Fall into Autumn School Holidays on the Central Coast

From family friendly nature experiences and outdoor adventures, to creative workshops that cultivate calmness, there is plenty of fun ways to spend your Autumn days on the Central Coast these school holidays.

Be sure to check out our community libraries event calendar school holiday page to see what our local venues have on offer and also take a peek at our kids eat free guide so you know where to fill their hungry bellies, for free, after an action-packed day. 

Catch Pelican Time at The Entrance

Pelican Time is an Eco-friendly Pelican educational experience at The Entrance. In collaboration with Marine Wildlife Rescue Central Coast, Pelican Time is on at 3:30pm every day during the school holidays, plus Saturday and Sundays. It provides fascinating facts about the birds & their environment plus gives you a chance to see these huge birds up close.  Hear all about the colonies at The Entrance and Tuggerah Lakes, the work done around protecting them and how you can help keep them and their environment free from dangers. A great and easy to listen to talk for all the family to enjoy.

Ploddys Easter Fair at the Australian Reptile Park

Ploddy’s Easter Fair runs during the School Holidays from April 3–19. Baby animal petting zoo, egg and spoon race, zookeeper shows and more all free with entry. Family passes from $36 per person offering affordable school holiday fun. Back by popular demand, this egg-straordinary event is packed with wild activities, adorable baby animals, exciting prizes, and unforgettable entertainment with all Ploddy's Easter Fair activities FREE with entry to the park. Golden Egg Hunt: Each day, the Easter Croc will hide a golden egg somewhere in the Park with one lucky finder will winning a $500 Australian Reptile Park voucher.

Climb trees in Yarramalong

Get ready for an action-packed day to test your kids strength and challenge their minds at TreeTops Central Coast. Experience one (or both) activities from the tree rope course or bounce around in the maze of nets and burn some of the kids school holiday energy. For children aged 3 years and up with adult supervision. Bookings required.

Walk an Aboriginal Cultural Tour 

Gain a unique insight into the wisdom of the world’s oldest living culture as you explore Brisbane Water National Park, led by an Aboriginal Identified ranger, on 13th April 10am - 12pm . You’ll go on a guided walk and discover the amazing variety of plants that Aboriginal peoples used for food, shelter and medicinal purposes. Bookings essential here. 

Enjoy a wild Junior Ranger Tour

Calling all junior rangers! Come along on a day of adventure in Bouddi National Park or Wyrrabalong National Park. Get the kids to don their hats and trusty binoculars for an afternoon of seaside exploration. They’ll set off from the stunning Crackneck Point lookout with an experienced NPWS Discovery Ranger on a 2-hour scenic coastal walk. Junior rangers will discover diverse wildlife and take part in fun, hands-on experiences. As kids trot along the coast, they’ll have the chance to spot dolphins, seals and flocks of local seabirds. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden wonders along the rock platforms and shoreline, and don’t forget to bring your binoculars for the best views. Through interactive wildlife-spotting challenges, nature games, and creative activities, children can develop a deeper understanding of the coastal environment and the important role we all play in preserving it. It’s the perfect thing to do on the Central Coast if your little ones love animals and the outdoors.

Shell to Showroom tour at NSW's only pearl farm

Take the kids to Broken Bay Pearl Farm, the only pearl farm in NSW, and let them learn about how the pearls are made and farmed. Better yet, the kids will go free with every full priced adult or senior ticket purchased for the Shell to Showroom experience! Use 'kidforfree' at checkout. 

Easter Long Weekend with Tuff Nutterz inflatable course

Tuff Nutterz is an energetic day out for all the family! Set in the beautiful Glenworth Valley, Australia's biggest inflatable obstacle course will challenge you as you leap over 300m of inflatable fun! With a course of the little people and a 6m tall slide this is a must for friends and family alike. Open every day over the Easter long weekend. Kiosk open daily, with a bar open Easter Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 12 noon. Book your spot, show up and go nuts! Featuring Australia's biggest inflatable obstacle course returns to Glenworth Valley this Easter. Bounce, jump & slide you way through the course.

School Holiday Adventure Camps

Glenworth Valley's school holiday camps are back this April for children 5+ years. Whether your child is a thrill-seeker or a horse lover, there's a school holiday camp they're sure to love including Adventure Max, Valley Adventures and Horse Riding Camps. Places are limited and are filling quickly, so book your child's spot today.

Easter Weekend at The Springs

Food, fun, and festive vibes at The Springs! Celebrate Easter in the Central Coast Hinterland with a touch of Greek tradition surrounded by your family and friends. Enjoy a generous Easter feast, traditional lamb on the spit, live music, and festive Greek Easter traditions. Plus, kids’ activities and entertainment to keep the little bunnies happy! 

Creativity at local libraries

From hands-on fun to big ideas, there’s something for everyone these school holidays! Kids can build and design wearable masks using recycled materials and Makedo tools, craft their favourite Pokémon, and join in an art roulette activity, creating a unique artwork through chance. For coding enthusiasts, enjoy screen-free coding with Ozobots -draw lines, colours and routes to control the bots, then shift to Indi robot racing as you program cars to fly around a custom racetrack. For teens, Crime Lab puts you in the investigator’s seat with a former detective. You can try out circus skills like juggling and plate spinning with Joel Howlett, and learn manga-style illustration with artist, Matthew Lin. There’s also a variety of Lego building workshops, a Pet Pals Storytime with real-life furry friends, and plenty of chances to experiment and create. Bookings now open!

Creativity for kids at Gosford Regional Gallery

Gosford Regional Gallery has opportunites for kids throughout the year, including after school term classes, school holiday workshops and our annual About Face children's portrait prize. Free kids activities are available including the children's art space on the foyer veranda and free craft during the school holidays. Feeding the koi fish in the Edogawa Commemorative Garden is also a favourite activity for families! See what's on here.

Code Camp

Head along to the Central Coast Adventist School for Code Camp and let little minds come alive with science, technology and storytelling. From coding video arcade games, building an animation storyboard, mastering Minecraft and bring Roblox 2D/3D animations to life, there is plenty to focus on while having fun along the way. 

Roll up, roll up!

Roundup Circus has a whole range of workshops and holiday camps for the little kiddies, teens and even the adults! Learn acrobatic arts, aerial skills, circus activities or even magic, there's a little bit of fun (and exercise) for all skill levels, young and old. Check their website for the latest events!

A scoop of something sweet

Treat the kids (and yourself) to Spoon Bay Gelato this autumn, with their vintage gelato truck appearing at local beaches, markets and events across the Central coast. You can also visit their Avoca shop for all-natural gelato and sorbet, perfect for an easy and delicious school-holiday stop.

Horse Riding Camps

Glenworth Valley Horse Riding Camps for kids 5-16 years run during all school holiday breaks. With a variety of half day, full day and overnight camps catering from complete beginner to advanced  riders, there’s something for every young equestrian. Be quick to check available dates as with limited sessions these book up quick!

Basketball skills

Advance your kids love of basketball with training programs designed to improve skills and maximise their  fun! Taking place at Breakers Indoor Sport Stadium in Terrigal, some of the Central Coast Basketball's top players and coaches will deliver an innovative sports program these April school holidays. 

Gymnastics greatness

GEM Gymnastics holiday program is nothing short of fun. Kids will learn new skills like tumbling, parkour and gymnastics, plus play games and even find time to do some craft! Session available morning and afternoons of the April school holidays. 

Raw Challenge

The kids will enjoy hours of epic filled fun at Raw Challenge in Doyalson, running from 8 April 2026 on select dates during the holidays. Jump, dive, duck and run, over and under obstacles! They will get messy and muddy as they challenge themselves along the course! 

Find somewhere to stay on the Central Coast these school holidays, with a selection of family-friendly accommodation. To get started, begin a filtered search on our dedicated 'Stays' page here, where you can select a farmstay, or hotel, or even camping operators to enquire with!

For inspiration, some popular places to stay include the beachside Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific (right opposite Terrigal Beach and The Haven), where your family can enjoy all the tasty comforts of a hotel between the school holiday activities at Terrigal Beach House. Or keep the kids busy while you enjoy your stay at Mercure Kooindah Waters based in the north of the Central Coast, with easy access to the Hinterland and just minutes from the M1.