It's that time of year again — heartbeats will quicken, anticipation will strengthen and stress will rise. It seems it's always your job to find the solution for the perennial school holiday problem, 'I'm so bored'.
Luckily we've got the answers. Here are eight suggestions for unique activities Australia-wide to keep the kids happy these school holidays.
Sydney, New South Wales
Young filmmakers
Age: 10 to 17.
Do your kids overact a little? Then put their skills to the test at Metro Screen, where they can learn the basics of filmmaking from script to screen. Write, act, shoot, light, direct, edit, and produce a short film, TV commercial or a documentary; concluding with a final parental screening night.
Dates: Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th October.
Cost: $310.
More information
(02) 9356 1818
metroscreen.org.au
metro@metroscreen.org.au
Image: Metro Screen
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Make your own chocolate
Age: Five to 12.
For a true holiday treat, take the kids to Nutworks' chocolate making workshops, where they'll learn the art of making their own handmade chocolates. Let them get creative and decorate their own chocolate butterflies, racing cars, fairies, dragons, dinosaurs. Best of all, you get to take the chocolate home with you.
Dates: Throughout the September/October School holidays.
Cost: $19.95 per person.
More information
(07) 547 2777
www.nutworks.com.au
Hobart, Tasmania
Museum of Old and New Art (MONA)
Age: All.
Not only is MONA the largest privately owned museum in Australia, and it's accessible only by ferry, but most importantly, MONA is the proud owner of a "Cloaca" — a machine which turns food into faeces.
Always interesting, and thought-provoking, MONA is a must-see when in Tasmania.
Dates: Throughout the year.
Cost: Free (under-18s, Tasmanian residents), $20 (non-Tasmanian residents), $15 (concessions).
More information
(03) 6277 9900
http://mona.net.au/
Darwin, Northern Territory
Radical Rockets
Age: 10+.
The NT Double Helix Club meets regularly throughout the year to engage in fun kid-friendly science excursions and activity days. It is a club who participate in cool science events such as Jitterbug robot making, astronomy exploration night, and. tropical food gardening.
Next event is "Radical Rockets", which will put all of their engineering brains to the test, competing with their fellow budding scientists to design, build and launch their very own rockets.
Dates: Thursday 4th October.
Cost: 40 members/ $50 non members.
More information
(08) 8944 8490
doublehelix.nt@csiro.au
Adelaide, South Australia
Beetle Mania
Age: Five to 12.
Children have an opportunity to get up close and personal with beetles at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide school holiday program, Beetle Mania.
They learn about the important role beetles play in keeping plants healthy, and why we can't live without them. Fun and learning is not just limited to the session, with all participants taking home a beetle lifecycle kit so they can watch the entire lifecycle as larvae morph into adults.
Dates: Wednesday 26th September.
Cost: $15.
More information
(08) 8222 9311
Pamlea.Bremer@sa.gov.au
Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Floriade
Age: All.
The nation's capital isn't really known for looking as pretty as a flower, except for once a year; Floriade.
The annual spring horticulture festival has had a recent injection of life with its inclusion of "night fest". Floriade Nightfest runs for five nights, Wednesday 26th to Sunday 30th of September, where the garden bed designs are lit up by dazzling light shows, circus acts will entertain you, and live music and DJs will sooth you.
Floriade 2012 will be even more kid-friendly than previous years, with activities like Matilda's Farmyard Nursery, Glassworks: Kids Corner, Gnome Knoll and Reptiles Inc.
Just don't forget to pack the antihistamines.
Dates: Saturday 15th September to Sunday 14th October.
Cost: All activities are free except the Ferris Wheel, which costs $7 per ride.
More information
1300 554 114
crvc@act.gov.au
Melbourne, Victoria
Hard Rock
Age: 8+.
Hang like a spider high above Melbourne's CBD, at Hard Rock rock-climbing.
Situated in Swanston St, with huge glass walls, you're able to look into the heart of the city while climbing their challenging rock course.
It doesn't matter if you have never been before, the friendly staff will teach you all the basics you need to know whilst providing helpful tips along the way.
Dates: Throughout the year.
Cost: $28 (students), $20 (parent and single child under 11), $14 (additional child under 11).
More information
(03) 9631 5300
http://www.hardrock.com.au/
Perth, Western Australia
WA Institute of Martial Arts (WAIMA)
Age: Six to 14.
WAIMA have a specialised school holiday program to teach children how to become more aware of their surroundings and if a situation should occur, how to defend themselves. The camp promotes mental and physical confidence, respect and self defence through conflict avoidance, "bully buster" and stranger danger.
Dates: Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th October.
Cost: $55 per day.
More information
(08) 9247 4800
http://www.waima.com.au/index
Any more great school holidays ideas to add to the list? Share below!
