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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!
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers
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
Don’t forget!
Socks
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle
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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
Don’t forget!
Socks
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
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle
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
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
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!
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
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle
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
Don’t forget!
Sunscreen, Hat, Sneakers, Water Bottle
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
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.
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.
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!