Slay the school holidays.
Slay the school holidays.
Ahh, the September holidays have arrived! The warmer months really do make planning holiday activities easier, doesn’t it? When in doubt, just grab a beach umbrella and some togs, and you have yourself a carefree and cost-free day out!
But when adventure (or quiet time) calls, we have you covered with the best school holiday activities going down this spring. Here’s the lineup.
Dreamworld
There is no easier way to put a smile on a kid’s face than saying, ‘Who wants to go to the theme parks?!’ Wicked rides, water slides, roller coasters and ice cream (to keep the good times rolling). However, Dreamworld has something bigger in store for this spring holiday. It’s time to dust off your Akubra hat for Dreamworld’s Country Fair!
It’s the ultimate celebration of all things country. Also, THE place to have ALL the family fun these school holidays. The beloved ‘Belinda’s Barnyard Buddies’ petting zoo is returning alongside a hale stack of country-themed entertainment, American-style eats, and show bags.
Be sure to pack those dancing boots for the special guest performance by Australian Country Music royalty, Casey Barnes (showing October 5 2024 only).
Where: Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera
Dig IT
Parents, it’s time to take a back seat- the kids are driving now. If you think we’re joking… Welcome to Australia’s first mini excavator park, Dig IT.
If you can handle a Tonka Truck, then congrats! You’re deemed fully qualified to handle all (not-so-heavy) machinery at Dig IT in Thunderbird Park. Jokes aside, this place is made for adults and kids to have an absolute blast with actual excavator machinery and construction-inspired activities.
Fully instructed for kids and parents alike, the park includes four different zones for stacked fun; The Dig IT Zone, The Demolition Zone, The Claw and Croc Zone and The RC Zone. In other words, you’re given every opportunity to dig, dump, claw, dozer and knock things over to your heart’s content. Oh, sorry, we meant till your kid’s heart is content… Anyways, let’s get them graduated from the sandpit to excavator operator, shall we?
Where: Tamborine Mountain Road, Tamborine Mountain, QLD, 4272 (Cnr Cedar Creek Falls & Tamborine Mountain Roads)
When: School holiday opening hours are 8.30am – 4.30pm, with 4 x 2-hour sessions daily.
HOTA
These spring school holidays, let your kid’s imaginations run wild at the ‘Kids Take Over’ festival at HOTA! With live stage shows, interactive workshops, and exciting adventures, it’s the ultimate boredom-buster for kids aged 12 and under (with a few treats for teens too). Explore enchanted forests, catch a Roald Dahl classic on stage, or discover what happens in the Gallery after dark.
With both free and ticketed events, there are enough activities to keep them entertained the entire holidays! Enjoy selected free cinema, picnic parties, lego battles, kitchen contests, and plenty of art-focused fun, including portrait, street and chalk art. It’s a must-do for families looking for unforgettable fun on the Gold Coast!
Where: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
When: September 17-26, 2024
Dance Fest at ArtVo
Get ready to bust a move to the beat of Hip Hop & Jazz tunes at ArtVo’s Dance Fest! Whether your kid’s a complete beginner or already has a few skills up their sleeve, these 40-minute super sessions welcome all levels and are perfect for ages 5-15. After all, they will be taught by none other than Matt Geronimi! If you’re unfamiliar with him, he has been a backup dancer for Lady Gaga, Jessica Mauboy, Ricky Martin, and Nikki Webster (just to name a few).
Needless to say, they’ll be groovin’ their way through the school holidays! Tickets are $20 per child (free for children under 5 years) and include all-day entry into ArtVo’s 3D Trick Art Gallery, including the Glow Room! All kiddies must be accompanied by an adult. $20 discounted ticket – USE CODE: DANCE
Where: Shop 5062 Robina Town Centre Dr, Robina
When: For QLD School Holidays: Choose from an 11am, 12 noon or 1pm session from September 17-25, 2024. F
Please note: Matt Geronimi is taking all classes, with the exception of Tuesday 17th classes led by Performer Grace Flaherty.
Paradise Centre
Did it just get hot in here? Because, boy, does Paradise Centre have a sizzling lineup of free entertainment for you? Yes, that’s right. The fun-o-metre has been dialled up, and it’s time to party. Don’t worry, this party is for little people and adults.
Enjoy Paradise Centre’s jam-packed live entertainment schedule and activities for the whole family from September 13-29. And it’s all going down in their sun-soaked and vibe-filled beachfront dining precinct! Let the kids unleash their inner dancing divas to DJ beats on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-8pm. If that’s a little late, don’t worry! You can vibe out, early arvo style, at their 12-3pm Sunday sessions! Watch in awe as Fire Twirlers spin flames and perform jaw-dropping tricks on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-8pm. And, of course, you can’t leave without getting your body made into a work of art by the Neon Body Painter!
Where: 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Gold Coast Active & Healthy program
The City of Gold Coast crew has pulled out a fully stacked line up of boredom busters and fam friendly fun for the young and young at heart with the Active & Healthy spring holiday program. For the kiddos who love themselves a wheely good time there’s the Mountain Bike Confidence For Kids workshop along with the Active & Healthy Skateboard Workshop for your budding groms aged 3 and up. There really is something for every age and interest with hip hop workshops, laughter yoga, ninja challenges and even a Giant Bubble Disco Dance Party, which suds like a poppin’ good time to us!
Where: Various times/locations across the Gold Coast
Oasis Shopping Centre
It’s all happening these school holidays at the Oasis with sweet, sugary shenanigans galore going down Madison’s Café & Patisserie on the 18 & 19 September at 2:30pm. Each child will receive a cupcake, fun things to decorate it with and a small milkshake to enjoy with their cupcake on completion. $15 per child including said cupcake and a milkshake. Sweet! Bookings essential.
Where: 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
NBL Blitz
For the junior (and senior) sport fans, the return of the NBL Blitz is sure to be a school holiday slam dunk. Games tip-off on Saturday, September 7 and run until Saturday September 14, giving mini bball fans (and their selfless supervisors) the opportunity to enjoy all the pre-season action of the best basketball league in the world (outside the NBA ofc!). Kids tix are also a score starting from $10 bucks, so #gameon, we say!
Where: Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium, 296 Nerang Broadbeach Rd, Carrara
Pacific Fair
There’s larger-than-life Evanescent Bubbles to discover and explore in partnership with SWELL Sculpture Festival, watch them come to life through light, colour and sound.. and the best part? No tix required.
Get the family together to experience world-famous acrobats from ARC Circus perform around the Evanescent Bubbles in The Resort! Enjoy a captivating 20-minute show full of incredible acrobatics, juggling, tumbling, unicycling and more.
Where: Pacific Fair, Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach
When: Performance Times, Saturday 7 September 11am & 1pm, Sunday 8, 15 & 22 September 11am, Saturday 14, 21 & 28 September 11am and Thursday 19 & 26 September 6:30pm
Robina Town Centre
Let their creativity blossom at Robina Town Centre’s ‘Petal Park’ holiday pop-up. From 10am-2pm daily, they can dig into an array of zero-cost back-yard games and craft activities.
Take advantage of the additional (and free) ‘Petal Park’ workshops, including ‘Design Your Own Sunglasses’. Looks like they will be wearing sunnies made by yours truly this season- so chic! Or, get them excited at the ‘Balloon Modelling Workshop’, where they will be taught to make their very own balloon flower- very cute!
Where: Robina Town Centre, Ground floor (outside Myer & Kookai), Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina
When: From 10am-2pm daily, September 16-27, 2024.
Balloon Modelling Workshop: Every Half Hour – 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 12pm, 12:30pm, 1pm, 1:30pm from September 16-22, 2024.
Design Your Own Sunglasses Workshop: 10am-2pm daily, from September 23-27, 2024.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Get ready to see Currumbin Wildlife Centre like you’ve never seen it before! Under the cover of darkness (queue the bats). Take a very special Twilight Tour through the sanctuary, getting up close with our nocturnal residents, such as the cheeky Tasmanian Devils, who are most active when the sun goes down.
Not just that! Visitors will be spoiled by a spectacular light display where you will embrace the Dreamings and spirit of the Yugambeh people. Now that’s special!
Where: 28 Tomewin Street, Currumbin
Gold Coast Recreation Centre
Gold Coast Rec Centre is pulling out allll the school holiday stops with half day and full day sessions of action packed thrills and spills for the munchkins aged 5+. Think Bodyboarding, High ropes, Canoeing, Giant swing, Surfing, Archery tag and Stand up paddle boarding… it’s true, kids really do get to have all the fun. But only if you remember to book, bc bookings for all sessions are essential, with full day sessions running from 9am–3:30pm for $77 per child.
Where: 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
The Strand at Coolangatta
It’s fun and free, saving Gold Coast parents’ sanity every school holiday. Drop your kiddies off at The Strand’s Kids Flicks Event while you shop, dine and enjoy some ‘me time’. Meanwhile, they will have a time of their own, catching their favourite film at a private movie screening! Screenings will take place from September 24- October 4.
Your kiddies will be safe, sound and in qualified hands with experienced movie minders brought to you by Stay N Play. To give them an extra treat, you can purchase food and beverages for your kids at the Candy Bar when you drop them off at Cinebar Cinema before the screening (only children’s water bottles will be permitted into the Cinemas). Happy shopping!
Where: 72 – 80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
It’s officially September and that means school holidays are just around the corner. Already?! We were just thinking the same… Thankfully, the guys over at the Paradise Centre have you sorted with loads of entertainment that’ll keep kids of all ages (yes, including the adult ones) occupied for hours – or days – on end. From 16th September to 1st October the Paradise Centre has carnival fun covered with free family fun as well as the classics you know and love.
FREE Circus Carnival Fun
Need to keep the kids busy on a budget? Well, there’s something on pretty much every day. Yes, you read that right. Every. Day. Catch the roving circus and carnival inspired entertainers making their way around the centre or if you want a sneaky treat, there’s free fairy floss or popcorn on offer but we take no responsibility for the impending sugar rush #soznotsoz. If a beachside boogie is more your vibe there’ll be special DJ performances to take you into the evening where fire twirlers will work their magic and light up the night.
Spin It To Win It
You’ve got to be in it, to win it, right? Well just in case you needed more of a reason for a fun or fashion spree, when you spend a combined total of $70 at participating retailers, you’ll get your moment to spin the giant wheel of wonders and a chance at winning a massive range of prizes from gift cards to skateboards and so much more. You’re welcome.
Doughnut Decorating at Krispy Kreme
All this excitement is bound to work up an appetite, and that’s where Krispy Kreme comes in. These holidays, Krispy Kreme is offering a fun and flavour filled experience that’s perfect for kids of all ages. Get your creative juices flowing as you design your own delish doughnuts. It’s a chance to unleash your inner pastry artist and savour every sweet bite. The best part? You get to enjoy your delicious creations afterward!
Bookings are essential.
Don’t Have An Axe To Grind at Maniax
If you’re looking to channel your inner lumberjack, Maniax is the place to be. Axe-throwing is the name of the game here, and it’s a thrilling experience that will challenge your precision and aim. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a first-timer, it’s a surefire way to get your adrenaline pumping. Gather the big kids (ages 11 and up) for some healthy competition – guarantee you’ll be surprised at who the superior axe thrower is.
Get Freaky at FREAK VR
Step into a world of virtual reality at FREAK VR. Explore new realms as FREAK VR combines cutting-edge multi-played games with some of the best 4D effects we’ve ever seen. Battle dragons or explore alien planets – whatever tickles your fancy really. If you’re looking to escape the real world for a little bit (guilty), this will bring family fun to a whole new dimension.
Crack the Code at Padlock’d
There’s always someone in the fam who thinks they’re an amateur detective, so why not put them to the test at Padlock’d. Brand new to Paradise Centre, opening just in time for the school holidays, here you can crack the code at one of their escape rooms with a huge range of challenges for all skill levels whether you’re a seasoned pro or novice. Team up with the fam for an adventure that will test (and potentially trigger) you as you race against the clock to solve your very own mystery.
Let The Good Times Bowl
Bowling – what’s not to love? It’s a classic family favourite, but the team at Zone Bowling have given it a fresh spin with glow-in-the-dark lanes, tasty treats and funky beats to keep the good times bowling… we mean rolling. With loads of lanes, you’ll be able to bring your family, and your friends family and even your neighbours family if you really want for all the fun.
No Time Like Timezone
For a dose of nostalgia and a heap of fun, head to Timezone for some serious arcade vibes. They’ve got all the classics you know and love from video games and car racing through the classic whack a Croc and so much more. If you want to get in the team spirit, laser tag is on offer as well as bumper cars so you can hash it all out on the rally floor. Families and friendships will be on the line when the competitive streak kicks in (there’s always one) but don’t forget, no one likes a sore loser 😉
Where: Paradise Centre, 2 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
When: Saturday 16 September to Sunday 1 October
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski.
STORY SPONSORED BY PARADISE CENTRE
