Darwin December and January School holidays 2020 break is fast approaching! We will have six weeks break for Darwin public schools. Starting Friday 18th December (Private and Independent school holidays may be slightly different – please check with your school). Students will return to school on 1st February 2021!
Yes parent SIX WEEKS to keep the kids busy and entertained without loosing your sanity! Darwin Family Life has rounded up some of the fantastic options that are free (or affordable) activities to do with your kids these Darwin December and January School holidays 2020 – 21.
Darwin December and January School holidays 2020
Please note more activities and events will be updated for January as they are released.
January activities
Casuarina Square
Dance like nobody’s watching at Casuarina Square’s Silent Disco daily and join in the new interactive games from 11am to 1pm daily. Held from 18th January to 24th January in between Connor and Seed.
Also sit, relax and enjoy table service from the friendly team at Gloria Jean’s Coffees or call 0429 976 776 to order now! (Available 11am to 1Pm only) Also choose from a range of seriously saucy toastinis with anysmall hot or cold drink for just $10*. PLUS get a FREE activity pack when you purchase a $10 kids meal box*. Visit gloriajeanscoffees.com.au to view the full menu. *Terms and conditions apply. Only available from Gloria Jean’s Coffees Casuarina.
Top End Multi Sports
TEMS will have their popular sports holiday program back in January. Running for the week from Monday 25th to Friday 29th of January (excluding Tuesday 26th January public holiday). For ages 5 – 12 yrs – Daily program or book in for the week. $60 per day or $200 for the four days.
Program consists of: Soccer, tennis, volleyball, pool time and more. Daily activities have flexibility to suit children.
From 8am (if you need earlier please ask, half days available) till after 4.30pm. The holiday program will be held at Top End Multi Sports Centre at 110 Old McMillans Rd Coconut Grove.
For more details or to book in your child – head here Spaces are limited!
Fun in the Parks – January
Come and Try Girl Guides – every Monday
Come and Try Girl Guides with FREE activities for girls aged 5-17 every Monday during the January school holidays from 10am till noon.
City of Darwin Libraries
The City of Darwin libraries also has some great activities for the January holidays including movie screenings, STEAM Zone and LEGO club or borrow Tech gadgets like Osmo, Makey Makey and Edison robots. Check out their full program here
To register for library events click here
Community Fun Day – Thursday 28th Jan
To book your FREE tickets to the Clubhouse Territory Community Day head here
Rollarama – Skate sessions
No skate hire is available. Helmets and safety gear optional but highly recommended especially for Under 16. Head here to book your tickets.
City of Palmerston Library
Taminmin Community Library
Taminimin Community Library located at 70 Challoner Cct Humpty Doo will be holding special school holiday story times and a holiday program to be announced. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
The Great Little Bake off – Thursday 21st January
Youth NT
The Office of Youth Affairs publishes calendars to promote a wide range of activities and events happening across the Territory in the School Holiday. From Shaktivities, Football program, Hoops 4 Health Basketball, Youth Trax Skateboard workshops and more. Check out the full Darwin program here and Palmerston program here
Darwin Squash Centre
Darwin Squash centre have lots of different options these upcoming school holidays in January. Ring them today to book your option! 8945 7362.
Option 1 – Drop and Go!
4 hours of fun in an indoor, sun-safe & air-conditioned environment. Kids can play squash, racquetball, cricket, soccer, colouring in, giant games and finish off with a movie screened on the court wall. All food is provided.
Available Tuesday’s and Thursday’s (12th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 28th of January) 10am – 2pm $30 per child.
Option 2 – Sit and Watch!
Get your kids to learn to play while you sit back and enjoy a freshly ground coffee!
They’ll learn to play in a fun group coaching session, then finish off with a friendly competition using all the skills they’ve just learnt.
Wednesday’s 13th, 20th and 27th January 10am – 11am. $15 per child
Option 3 – Stay and Play
Join the fun and get on court with your kids… Adults play at kids prices! Simply rock up to hire a court for Squash or Racquetball and experience the fun for yourself. You’ll get a great workout while the kids burn energy too – all inside in a sun safe, air-conditioned environment.
Every weekday from 2pm. $5 per person for 1 hour during school holidays in January.
Swim Dynamics – School holiday swim lesson intensives
Give your child’s swimming and water confidence a boost this January 2020 school holidays by participating in Swim Dynamics School holiday intensive program. They will build water confidence, skill development and keep the kids active & busy! Let’s face it, there’s no better place to be than in the water in this weather!
Choose from group classes or arrange private one-on-one sessions with one of our awesome instructors. Lessons are scheduled between 8.30am & 12.30pm (exact time dependent on level) at Nightcliff/Casuarina Pool (TBC).
January Holiday Program dates will be 11th to 29th and be 3 classes per week (Mon, Wed, Friday)
For more information and to register head here
Hyper the Clown is at Coolalinga Central
Let’s Build Brick City
Oasis Shopping Centre is hosting LEGO brick city building fun these January School holidays. Sessions will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (20th, 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th and 29th January) from 10am to 1pm. Be inspired by the display put together by Kevin Atkinson, a local enthusiast who has turned hundreds of thousands of bricks into models.
Leanyer Recreation Park
Another great option to keep the kids busy and cool these Darwin December and January 2020 school holidays is to visit Leanyer Recreation park. It is a FREE water recreation park located at 215 Vanderlin Drive Leanyer. The Park consists of dry and wet recreational areas. Please NOTE the Dry playground is currently closed due to upgrades. The wet area includes a swimming lagoon (shallow in many areas – great for toddlers and young children), three massive water slides for the older kids and a wet playground that is great for all ages. There are large grassed areas for play, BBQ’s, a dry playground, skate park and basketball courts. The Park has lots of shaded areas including over the pool, the wet play area, the skate park and the grassed areas. There are toilets and change room facilities.
Opening hours during the school holidays are:
9am to 8pm – grassed area and BBQ’s
10am to 6pm – wet play area
11am to 6pm – water slides
Palmerston Water Park
10am to 6pm – wet play area
11am to 6pm – water slide
Playshack Palmerston
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 during school holidays. Their hours will be 8.30 am till 2 pm Monday – Friday (during the Xmas period or till 4pm otherwise), plus the usual weekend times of Saturday 9 am till 5 pm and Sunday 10 am till 4 pm. Entry is only $9.90 per child during the week and bubs under 1 are free. Please remember your socks! Closed Public holidays.
Darwin Ice Skating Centre – special offers!
Our friends at Darwin Ice Skating Centre have some great special offers always on for families! You can skate 1 Parent & 1 Child (5yrs and under) for just $24. Or a family pass of 2 Adults & 2 Children (between 6 Years & 14 Years) is $60.00.
If you buy a pre-paid pass for 10 sessions and receive a 20% discount off the total price. They also have loyalty cards where after 10 skating sessions, you’ll be able to skate for free on the 11th visit.
PLUS keep an eye out for their Snow play sessions for all ages these school holidays on their Facebook page. Check out their school holiday ice skate session times here
Jape Homemaker Village
Jape Homemaker village is located at 366 Bagot Road Millner. There market/indoor playground is great for families! Best of all it is FREE and air conditioned so perfect if you need to escape the weather! They will be open from 10am-2pm Wednesdays to Sundays with new market stalls always arriving.
Zone 3
Zone 3 Darwin have got a great school holiday special to keep the kids entertained. From 10 am to 6 pm you can get 2 hours of unlimited laser tag and arcades for just $15 per child. Head in today during the holidays! They are located at 3/70 McMinn St Darwin City! Closed Christmas Day.
The Planet Tenpin
The Planet Tenpin has some great deals these School holidays to keep the kids busy these school holidays at an affordable price! Only $8 per person for a game of Tenpin!! Or $25 per person for 2 games of bowling, VR ride, hot dog, fries and drink.
Valid from Friday 18 December. Not valid with any other offer. Not valid on Saturday nights from 6pm.
Darwin Waterfront
The Darwin Waterfront have a huge variety of FREE activities happening in January from Nippers water safety sessions, rugby tots, disco mania, royal flying doctor facility visits, water carnvials and much more! Check out the full program here
Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory (MAGNT)
The Museum and Art Gallery NT (located at 19 Conacher St) is another great place to take the kids and keep them entertained for a few hours in air conditioning! My kids love visiting the turtles next to the main entrance and there is always interesting new exhibitions and the same old favourites. Entry to the MAGNT is free and they are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am till 4pm and Sundays open 10am till 5pm.
December
Christmas in Darwin City – Saturday 19th December
Christmas will be alive in the Mall on Saturday 19th from 9.30am till 2pm with a special Christmas themed family fun day. Fairy Jill will be entertaining the kids as well as Christmas crafts, Slinky D playing all your favourite Christmas tunes to dance and sing too.
Plus head in and post your letter to Santa. Santa’s Post Office & explore their Christmas Tunnel at the Activate Darwin Hub in the Mall. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am.
Christmas Family Storytime – Saturday 19th December
Christmas Family Story Time with Elf Jingle Belle will be happening at Casuarina Library from 10am to 11am. Elf Jingle Belle will be reading Christmas stories and collecting letters for Santa to take back to the workshop ready for the big day…Bring your best red and green outfits and make some noise with Jingle Belle!
Cas Christmas Pool Party – Sunday 20th December
Cringeworthy Christmas Photos
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (last session 20th December) from 10am to 2pm (Friday 18th till 4pm). Throw on an ugly sweater and pose with your family and friends for a free photo! Located near Athletes foot heading towards the food court.
Christmas Train
Palmerston Library
Christmas craft week kicks off at the Palmerston library (located on the Boulevard
Palmerston), on Monday 21st till Thursday 24th December. Join in at the Library for a week of Christmas-y fun! All activities are FREE and start at 2pm. Movies for all ages, crafts for ages 5-12
Movie Monday (21st Dec) – Home Alone 2: Lost In New York starts at 10am
Tuesday (22nd Dec) – Christmas PaddlePop Stick Characters & Christmas Sand Art Craft 10 – 11am
Wednesday (23rd Dec) – Beaded Candy Canes & Christmas Wooden Ornaments Craft 10 – 11am
Thursday – Christmas Cards & Christmas Plaster Craft 10 – 11am
Pop-up Carollers
Friday 18 December, 5:30pm
Wednesday 23 December, 1:30pm
City of Darwin Libraries
Christmas Photo booths– 10am – 11.30am Monday 21st to Thursday 24th at various libraries check locations here.
Christmas Movies at Karama Library on Monday 21st and Casuarina Library Tuesday 22nd 2pm to 4pm
Santa’s STEM zone at Nightcliff library on Wednesday 23rd 3 to 4.30pm
Christmas Bedtime stories at Casuarina Library 6 – 6.30pm on Thursday 24th December
Christmas Carols with Sing song signers at Casuarina Library 6.30 – 7.30pm on Thursday 24th December