Get into some amazing school holiday activities in Wollongong this September. This vibrant region on the Coast of New South Wales offers a whole range of spring school holiday activities which will leave you wanting to stay even longer.
Kids will love all the school holiday fun on offer and parents will love the expansive choice of things to do in spring in Wollongong. From visiting a working steelworks to hiking national parks and visiting a Buddhist temple, there really are a heap of things to do in school holidays in Wollongong. We have you covered with September kids school holiday activities to leave the kids (and parents!) wanting more.
We know that you can’t get out and about every day, so we have included some school holiday ideas for staying at home as well. However with so many school holiday activities in Wollongong, we know that the kids (and you!) won’t be sitting around bored this spring break.
We have compiled the complete guide to the best school holiday activities in Wollongong over the September school holidays to help make your life so much easier!
State schools finish on Friday 12 April and return to class on Monday 29 April 2024.
Easter school holidays in NSW are Saturday 13 April to Sunday 28 April.
Fun things to do for the Wollongong school holidays
We have broken our list of Wollongong school holiday activities into sections to help you:
- Fun things to do for the Wollongong school holidays
- 10 fun free school holiday activities over September
- 10 fun cheap school holiday activities
- 10 BIG days out in Wollongong these school holidays
- 15 things to do at home these school holidays
- Theatres with kids shows on in Wollongong these school holidays
- Wollongong kids holiday ideas
- Even more NSW school holiday ideas:
As with everything at the moment, please check with the venue directly (either by their website or social media pages) to ensure they are open during the times you wish to attend. You should also check their current policy around advanced bookings, entry requirements and timings.
10 fun free school holiday activities over September
Who doesn’t love a free day out with kids! Add these free activities to your list these holidays.
Grand Pacific Drive
If you are after a scenic day out, drive the Grand Pacific Drive for some amazing photo opportunities. This 140km section of road encompasses national parks, rainforests and oceans. Choose to go north and see the famous Sea Cliff Bridge that snakes around the coast and over the water. Stop and walk the boardwalk to get some great pictures. This is one drive that is a must do while in Wollongong.
Click here to read more about this beautiful drive.
Lake Illawarra
Just south of Wollongong is the beautiful Lake Illawarra, perfect for a family trip. This lake is a unique mix of fresh and salt water and is a great spot to go fishing, boating or even stand up paddle boarding. You can walk or cycle the art trail, dotted with artwork from local artists or take the kids to Reddall Reserve where they can go crazy on the ninja playground.
Find out more about Lake Illawarra here.
Bald Hills Lookout
If you are looking for a great photo opportunity for the snap happy kids, this is it. At 300m above sea level, the Bald Hills Lookout offers great views of the famous Sea Cliff Bridge and surrounding landscape. The kids will love watching the hang-gliders and paragliders take off and catch the breeze.
North Wollongong Beach
A trip to Wollongong is never complete without a day at the beach. Grab your beach bag and head to family friendly North Wollongong Beach. This patrolled beach is perfect for kids, as it has a grassy area and is close to a park and shops. Bring a picnic or have a barbeque. A great day out.
Illawarra Museum
Get a little taste of local history at the Illawarra Museum. A number of exhibits on offer a glimpse into life in the past including school life, country life and a blacksmith shop. The kids will love the air raid shelter exhibit! Families tip: Stop off at nearby Lang Park on the beach after to let the kids run off some steam.
Nan Tien Temples
Bring the kids to see the Nan Tien Temple these holidays for a truly unique experience. This working Buddhist Temple is the largest in the southern hemisphere and kids can learn about Buddhism and take a look at the exhibitions on display. Parents, there is a dining hall onsite as well as a teahouse where you can sample different traditional cuisine. Families tip: Take a look at the website before your visit as there are a few restrictions on what you can bring into the temple.
Stuart Park Playground
Situated just outside the city centre, this playground has something for all kids. Older kids will love the main feature of the park, the Sky Tower which is more than 8m high with three giant tube slides while smaller kids will enjoy the smaller wooden play areas. There are also flying foxes, swings and much more. Parents, don’t forget the bikes and scooters so they can ride the pathways.
Wollongong Botanic Gardens
Set at the foot of Mt Keira, this beautiful garden is a haven for anyone craving a little piece of nature in the city. Make sure you spend some time at the all abilities playground as well as exploring the duckpond and checking out the insect hotel! There is a café on site as well as free barbeques, so either way, a great day out!
Bulli Beach Ocean Pools
Head to Bulli Beach and take a dip in the ocean pool. The pool is situated on a headland set against a cliff, meaning you really get to enjoy the beach but still swim in a pool. There is also a kids pool that is closer to the cliff and sheltered from the larger swell. A great way to safely enjoy the ocean water with kids.
Wollongong Libraries
Need some down time these holidays? Take the kids to the library and enjoy the range of events they have on offer like Toddlertime, StoryTime and more. You might even get to have some peace and quiet while they are busy! Be sure to check out what events are happening as well.
10 fun cheap school holiday activities
Good fun doesn’t have to be expensive. You just have to know where to find it – and we do! Take a look at these ideas.
Illawarra Inflatable Play Centre
When the weather is lousy, or you just need the kids to run off some energy, bring them to this inflatable play centre. There are slides, obstacle courses, climbing walls, jumping castles – the list is endless and the kids will love you for bringing them. Parents, there is a café onsite so you can sit and relax.
Visit the website for more info.
Illawarra Live Steamers
All aboard! Train rides are always a hit, and a miniature train ride can be even more so! Enjoy the fun of riding a miniature steam train and listen to the hisssssss of the steam as you chug along. These trains have been lovingly made to be a replica of a working steam train. Bring along a picnic lunch and make a day of it.
Science Space
Part of the University of Wollongong, Science Space is a world of wonder for kids. There are science shows that do some cool experiments with bubbles and liquid nitrogen (hello volcanoes!) as well as an incredible planetarium onsite. Make sure you check out what is happening these school holidays as Science Space has extra special school holiday programs.
Australian Motorlife Museum
If you have a car enthusiast in the family, add the Australian Motorlife Museum to your list these holidays. They have an extensive range of motorbikes, cars and bicycles from throughout history. Kids can see what original motorcars looked like as well as check out some beautiful vintage cars. Make sure you take a look at their website to see what events are happening.
Illawarra Light Rail Museum
This is a must for train lovers. Full sized steam trains, locomotives, passengers carriages and miniature trains are on display and available to ride at this train loving museum. Entry price includes unlimited rides, and there are school holiday specials available. Families tip: Make sure you check out the events page before you go to see what’s on.
Crazy Putt
Mini golf is always a hit with the kids, so bring them down to Crazy Putt. Featuring water hazards, hippos and windmills, this 18 hole course will be sure the entertain the kids – especially if they hit the balls into the water! Parents, the more you play, the cheaper it gets, so be sure to check out the website before you go.
Click here to check out Crazy Putt.
3Sixty Indoor Skateboard Park
If your kids love to ride, then add this safe and family friendly indoor skate park to your school holidays list. There are different riding sessions based on age groups and kids are fully supervised, so you can sit back relax (maybe enjoy a coffee!). You can hire all equipment and helmets are a must for riders. Sound like a dream come true? It really is.
Darkes Forest Riding Ranch
A visit to this bushland horse riding ranch will leave you and the kids wanting more. There are pony rides available for the little kids while bigger kids can enjoy a private lesson or go on a bush trail ride. The ranch also has a great school holiday program so be sure to get in early. Families tip: There are barbeque facilities onsite so why not make a day of it.
Zone Bowling Illawarra
Challenge the family these holidays to a game (or two!) of tenpin bowling. Zone Bowling has bumpers and for the smaller kids to make sure no one misses out and there is always great music playing. Be sure to check out the school holidays fun zone passes on offer and then ‘roll’ on in!
Check out Zone Bowling online here.
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Aviation Museum
Take to the skies (almost!) these holiday at this Aviation Museum. Home to a Boeing 747 this museum let’s kids get up close to aircraft from days gone by. There are cockpit tours and exhibits to excite kids, as well as letting them walk through an operational aircraft hangar. Make sure you check out the website to find out what events are happening these school holidays.
10 BIG days out in Wollongong these school holidays
Go big or go home with these awesome activities in Wollongong.
Symbio Wildlife Park
Take the day to explore 16 acres of spacious grounds that are home to a range of exotic animals including cheetahs, lemurs, red pandas, meerkats and small monkeys. When it is warm, make sure to bring your swimmers as Symbio has just opened Splash Park, complete with Dump Buckets, Water Squirters, Snake Water Tunnel, Fountains and so much more.
Grab your tickets and beat the queue here.
Illawarra Fly
Head to the tree tops these school holidays. Kids that are adventurous can try their hand at ziplining on the highest zipline in Australia! Stop on one of four ‘cloud stations’ and enjoy three zipline flights. For those wanting something a little tamer, try the treetop walk, ending at the spiral knights castle. You get great views all round, no matter what you choose.
Get your discounted treetop walk tickets here.
Flip Out Trampoline Park
Get bouncing these school holidays at Flip Out. Not only can kids bounce, they can also tackle a ninja warrior course, use the parkour arena or take a ninja (or mini-ninja) class. For something the kids will really love, bring them to an After Dark Session. All their friends will be jealous! Parents, you can enjoy a coffee and relax. Everyone wins!
Hangdog Climbing Gym
Build up strength and burn off energy these holiday at Hangdog Climbing Gym. This indoor climbing centre offers world of adventure for energetic kids. Kids can climb as much as they want for three hours, or they can join a learn to climb classes which encourages coordination and confidence. Take a look at the timetable online and choose your climbing adventure.
Gravity Gymnastics
Get the kids moving at Gravity Gymnastics. The school holiday program is designed to build confidence and inspire movement and is a mix of gymnastics and street gym circuits and if kids get tired, there are a arts and craft activities on offer. There are also a range of casual classes to choose from so be sure to check out their website.
Early Start Discovery Space
This is the ultimate hands-on children’s museum. Kids can enjoy everything from animal encounters to art time to jumping behind the wheel of an emergency services vehicle. Children will learn through play at this unique destination. Be sure to check out their event schedule as well as the daily activities.
Ready Set Play
This is a play centre specifically designed for kids under 10 years meaning parents have peace of mind letting little ones run wild. There is a three level play maze, jumping castle and a ball pit to keep them entertained as well as a specific area for kids under 4 years. Parents can enjoy a coffee at the café and relax. Families tip: Don’t forget to bring socks!
Shoalhaven Zoo
The Shoalhaven Zoo boasts incredible animals in a spectacular location. Set amongst rock formations and on the banks of the Shoalhaven River, kids can experience animal encounters, listen to zookeeper talks or just follow along on the well-marked trails through the park. For those who are super brave, lion feeding is on offer or for those a little less brave, maybe a monkey or meerkat!
Visit the website for more information.
Steelworks Tour
If you truly want to experience something different these school holidays, why not take a tour inside an operational steelworks. Watch steel in molten metal form before finally being made into steel products. This is a full sensory experience with loud noises, smells and high temperatures – a once in a lifetime experience! Families tip: These tours are for children 10 years and older.
15 things to do at home these school holidays
Staying at in doesn’t have to be boring. Make some time and memories at home these school holidays.
Make an A-Z scrapbook
Using magazines see if you can find a picture of something that begins with each letter of the alphabet. To make it more difficult, try to choose a theme ‘animals’ or ‘places’ beginning with every letter of the alphabet. If you get stuck you could draw some of the things in.
Have a living room disco
Crank the music and get dancing! Pick your favourite tunes and dance around the living room. Close the curtains for a darker, more ‘disco’ atmosphere.
Listen to audio books
There is nothing better than curling up with a good book, so we know the kids will be enthralled by a good audio book. Why not pull the mattresses off the beds and make a cosy corner to listen in.
Write a letter to a friend
Get out the paper and pens (no devices, that’s cheating!) and handwrite a letter. If the kids are too little, draw a picture instead. Then next time you are out, get them to post it in a postbox.
Do chalk drawing
Take out the coloured chalk and get drawing on the driveway. This is also a great way to meet your neighbours and for the kids to make new friends.
Here are 10 more things you can do at home with the kids to keep them entertained:
- Create a scavenger hunt around the house
- Build a pillow fort
- Have a backyard campout
- Make homemade slime or putty
- Try a new science experiment
- Put on a fashion show or talent show
- Have a cooking competition using only what’s in the pantry
- Design and build a obstacle course
- Paint or decorate their room or furniture
- Write and illustrate a short story or comic book.
Theatres with kids shows on in Wollongong these school holidays
If you are looking for something a little different, take a look at these venues who all offer family friendly shows and programs over the school holidays.
Event Cinemas Shellharbour
With 8 movie screens, you are sure to find something you love these holidays. There are family events happening and competitions for kids, so be sure to take a look at the website.
Greater Union Wollongong
Always showing the latest movies, Greater Union is the place to take the kids and treat them to a movie – and maybe some popcorn!
Take a look at what’s showing these holidays.
WIN Entertainment Centre
The WIN Entertainment Centre showcases a range of live music and shows throughout the year. With a capacity of 6,000 people you are sure to get a great atmosphere, no matter what you see.
Illawarra Performing Arts Centre
The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre is the premier venue in the region for performance. There is constantly a range of incredible shows on offer for kids and families including stage shows, music and comedy. Be sure to check out what’s on these school holidays.
Find out what’s on these holidays.
Wollongong kids holiday ideas
If you’re looking for more things to do in New South Wales, click here.
Soooo…. what do you think? Plenty of Wollongong days out ideas here to keep you and the kids entertained for the whole school holidays? These Wollongong holiday ideas are updated every term, so remember to bookmark this page.
Let us know if we missed your favourite or if you would like us to add your venue or event!
Even more NSW school holiday ideas:
If you are heading north these school holidays check out our other articles:
- Sydney school holiday activities
- Newcastle & Central Coast School holiday activities
- Port Macquarie school holiday activities
- Coffs Harbour School holiday activities
- Byron Bay school holiday activities
If you are heading south these school holidays, these holiday ideas might help:
And if you are heading to our nations capital, we have listed he best school holiday activities in Canberra too!
