Things To Do With Kids in the Hawkesbury These Summer School Holidays
/What’s On in the Hawkesbury for Kids These Summer School Holidays?
If you’re searching for family-friendly things to do in the Hawkesbury these Summer School Holidays, you’re in the right place. From outdoor adventures and creative workshops, to pool days, fruit picking and Australia Day celebrations, there’s no shortage of activities to keep our little (and big) people happy.
And if you’re planning a few days away, staying somewhere central with space for the kids to run, play and explore, makes it all the much easier.
Here’s our family’s curated guide to the best Hawkesbury School Holiday activities this Summer, all within easy reach of our family friendly holiday home, Dido’s Place.
1. Richmond Swimming Centre
Nothing says Summer like a pool day! The Richmond Swimming Centre is an old school favourite of ours, offering:
3 different pools: a shaded toddler pool, a wading pool perfect for children and a 50m Olympic Pool
Large open spaces for your picnic rugs and towels
Half-sized basketball court & playground
Kiosk for food and drinks
✨ School Holiday Tip: Why not pack a picnic, relax by the pools and make a day of it.
📅 Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 6am – 8pm; Saturday, 8am – 8pm; Sunday & Public Holiday, 10am – 8pm (Hours may vary at Christmas and New Year)
📍 71 East Market Street Hobartville
2. Australia Day on the Hawkesbury
📅 Date: Monday 26th January | 🕒 5pm – 9pm
🐨 Celebrate Australia Day in the Hawkesbury with a full day of community festivities including live entertainment, carnival rides, food stalls, cricket, competitions such as the very popular thong-throwing championship and of course, the famous fireworks display at 9pm.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Why not pack a picnic rug and claim your firework’s vantage point by the Hawkesbury River.
📍Governor Phillip Park, Windsor
3. Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley School Holiday Programs
📅 January 12, 16 & 19 | 🕒 Various times
🧑🌾 A wonderful series of hands-on, farm-based workshops where the kids will learn about being a farmer for a day, caring for animals, how to make goats milk soap, cook paddock to plate and get creative with flower based arts and crafts.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Bookings are essential and limited, so get in quick to reserve your spot. While the kids are busy, pop over to Windsor for lunch, a spot of shopping and indulge in a luxurious head spa treatment at Blossom Hair, Body, Face & Wig Boutique.
📍Australiana Pioneer Village, 10 Rose St, Wilberforce
4. Makers, Painters & Mayhem School Holiday Workshops
📅 Weekdays | 🕒 Various times
🎨 Choose from a number of different types of art & craft workshops for all different ages. From Kokadama and pottery to painting and even hair braiding.
Read all about our Recent Visit here
✨ School Holiday Tip: Parents & Carers have the option to stay or drop off. Why not explore Windsor while the kids are having fun.
📍196 George Street, Windsor
5. Bligh Park Hotel School Holiday Workshops
📅 Various dates & times
🍕 Fun activities like Build Your Own Fish Tank and Loaded Fries Workshops.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Get in quick to book, classes are selling out fast!
📍101 Ham Street, South Windsor
6. Bikes & Bulls
📅 Saturday 10th January | 🕒 4:30pm
🐂 A high-energy and action-packed show perfect for older kids and teenagers. See Australia’s best FMX pros soar over the top of the arena, whilst the world’s toughest cowboys square off against 950-kilo bulls.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Tickets are essential, book in advance. Under 3’s are free but are not allocated a seat.
📍Hawkesbury Showground
7. Fruit Picking in Bilpin
📅 To Be Announced
🍎 The Apple picking season usually starts on the Australia Day Long Weekend up in Bilpin. There are opportunities for peach and strawberry picking prior to this. For up to date opening times and fruit availability, please visit these Facebook sites: TNT Produce Pick Your Own, Pine Crest Orchard, Bilpin Botanic Orchard and the Bilpin Fruit Bowl.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Check Facebook sites for opening times, fruit availability and if bookings are required before visiting.
8. Dinosaur Valley at Scenic World, Blue Mountains
📅 Runs until 26th January | 🕒 Everyday 9am - 5pm
🦖 Dinosaur Valley at Scenic World in the Blue Mountains brings prehistoric creatures to life with towering, life-size dinosaurs, interactive displays and you’ll get to ride on the world’s steepest train, soar above the rainforest on the Skyway, and glide along sandstone cliffs on the Cableway.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Kids under 3 are free. Book tickets in advance online.
📍Corner Violet Street & Cliff Drive Katoomba NSW Australia
9. Zig Zag Railway: Historic Steam Train Ride
📅 January 9, 10, 11, 23, 24, 25, 26 | 🕒 Multiple departure times
🚂 Journey through the Great Lithgow Zig Zag on a nostalgic steam train. A must-do school holiday experience near the Blue Mountains.
Book Now
✨ School Holiday Tip: Arrive early (30 mins) and grab a seat on the right hand side of the train as this side has the better valley views. Also get tickets to the first ride of the day to avoid possible traffic in Bilpin.
10. Summer School Holidays at the Vineyard
📅 Every Mon, Wed & Fri in January | 🕒 12pm – 2pm
🐎 Free kids activities:
Mon 5 Jan – Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
Wed 7 Jan – Reptiles Up Close
Fri 9 Jan – Bricks 4 Kids
Mon 12 Jan – Slime & Bouncy Ball Making
Wed 14 Jan – Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
Fri 16 Jan – Bricks 4 Kids
Mon 19 Jan – Reptiles Up Close
Wed 21 Jan – Slime & Bouncy Ball Making
Fri 23 Jan – Pony Rides & Petting Zoo
✨ School Holiday Tip: Get in early for a table near all the action. Grab lunch while you’re there. They have a great pub menu and kids meals.
📍725 Windsor Rd, Vineyard
🌐 Website
11. Lynwood Country Club: Mini Golf & Dinosaur Encounters
📅 Dinosaur Encounters 16th January 11am ; Mini Golf daily from 11am
⛳ Lynwood Country Club features an 18-hole mini golf course, offering a fun outdoor activity for kids and families. The course includes gentle hills, bridges, bunkers, and water features, with two options to suit different skill levels. The Yellow course for beginners and the Red course for those after more of a challenge.
🦖 Dinosaur Encounters is a hands on experience where kids will fossil dig, discover a nest of dinosaur eggs, witness a volcanic eruption and explore the interactive research trailer filled with dinosaur models, fossils, lights, displays and more! They’ll also come face to face with a Baby Raptor and Zeus – a 4 metre long dinosaur brought to life with blinking eyes, realistic movement and roaring sound effects.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Kids to wear play clothes, a hat and enclosed footwear for the Dinosaur Encounters. Stay for a lovely club lunch at the Country Kitchen.
📍4 Pitt Town Bottoms Rd, Pitt Town
12. Musical in a Week with Fantasia Showstoppers
📅 Monday to Friday, 12th - 16th January | 🕒 12pm – 2pm
🎭 Let your kids unleash their inner performer at Shrek KIDS (Musical in a Week) with Fantasia Showstoppers, a five-day school holiday workshop in Richmond where they’ll learn singing, dancing and acting before proudly showcasing a musical theatre performance.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Suitable for children aged 8 - 18, no prior experience necessary.
📍Richmond School of Arts
13. Baby Goat Experience at Marlu Mini Farm
📅 Various dates & times
🐐 Experience the joy and playfulness of baby Nigerian Goats at Marlu Mini Farm. For 60 minutes, you can bottle feed, cuddle and play with these gorgeous animals. Bookings essential.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Children under 4 are entitled to free entry when accompanied by a paying adult who will look out for the child’s safety and wellbeing. 1 free child per paying adult.
📍58 Ala Moana Rd, East Kurrajong
14. School Holiday Program at Adonai Equine & Disability Services
📅 13th January | 🕒 8.15am – 2pm
🐎 A fun-filled day of team sports, horse interactions, outdoor splash painting, art activities and messy water play, with morning tea and cool ice blocks provided. Bookings are essential and places are limited, with NDIS self-managed and plan-managed participants welcome.
✨ School Holiday Tip: Suitable for 5 - 12 year olds. You’ll need to pack a hat, change of clothes, towel, sunscreen, lunch and water bottle.
📍89 Mitchell Park Road, Cattai
Where to Stay in the Hawkesbury These Summer Holidays?
With so much happening across the region, staying somewhere central with room to unwind between adventures makes all the difference.
Dido’s Place is our multi-award-winning, family-friendly holiday home set on 9 private acres in the Hawkesbury, offering:
Exclusive-use accommodation for families and groups
On-site activities for kids of all ages
Space to relax, reconnect and recharge after busy holiday days
It’s the ideal base for exploring Hawkesbury school holiday activities, while still giving kids freedom to play and parents a chance to truly relax.
