The weather is warming up, the kids are off and suddenly there are two weeks to fill. The good news? There is plenty happening right here in Sydney’s East before you even think about loading the car for a day trip.
NSW spring school holidays run from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026. We’ve put the local picks first, then added a few Sydney adventures worth leaving the neighbourhood for.
Think football, gymnastics, multisport, netball, skateboarding, slime, art, bugs, family shows, free Bondi events, a pancake cruise and plenty of ways to get them off a screen.
Sydney FC Spring Holiday Clinics
Three days of football fun, right on our doorstep.
For boys and girls aged 5–12, Sydney FC’s Daceyville clinics run from 9am–3pm with qualified coaches, skills, games and plenty of Sky Blue energy.
Week 1: 30 September–2 October
Week 2: 6–8 October
Price: $310 with a new kit or $280 without.
Register NowSpring School Holiday Activities Locals Will Love
Before you plan a cross-city expedition, start here. Maroubra, Daceyville, Chifley, Malabar, Centennial Park, Bondi and Waverley have plenty happening these holidays.
Bondi Firelight
Best for: A genuinely easy family night out by the beach.
Activity details: Gather around the fire at South Bondi Beach with chilled seaside tunes, waves in the background and a fire-dancing performance from Luxe Entertainment.
Heffron Centre Multisport
Best for: Active kids aged 5–12 who want a full day of sport close to home.
Activity details: Heffron Centre’s school holiday program mixes sports, games and beginner-friendly activities across its indoor facilities.
BK’s Gymnastics Holiday Program
Best for: Kids aged 4–12 who like climbing, tumbling, ninja challenges and gymnastics.
Activity details: Holiday Fun, Ninja Day and Skills Clinics run across the break at BK’s Gymnastics inside Heffron Centre.
Soccer Camp at Heffron
Best for: Football-mad kids aged 5–14 of all standards.
Activity details: Australian Sports Camps runs three full days covering core football skills with group and specialist coaches.
High Performance Netball Clinic
Best for: Young netballers wanting focused skills coaching in a smaller group.
Activity details: High Performance Netball’s school holiday clinics focus on fundamental skills with experienced coaches and small coach-to-player ratios.
School Holiday Skateboarding
Best for: Ages 10–18 keen to learn or sharpen their skate skills.
Activity details: A beginner-friendly session covering balance, stance, pushing, stopping, safe falling and skate park etiquette with qualified instructors.
MalaBAR-SLIME-BAR
Best for: Preschoolers through to Year 6 who think slime counts as a legitimate art form.
Activity details: A hands-on slime-making session at Malabar Community Library where kids create and take home their own custom slime.
Ancient Cylinder Seals
Best for: School Years 3–6 who like making things they can actually take home.
Activity details: Kids design an ancient-inspired cylinder seal from polymer clay, turn it into wearable jewellery and use it to create their own prints.
Park Science: Incredible Insects
Best for: Curious kids aged 5–12 who like bugs, nature and hands-on discovery.
Activity details: A full-day Wild Play program with bug hunts, nature walks, games, investigations and insect-inspired art.
Bushrangers: Treasure Hunters
Best for: Ages 5–12 who need a proper screen-free adventure.
Activity details: Orienteering, map reading, treasure challenges, bug hunting, shelter building, bushcraft and outdoor games.
Park Arts: Colours of Spring
Best for: Creative kids aged 5–12 who would rather make than sit still.
Activity details: Nature-inspired art, guided walks, natural materials, prints, clay creations and simple bushcraft artworks.
A Little Further, Still Easy
When you’ve exhausted the local options, these are easy enough to turn into a proper school holiday outing.
Sydney Harbour Pancake Cruise
Best for: Turning lunch into the activity.
Activity details: A 90-minute harbour cruise with Dutch-style pancakes, sweet and savoury toppings, tea and coffee, music and Sydney Harbour views.
Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies
Best for: Little imaginations, dress-ups and families who love outdoor theatre.
Activity details: Tinkerbell joins the fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream for a magical outdoor adventure of song, dance and audience participation.
Wildlife Explorers
Best for: Nature-loving kids aged 5–12.
Activity details: A guided garden adventure with dip-netting, wildlife discovery and a native plant to take home.
Bloodsuckers at the Australian Museum
Best for: Kids who like science with a slightly creepy edge.
Activity details: The museum’s spring program includes 2-for-1 entry to Bloodsuckers plus workshops, family films, after-hours fun and hands-on science.
Running a Spring School Holiday Activity?
The Local Bird will keep updating this guide throughout the holidays. If you run a genuinely useful activity for families across Sydney’s East or South East, get in touch about editorial and featured placement opportunities.
