Fast five: things to do these school holidays

With school holidays just around the corner, it’s time to start planning what you and your family will get up to.

Whether you want to spook yourself at a Halloween-themed Breakout Room, bust some moves at our Disco Dance Party, play at one of our newest playgrounds or use your creative brain at one of the Gallery’s workshops, there’s plenty to do these school holidays.

Here are our top five suggestions.

1. Visit a new playground

We’ve recently added three, that’s right, three new playgrounds here in Wollongong. The brand-new Stanwell Park Playground boasts an impressive list of features including a tower and tube slide, inground trampoline and spinning carousel.

Next door, the Stanwell Park Nature Play Space, made possible by a $40,000 NSW Government grant, is a throwback to simpler times when kids would play outside in the natural environment. It’s the first of its kind here in Wollongong.

Over in Unanderra Park, we’ve just unveiled a new, playground that was designed with help by students from local schools and pre-schools. The new monkey bars (the most requested feature from students) are sure to be a big hit.

And if you haven’t already, check out our award-winning Stuart Park All Ages All Abilities playground which opened in December 2023.

2. Check out these free events

There are loads of free activities happening these school holidays to keep kids of all ages busy and entertained. Wollongong City Libraries have created an awesome program which includes a Halloween-themed Breakout Room (ages 12-17), LEGO building workshops (ages 5+), paper lantern craft (ages 5+) and a Disco Dance Party (ages 5-12).

See the full list of free library events by visiting the Wollongong City Libraries website.

For young people aged 12-24 years, Wollongong Youth Service are holding a Street Art graffiti workshops, a movie night, tabletop gaming session and more.

Download the Something to do flyer and browse the full list of Youth Services activities.

3. Brave the cool water, go for a swim

From Saturday 27 September the flags will go up at all 17 of our beautiful, patrolled beaches. That’s 17 beaches from Stanwell Park in the north, to Windang in the south to tick off your bucket list.

Just be sure to look for the red and yellow flags before getting into the water. The flags mean that Council Lifeguards or volunteer lifesavers have identified this as the best place to swim and are on duty patrolling the beach. No flags = no swim!

And for those who aren’t ready to brave the cold ocean water… our nine patrolled pools (freshwater and saltwater) will also tick over to our summer schedule on the 27 September. That means from Saturday the pool gates will open and our professional Lifeguards will be on duty.

4. Paintbrushes to the ready

Image: (detail) Claudia Chaseling, dog, 2015, egg tempera and oil on canvas. Purchased 2018.

Looking for inspiration these school holidays? Visit the Wollongong Art Gallery and explore the free collections currently on exhibition. From an exploration of traditional and contemporary perspectives of landscape art (Shifting Grounds) and contemporary paintings that bring vivid colour (Radiant), there’s plenty to see and do at the Gallery.

Best of all, the Gallery’s school holiday program has landed! Featuring a wide variety of workshops including a seashore painting class (ages 9-14), pastel drawing (ages 5-8), and coil pot making (ages 5-8), there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website for the full list or workshops and to purchase your ticket.

5. Enjoy the Garden

Cool off at the Wollongong Botanic Garden and explore the collections of native and exotic plants and trees, many of which are starting to come into bloom this Spring.

As well as our Budding Bookworms program and Garden Discovery Walking Tours, the team at the Garden are hosting some special school holiday activities this October, including an epic Search and Rescue style activity that takes hide and seek to the next level. Facilitated by Folkplay, this tailored adventure will see children work in a team to use a radio and their skills to capture the facilitator.

Visit the Wollongong Botanic Garden website for more information and to purchase tickets.