Summer holiday activity guide

December 17, 2020

Whether you’re planning a staycation, a road trip or getaway over the summer break, check out our holiday activity guide to find fun activities, attractions, places and events for all the family to enjoy.

Keep boredom at bay this Christmas with Canberra Outlet Centre’s Kids Club boxes

Need to keep the kids entertained over Christmas? Fear not, Canberra Outlet Centre has you covered with their festive Kids Club boxes. The boxes come filled to the brim with Christmas-themed activities, a DVD and a mug, to keep the kids busy and happy while you take a well-earned break over Christmas and the New Year.

Visit canberraoutletcentre.com.au for more information and to sign up to the Kids Club.

337 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick
T: 6112 6222

box of presents — Photo: Thisloveandchaos

Something for everyone at Marketplace

It’s been a crazy year, so it’s time to spread some cheer with our lovely Marketplace shoppers. That’s why we have Santa and his helpers roaming the centre every day until Christmas!

Bring your camera for a special snap with the man himself and jump online to check the times of additional exciting performances from a Christmas Elf and a circus star!

But wait, there are more treats in store…

Shop n Pop at Marketplace Gunghalin this Christmas to win your share of $4,000 worth of Marketplace gift cards! There are 60 gift cards worth $50 and one $1,000 card up for grabs!

How to enter
1.      Spend $10 or more at any participating retailer
2.      Collect a game card from the store you have made a purchase from
3.      Follow the instructions on the game card to enter your details
4.      All winners and non-winners will be entered into the major prize draw!

The promotion will run until 24 December 2020; visit our website for terms and conditions.

TP 20/01572

W: ma r ketplacegungahlin.com.au

Book your 2021 adventure at The Y Canberra

The Y Canberra has you covered these school holidays with plenty of options in various locations!

Space Squad is Australia’s only residential holiday camp program for students in Years 2-6 (Junior), Years 6-9 (Youth), and Years 10-12 (Senior) who are interested in Space!

Over five days, campers will be immersed in all things Space, learning about exploration and science, and meeting amazing engineers, astronomers, astrophysicists, and scientists who work on space missions.

And Adventure Squad is offering daytime Vacation Care across the region, where children are encouraged to play and explore in a safe and stimulating environment.

The Adventure Squad calendar is bursting with exciting activities spanning excursions in nature, scientific experiments, sport activities, fantastic theme days, science experiments and craft projects!

Vacation Care services open Monday through Friday 8am-6pm during operating weeks, at locations in North Ainslie, Pearce, Weetangera, Queanbeyan and Bungendore.

The Y Canberra has over 75 years’ experience organising camps and children’s activities locally.

Please call The Y Canberra’s children’s services team or jump online for further information!

W: canberra.ymca.org.au
T: 6242 4040

Workout as a family in 2021 with AHWT

Alexandra Hughes is a personal trainer, passionate about health and fitness, especially for kids and families. She loves to get the kids out of the house to enjoy some fresh air and exercise and getting families moving together and having fun.

That’s why Alexandra Hughes Wellness Transformation (AHWT) will be running some kids’ and family bootcamps in 2021, with come-and-try sessions throughout January.

For younger kids, aged five to eight, sessions will focus on fun! There’ll be games, a portion dedicated to foundational skills like catching and throwing, and lots of skipping and running around.

For the older cohort, aged nine to 12, the bootcamps will still include some fun and games, and will also look to incorporate more ‘exercise-type’ activities that require a higher level of skill.

Parents are welcome to join in the fun and get the whole family moving together. Book your come-and-try tickets for a number of dates in January via the AHWT website.

E: [email protected]
W: ahwt.com.au

AF Canberra summer holiday session

The friendly, native-speaker teachers at the Alliance Française Community French Language School look forward to welcoming your children to their summer school holiday session in Turner from 11 to 22 January 2021. They’ve prepared a variety of activities for children as young as three years of age right through to teenagers. The focus is on having fun while learning a useful foreign language – the fifth most spoken in the world!

66 McCaughey Street, Turner
T: 6257 6696
E: [email protected]
W: afcanberra.com.au

Play hard with B.Firm

Hey kids, it’s summertime and that means Battle Games and Battle Ninja and lots of mud!

At the Bfirm Arena, the mega awesome mud lanes have been completely re-built for you, and we have new Leap of Faith and Mud Pods for the first time ever.

For the Battle Ninjas we have built complete new rigs to test the best ninjas for a pre-Christmas smash and for the end of January two weeks of awesomeness. Book in to secure your spot.

And for Australia Day we have a family day, so head to Kidsfirm.com.au or Bfirm.com.au and register now.

250 Narrabundah Lane, Symonston
T: 0418 225 525
W: bfirm.com.au | kidsfirm.com.au

Explore and discover our amazing universe at CDSCC

Explore the Solar System and beyond and discover the amazing universe around usat Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex at Tidbinbilla. A part of NASA’s Deep Space Network, we provide constant contact with dozens of robotic spacecraft exploring planets, moons and stars. See Australia’s largest antenna dishes, a piece of the Moon and exhibits on space exploration history.

On your visit, see a piece of the Moon that’s over 3.8 billion years old, check out the latest images from across the Solar System and beyond, along with spacecraft models, plus flown space hardware and memorabilia.

Open 11 December 2020 to 31 January 2021, 10am to 4pm; free entry. The complex is closed 25 and 26 December.

421 Discovery Drive, Paddys River, Tidbinbilla
T: 02 6201 7880 (recorded info)
W: cdscc.nasa.gov

Summer fun with Communities@Work School Holiday Programs

Communities@Work Summer School Holiday Programs kick off these summer holidays – children will make new friends, try new things, and enjoy a new adventure every day!

With excursions to the movies, Canberra Aqua Park, Battle Games and a range of onsite activities, no child will get bored.

Stephanie Brady, who has been using the Holiday Program since April, says: “my child has loved every minute of it and comes home each day raving about the activities he’s been doing with his new friends.”

Another parent agrees: “I love the great diverse activities in the program – it’s so much fun for my children – and the excellent educators are committed to the children!”

Programs operate in a safe and supportive environment with passionate, high-quality educators.

Browse the program calendars, pick a convenient location, and find out more on the Communities@Work website: www.commsatwork.org/holidayfun

Fyshwick Markets: open early every day this festive season

To celebrate the festive season, Fyshwick Markets will be open early every day with extended trading hours from Thursday 17 to Thursday 24 December.

They have everything you need to celebrate Christmas and ring in the New Year with good, fresh, local food, keeping family traditions alive – think the best seasonal produce like mangoes and cherries, fresh seafood, glazed Christmas hams and local wines.

With a festive atmosphere, free parking and extended trading hours, Fyshwick Markets is your go-to destination for festive fare and family favourites.

Holiday opening hours

Thursday 17 December – Tuesday 22 December: 7am-5.30pm

Wednesday 23 December: 5am-5.30pm

Thursday 24 December: 5am-3pm (some stores open later)

Thursday 31 December: 6am-4pm

Friday 25 December – Wednesday 30 December and New Year’s Day: closed

36 Mildura Street, Fyshwick
W: fyshwickmarkets.com.au

Mayfield Garden for a beautiful day out

Less than three hours from Canberra lies Mayfield Garden, a 65-hectare private family estate that is the largest cool climate garden in the Southern Hemisphere.

Breathtaking in its design and expanse, the garden is open for exploration during their annual summer festival from 27 December to 26 January.

Make your way through the English Box hedge maze, take a stroll through the orchards and unique stumpery, then head to the property’s highest point for views from the bluestone chapel.

Meander back down through the blossoming water garden to the garden centre café and kiosk for a bite to eat.

For overnight visitors, there is garden glamping, which includes a three-course dinner.

Open Monday to Sunday 9am-4.30pm. A minimum three hours is recommended to get the most out of your experience, the last entry into the garden is 3pm.

Walk-in seating at the café is pending availability, but you are more than welcome to pack a picnic and enjoy it in the garden. Or to book a table either indoor or outdoor, email [email protected] or call 6336 3131.

Social distancing is required, and group bookings must not exceed 30 people.

Tickets can be purchased online or in the ticket office on the day.

W: mayfieldgarden.com.au

Blockcrafters for school holiday games and learning

If your child is looking for a fun way to make new friends this school holidays or they have a long-term desire to learn to code, Blockcrafters Coding and Robotics Club has something for every level.

For children aged 7-15, holiday programs include Minecraft Modding and mini games, game development and programming language. These programs will arouse their STEM passion and skill and empower them to work as part of team.

For those with a deeper interest, term programs are available for children aged up to 15.

Visit www.blockcrafters.com.au for bookings or more information.

Canberra City Gymnastics Club: Give gymnastics a go!

Looking for something a little different for the kids for school holidays? Why not give gymnastics a go! Canberra City Gymnastics Club’s (CCGC) school holiday program will run on 21-24 December 2020, and 11-29 January 2021, 8.30am-5.30pm. The kids will get a chance to see what gymnastics is all about through sessions of gymnastics, fun games, free play, and other activities. The fun-filled program is suitable for children in Kindergarten or above and will run at both CCGC locations in Belconnen and Lyneham. Fees include morning and afternoon tea. Get in touch with the team to book.

85 Chandler Street, Belconnen
196 Mouat Street, Lyneham
T: 6251 1131
E: [email protected]
W: canberracity.gymnastics.org.au

Canberra Potters summer school

Are you looking for an opportunity to get messy these holidays? Canberra Potters have a great range of summer school short courses for January 2021!

Unleash your child’s creativity and imagination with a one-day ‘Clay Day’ or a two day ‘Wheel Throwing for Kids’ class. These courses are a great way to grow skills and have fun with a tactile medium. These classes will inspire your children to bring their ideas to life while experienced teachers support them.

Classes for adults and children are available for booking through our website at canberrapotters.com.au

DB Tennis serves up fun

DB Tennis is offering a host of tennis clinics over the summer holidays for children of all ages and skill levels.

Run in small groups at the Eastlake Flinders Tennis Club, Griffith, the DB Tennis holiday program clinics serve as either a great introduction to the sport or a development pathway for more experienced players.

Owner and operator David Beniamini says they are a fantastic way to experience tennis in a fun and social environment.

Enrol either online via the DB Tennis website or contact David directly for further information.

Learn acting skills these school holidays at Perform Australia

Throughout January, Perform Australia will be running a range of exciting school holiday programs for kids aged 7-14.

Full of fun games, exercises and improvisation, students will learn acting skills from experienced performers.

Beginning with the fundamentals on the first day, each program closes with a performance showcasing the unique characters and stories dreamt up by our young actors.

Head to our website to find the Perform Australia school holiday acting program that’s perfect for you!

W: perform.edu.au
T: 1300 908 905
11 Whyalla Street, Fyshwick

kids in a play — Nicala Kidd, Savannah Gilbert and Lara Bakker in Perform Australia’s recent production of The Pirates of Penzance.

Pay a visit to the Royal Australian Mint

At the Royal Australian Mint, we make Australia’s coins and hold Australia’s national collection of coins, medals and medallions. The Mint provides links to the Science and Technology, Art, History and Financial Literacy components of the Australian curriculum. With a visit to the Mint, you will learn how coins are made and make your own, see robots at work and discover the fascinating changes coins have undergone in Australia. Before your visit, be sure to check the Mint website for up-to-date holiday operating hours.

Denison Street, Deakin
W: ramint.gov.au
T: 6202 6999

Jump in these school holidays with Stellar Swim

Get the kids swimming these school holidays with Stellar Swim’s school holiday intensive program.

Running over five days from Monday 11 to Friday 15 January 2021, the intensive program allows kids to burn off some energy while improving their swimming skills. Daily sessions run for 30 minutes and are held between 3pm and 6pm.

Intensive bursts of practice can help to increase children’s learning and skills development, and Stellar Swim’s small class sizes mean they will get more coaching time and opportunities to practise and improve in every session.

Stellar Swimoffers regular student assessments to see how their skills are progressing and to ensure they are in an environment that suits them best, with ability-based classes and highly qualified teachers.

Give Stellar Swim a call to book your spot!

Corner of Launceston Street and Yamba Drive, Phillip