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Great Ideas For School Holiday Activities!

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Dr Teresa Li
August 1, 2024

School holidays are on the horizon and just before term ends every parent starts planning activities to keep kids happy and entertained during the break. 

While each family has a different routine, some may still have to work but will be keen to fit in some interesting activities. Kids on holidays could spend some time in vacation care or with sitters, so extra time with the family is an opportunity to be together. A time to explore new things as a family without being restricted by the demands of work and school.

To help you make the most of the school holidays we’ve put together a list of fun things you’re kids will love to do around Port Macquarie, and ideas of easy (and easy on the wallet) activities you can do at home.  

Dentists Port Macquarie look forward to hearing about your adventures next time you come in for your appointment!

Fun School Holiday Activities around Port Macquarie

Crazy Maze

 

Hours of fun at Kids Crazy Maze with tunnels, climbs, tree houses, a flying fox, bridge climbs slides and ball pit. The kids will have a blast! For something a bit different try the monthly discos and movie night fundraisers for Aussie Ark. 

Cost:

Under 3yrs - $7, or 3yrs to 12yrs - $10 school days

Under 3yrs - $10, 3yrs to 12yrs - $12- non school days

10 visit passes available

Opening Hours: 

Monday to Saturday 9am-4pm 

Where: 

Kids Crazy Maze

5 Albert Circuit Port Macquarie

02 6584 0260

www.crazymaze.org.au

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers 

Jumbos Playland

This awesome centre is one of the largest indoor soft play centres in the Mid-North Coast. The perfect place where the kids can cut loose and burn some energy while mum and dad can enjoy a coffee and bite at the café. Super convenient. For school holiday program information 2021 just get in touch.

Cost:

Under 2y: $8.90 Wed-Fri | $11.90 Sat/Holidays

2y-10y: $11.90 Wed-Fri | $15.90 Sat/Holidays

Babes in Arms: FREE 

Parents: FREE

Opening Hours: 

Mon/Tues: Closed 

Wed-Fri: 10am-3pm 

Sat: 9am-3pm 

Sun: Closed

Where:

Jumbos Playland

17 Merrigal Road

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6581 0909

jumbosplayland.com

Don’t forget! 

Socks

Timbertown

A great park to explore Aussie history from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Take a ride on the steam train or in a horse and carriage. Try panning for gold and gemstones at the Cedar Creek water wheel. Attractions include: Pedal Boats on The Lake, Cedar Creek Goldfields, a real fudge shop, a working bullock team, blacksmith, steam sawmill and the Timbertown Farmyard, where children can get close with the animals.

Cost:

Adult: $32.00

Child: $22.00 (3 to 15 under 3 free)

Senior: $30.00

Family: $96.00 (2 adults & 2 children 3 to 15)

Opening hours: 

Open every day during school holidays 9:30-4pm 

Closed Christmas Day and in extreme weather conditions

Where:

Timbertown

Oxley Hwy

Wauchope NSW 2446

02 6586 1940

timbertown.com.au

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle    

Wave Bowl

Challenge your kids at Wave Bowl! Cool bowling fun for all the family has 12 electronic scoring lanes, and a new boutique bowling environment is ready and waiting. A lounge-like atmosphere, comfortable couches and snacks. Go along and make the pins fall. 

Cost: 

Junior Bowling - $15.00/1 Game, $23.00/2 Games

Adult Bowling - $16.00/1 Game, $25.00/2 Games

Opening Hours: 

Mon-Thu 9am-Late

Fri - Sat 9am - 11pm

Sun 10am-6pm

Where:

Wave Bowl

159 Hastings River Dr

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6583 2238

wavebowl.com.au

Don’t forget! 

Socks

Centre of Gravity

Rock Climbing catering for children 3 years and over, with some extreme climbs for those up for a challenge. Full instruction is provided for those aged 11 years and over and children under 10 require a parent or helper to hold their ropes. Great exercise and a super day out. 

Or you can try Dark Zone Laser Tag for the whole family. You get to wear a state-of-the-art laser vest and after your mission briefing, enter a double story labyrinth for 15 minutes of fun and adrenaline pumping action. 

Cost: 

3 – 10 years $18 each

11 years and over $25 each (Instruction and harness hire included)

Laser Tag - 1 game $15 per person, 2 games $24 per person, 3 games $29 per person

Opening hours: 

Monday 10am - 5pm

Tuesday 1oam - 9pm

Wednesday 10am - 5pm 

Thursday 10am - 9pm

Friday 10am- 5pm

Saturday 10am -9pm

Sunday 11am - 4pm 

Where:

Centre of Gravity

52 Jindalee Rd

Port Macquarie NSW 2444 

02 6581 3899 

www.centreofgravity.com.au 

Billabong Zoo Koala & Wildlife Park

Get up-close and personal to Australian and exotic animals, pat, stroke, feed, hold, hear and see over 80 species of mammals, reptiles and birds. Over 200 animals in this friendly 10-acre Koala and Wildlife Park. The park is an Ambassador for Wildlife centre where visitors can learn about conservation and the Billabong world-renowned koala breeding programme.

Cost: 

Adult: $42 Child (3-15 years): $29

Senior/Pensioner Discount (card holders only): $40

Family: 2 adults, 2 children (3-15 years): $129

Companion Cards receive 1 companion plus 1 cardholder: $40*

Opening hours: 

Open every day from 9am to 5pm - except Christmas Day 

Where:

Billabong Zoo

61 Billabong Drive

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

06585 1060

www.billabongzoo.com.au

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle   

Hydro Golf and Putt Putt

The perfect activity for all ages, suitable for beginners through to the avid golfer in all weather. Hydro Golf has a beautiful water setting with a variety of floating targets offering various prizes! Plus, a chance to win cash on the jackpot target! Can't decide between the activities? Ask about the Combo Deal! 

Cost:

Adult $14.00, Child $9.00 (15 and under)

Family Pass $44.00 (2 adults and up to 3 children 15 and under)

Opening hours: 

10am to 4pm

Where: 

Hydro Golf & Putt-Putt

Boundary St

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6583 3200

hydrogolf.com.au

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle

Camel Ride on Lighthouse Beach

The kids will bursting with excitement when they ride a lumbering camel on Lighthouse Beach. Port Macquarie Camels will teach the kids all about camel history in Australia in a fun way. Just turn up and enjoy the ride.

Cost: 

Adults - $40

5-17yrs - $30

3-4yrs $20 (must ride with a paying adult) Cash only.

Opening Hours: 

Sunday-Friday 9.00 - 2.00pm

Where: 

Lighthouse Beach

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle

Port Macquarie Museum

The award-winning Port Macquarie Museum has 14 rooms of displays and artefacts, where the kids can get to know Port Macquarie's past. Learn the story of the Birpai people and the Indigenous beginnings of the land to settlement as a British penal colony. 

Cost: 

Adults $5 

Children $3 

Families $10.

Opening hours: 

Monday – Saturday 10.00am to 4:00pm

Where:

Port Macquarie Museum

22 Clarence Street

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6583 1108

portmuseum.org.au  

 

Easy On The Wallet

While planning activities that doesn't mean it's really necessary to spend a lot of money, especially if you choose to stagger out your time enjoying different things. Here we’ve put together a list of awesome activities around Port Macquarie that are absolutely FREE!

Swim or Surf at Town Beach

Town beach is the main beach in the heart of Port Macquarie, right at the end of the Hastings River, patrolled from September to April. Behind the beach is an open grassed picnic area, skate park, playground and NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park.

Where:

Munster St, Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle 

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre

Managed by NSW National Parks, Sea Acres Rainforest Centre is the second largest coastal rainforest reserve in the state and is a lush pocket of wilderness in the middle of Port Macquarie. Join a guided tour of the 1.3-kilometre pram-friendly boardwalk that winds through the pretty forest or enjoy an Aboriginal bush tucker tour. 

Cost: 

Free. But fees apply for the Rainforest Boardwalk.

Opening hours: 

9am to 4.30pm daily

Closed Christmas Day

Where: 

Sea Acres Rainforest Centre

159 Pacific Drive,

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6582 3355

sea-acres-rainforest-centre

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle

The Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail

Take the kids on a treasure hunt along the Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail. There are over 70 brightly painted, quirky koala sculptures scattered throughout the city, celebrating the region and the outstanding work of the Koala Hospital. The sculptures are designed by different artists. Say hello to Frankie Firefighter that pays homage to the incredible work of NSW's Fire Services. The open-air artwork is free to view and a great way to teach little ones about conservation.  

Follow the free Trail Guide or just embark on your own adventure. How many can you find?

Where:

Hello Koalas Gift Shop 

16/10 Bellbowrie St,

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

9am-4pm Monday - Friday
9am - 12pm Saturday

www.hellokoalas.com

Don’t forget! 

Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle  

Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries

Head to Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries to eat fluffy warm scones with homemade strawberry jam at Red Restaurant. Collect your buckets to go strawberry picking. 

Cost: 

Free entry

Opening hours: 

Mon-Fri: 7am to 5pm 

Sat-Sun: 8am to 5pm

Where:

Ricardoes Tomatoes and U-Pick Strawberry Farm

221 Blackmans Point Road

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

02 6585 0663

www.ricardoes.com

Amuse and delight the kids - without leaving the house

The kids will love long lazy pancake mornings at home with mum and dad. Prepare a big batch of pancake mix and help the kids make their own, or challenge them to create a few for you in different shapes! They'll love it. Or put together a big picnic lunch with lots of treats and head off to the park with a ball and hula hoop for outdoor fun.

Give the kids two hours a day on their devices and with some movie time on top and you'll beat the screen time battles that eat up those precious hours while away from work and school. 

An investment at the local arts and crafts store can provide an afternoon of creativity. Or even a Slip'n'Slide water day with friends in the backyard is a great way for the kids to be active and socialise at the same time. A cooking day is fun too, where you can buy a bbq chicken and help the kids make healthy wraps with avocado and lettuce – let them create their own! Rustling up a batch of cookies or cupcakes is easy too, with lots of options to decorate with icing and toppings.

Planning your School Holiday Budget

If you live in Port Macquarie, school holidays will be a breeze. There is so much to do and see and if you're careful, not too hard on the pocket either. 

A good rule of thumb is to put aside a dedicated budget for three or four outings that are more expensive and then rotate those with low cost or free pastimes that work for the whole family. 

Save money by bringing along your own food and drinks and then treat everyone to a take away pizza at dinnertime. You'll be everyone's favourite parent.

It doesn't take much to roll out a raft of budget ideas for the family and the kids. How about a fishing expedition at Dennis Bridge, or a bush walk at the Melaleuca campground at Limeburner's Creek National Park? A really beautiful place in Aussie nature for walking, surfing, swimming, and maybe an overnight camping trip for campfire burgers and roast marshmallows.

No time for a toothache?

Because it's more than likely there'll be quite few treats on the agenda, it’s a good idea to book in your kids dental appointment stat for a good clean and a proper check for cavities. The best care you can give your child's teeth is routine check-ups and excellent dental hygiene at home. 

School holidays are a good time to really focus on your child's dental health. Have a look at how they're using their toothbrush, make sure there's enough toothpaste on it before it goes into the mouth. Practice a little more rinsing and spitting so that teeth stay clean and there's no plaque build-up. 

We look forward to seeing you soon. Book an appointment now.

TL Dental is always updating this article, and we welcome any suggestions from locals for fun ideas in the school holidays in Port Macquarie, we'd love to share them!  

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