Summer school holiday fun on the Central Coast

When was the last time you explored the Central Coast's free natural playground with your family? The Coast is famous for its beautiful scenery, which is great if you want something free to do with the kids this summer:

• Plan a family picnic in one of our stunning outdoor spots
• Try our top playgrounds from north to south
• Swim and paddle at our patrolled beaches
• Take your pick from our best nature walks

Our summer holiday school guide showcases some of the activities that we are sure you will love, come wind, rain or shine. After a busy day, the kids will be famished. Check out our guide to see where kids can eat for free on the Central Coast.

Junior Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Bateau Bay

Be a Junior Ranger for the day and explore the coastal tidal rockpools and make nature art at Wyrrabalong National Park. Discover gastropods, bivalves and invertebrate animals encased by a shell, all in their natural environments. Find out about unique plants and animals that live in the park. Enjoy beach games and beach walks while learning what a ranger does each day. 

Jake Cassar Bushcraft, Mangrove Mountain

Get the whole family together and learn how valuable survival skills including how to build a shelter, identify edible and poisonous plants, learn tracking skills, through fun games so you don't get lost in the bush and try your hand at primitive friction fire-making! Find out more.

The Australian Reptile Park, Somersby

Celebrate an Aussie Christmas was iconic Aussie animals at Santa's Safari at The Australian Reptile Park each weekend in December and then daily from 16-24 December. See Santa feed over 30 hungry American Alligators, meet an adorable wombat joey and have your photos taken with Santa!  Experience brand new immersive animal encounters, from feeding Australia's crankiest croc, meeting the Tasmanian Devil joeys or getting up close with Australia's deadliest venomous creatures. 

Terrigal Ocean Tours, Terrigal

This summer take to the ocean with Terrigal Ocean Tours and experience an unforgettable marine encounters. Departing from the quaint little seaside village of Hardy's Bay choose from 3 specialised tours, A Day on the Bay, Seal & Dolphin tour and a Twilight Tour. Enjoy the stunning scenery of Broken Bay, watch for seals, Little Penguins, dolphins and whales, visit remotes beaches, paddleboard and fish. Learn about the rich heritage of the Coast and the wonderful marine life that inhabits our coastline. 

Kid's Camp, Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures

Bust boredom with a dose of the great outdoors these school holidays at Glenworth Valley Adventure Max School Holiday Camp. Kids will have a blast trying three awesome adventures in one day including horse riding, quad biking, kayaking, abseiling or laser skirmish. Activities are dependent on the season and age of the child, so you can rest assured they will be equipped to have a good time, and the camp is fully supervised by experienced guides.

RAW Challenge, Doyalson

Take on the RAW Challenge wet obstacle course and test your physical strength these school holidays. Work together to conquer some of Australis’ most epic obstacles while having lots of fun with new friends and team members. There are two programs for different age groups on at different times throughout January. You will have fun, and you will get very muddy! Book your tickets here

Koi feeding in a Japanese garden, East Gosford

The Edogawa Commemorative Garden is a beautifully peaceful space located in the Gosford Regional Gallery precinct of East Gosford, just a few minutes from Gosford Waterfront. The landscape design is inspired by a traditional ‘shuyu’ (strolling style) garden, incorporating Japanese features. Both kids and adults can appreciate the pretty tranquillity available here - for free - and the whole family will love feeding the huge fish from the ornamental bridge (bags of feed available in the gallery shop).

Central Coast Aqua Park, Gosford

Opening every year on the picturesque waterfront location, right near several cafes, a swimming pool, Leagues Club Park and the stadium, Central Coast Aqua Park is one of the most refreshing activities for kids to have some fun outdoors on the water. Parents can watch their kids tackle the floating obstacle course on Brisbane Water from the side lines with a coffee, with single, double or all-day passes available from just $25.

Treetops Adventure Park, Wyong Creek

Treetops Adventure Park are ready to go for the school holidays, open from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week! They offer a range of outdoor, kid-friendly activities to pursue high up in the treetops of Ourimbah State Forest on the Central Coast, including Networld and the longest zipline in the southern hemisphere. 

Junior Ranger, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Bouddi National Park

Embark on an outdoor adventure as a Junior Ranger and explore the coastal bushland, scanning the horizon for marine wildlife and grasslands for birds, as you venture along the Bouddi coastal walk. Learn about the environment and how birds and animals survive before finishing your adventure with interactive games and art on Putty Beach. 

Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences - Clap Stick Making Workshop, Kariong

Make an Aboriginal Clap Stick at the Girri Girra Aboriginal Experiences at Kariong Eco Garden and learn what they are and how they are used with the Aboriginal community.   Participants will be welcomed with a traditional smoking ceremony, before utilising tools to carve their own take home clap sticks. Recommended for children 8 years and up. Next workshop is Friday 20th Jan. Find out more. 

Iris Lodge Alpacas, Jilliby

Iris Lodge Alpacas is an Ecotourism Certified, accessible, agritourism attraction where kids, and adults, can get up close and personal with the 82 alpacas and 9 llamas. From breakfast with the alpacas to meet and greets, get your incredible farm experience at the Iris Lodge Alpaca this summer holiday and make memories to last forever. Booking essential.

Motiv8Sports, Central Coast locations

Get the kids excited about sport with super fun and engaging multi-sport day camps. While testing their skills and challenging themselves, they will also being learning about the importance of teamwork and sportmanship. They will enjoy sports to keep them cool this summer including wild water activities, hybrid sports, water bazooka battles, slip 'n slide and more! Book here to secure your spot.

Central Coast Creative Hub, Point Clare

Central Coast Creative Hub's craft camps are back again where kids spend a full day creating,  designing and letting their creative talents shine.  From 18 December through to 12 January, there is a full program of activities including making clay trinket dishes and tinsel wreaths, icing cookies and playing at sensory play stations. Each masterpiece can be taken home afterward too! Book early, as these days books out very quickly. 

Hole in Fun, Lisarow

Just opened in time for the summer school holidays! Hole in Fun is an indoor mini golf course, complete with bright colour decor and challenges on every hole! Book early as this new activity is bound to be popular!

Roundabout Circus, Wyoming

Roll up, roll up to the summer school holiday circus workshop with Roundabout Circus's energetic program. Try your hand at hooping, hang out on the trapeze and silks, test your plate spinning and circus skills, tumble into acro as you explore new heights!

Flip Out, West Gosford

Much more than just an indoor trampoline park, Flip Out lets kids and adults jump, flip, bounce on Olympic trampolines or into foam pits. There’s also an under 5’s area so the little ones can have fun too! If you’re looking for a night time activity, flip the night away with Flip Out’s new after dark disco party. Book online so you don't miss out.

Virtual Reality Studios, The Entrance and Erina Fair

Try one of the best virtual reality experiences in Australia! Central Coast Virtual Reality invites the kids to swim with the whales, walk around the Eiffel Tower, ride a rollercoaster, play with a litter of baby dragon pups or become a cyber ninja – there are hundreds of experiences for all ages in this safe, indoor environment. This studio is purpose-built with the only custom ceiling cable mount system in Australia, designed to create the ultimate immersive VR experience.

Clip ‘N Climb, Gosford

Let your kids enjoy the experience of climbing in a fully supervised and colourful climbing space. Clip 'N Climb Central Coast is a great indoor kids activity and truly is a WOW experience - for all ages too! Go on, Dad. All equipment is provided, and every climb is equipped with the 'Trublue' auto belay making it super safe and easy to climb free of a belay buddy. Less standing still, more action!

Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Terrigal

The newly refurbished Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre at Terrigal teaches the wonder of the ocean through real life displays and interactive activities. Kids can explore their special display showing the story of the sinking of the HMAS Adelaide or learn about the life of local rock pools. This year the centre is offering a new holiday activity Coastal Investigators. This teaches the kids about science and nature, allowing them to explore natures fascinating creatures and learn how plants and animals adapt to harsh environments through interactive nature investigation. Register now to secure your spot.

Erina Ice Arena, Erina Fair

Erina Ice Arena is a great place to beat the heat or escape the rain. The school holiday camp runs from 8 - 25 January and includes a 45 minutes skating lesson and 45 minutes to practise what you have learnt. Public sessions provide the perfect opportunity for anyone to experience ice skating whatever your level, or if you’re after a bit more of an upbeat experience check out their Disco sessions on a Friday and Saturday evening. 

Inflatable World, Charmhaven

It’s all about having fun, so bring the whole family and bounce away the rainy day. Inflatable World can be for the BIG adult kids too, as parents can join their children on the bounce floor. Sessions are for two hours per single entry fee and you can play on the inflatable activities as many times as you like during that session.

Laser tag, Gosford & Wyoming

If your kids love laser tag, playing tip or running around the house when it rains (yes, let's curb that), there are two popular indoor centres on the Central Coast where you can take your kids to let loose. Laser Tag Central Coast is located in Wyoming and there's also Laser Mania in Gosford. 

Monkey Mania, Gosford

Monkey Mania Central Coast is located inside Central Coast Leagues Club and is a popular spot to bring the kids, with an impressive three-level play structure that keeps the kiddies entertained for hours. The facility also features an inflatable jumping castle, dedicated toddlers area, a cannon foam ball arena, climbing structure, slides, and kiddies electric go-karts. When they're tuckered out, pop into Gosford for a family feed at one of their many eateries.

The Chocolate & Nougat Factory, West Gosford

How about a 'Make Your Own Chocolate Workshop' for kids? Visit the sweetest spot on the Central Coast - home of popular Australian confectionery, Nougat Limar, Bon Bon Fine Chocolate and The Sydney Marshmallow Co. Wet weather is a perfect chance to explore The Chocolate & Nougat Factory where delicious treats are created daily, featuring Junior Chocolatier Workshop experiences that may just be the highlight of your kids holiday (and great for the parents if they bring home their creations).

Summer School Holiday program with Central Coast Council

Once again, Council has a jam-packed school holiday program to keep bodies and minds active, and most of all have fun! 

There are over 80 free or affordable activities that children and youth of all ages and interests will love.

Discover what’s on offer at our leisure centres, libraries, Regional Gallery, Laycock Street Theatre, and being run by our youth services, environmental team and other areas of Council this Summer! 

To see what’s on and book ahead to secure a spot, go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-on