Looking for ways to keep the kids busy during the spring school holidays? We have rounded up local camps, workshops, free activities, shows and day trips in and around Lane Cove and the Lower North Shore.
The official NSW school holidays run from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026. Term 3 finishes on Friday 25 September and students return for Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October, after the staff development day on Monday 12 October. Some private holiday programs run outside these dates, so check each listing carefully before booking.
Two dates worth noting: Labour Day is Monday 5 October, when council venues, libraries and many programs will be closed. Daylight saving starts on Sunday 4 October, giving families longer afternoons during the second week of the break.
- Need a full day? Look for programs running to 3:00pm or later in Creative, Active, Educational and Day Trips.
- Looking for something free? Jump straight to Free or Low-Cost Activities.
- Booking for a younger child? Ages are listed near the top of every grey information box.
- Need the extra Monday covered? Modern Sounds Music lists a program for Monday 12 October.
Creative, Music & Performing Arts
Burns Bay Dance Studios – Spring Dance Camp
Fun-filled dance days moving through ballet, jazz, contemporary, musical theatre and acrobatic arts, with workshops broken up by games. No experience needed and all levels are welcome. Days can be booked individually rather than as a block, and there is a half-day option that suits younger or first-time campers. Snacks are provided and current Burns Bay students pay a reduced rate.
- Dates: Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September, plus Friday 9 October 2026.
- Time: Full day 9:00am – 3:00pm. Half day 9:00am – 12:00pm.
- Ages: 5+
- Cost: Full day $100, or $90 for current Burns Bay students. Half day $55.
- Location: Units F24 & F25, 16 Mars Road, Lane Cove, off Lincoln Street
- Vouchers: Active Kids and Creative Kids vouchers accepted.
- What to bring: Lunch, water bottle and a yoga mat. Snacks are provided.
- Contact: 0402 779 330 or [email protected]
Gallery Lane Cove + Creative Studios – Spring Holiday Workshops
A packed two-week program of hands-on workshops, from full-day Creative Camps through to ceramics, art classes and special sewing workshops. There is something different almost every day and spots fill quickly. Book two half-day sessions on the same day and supervised lunchtime care is free.
- Creative Camp: Full-day workshops covering pottery, painting, mixed media, printmaking and clay. Monday 28 September, Wednesday 30 September, Friday 2 October, Wednesday 7 October and Friday 9 October. Cost $135.
- Art Class: Half-day AM or PM sessions on Tuesday 29 September and Thursday 8 October. Cost $75.
- Ceramics Class: Half-day AM or PM sessions on Thursday 1 October and Tuesday 6 October. Cost $75.
- Sewing Workshops: Beach Bag on Tuesday 29 September, Spring Shorts on Thursday 1 October, Water Bottle Holder on Tuesday 6 October and Plushie Making on Thursday 8 October. Full-day workshops $175.
- Ages: Kindy to 12 years for Creative Camp, Art and Ceramics. Sewing is 8+ for Beach Bag and Water Bottle Holder, 10+ for Spring Shorts and Plushie Making.
- Times: Full day 9:15am – 3:15pm. Half day AM 9:15am – 11:45am or PM 12:45pm – 3:15pm. Before and after care available as paid add-ons.
- Location: 164 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
- Phone: 02 9428 4898
Imagination Dance – Mosman Holiday Camps
Two-hour drop-off camps for younger children, combining dancing, singing, craft, stories and games. Each day has its own theme, so you can book one session or several, and there are discounts for booking multiple camps. A lovely gentle holiday option for little performers not yet ready for a full day.
- Dates: Monday 28 September – Moana. Friday 2 October – Mermaid. Wednesday 7 October – Moana.
- Time: 9:30am – 11:30am
- Ages: 3-7 years
- Cost: $40 per camp. Two camps $70, three camps $100, four camps $120.
- Location: Mosman
- Contact: [email protected]
Modern Sounds Music – School Holiday Rock Bands & Production Days
Forget boring school holidays, come and join the band. Sing it, play it, record it, perform it. The Rock Band Program gives kids a full day of music, from the first jam through to the final performance, with vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keys all covered. For older creators there are Songwriting and Production days digging into original music, recording, game soundtracks and music for the screen. Book one day or the whole run.
- Rock Band Program: Ages 8-14. Join a band, learn the songs, rehearse together and perform live.
- Songwriting & Production Days: Ages 12+. Write original music, learn recording and production, and explore music for games, film and animation.
- Dates: Weekdays from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October, plus the staff development day on Monday 12 October.
- Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm, with later pick-ups available.
- Cost: $149 per day including lunch. Book one day or more.
- Location: Lower Ground Level, Pottery Lane Arcade, 102-104 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
- Contact: 0466 607 429 or [email protected]
Active & Sporty
Beyond the Bell – Outdoor Holiday Camps
Screen-free outdoor camps run from harbourside clubhouses, with foreshore games, team challenges, fishing and on-water sessions led by qualified educators. Balmain runs as a multi-day camp across both weeks, while Lane Cove and Mosman each get single specialist days. There is a separate Juniors stream for younger children, a movie night, and a handful of off-site day trips. Active Kids vouchers accepted.
- Lane Cove: Let’s Go Fishing on Thursday 1 October and Sail + Beach on Friday 2 October, at the Lane Cove 12ft Sailing Skiff Club next to Longueville Wharf, Stuart Street, Longueville.
- Mosman: Let’s Go Fishing on Thursday 8 October and Sail + Beach on Friday 9 October.
- Balmain: Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September and Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 October, at Balmain Rowing Club, White Street. Movie Night on Wednesday 30 September, 4:00pm – 8:00pm.
- Day trips: Brick Build Day Out on Thursday 1 October. Girls Out + About at Watsons Bay on Friday 2 October or Friday 9 October, ages 7-13.
- Ages: 5-12 years for main camps and single days. Juniors 4-6 years.
- Time: 8:00am – 4:30pm. Drop-off 8:00am to 9:00am, pick-up 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Extended care 7:00am to 6:00pm by pre-booking.
- Cost: Single days $140. Balmain three days $340, two days $250. Brick Build $155, Girls Out + About $145, Movie Night $60.
- What to bring: Packed lunch, snacks and a water bottle. Swimmers for the Sail + Beach days.
NBA Basketball School Australia – Spring Holiday Camps
High-quality basketball coaching at the new Galuwa Recreation Centre in Lane Cove, with skill development, shooting drills, game play and teamwork coached by NBA-approved trainers. Players are grouped by skill level rather than strictly by age. Two three-day camps are running, one in each week of the break.
- Lane Cove #1: Tuesday 29 September to Thursday 1 October 2026
- Lane Cove #2: Tuesday 6 October to Thursday 8 October 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 2:00pm daily
- Ages: 6-14 years
- Cost: $395 for the three days. Optional training uniform $80 or white t-shirt $30.
- Location: Galuwa Recreation Centre, 180 River Road, Lane Cove
- Contact: [email protected]
Galuwa Recreation Centre – School Holiday Camps
Multi-sport camps at Lane Cove’s new recreation centre, rotating through tennis, pickleball, basketball and soccer with qualified coaches. All ability levels are welcome, racquets can be borrowed from the pro shop and there is a kiosk on site. With four indoor courts the camps run rain or shine, which is handy in a Sydney spring.
- Week 1: Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October 2026
- Week 2: Tuesday 6 October to Friday 9 October 2026
- Time: Start 8:30am. Full day finishes 3:00pm, half day finishes 12:30pm. Optional after care 3:00pm – 6:00pm.
- Ages: 4-14 years
- Cost: Full week $330, single full day $90, half day $70. After care $15 per day.
- Location: 180 River Road, Lane Cove
- What to bring: Packed lunch and snacks, water bottle, sunscreen, hat, sports shoes and a tennis racquet if you have one.
- Phone: 02 8360 5555
Gladesville Gymnastics Club – Spring Holiday Camps
Fun gymnastics holiday camps in a fully equipped training centre, with expert coaches, games and coached activities to keep kids active during the break. Camps are bookable by the day, with half-day and full-day options, a separate Teen Gym workshop for older kids and an afternoon Chill Out session for families who need a longer day.
- Dates: Week 1 Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October. Week 2 Tuesday 6 October to Friday 9 October.
- Time: Half day 9:00am – 1:00pm. Full day 9:00am – 3:00pm. Chill Out care 3:00pm – 5:00pm.
- Ages: 4-10 years for general camps. Teen Gym 10.5-16 years.
- Cost: Half day $63, full day $84, Chill Out $40.
- Chill Out: Additional afternoon care with a BYO afternoon snack and a movie, craft or board games under coach supervision.
- Location: Warehouse 1, Building A, Level 1, 436-484 Victoria Road, Gladesville, opposite the car wash
- Vouchers: Active Kids vouchers accepted.
- What to bring: Labelled water bottle, nut-free morning tea and lunch, hair tied back and comfortable clothing.
- Phone: 02 7226 5923
Vibe Football – Spring Holiday Camp
A football camp on the synthetic pitch at Blackman Park, mixing coached training with team-building challenges and tournaments in formats from one on one up to six a side. All abilities welcome and every player gets a camp uniform. Only one week is running this break.
- Dates: Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Drop-off: From 8:30am with supervised care until 9:00am. Sessions start 9:00am.
- Pick-up: 3:00pm
- Ages: 5-13 years
- Cost: $350 including GST. VIBE PASS members receive 15 per cent off and groups of six or more players a further 10 per cent.
- Location: Blackman Park Synthetic, Lloyd Rees Drive, Lane Cove West
- Contact: 02 8530 6788 or [email protected]
Little Legends – Spring Dates Still to Come
Little Legends has been helping children of all abilities enjoy being active since 2004, with full-day multi-sport programs that rotate through soccer, netball, basketball, relay races and games like capture the flag. Children are grouped by age, friends are kept together and programs go ahead in all weather with indoor facilities as a backup.
- Dates: Spring dates had not been published when we went to press. Ring or email to confirm which days are running and where.
- Time: 9:00am – 3:00pm, with extended hours from 8:00am to 6:00pm available.
- Ages: 4-12 years, preschoolers welcome
- What to bring: Running clothes, morning tea, lunch, drink bottle and a hat. A sign in and sign out policy applies.
- Contact: 0431 072 329 or [email protected]
Kasey Dive Golf – Spring Dates Still to Come
A great opportunity for kids to learn and develop their golf skills in a fun, supportive environment. Head professional Kasey Dive runs the Lane Cove Junior Golf Program for more than 130 juniors through group clinics and private lessons, based at the golf course inside the Galuwa precinct. Equipment can be provided if your child does not have their own clubs.
- Dates: Spring holiday camp dates had not been published when we went to press. Ring Kasey directly to check availability.
- Location: Lane Cove Golf Course, 180 River Road, Lane Cove
- What to bring: Hat, water, sunscreen, recess and lunch, and your own golf clubs if you have them.
- Contact: Kasey Dive on 0413 603 918
Educational & Tech
Skill Samurai Lane Cove – Coding & Robotics Camps
The lab is getting busy again. Skill Samurai is opening the doors for two weeks of building, coding, designing and experimenting, with a different theme almost every day of the break. This spring covers robotics engineering, the VEX IQ robotics challenge, building your own AI assistant, game making with Scratch, 3D printing and design, and Minecraft coding. Every camp is beginner friendly, with fresh projects each season and extended challenges for kids ready to go further.
- Monday 28 September: First-Time Coders, Game Making with Scratch. Ages 6-9. 9:00am – 3:00pm. $125.
- Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September: 3D Printing & Design Camp. Ages 8-14. 9:00am – 3:00pm daily. $290 for two days.
- Thursday 1 and Friday 2 October: Minecraft Coding Camp, custom weapons and power-ups. Ages 8-14. 9:00am – 3:00pm daily. $270 for two days.
- Monday 5 and Tuesday 6 October: VEX IQ Robotics Challenge Camp, build, code and compete. Ages 8-14. 9:00am – 3:00pm daily. $299 for two days. Note day one falls on the Labour Day public holiday.
- Wednesday 7 October: First-Time Coders, Game Making with Scratch. Ages 6-9. 9:00am – 3:00pm. $125.
- Thursday 8 October: Robotics Engineering, The Space Mission. Ages 7+. 9:00am – 3:00pm. $135. Maximum one educator to ten students.
- Friday 9 October: Build Your Own AI Assistant, Junior AI Camp. Ages 7+. 9:00am – 12:00pm. $79.95.
- Location: Suite 104, 79-83 Longueville Road, Lane Cove
- Phone: 0424 304 759
PosAbility – Spring Holiday Programs 2026
Small group holiday programs designed to build confidence, strengthen essential skills and make learning fun. PosAbility is a not-for-profit registered charity, and its academic holiday programs suit students who want to stay sharp or get a head start on next term. One to one holiday intervention in literacy and numeracy is also available across the break, in clinic, online or a mix of both.
- Fun with Phonics: Monday 28 September to Thursday 1 October, four one-hour sessions. Kindergarten 9:00am – 10:00am, Years 1-2 10:00am – 11:00am. $425, plus $125 pre-testing for new clients.
- Maths on the Menu: Monday 28, Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 September, 1:30pm – 3:00pm. Years 7-9. Practical cooking-based problem solving covering ratios, fractions, measurement, algebra and financial maths. $495. Places limited.
- Holiday Intervention: One to one and paired literacy and numeracy programs for K-12, scheduled individually across the break. Starter packs and longer targeted programs available.
- Location: Unit F28, 16 Mars Road, Lane Cove West
- Contact: 02 9420 4101 or [email protected]
Lane Cove Council Libraries – Free School Holiday Program
Free holiday events across all four Lane Cove Council library branches, including craft, robotics, a family dance party, a movie and a visiting author. Most sessions are drop-in, but the busier craft and robotics sessions hand out tickets at the front desk 30 minutes before they start, so get there early. Branches are closed on the Labour Day public holiday.
- Monday 28 September: Spring Flower Craft at Greenwich, 11:00am, ages 6-12. Group Artwork Craft at Lane Cove, 2:00pm, ages 5-12.
- Tuesday 29 September: Family Dance Party at Lane Cove, 11:00am, all ages. Macrame Bag Tags at Lane Cove, 2:00pm.
- Wednesday 30 September: Macrame Bag Tags at St Leonards, 2:00pm.
- Friday 2 October: Peg Animal Craft at The Yarn, Hunters Hill, 11:00am, ages 5-12.
- Tuesday 6 October: Duplo Playspace at Lane Cove, 11:00am, all ages with parental supervision. Miniature Canvas Painting for Teens at Lane Cove, 2:00pm, ages 12+.
- Wednesday 7 October: Dash Bots robotics at Lane Cove, 2:00pm, ages 5-12.
- Thursday 8 October: Verse Novels with Beth Steiner at Lane Cove, 2:00pm. The Magic Faraway Tree movie at St Leonards, 2:00pm, rated PG.
- Friday 9 October: Duplo Playspace at The Yarn, 11:00am.
- Date to confirm: Seed Bomb Workshop at Lane Cove and St Leonards, ages 5-12. Check the event calendar for session details.
- Cost: Free. Tickets from the front desk 30 minutes before for the limited-places sessions.
- Branches: Lane Cove Library, 1 Library Walk. Greenwich Library, 48 Greenwich Road. St Leonards Library, Mall 88, 88 Christie Street. The Yarn, Gladesville Road, Hunters Hill.
- Good to know: Baby Bounce, Storytime and Duplo Play run in school terms only and pause over the break.
Synergy Youth Centre – Free Spring Holiday Program
Lane Cove Council’s free youth drop-in centre opens wider than usual over the holidays and drops the age floor to 10, so it suits upper primary kids as well as high schoolers. It is a relaxed, staff-supervised social space with a basketball half court, pool table, ping pong, video games and a kitchenette. The day by day themed program is usually published in the fortnight before the break.
- Open: Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October, Monday to Friday 12:00pm – 5:00pm. Closed the Labour Day public holiday.
- Ages: 10 to 17
- Cost: Free, no registration required. Some featured activities may need a booking.
- Location: 8 Little Street, Lane Cove, under the Aquatic Centre grandstand
- Phone: 0432 139 925
Inclusive & All-Abilities
Sydney Speech Clinic – Spring Holiday Groups
Sydney Speech Clinic’s holiday groups are therapist-led programs designed to help children build confidence, communication skills, independence and social connection through purposeful, hands-on activities. All groups are run by certified practising speech pathologists and occupational therapists, and each runs as three sessions of two hours across three consecutive days. Four groups are running this break.
- C.R.A.F.T.S Group: Ages 5-10. Language, fine motor skills and turn taking through hands-on making. Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September, 9:00am – 11:00am.
- C.H.E.F.S Group: Cooking therapy in the clinic’s purpose-built therapy kitchen, building independence, sequencing, teamwork, communication and practical life skills. Group 1 Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September, 9:30am – 11:30am. Group 2 Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 October, 1:30pm – 3:30pm.
- S.T.E.M. WhizKidz: Ages 7-11. Hands-on STEM challenges supporting social skills, teamwork, problem-solving and friendship-building. Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 September, 1:30pm – 3:30pm.
- S.P.A.R.K Group: Ages 4-6, preschool to Year 1. A neuro-affirming program focused on social connection, play, advocacy, regulation, kindness and community. Tuesday 6 to Thursday 8 October, 9:30am – 11:30am.
- Cost: $765 per group for the three sessions.
- Location: Ground Floor, 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove
- Contact: 02 8404 0715 or [email protected]
- Also worth knowing: Waiting lists are open for the groups not running this break, including Lego Based Therapy, Social Minecrafters, Happy Hands OT and the Teen Holiday Social Squad. The School Readiness Group, Tools for School, starts Monday 12 October for Term 4.
PosAbility – Inclusive Holiday Programs
PosAbility is a not-for-profit registered charity supporting children and adolescents with learning difficulties, developmental delays and other needs. Alongside the academic holiday groups, the team offers social skills groups, emotional regulation and therapeutic support across the break, with speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology and counselling all under one roof.
- Programs: Social skills, emotional regulation, therapeutic support, speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology and counselling.
- Dates: Scheduled individually across the school holiday period.
- Location: Unit F28, 16 Mars Road, Lane Cove West
- Contact: 02 9420 4101 or [email protected]
Free or Low-Cost Activities
The Canopy & Lane Cove Plaza – Free Activities
Lane Cove Council runs its holiday offering as a scatter of free drop-ins rather than one bookable program, and The Canopy is the reliable free option this break. Pickleball gear is out all day for a fortnight, there is a toddler play session, and chess tables run every Thursday afternoon. Nothing needs booking, which makes it the easiest thing on this list to say yes to at short notice.
- Pickleball at The Canopy: Friday 25 September to Friday 9 October, 10:00am – 4:00pm daily. All ages and abilities. Free, no booking, first come first served.
- Play Garden: Thursday 8 October, 9:30am – 11:30am. Outdoor play for toddlers and younger children. Free, no booking.
- Chess Thursdays: Every Thursday from 1:30pm, weather permitting. Free, no sign-up.
- Lane Cove Bush Kids: Council-run bush walks with nature craft and storytelling, around $10.85 per child with adults free. Ages 2-12 with an adult, roughly 9:45am – 11:15am, rotating through Blackman Park, Tambourine Bay Park, Stringybark Reserve and Gore Creek Reserve. Holiday sessions had not been listed when we went to press, so keep an eye on Council’s Eventbrite closer to the date.
- Location: The Canopy, 1 Sera Street, Lane Cove, off Longueville Road
What’s On at The Canopy Bush Kids
Mosman Council – Spring School Holiday Program
Mosman has published the fullest free program of any council nearby, with around 21 dated events across the fortnight. The library and its outdoor Creation Space host the primary school activities, the Youth Centre runs a free daily drop-in for high schoolers with a featured activity each day, and the Art Gallery adds paid three-hour art workshops. Note the two library addresses are next door to each other but not the same building.
Library and Creation Space
- All holidays: I Spy Book Challenge, 9:30am – 5:30pm, Years K-6. Free, no booking.
- Tuesday 29 September: Recycled CD Art, 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Free, no booking.
- Wednesday 30 September: Lego Lounge, 2:00pm – 4:00pm. Free, no booking.
- Thursday 1 October: Robot Discovery Den, 10:30am – 12:00pm. Free, no booking.
- Friday 2 October: Stitch Sessions, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Years 5-8. Free, bookings essential.
- Saturday 3 October: Saturday Storytime. Free, no booking.
- Tuesday 6 October: Holiday Gaming HQ, 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Years 3-6. Free, no booking.
- Wednesday 7 October: Urban Makers Junior Architects, 10:30am – 12:00pm, Years K-3. Free, bookings essential.
- Thursday 8 October: Illustration workshop with author-illustrator Freda Chiu, 10:30am – 11:30am, Years K-3. Free, bookings essential.
Youth Centre
- Open: Weekdays 12:00pm – 5:00pm. Free drop-in for Year 6 and high school students.
- Week 1: Circus skills Monday, paint by numbers Tuesday, butterfly cupcakes Wednesday, guided bushwalk Thursday, and mural painting plus a Dungeons & Dragons one-shot Friday.
- Week 2: Multi-sports Tuesday, terrarium workshop Wednesday, birdhouse workshop Thursday and BBQ skewers Friday.
Mosman Art Gallery
- Paid workshops: Tuesday 29 September for ages 5-8 and Wednesday 30 September for ages 9-12, both 10:00am – 1:00pm. $25 or $20 for members.
- Free drop-in: Wednesday 7 October, 10:00am – 1:00pm, ages 5-12. A parent or carer must stay.
- Locations: Barry O’Keefe Library, 605 Military Road. The Creation Space, 609 Military Road. Mosman Art Gallery, 1 Art Gallery Way. Mosman Youth Centre, 30 The Crescent.
North Sydney Council – Coal Loader & Stanton Library
North Sydney splits its free holiday offering between Stanton Library and the Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability at Waverton. The library has leaned into an author and animal theme this break with two visiting children’s authors and a therapy dog, while the Coal Loader runs its Eco Holidays gardening and composting workshops. Everything below is free but nearly all of it needs a booking, and Eco Holidays tickets only went on sale in early September.
- Eco Holidays Urban Grow: Tuesday 29 September, 10:30am – 11:45am, composting, worm farming and building a bug hotel. Thursday 8 October, seed planting and making biodegradable pots. Ages 5-10. Free, bookings required.
- Doggo Storytime: Thursday 1 October, 11:00am – 12:00pm. Dog-themed books, songs and rhymes then a meet and greet with a Paws Pet Therapy dog. All ages, free, bookings essential.
- Meet the Author with Lucie Stevens: Thursday 1 October, 2:00pm – 3:00pm. Ghost story writing tips. Ages 8-14, free, bookings essential.
- Storytime Stars with Sheena Garg: Thursday 8 October, 11:00am – 12:00pm. Diwali-themed stories, songs and craft. Ages 3-10, free, bookings essential.
- HSC Doggo Support: Monday 28 September, Friday 2 October, Tuesday 6 October and Thursday 8 October, 12:00pm – 1:00pm. A therapy dog study break for current HSC students. Free.
- Locations: Stanton Library, 234 Miller Street, North Sydney. The Coal Loader Centre for Sustainability, 2 Balls Head Drive, Waverton.
Darling Harbour & Tumbalong Park – Free Activities
Darling Harbour runs a free spring school holidays program across Tumbalong Park, Darling Quarter and Darling Square, which makes it the best value city day out in the window. The Darling Quarter playground with its 21-metre flying fox is free and open the whole time, so even the activities you miss are backed up by one of the best playgrounds in Sydney.
- Dates: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026
- Big Ideas Factory: Tumbalong Park, Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October. Hands-on science, technology and engineering activities plus robotics and lawn games.
- Build Your Own Chinese Garden: Weekdays 28 September to 9 October, 11:00am – 1:00pm. Make a miniature 3D model.
- Little Chef: Free cooking classes at Darling Quarter, ages 6-12. Booking usually required.
- Kids Yoga: Darling Quarter, Fridays 10:30am and 11:30am.
- Moon Festival at Darling Square: Lanterns, live music and family workshops.
- Cost: Free
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 from Lane Cove Interchange to the city then walk from Town Hall, or the L1 light rail to Convention or Exhibition Centre.
Willoughby & Ryde – Still to Come
Two of our neighbouring councils had not published their spring holiday programs when we went to press. Willoughby City Library usually runs multilingual holiday programs including craft, games, magic shows and bilingual storytelling in the September and January breaks, and on past pattern the program appears one to two weeks before the holidays start. City of Ryde runs several separate low-cost streams across its libraries and youth services, with Gladesville Library the closest branch to Lane Cove and Hunters Hill.
- Willoughby: Check from mid September. Chatswood Library, 409 Victoria Avenue. Northbridge Library, 258 Sailors Bay Road. Artarmon Library, 139 Artarmon Road. Enquiries 9777 7900.
- City of Ryde: Libraries School Holiday Program, Active Kids and Active Youth programs and a Youth Performing Arts program. Enquiries 02 9952 8352.
Willoughby Libraries City of Ryde
Shows & Performances
Wild Things International Kids Festival – Sydney Opera House
The Opera House is running its first international children’s festival these holidays, and it is the biggest cluster of kids theatre Sydney has seen in one place. Companies from Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, France and the UK are presenting work for audiences from six months old up to teenagers, and every ticketed show is $49 or less. There is also a free program on the Forecourt, including a nine-metre steel swing with a wheelchair accessible seat, a giant walk-through inflatable rock formation and roving performers dressed as sheep.
- Festival dates: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October 2026
- Little ones: Handa’s Surprise from Little Angel Theatre in London, 28 September to 2 October, ages 2-5. Volatile Ombré from France, 6 to 9 October, ages 1+. Be Kind from the Netherlands, 8 to 11 October, for babies 6-18 months.
- Primary school: ZOOOM, 26 to 29 September, ages 4+. Waiting! from Korea, 30 September to 2 October, ages 3+. Tinker Tales! from the Netherlands, 3 to 5 October, ages 6+. Grand Soft Day from Ireland, 8 to 11 October, ages 2-6.
- Older kids and teens: The Longest Nights from Korea, 30 September to 2 October, ages 7+. We Come From Far, Far Away, 3 to 7 October, ages 10+. Cookies, Ann, Cream from Korea, 8 to 9 October, ages 10+.
- Free on the Forecourt: Puzzle from Taiwan and Erth’s Wild Rumpus in the first week, First Nations circus and dance in Living Sculptures from 2 to 6 October, and Les moutons from Canada from 7 October. Plus the SWING and Iwagumi Air Scape installations and free Apple creative workshops.
- Cost: All ticketed shows $49 or less. Forecourt program free.
- Location: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 from Lane Cove Interchange to the city, then a short walk from Circular Quay.
Season Squad The Musical – Zenith Theatre, Chatswood
A new Australian family musical from Wonder Lane Entertainment, playing two morning sessions at the Zenith in the second week of the holidays. It runs about an hour with no interval, which makes it very manageable with younger children, and Chatswood is a quick trip from Lane Cove.
- Dates: Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October 2026
- Time: 10:30am, running approximately 60 minutes with no interval
- Ages: 4+, suitable for the whole family
- Cost: $25 to $30, with a family four-pack available. Group rates for vacation care and preschool groups on request.
- Location: Zenith Theatre, corner Railway and McIntosh Streets, Chatswood
Day Trips Worth the Journey
All of these are easy to reach from Lane Cove by bus, metro, train or ferry, and can turn a school holiday activity into a full day out.
Taronga Zoo – Spring Holiday Program & Zoo Adventures
Taronga is running two quite different things these holidays. The drop-in program is included with any zoo ticket and features a live PAW Patrol stage show with Chase and Marshall, a Reptiles Alive show, seal and free flight bird presentations and more than 15 daily keeper talks. Zoo Adventures is the paid, book-ahead day camp where kids are dropped off for the day and get behind the scenes with keepers. Some Zoo Adventures days are already fully booked.
- Drop-in program: Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October. PAW Patrol show 10:30am and 12:15pm daily with a meet and greet at 11:15am on the Concert Lawns. Seals for the Wild 11:00am and 2:00pm. Free Flight Birds 12:00pm and 3:00pm.
- Zoo Adventures: Weekdays Monday 28 September to Friday 2 October and Tuesday 6 to Friday 9 October. Ages 5-11. 8:30am – 3:15pm. $90 per child per day plus a one-off $20 Zoo Adventures t-shirt. Meets at the Institute of Science and Learning.
- Zoo entry: Advance online adult $51.30, child 4-15 $29.70, under 4 free. Family tickets from $98.40. The zoo is cashless.
- Location: Bradleys Head Road, Mosman
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 to the city then the F2 ferry from Circular Quay, which lands at the lower entrance with the Sky Safari cable car up to the top gate. Or bus 265 to North Sydney and connect to a Mosman bus for the top entrance.
Australian Museum – Spring School Holiday Program
General entry is free and the museum is open daily 10:00am to 5:00pm, which makes it a good rainy-day fallback even without a booked workshop. The paid holiday workshops are strong but small and some have already sold out. The ticketed exhibition in the window is Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires, which closes on 11 October, so these holidays are the last chance to see it.
- Scientist for a Day, Wildlife Geneticist: Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 September, 9:30am – 3:30pm. Behind the scenes at the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics with DNA experiments. Ages 9-12.
- DIYnosaur Bag Charms: Tuesday 6 October 10:30am – 12:00pm for ages 5-8 and 1:00pm – 3:00pm for ages 9-12, Wednesday 7 October 1:30pm – 3:30pm for ages 13-16. $45 to $65. Creative Kids vouchers must be lodged a week ahead.
- Bloodsuckers exhibition: To Sunday 11 October. Suitable for ages 8+, allow 50 to 70 minutes. Advance adult $24, child 4-15 $16, under 4 free.
- Good to know: Scientist for a Day Palaeontologist and STEM Together were already sold out when we went to press, so book early.
- Location: 1 William Street, Sydney
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 to the city and walk from Hyde Park, or a train to Museum station.
Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden & Art Centre – St Ives / Roseville
We have long advocated for a similar nature-based program for primary school-aged children right here in Lane Cove. Until Lane Cove Council is able to offer something similar for our environment and nature-loving children, we will keep giving this one a mention. Set across 123 hectares of urban bushland in St Ives, the Wildflower Garden runs single-day, nature-based holiday programs led by environmental education rangers, and the Art Centre in Roseville runs kids holiday workshops on the same weeks, so families can combine nature, art and a day out.
- Wildflower Garden programs: Nature Detectives 28 September, Nature Art 30 September, Survival Skills 1 October, Camping and Cooking 2 October and 6 October, Animal Encounters and Green Thumb Gardeners 7 October, Junior Keepers and Creek Critters and Craft 8 October, Survival Skills 9 October.
- Time: 9:00am – 4:00pm
- Ages: Primary school children, listed as 5-12, and must be attending school full time.
- Cost: From $80 per day. Lunch orders available through Spriggy Schools.
- Art Centre: Three-hour and full-day classes across both weeks, covering comic club, painting, clay sculpting, nature crafts, botanical illustration, jewellery beading, watercolour for teens, upcycled art and sustainable fashion. Ages 5+, with some classes pitched at teens. Prices vary by class.
- Addresses: Wildflower Garden, 420 Mona Vale Road, St Ives, open 7 days 8:00am – 5:00pm with no entry or parking fee. Art Centre, Bancroft Park, 3 Recreation Avenue, Roseville.
- Practical tip: If the drive feels like a stretch, find another family and share pick-up and drop-off. If you work remotely there are libraries and cafes nearby so you do not have to do the double trip.
The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney – Free Entry
A lovely fit for a spring break, and effectively free. The Calyx’s current exhibition, Alchemy of a Rainforest, is open daily with more than 18,000 living plants and one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest green walls, plus a recycled-material canopy by ERTH, sculptures made from repurposed plastic and a Satin Bowerbird bower installation with rainforest soundscapes. Entry to the Garden itself is free, and from 4 October the Garden stays open until 7:30pm, so you can make an afternoon of it.
- Dates: Daily, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Occasionally closed for private events or extreme heat, so check before travelling.
- Ages: All ages
- Cost: Entry by donation. Garden entry free.
- Garden hours: 7:00am – 6:00pm in September, 7:00am – 7:30pm from October.
- Location: The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 to the city and walk through the Domain, or a ferry or train to Circular Quay and walk around Farm Cove.
Australian National Maritime Museum – Holiday Program Still to Come
The Maritime Museum’s spring holiday program had not been published when we went to press, but the exhibitions and free drop-in activities are confirmed. Kids on Deck is a free maker space, Mini Mariners runs for under 5s, and Ultimate Depth, Action Stations and the Cabinet of Curiosities are all free. Treasures of the Viking Age, The Galloway Hoard, is the ticketed exhibition. Holiday drop-in activities are included with any paid admission and free for members.
- Confirmed in the window: Treasures of the Viking Age, ticketed. Ultimate Depth, Action Stations, Kids on Deck, Mini Mariners for under 5s, Cabinet of Curiosities and Bamal Gallery activities, all free. Museum vessel tours also running.
- Ages: Holiday activities generally span 4-14, with Mini Mariners for under 5s.
- Location: 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, Sydney
- Getting there: Bus 288 or 292 to the city, then the L1 light rail to Pyrmont Bay, or walk from Town Hall across Pyrmont Bridge.
- Good to know: The seasonal holiday program page usually goes live a week or two before the break, so check back closer to the date.
Local Community Resources
The Lane Cove Toy Library
The Lane Cove Toy Library is a local gem, and it is not just toys. Think puzzles, board games, outdoor play equipment and plenty more, for ages 0 to 18. A membership lets kids browse and choose what they want to borrow, helping keep the holidays fresh without buying anything new, and borrowing works on click and collect through the online catalogue. It is volunteer run and opens three sessions a week, so plan around those.
- Opening hours: Tuesday 2:00pm – 4:00pm, Thursday 9:30am – 12:00pm and Saturday 9:30am – 12:00pm. Check before travelling on the Labour Day public holiday.
- Membership: Annual $85 or $60 concession, six-monthly $50 or $36 concession, quarterly $30 or $22 concession. Gift vouchers available. Volunteers receive free membership with a higher borrowing limit.
- Location: 47 Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove, opposite Harris Farm
- Good idea: Sort membership before the holidays so you can stock up on games, puzzles and toys before the break begins.
Lane Cove Street Libraries
Street libraries are quietly popping up across Lane Cove, offering little free book exchanges where anyone can take a book or leave a book. For older kids who enjoy a bit of independence, this is a lovely way to spend part of a holiday afternoon, and the long evenings after daylight saving starts make it easy.
- Activity idea: Wander the neighbourhood, discover local street libraries and browse for something to read over the break.
- Bonus idea: Kids can donate books they have outgrown, leaving something for younger children in the community to discover.
Read Our Street Libraries Guide
Know of a spring holiday program we have missed? Email us at [email protected] and we will add it.