There’s plenty to inspire a fantastic stay-cay with kids on the Beaches this April. From places to picnic and play tennis, coves to discover with hidden places to swim or galleries and libraries to visit in which to learn something new, there’s truly something for all ages and interests.
For the children of working parents, Vacation Care is packed with fun. Open to primary school-aged children, it features fun activities such as nature days, kite flying, laser tag, and an excursion to Luna Park. This a paid service at $85 a day and it’s on offer at centres at Cromer, Balgowlah (North Harbour), and Manly Vale.
The Coastal Environment Centre at North Narrabeen also offers day programs at $70 per child. With a unique theme for each day, kids will learn about our natural environment through a range of fun and interesting activities. The holiday program can be booked here, and is suitable for children aged 6 (who have started school) to 12 years.
This school break, there’s also enchanting live theatre performance for little ones and even a street-style circus at Glen Street Theatre. Possum Magic will be presented to children from 3 years and up and the 360 Allstars will inspire patrons of all ages with a contemporary circus. School holiday tennis camps by Evolve Academy will run at both Collaroy and Careel Bay, and there’s life drawing and 3D animation at Manly Art Gallery and Museum. No one is going to get bored!
Mayor Michael Regan says there is so much to do these holidays on the Northern Beaches – it’s just one big playground for kids.
“We recently completed several major projects including Long Reef and Mona Vale Surf Clubs so take a look while you are down at the beach. Take a ride around the Narrabeen Lagoon now that the Narrabeen pedestrian bridge is complete or head up to Wyatt Avenue bike park which was designed to cater for new riders.
Prefer to spend the day indoors? Head into one of our libraries which offer so much more than borrowing a book. There’s creative writing workshops, robotics fun, and trivia sessions to join in with much of the holiday program tailored to kids aged 6-12 and more bespoke classes for teenagers at Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
We have skate parks and bike paths dotted along the beaches offering a great way to burn off energy on wheels or take a ferry from Palm Beach and discover the pristine beach coves like Great Mackerel, Patonga and Currawong – it’s a great day trip to the western side of the Pittwater.
Public playgrounds always provide hours of fun for kids to play and explore and we have new equipment installed at North Curl Curl and Freshwater.
Further afield, dense national parks like Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park offer days of hiking pleasure while scenic and shady beachfronts give parents well-planned spaces to picnic, plan an egg hunt or spend the day reading and drawing outdoors.
“Our holidays programs offer many amazing options and I encourage parents to check out the Council website to discover all the wonderful things we have on offer for kids of all ages,” Mayor Regan said.
Click here to read everything on offer.
Photo credit Jay Lioz