lovely way to wind down, slow the pace, appreciate nature and rejuvenate during the school holidays. Discover these beautiful gardens, the historic 1930’s Art Deco house and enjoy sweeping views over Jamison Valley to Mt Solitary.
WHEN: Timed entry tickets, Thursday to Monday 10am – 4pm
WHERE: 37 Everglades Avenue, Leura 2780 NSW
SUITED FOR: Everyone! However, the Gardens are not pram-friendly.
COST: National Trust Members – FREE
Adult $15, Concession* $10, Family $35, Child (under 5 years) – FREE
*Concession applies for full-time students, seniors, pensioners and children aged 5-15 years.
HOW TO BOOK: Online. To ensure timed entry and safe physical distancing, visitors are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets via Eventbrite. Booking fees will apply.
WEBSITE: https://www.nationaltrust.org.au
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
Blue Mountains Markets Open For Christmas Shopping
This Christmas, shop locally and support Blue Mountains small businesses and makers. There are plenty of markets open in the lead up to Christmas so you can find beautiful gifts for your loved ones. There are Christmas Twilight Markets in Kurrajong, late night shopping in Springwood and many more opportunities to do do your Christmas shopping.
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook Group, Facebook Page, Instagram
Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum – Santa Arrives By Steam Train plus Open Day
See Santa arrive at the Valley Heights Rail Museum aboard a Heritage Train at 11am or 2:30pm on the 6th or 13th of December. The Museum’s volunteers have been working behind the scenes to make sure all Covid Safe boxes are ticked and guidelines and protocols are now in place.Santa’s got his sleigh at the ready and is excited for his annual visit to the Blue Mountains. Don’t forget the camera to get your photos with Santa all in a COVID Safe and friendly environment. There’s plenty of photo opportunities and a free gift for all children. *Please note that the steam rides are subject to operational restrictions.
WHEN: Sunday 6 December, 2020 from 10am – 12.30pm + 1:30pm – 4:00pm;
Sunday 13 December, 2020 from 10am – 12.30pm + 1:30pm – 4:00pm.
WHERE: Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum,
17b Tusculum Road, Valley Heights, NSW 2777
SUITED FOR: All welcome
COST: Adults, seniors, pensioners $10, School Students (Aged 5 – 18) $8, -child (aged under 4) FREE, Members FREE.
HOW TO BOOK: Online. To ensure timed entry and safe physical distancing, visitors are encouraged to pre-purchase tickets via TryBooking. Booking fees will apply. Contact 0414 764 178 for more details.
WEBSITE
SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook
The Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum will also host an Australia Day Open Day on January 24, 2021. Enjoy the Museum’s great experiences and activities – climb on engines and carriages showcasing over 100 years of railway history across the Mountains. Take a 10-minute heritage train ride in an 1890 carriage* Pre-booked tickets only (online or phone). Two sessions available 10am or 1.30pm. See the website closer to the date for ticketing details.
Please let us know in the comments below what local adventures you got up to these Summer School Holidays in the Blue Mountains. Have a wonderful time, stay safe and embrace all of the incredible opportunities we have right here at home.
Would you like more inspiration for family fun in the Blue Mountains? Check out these ideas for more local gems and activities for the family to enjoy!
- Visit our Directory for more local activities, Christmas photographers and workshops.
- Pick Your Own Fruit In And Around The Blue Mountains
- Pack the bikes and scooters and take the kids to one of our local parks with bike tracks.
