WHAT’S ON SUM MER 2017/18 ED. 2
Letter From The Editor Dear Readers, We love Summer!! It’s that time of year when Sydney is bursting with fun things to do and exciting places to explore with your kids. With so much to see and do it can be hard to know where to begin. So we’ve made it extra easy with our Digital Guide to Summer – packed with the best hand-picked ideas. We’ve got wonderful waterslides, daring adventure playgrounds, fun activities for home when it’s too hot to brave the outdoors, awesome destinations for a sneaky family getaway, and just about everything else you could need to keep boredom at bay. A summer of fun – guaranteed! ellaslist xxx
What’s Inside? 4 Best Summer Drives from Sydney 5 Alphabetical Sydney Exhibition at Museum of Sydney 6 Best Beaches and Rock Pools for Kids 7 Amazingly Fun Water Slides 8 Summer at Wet’n’Wild 9 Best Adventure Playgrounds 10 Summer Fun at Sky Zone 11 Amazing Waterfalls and Picnic Spots 12 SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium And WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo 13 The Best Of Sydney Festival 14 Bugaboo And You 15 Craft Tips for Home 16 MCA Summer Program 17 Best Free Water Play Parks 18 Summer Camping Shenanigans 19 The Ultimate Family Friendly Resort
What’s Summer without an adventurous road trip?
Wollongong The underrated family destination with the overwhelmingly awesome kids’ play centre, Early Start Discovery Space!
Best Summer Drives From Sydney
The Entrance You’ll never believe how much there is for families: pelican-feeding, a water playground, ocean baths and gorgeous gardens!
Palm Beach Palm Beach is Home and Away… literally. This idyllic peninsula will keep you busy with a lighthouse, great cafes and a playground. Newcastle This coastal city boasts over 8 gorgeous beaches, the amazing Speers Point Park playground nearby and great cafes.
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Perfect for imaginations to run wild From beautiful historic houses and gardens, to city museums and programs especially designed for families to enjoy – Sydney Living Museums is the place perfect for imaginations to run wild. This summer check out their jam-packed holiday program, including kids workshops, family museum tours, and fabulous hands on exhibitions. Head to Museum of Sydney to see Alphabetical Sydney: Creative Lab an interactive exhibition celebrating Sydney in all its diversity, from A to Z. Produced in collaboration with the creators of the best-selling book Alphabetical Sydney. Budding artists and authors and anyone with a sense of fun and a capacity to dream will all enjoy.
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Rouse Hill House & Farm in LEGO® Bricks See amazing models of the iconic Rouse Hill House and farm buildings constructed from LEGO® bricks with breathtaking architectural detail. You can also make your own creation to add to the display.
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Paddle in a kid-friendly beach and meet interesting critters in a wondrous rock pool...
Best Beaches And Rock Pools For Kids
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Clovelly Beach This beach literally ticks all the boxes: a playground, saltwater pool, shallow and flat water, a great kiosk. See what all the fuss is about!
Shelly Beach, Cronulla There’s an ocean pool perfect for toddlers, plenty of space and ramps for prams, and a cafe and restaurant close by. Perfect!
Dee Why Rock Pool, Dee Why In a perfect location, this 50-metre pool has a designated toddler’s pool with plenty of shallow water for a Summertime splash.
Bogey Hole, Bronte Only revealing itself during low-tide, this small and shallow rock pool makes it easy to keep an eye on your kids whilst they explore all the natural wonders.
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The best of Summer meets the best of the playground! Make these warmer months thrill-filled...
Amazingly Fun Water Slides Wet’n’Wild This epic waterpark boasts HEAPS of waterslides like the 360Rush for big kids, as well as 10 kid-friendly ones for littlies at Nickelodeon Beach.
Waterworld Central Australia’s first portable water theme park, returns to the Entertainment Quarter Showring at Moore Park this Summer!
Aquatopia, Prairiewood It’s back for a second season! This water park boasts 10-metre tall giant slides, an aqua tower, cabanas and even a toddler pool.
Splasher’s Water Playground Sydney Olympic Park’s indoor water playground boasts four waterslides as well as tipping buckets, a current pool and water fountains.
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Find out what’s hot, what’s cool and what’s on at Wet’n’Wild Sydney this summer.
Summer At Wet’n’Wild
DJ Summer Sessions Unwind for the week on selected Sundays with the freshest summer tunes spun by Wet’n’Wild’s inpark DJ. Motorcross Madness See the actionpacked thrilling display by the Showtime FMX Freestyle Motorcross Team.
Secluded Island Cinema Catch your favourite movies from the comfort of your deck chair or on a beach towel in the sand at Wet’n’Wild. Rex On The Beach Junior Wet’n’Wild fans will love the toddler-friendly Nickelodeon Beach with its very own Dinosaur Lagoon!
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Nothing spells FREE family Summer fun quite like a day at a daring adventure playground. Let’s Play!
Best Adventure Playgrounds Strathfield Park and Playground It doesn’t hurt that it’s brand NEW! Three monster slides, a netted suspension bridge, flying fox and equipment for littlies too.
Carrs Bush Park and Playground This perfect Summer playground is on the water’s doorstep! Whizz through the air on two flying foxes, or mess around in the sandpit.
Blaxland Riverside Park and Playground One of our favourites! There’s water play, climbing nets, tunnels, a massive spinning satellite dish and so much more.
Ian Potter WILD PLAY Garden, Centennial Parklands This new all-abilities nature playground is amazing. There’s water-play, tunnels, a super-slide and more.
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Little Leapers Sky Zone’s Little Leapers class is a great way for toddlers and preschoolers to hop, jump and skip around in a safe environment. Everyday from 9am – 10am.
Jumping Soar across the sky at the Stratosphere, slam dunk at Sky Slam, flip into The Pit or duck and dive in the Dodgeball Zone, Sky Zone has it all this summer.
Climbing Reach new heights at Sky Climb. Our Auto-belay braking system makes it safe and fun for everyone, scale the skies or take a leap of faith this summer at Sky Zone.
Extra Fun Our Party Rooms are turning into entertainment rooms this Summer. Chill out on the bean bags and enjoy the many games and activities on offer.
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Spend long, lazy Summer days exploring a wondrous waterfall or enjoying a perfect picnic with the family.
Amazing Waterfalls And Picnic Spots
Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden Go on a fairy hunt! Enjoy a pleasant picnic at one of the most gorgeous (and secret!) community gardens in Sydney.
Collins Beach Waterfall Nestled between North Head and Little Manly Cove, you can only get to this little, secluded gem by foot (or boat!).
Mount Annan Botanic Gardens The perfect spot to explore nature. Meander down the paths, feed the ducks, hunt for lizards and enjoy a packed lunch in the sunshine.
Upper Gledhill Falls This tall waterfall surrounded by lush greenery in Ku-ring-gai Chase is utterly enchanting. Take a dip in the 10-metre wide swimming hole.
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SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium And WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
Stay cool this summer at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo! Escape the summer heat and hop aboard the world’s first ride-through experience on the Penguin Expedition boat ride. Get up close to a spectacular colony of King and Gentoo Penguins as you travel through a rugged sub-Antarctic environment. Check out some jaw-some Grey Nurse Sharks and meet rescued Dugongs, Pig and Wuru, to learn all about their heart-warming rescue story! Meet Australia’s favourite animals at WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo including cute Koalas and hopping Kangaroos. You will also get the chance to come face-to-face with the huge Saltwater Crocodile - Rocky! With loads of competitions, interactive displays, keeper talks and daily feeding sessions, it’s a summer not to be missed for the whole family!
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Don’t miss this cultural extravaganza of music, theatre and art! Here’s our top picks for family fun.
The Best Of Sydney Festival Model Citizens Circus Oz delivers awesome physicality and biting satire in its new work. See mesmerising aerialists, cheeky characters and daredevil acrobats.
Jurassic Plastic Japanese artist Hiroshi Fuji recycles and reinvents unwanted plastic toys into colourful dinosaur sculptures and landscapes.
Four Thousand Fish: At Barangaroo Reserve Help symbolically return 4,000 fish to Sydney Harbour at this large, interactive art installation.
Circus City The circus is back in town and you’re invited! Circus City returns to Parramatta’s Prince Alfred Square this year with free and ticketed performances.
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Where can a Bugaboo take you?
Bugaboo And You
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Pram-Friendly Walks Flat paths and coffee shops all the way!
Pram-Friendly Cafes Family-friendly, spacious cafes where you, your bub, and your pram are always welcome.
Summer Pram Accessories Spruce up your pram with these essential accessories to embrace the sun in comfort.
Pram-Friendly Beaches Our top picks for beaches that are easily accessible with your pram.
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Sometimes aircon at home beats out scalding sand and playground heat. Here are ideas to keep kids busy.
Edible Unicorn Slime Slime recipes are fun, but makeyour-own rainbow unicorn slime that you can actually eat is the best!!
Too Hot To Go Out: Craft Tips For Home
Cardboard Doll House Use cardboard boxes to create houses for your child’s toys and dolls.
Play Dough Recipe We have an awesome play dough recipe that your toddler is gonna love! Plus: a top tip to make it smell pleasant! Toilet Paper Roll Butterflies Super simple and with materials you’d already have around the house.
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From exciting exhibitions to arty activities for kids, find out all that’s on at the Museum of Contemporary Art this Summer.
We Heart Art
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Pipilotti Rist: Sip my Ocean The wonderful world of Pipilotti Rist has arrived! Wander through dazzling projections and discover a magical forest of hanging lights.
Sundays with Pipilotti Play with projections at the MCA’s free Sundays with Pipilotti drop-in space. Get hands-on and create collages inspired by artist Pipilotti Rist.
Contemporary Kids – January Sharpen your pencils and get ready for some word play as you wind through the MCA Collection: Word & Jon Campbell.
Art Safari Calling all mini art adventurers and grown-ups! Explore the kaleidoscopic world of Pipilotti Rist then make your own colour-charged artwork in the MCA studio.
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When the heat is on, a regular playground just won’t cut it! Keep cool with tipping buckets and fountains.
Best Free Water Play Parks Darling Quarter Playground As well as an epic playground, kids can cool down with a pump station and 26 water jets for the best water play fun.
James Ruse Reserve Water Playground A local family favourite! There are mini water fountains for littlies as well as tipping buckets and large cascades.
Philip Ruddock Water Playground Run through rings that spray water or stand under flower shaped fountains. And all under a shade cloth, phew!
Granville Water Park Have water cannon fights, get soaked by tipping buckets, run through hoops spraying water or let toddlers stand under fountains set at their height.
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Enjoy a micro Summer escape with the family.
Summer Camping Shenanigans
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Calmsley Hill City Farm Just one hour from Sydney, and your family will be surrounded by animals and sleeping under the stars. Bliss.
Cockatoo Island Pop your family on the ferry and enjoy a unique camping experience that boasts amazing harbour views.
Curious About Camping? Find out about Coleman Camp Club, the no-fuss VIP camping experience for first-time camper families.
Free Camping Spots in NSW Go further a field to enjoy nature at it’s best.
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The Ultimate Family Friendly Resort
Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains, MGallery by Sofitel Hotel guests of this iconic Blue Mountains resort are in for a treat these summer school holidays. Kicking off from December 27th the resort has a jam-packed activities schedule that offers guests a range of complimentary activities to delight and entertain the children; budding artists can join in arts and crafts, future foodies will enjoy mini master chef classes, and for a bit of R&R chill out in the 128 seat fully air conditioned cinema for daily family friendly movies. Get out and about and discover the 3 indoor play rooms, mirror maze, indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and spa. Splash around in the outdoor resort style pool, meander through the resort gardens past the ponds, and down to the horse stables to visit the ponies.
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DISCOVER MORE For mum and dad there is wine tastings, cheese tastings, daily morning yoga, daily happy hours and a fully supervised Kids Klub so you can enjoy a couple of afternoon hours of peace and quiet together.
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THANK YOU
Millions of parents visit ellaslist to discover new and exciting things to do with their kids both in their local community and in our wonderful city. We’re proud and humbled that so many new family experiences start with a simple visit to our website. We’d like to sincerely thank all our loyal readers for continuing to support ellaslist and a huge thanks to all our venue partners, sponsors, ellaslist explorers and the many local activities providers that do such a wonderful job in our communities helping us to entertain, educate and create fun experiences with our kids. We wish you a wonderful festive season and the best summer ever. We look forward to bringing you more inspiration in 2018. Love, the team at ellaslist xxx
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