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Featured | Illawarra Mercury

Illawarra Mercury Featured

FLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY ABOVE&nbsp;for activities&nbsp;to keep the kids busy during the break. You’ll find&nbsp;ideas for&nbsp;kids of all ages that cater&nbsp;to all budgets. 20 great hidden parks and coastal trails in the Illawarra 5 exquisite, little-known walking tracks to explore&nbsp;in Wollongong 28 Illawarra gems most tourists miss The longest walk in the Illawarra (without resorting to roads)

JAMBEROO ACTION PARK: Can you survive The Perfect Storm? The new ride is being touted as "the tallest, longest, most exciting water ride, built of its kind, in the world", while neighbouring water play structure Banjo's Billabong will thrill the younger kids. Click the photo for details.

WOLLONDILLY CAVE: The walls of the Southern Highlands cave - stretching across an incredible five levels - will come alive before your very eyes. Click the photo for details.

INFLATABLE POOL TOY: Kids can enjoy the pool toy at Oak Flats heated pool 11.30am-1.30pm each Wednesday and Friday of the holidays. Beaton Park provides the fun for Wollongong residents. Click the photo for more details.


BOATING: Visit Audley Boatshed in the Royal National Park to hire a boat, canoe or kayak to take out on Kangaroo Creek or the Hacking River. The kids will love the Aqua Bikes. Click the photo for details.

LEARN TO CLIMB: The Hangdog junior program is designed for complete beginners or relative newcomers to the sport of climbing, open to ages 10 to 18, and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4pm to 6pm, for the two weeks of the school holidays. Click the photo for details.

SPOTLIGHT WALK, September 28, 5.15pm-7.15pm. A twilight adventure at Blackbutt Forest in Shellharbour. Hear about the amazing natural environment and the nocturnal creatures that call this place home.

ZIPLINE TOUR: Officially the highest zipline tour in Australia, the Illawarra Fly Zipline Tour involves flying on a series of elevated cable spans and navigating suspension bridges from one tree platform to another 35 metres above the forest floor. Click the photo for details.

MOVIE TIME: Take the kids to see the Secret Life of Pets. The premise is that our pets hate being left alone, so they have secret lives full of adventure and hijinx and relationships that we humans know nothing about. Click the photo for details.

TWILIGHT MARKETS: The popular Twilight Markets will return to Flagstaff Hill on October 7. Stalls will be trading from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

COOKING CLASSES: Mini Master Chef at Towradgi Beach Hotel, September 26-30. Cost: $15 per child, perfect for 4-10 year olds. Click the photo for details.


OPEN AIR CINEMA, September 27: Watch Ghostbusters 1&2 at 6.30pm in the arts precinct (Civic Place, next to the IPAC on Burelli Street) as part of the Wollongong Fringe Festival. Click the photo for details.

DR KARL, September 30. See the popular science broadcaster speak at 7pm in the arts precinct (Civic Place, next to the IPAC on Burelli Street) as part of the Wollongong Fringe Festival. Click the photo for details.

PIRATE TREASURE HUNT, September 26-30, 10am to 1pm. The Wollongong Botanic Garden activities include a treasure hunt, plunderers crafts and Captain Compost Garden Show. Click the photo for details.

SPRINGTIME TULIPS: Visit Corbett Gardens in Bowral to see thousands of stunning tulips of all colours and sizes in full bloom. 

CIRCA CARNIVAL, September 29-30: Carnival of the Animals is a whimsical tale of creatures of land and sea, who tumble, fly, leap and spin their way through the many wondrous worlds of the animal kingdom. Click the photo for details.

SYMBIO JUNIOR KEEPER CAMP, October 7, 10am to 3pm. If your kids enjoy getting up close to nature and hanging out in the “wild” then Symbio Wildlife Park’s Junior Keeper Camp’s are the perfect holiday adventure. Space is limited. Click the photo for details.


SCIENCE SHOWS: Spend the day at the Wollongong Science Centre & Planetarium. Click the photo for the school holiday program and guide to live science shows.

INTERACTIVE ZONE, October 3-9: Free Good Dinosaur activities in Wollongong Central. Take the kids back in time and travel into Arlo's world with this immersive interactive zone. Click the photo for details.

INTERACTIVE ZONE: September 27-October 1. Free Star Wars activities at Stockland Shellharbour. Join the fight for the galaxy and experience the Star Wars Universe in the junior immersive zone.

From 11am-2pm daily

In centre court outside Woolworths

CIRCUS MONOXIDE: Your child could be part of ‘One really BIG circus show’, or, just come for a morning, afternoon, day or week just for fun. For primary school aged children. Click the photo for details.

POSTER ART: Create your own Comic Gong poster with Marcelo Baez at Warrawong, Wollongong and Thirroul libraries. Click the photo for details.

ART WORKSHOPS: Wollongong Art Gallery workshops include Australian bush scene (mixed media) for 5-8 year olds, Dinosaur City (drawing) for 9-14 year olds, Portrait Painting for 9-14 year olds, Cartoon Comics (drawing) for 5-8 year olds and Artbot (coding and electronics) for 10-to-15 year olds. Click the photo for details.

SPORTS CAMPS, September 26 to October 7. Children try out sports such as tennis, hockey, soccer, basketball, cricket and various throwing, catching and dodging games at the UOW. Suitable for primary school aged children. Click the photo for details.

HANGTIME DISCO: The trampoline park will hold a disco every Friday night of the holidays. The lights go down and the music turns up for two hours of jumping. Cost $15. Click the photo for more details.


BOUNCING FUN: Bubble 'n Bounce, indoor inflatable bounce playground centre, 8 Fox Avenue Wollongong. Phone: (02) 4228 8322 or click the photo for session times.

SKATE PARKS: Berkeley Skate Plaza at Holburn Park or Unanderra Bowl on Central Road. Load up the car with skateboards, scooters or a bike and head to the Illawarra's best skating facilities. Click the photo for details.


KART RACING: Electric Indoor Kart Racing at C1 Speed, Albion Park. A junior rider needs to be 10 years old and at least 140cm to reach the pedals. Click photo for more details.


DISCOVERY SPACE: The UOW's Early Start centre offers a range of activities for the school holidays. Click the photo to read the program.


BIKE HIRE: Go for a ride around Minnamurra cycleway, Lake Illawarra or along the beaches of the northern Illawarra. Bike options are family friendly and suitable for all levels of riders. Click the photo for details.

ART AND MUSIC WORKSHOPS: September 28 and October 5, 11-1pm. A range of art and music workshops for young people of all abilities who like aerosol art, drama, music, painting. Features Lindsay ‘The Doctor’ McDougall (from Frenzal Rhomb and Triple J) on October 5.

YOURS & OWLS ALL AGES, October 1: A strictly under 18s mini-festival at Waves on October 1. With massive cross-over acts from the main festival including Hermitude, Hockey Dads, and Nicole Millar. Click the photo for details.

The steam locomotive that was due to visit the Illawarra over the October long weekend has been cancelled.

<b>FLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY ABOVE</b>&nbsp;for activities&nbsp;to keep the kids busy during the break. You’ll find&nbsp;ideas for&nbsp;kids of all ages that cater&nbsp;to all budgets.

<a href="http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4186479/20-great-hidden-parks-and-coastal-trails-in-the-illawarra/">20 great hidden parks and coastal trails in the Illawarra</a>

<a href="http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4140104/5-exquisite-little-known-walking-tracks-to-explore-in-wollongong/">5 exquisite, little-known walking tracks to explore&nbsp;in Wollongong</a>

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<a href="http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/3913434/28-illawarra-gems-most-tourists-miss/">28 Illawarra gems most tourists miss</a>

<a href="http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4156247/the-longest-walk-in-the-illawarra-without-resorting-to-roads/">The longest walk in the Illawarra (without resorting to roads)</a>

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32 things to do in the Illawarra in the September school holidays

32 things to do in the Illawarra in...

A list of activities to keep the kids busy during the break, for all ages and budgets.

32 things to do in the Illawarra in the September school holidays

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