Kids are celebrating because summer school holidays have finally arrived. They are the longest holidays of year with the greatest number of daylight hours, so with all that time to fill why not take advantage of some of Brisbane's terrific holiday offerings this summer. Check out the list of top picks following.
GOMA Summer Festival & Current Exhibits
When: 9/12/2016 - 17/4/2017, 10am 5pm
Where: GOMA various areas
Cost: Free
No one does a party in Brisbane quite like the Gallery of Modern Art. So when GOMA turns 10 this summer visitors can expect exhibitions and events which are highly interactive, full of colour and texture, and which will keep the kids thoroughly entertained while secretly learning. Just before the beginning of the new school year families can enjoy the
GOMA Summer Festival (18 - 22/1/2017). The festival program includes workshops, performances, tours, talks, and the always popular Up Late events for all ages.
Spiral down through GOMA these summer holidays with the return of the left/right slide - writer image
Until then the current exhibitions will certainly keep the kids busy. Experience the beauty of Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria through the eyes of the Gabori Sisters and their artist mother, Sally Gabori at the
GOMA children's art centre. Find your totem to make your own wristband, build a virtual humpy or see what you can catch at the rock wall trap. Express your own style at Shoppy's
Mirror Mirror exhibition through colourful hair creations. Revisit some of GOMA's favourites from the past 10 years including Carsten Hφller's
Left/Right Slide, Pip & Pop's
Rainbow Bridge, and Cιleste Boursier-Mougenot's from here to ear featuring live finches. As an extra incentive to add this event to your summer school holidays list, this all-weather indoor venue is kept at a comfortable temperature setting of 'chilled'.
Mirror Mirror Exhibition - writer image
When: Various Dates between 13/12/2016 19/1/2017, times vary
Where: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Cost: From $80 per child
Kids can take on the role of a wildlife carer these holidays by joining the Junior Keeper for a day program at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Participants will help look after the animals for the day by feeding, cleaning, training and exercising them. More importantly kids will be helping to look after these animals into the future as they learn more about them to help spread the conservation message. Suitable for ages 5 to 17, there are three different programs to choose from dependent on age. Bookings are required and places are limited.
Holiday Fun for Everyone Who Loves Books
When: 19/12/2016 - 20/01/2017, 10am 3pm
Where: State Library of Queensland, Knowledge Walk
Cost: Free
Celebrate the beauty of books and reading at the State Library's annual summer school holiday extravaganza. The Knowledge Walk is set up for building crafty creations, sharing stories under the cosy Storytime Tent, and playing in worlds where kids can step straight into the pages of some our most beloved Australian children's books. Featured authors/illustrators who will be making special guest appearances throughout the event:
Shannon Horsfall (Was Not Me): 3, 10 & 17 Jan
Andrew King (Engibear's Dream and Engibear's Bridge): 4 & 6 Jan
Christine Sharp (Bea and Sylvia): 11 Jan
Peter Carnavas (Blue Whale Blues, The Children Who Loved Books and The Last Tree in the City): 13 & 20 Jan
Kate Knapp (Ruby Red Shoes): 16 & 18 Jan
Bookings are not required for the Knowledge Walk activities although spaces are limited in certain areas.
Get comfy under the Storytime Tent - writer image
When: 26/12/16 26/1/17, 9:30am 4pm
Where: The Workshops Rail Museum, North Ipswich
Cost: From $12 per child includes entry to all areas of the Museum
Thomas the Tank Engine will be settling into The Workshops Rail Museum these holidays. Some of his friends will even make a special appearance in the exhibition. The Fat Controller will be directing visitor traffic while Douglas, Annie and Clarabel will working hard on the railway. All of the regular exhibits will be there for visitors to enjoy including the Nippers Railway play area, model trains, tilt train simulator and workshop tours.
Griffith Sport Active Kids
When: 12/12/16 20/1/17, 9am 5pm
Where: Griffith University Mt Gravatt Campus
Cost: From $60 per child
Keep the kids active this summer playing sports they will love. Dodgeball, tee-ball, bushwalking and pool activities are just some of the sports kids can participate in Griffith University Sporting Facilities. Kids will rotate through three sessions daily and can attend for selected days or for the weekly program. Suitable for kids 5-13 years.
Events and Activities at Brisbane City Council Environment Centres
When: Various Dates between 9/12/2016 21/1/2017, times vary
Where: Boondall Wetlands Environment Centre, Downfall Creek Bushland Centre, Karawatha Forest Park & Discovery Centre
Cost: Free or low-cost (from $5)
Brisbane City Council Environment Centres will be full of exciting activities for kids this summer. Many events are free although some require bookings or costs, and have age restrictions. There are craft and art activities, active sports, gardening and environmental education events, all of which encourage kids to value the natural world. Eco animation, circus skills, and meet Australian wildlife workshops are at the top of our family's list these school holidays. With the hot summer days which are yet to come BBC Environment Centre locations have plenty of shaded space and even air-conditioned visitor areas such as the
Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre.
School holiday fun in the Karawatha Forest Park shade - writer image
