For most students in the Territory and Darwin – the one week April School hols begins next week Monday 16th to Sunday 22nd of April. This may of course be different if your child attends a Private or Independent school as they can structure their holidays differently. Please check with your child’s school to confirm holiday dates. Darwin Family Life has rounded up some of the fantastic free (or very affordable) activities to do with your family around Darwin and the surrounds these school holidays!
April School Hols Activities around Darwin 2018
Darwin Waterfront – Nepal Festival – Saturday 14th April
Head down to the Waterfront this Saturday from 3pm to 9pm to celebrate the Nepalese New Year with their Food and Cultural show. The rich Nepalese culture will be on display with authentic food offerings, traditional performances, exhibitions and children’s activities. Our friends from Yenz Entertainment will be there creating lots of fun for all the kids!
Broomball games at the Darwin Ice Skating Centre – Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th April
Broomball is coming this weekend to the Darwin Ice Skating Centre! Players from around Australia will be heading to Darwin to demonstrate the sport of Broomball and participate in the very first tournament!
The sport is very similar to Ice Hockey except you do not need to learn to skate and they use a ball and shorter stick and run around on the ice. Personal protection is important so a certified helmet and some knee and elbow padding and gloves and away you go. Head down to the Darwin Ice Skating Centre this weekend to catch all the action! Entry will be $5 (for ages 6+). Check out Darwin Ice Skating Facebook for all the details of times of games!
Little Champs Academy FREE Community Fun day – Tuesday 17th April
On Tuesday 17th of April Little Champs Academy are hosting a huge Free community fun day – kicking off at 10 am near the De Plage Cafe at Casuarina Beach. There will be loads of fun including inflatable soccer field, soccer workshops and bubble play plus more! Event suitable for all ages!
Click here to get your copy of Darwin’s Top 10 Family Fun Activities
Messy Play and Slime’sation with NT Art Storms – Tuesday 17th April
NT Art Storms are teaming up with Wulagi Family Centre to bring you sensory messy play these school holidays. Wulagi Family Centre is located at 24 Brolga Street Wulagi. Session is 9 am till 11.30 am. Bookings are essential and cost is $10 per child. Payment is preferred to secure your spot. To book Messy Play for little ones head here
Wulagi Family Centre also have a fully fenced park and an inside aircon area to stimulate your child’s curiosity and develop their thinking and social skills in a lovely relaxed and friendly setting.
Requirements – MESS!! full body sensory play is essential therefore please come dressed in old clothes and bring a set to change into. The Slime’sation event is aimed at older children 5 years plus – currently booked out but check with NT Art Storms about availability.
Darwin Squash Centre – Tuesday 17th April and Thursday 19th April
Darwin Squash Centre are holding their 4 hours of fun holiday sessions in an indoor, sun-safe & air-conditioned environment. Kids can play squash, racquetball, cricket, soccer, arts and crafts and finish off with a movie screened on the court wall. All food is provided. 10am – 2pm $20 per person. BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL – Please call 8945 7362 to reserve your spot.
George Brown Botanic Circus Fun – Friday 20th April
Get set for a jammed packed fun filled time at the Gardens on Friday from 10 am to 1pm. There will be so much happening and lots to keep the kids busy including water slides, circus workshops and shows plus more from the Burning Circus, a dunk tank from Softball NT, water obstacle course with Healthy living NT, Coffee with cops and baby cinos from ShareacinowithSkylar, garden in a glove with Bunnings, Dj and much more!! One big day not to be missed with lots of FREE activities!
World Circus Day – Family Fun Event – Saturday 21st April
The Burning Circus will be hosting a Family fun day from 8 am till 2 pm on Saturday 21st April to celebrate World Circus Day! The event will be at Burning Circus HQ – 6 Charles Street Stuart Park. There will be loads of fun including circus workshops, festival Glitter Faces, Acro Yoga, Giant Bubbles, Incredible Balloons, shows and more from loads of talented artists. Entry is $15 per child (if you come as a family – adults are free). Proceeds from event will go towards buying mats for the space.
City of Palmerston – FREE Art workshops
On Tuesday 17th, Thursday 19th and Friday 20th April, the City of Palmerston are holding FREE art workshops at the Palmerston Recreation Centre from 10 am till 11 am. Various art supplies including paper, colouring pencils, crayons, craft materials provided for children and you can enter the Art Exhibition for National Families week celebrations in May. For children aged 5-12 and must be accompanied by an adult. Book online here Children must be supervised by an adult.
To view the exhibition categories visit https://bit.ly/2s7svTR
Darwin libraries (Darwin CBD, Casuarina, Karama and Nightcliff)
There is a variety of choices on at the libraries this school holiday week including Art work techniques with Camouflaged Creatures from Illustrator Liz Anelli (for ages 5-12 bookings essential). There will also be lots of movies on the big screen, yoga story time (for bubs 1yr and older – no bookings required) and the tech zone will be up and running again with lots of gadgets and gizmos to try out. All sessions are free and children 8 and under need to be accompanied by an adult
To book sessions and check out their full program of days and times head here
Palmerston Library – Brick by Brick Lego
While the Palmerston library school holiday program is already BOOKED out! They still have their regular storytime, nursery time and also the Brick by brick build your capital city lego exhibition is still on at the Palmerston Library until 11th of May. Head here for more information about their programs and times.
Gateway NT Shopping Centre
Every day at Gateway NT (Monday 16th to Friday 20th) between 10 am and 12pm there will be a variety of Carnvial themed school holiday activities to keep the kids busy from dancing and drumming, mask making, carnival tricks and games and a treasure hunt. There will also be lots of prizes up for grabs including kids food and drinks vouchers. Fairy Jill and her Enchanted Entertainment Crew will be there every day with lots of fun for the kids.
Casuarina Shopping Centre – Unicorn Festival
Every day of the April School Hols (Monday 16th April to Sunday 22nd April) there will be a variety of activities set up on Level 1 near kikki.K from 9am till Midday. Loads Unicorn sparkly fun with Yenz Entertainment!
Monday: Rainbow Unicorn Balloon Craft & Brush Magic Face Painting
Tuesday: Unicorn Head Band Making & Glitter Cheek Art
Wednesday: Magic Rainbow Day
Thursday: Unicorn Dream Catcher
Friday: Rainbow Scratch Art Crowns & Glitter Cheek Art
Saturday: Rainbows Unicorn Sand Art
Sunday: Magic Rainbow Day
Plus a whole host of Unicorn festival fun and kids $5 meal deals – check them all out here
Coolalinga Central Shopping Centre
Are hosting a variety of daily activities from 10 am each day till 11.30 am every day of the April School hols. Some activities are free or a gold coin donation.
Monday: Origami workshop by Sachi-San
Tuesday: Fruit bowl making workshop by Harvest Press
Wednesday: Get Fit workshop
Thursday: Cartoon Character Painting workshop with artist Marnie Jay
Friday: Music workshop
Saturday & Sunday: Circus workshops with The Burning Circus
Send them a Facebook message to book your spots for your children here
Bakewell Shopping Centre – Superhero sessions Friday 20th & Saturday 21st April
Join in the Super hero fun with Yenz Entertainment from 10 am till 1pm on Friday and Saturday. There will be FREE face painting, superhero mask making, colouring comps plus much more these April school hols.
Oasis Shopping Village – Sunday 15th April – Friday 20th April
These April school hols from Sunday 15th till Friday 20th – 10 am till 1 pm each day there will be Unicorn and Dinosaur themed craft activities with Yenz Entertainment. On Sunday 15th April they will also be filming there new TV ad – you maybe a star!
The Playshack
Why not head into the Playshack located in the Hub complex Palmerston (Shop 7, 3 Maluka Drive). Let the kids run and burn their energy and you can enjoy a coffee or drink and a slice of Petra’s Raw cakes available for purchase. The Playshack have extended their hours to 8.30 am till 4 pm Monday – Friday for the April school hols week. Entry is only $8.50 per child during the week and bubs under 1 are free. Please remember your socks!
Aquascene – Fish Feeding
Have you been down to the fish feeding lately down at Doctors Gully? My kids love it down there and we spend a few hours just enjoying the fish and atmosphere. The opening times vary as it depends on the tide so be sure to check out there times here before making the visit. There is a great deal on buying a Territory pass so you pay once and then can go all year round! Great for families!
City of Darwin – Fun in the Parks for April School Hols
On Monday 16th April the crew will be set up at Bicentennial Park on the Esplanade in the city. On Wednesday 18th and Friday 20th the Fun in the Parks will be joining the Fun Bus crew and locations. Wednesday they will be located at the Malak Community Hall and on Friday at Civic Park in the City CBD (opposite the council building and bus depot). Fun in the Parks have activities aimed at kids 5 years to 12 years.
Or if you prefer to stay at home with the kids for a day or two but would still like some ideas to keep them occupied – check out our Top 20 Easy home activities to entertain the kids. We hope you and your family have a great school holiday break! Please leave us a comment if you found this blog helpful!
