Fun & Fab, Movin' & Groovin + Creative Creations
There's so much happening for kids of all ages and stages these school holidays in and around Darwin. This years line up of July holiday programs and events will have your kids and teens juggling, spotlighting nocturnal animals, slip n sliding, grooving on down to the hip beats of Baker Boy, honing in on their skater skills, coding and making craft masterpieces. They can even be a zoo keeper for the day! So, here's the lowdown.
Check out my other articles on the "The Best Darwin Weekend Getaways" and "5 Kid Friendly Camping Spots Darwin Locals Love" for some more holiday inspiration!
By Libby Larsen xo
* Please use this as a guide only and check the web pages of the event organisers for all the details about each activity
School Holiday Programs
Build your own space pod and use your imagination. Boost into outer space to discover unknown worlds. Saturday 20 July, 10am–4pm. Booking required. Ideal for kids from 6 to 12 years.
Gurrumul Movie - Various theatre screenings during the day - booking required.
Curator Talks - Between the Moon and the Stars 20 July, and Navigation Using the Stars 21 July
Bounce and Play Fun Day – Wednesday 3 July – 9 am to 12 noon
Activities include: giant bubble fun, twister water fun, giant inflatable obstacle course, jumping castle and giant slip n slide
Sports Play Fun Day – Wednesday 10 July – 9 am to 12 noon
Activities include: AFL Aus Kick, flag races, tug of war, egg & spoon races, inflatable hockey field, rugby with NRL NT, come ‘n’ try soccer and mini games with YMCA
Craft and Play Fun Day – Wednesday 17 July – 9 am to 12 noon
Activities include: Playdough messy fun, slime workshop, LEGO brick build and play, sand art, craft and grow grass heads
It's free, just turn up! Check out the program
Get your kids set up with their own skates and safety gear and let’s get them rolling outside around our beautiful city. Locations change, and will be announced prior to the session. For ages 7+ approx.
Emerging shredders aged 15-25 years can now register for the Park 101 series held over 2 sessions during the July school holidays at Leanyer and Jingili. Skate, scoot, quads and bmx welcome! Limited spaces available, registration required.
Cool activities all over Darwin! Squash, volleyball, loombands, cardboard creations, slime action, bushcraft survival skills, and clay creations . From 10 am to 12.30pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school holidays.
On Saturday 20 July head to Lake Alexander East Point 3pm to 6pm. There's an obstacle course, karaoke, circus play space, arts and crafts, races and games, kite making, African drumming and much more.
Activate Darwin will be running a range of exciting activities every Monday and Tuesday during the holidays in the Smith Street Mall and at Raintree Park - 3x3 basketball, jumping castles, dance and circus workshops, e-sport tournaments and much more. Check out the full program here.
Keeper Kids (various dates) Kids get the opportunity to see behind the scenes and learn about whats involved in being a Zoo Keeper.
Teddy Bears Picnic A fun day with jumping castles, water slides, face painting, teddy bear hospital, a sausage sizzle and heaps more. July 3 and July 17 - 10am - 1pm
Twilight Movie Nights & Camp Outs This looks awesome - and you can even pitch your tent and stay the night. June 29, July 13, July 27
There's so much happening in the libraries in Darwin these hols. I could seriously devote a whole article to what's on offer at the Darwin City Libraries. There will be a huge range of fun and free activities for children of all ages from 1-22 July. Activities include: First Aid Education Workshops, Moonhack, KROC Party, Tech Zone, Lego Club, Steam Zone Pop-Up, Children’s Programs, NAIDOC Week Story Time, Movies, Family Groove, Amazing Drumming Monkeys, Crazy Cut Out Creatures, KROC Scavenger Hunt (1-14 July) and Pop-Up Library for 30th Anniversary of the Fun Bus. For program details, age suitability and bookings please view July School Holiday Program 2019
Writing Workshops - There are also writing workshops with local author Sandra Kendell on Saturday 13 July for kids ages 7-10 and multi award winning author Barry Jonsberg on Saturday 6 July.
Basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, dodgeball, indoor soccer and handball during the week at Palmerston Recreation Centre 3pm-5pm Monday to Thursday and 6pm-8pm Fridays. Check out the program.
The City of Palmerston has a humungous range of free activities - Naidoc Week Craft, Circus Workshops, Movies, Building Blocks of Electronics, Special Edition Gadgets and Games: PlayStation Virtual Reality, Spheros, Xbox, Lego, Star Wars Robots, 3D Printer, the Amazing Drumming Monkeys and African Drumming - July 1 - July 19. Check out the full program.
The Palmerston Youth Festival is gonna take over the City Centre these July school holidays. It looks absoultely amazing and is chocka bloc full of sone really cool stuff - Geekfest Esports Playoffs, Comedy Gold Workshops, No Lights Lycra Dance Part, Anime A Thon, The Stones - A Play That Will Rock You, Rookie Cooks Cooking Comp, Art Jam, Suburb of Origins 3 on 3, Film Me In Comp, Palmy Street Party with performances by some of the freshest music acts, including Baker Boy. There's SO much happening. Check out the full program.
There's heaps happening through YMCA pretty much every day in the school hols in Palmerston and Darwin - Chill out mornings and breakies, excursions and heaps of cool activities. Check out the program.
parks alive program
If the Parks Alive program isn't on your radar of things to do with kids these school holidays it should be. You can explore Casuarina Coastal Reserve by bike with a Ranger, Charles Darwin National Park or Howard Springs Nature Park at night – meet a Ranger and discover the wildlife inhabitants by torchlight. Check out the program here.
There's lots going on at Leanyer Recreation Park as well as the usual water slides, playground and kids water play area. There's touch footy, softball and AFL activities as well as special water play sessions and activities. Check out the program here.
Calling all budding entrepreneurs! These Kids Youth Holiday Workshops look awesome. They are free for kids of various ages (8-15 and 16-25 years). Kids can explore creating an idea, developing that idea, business planning, researching, marketing and the implementation of selling the product or service. Cool! July 18, 19, 20 & 21. Check out the program.
Crocosaurus Cove's Junior Reptile Ranger program is back for the July school holidays! The Junior Reptile Ranger Program is perfect for the animal lover in your household. This one-of-a-kind tour allows kids to see behind the scenes and help our experienced handlers feed and care for our reptiles! Check out the program here.
Get the Kids Moving
Activate Kids - Palmerston - Activities for children from bubs to 15 years. The activities range from swimming, martial arts, CrossFit, mediation and garden based activities. Activities are free but you need to book. Check out the program here.
Football NT Holiday Clinics - 8.30am - 11.30am , Darwin Football Stadium Check out the program here
AFL School Holiday Program - TIO Stadium 17 and 18 July, ages 5-12. Check out the program here.
Darwin Squash Centre - There are a few options you can choose - Drop and Go, Sit and Watch and Stay and Play. Kids can play squash, cricket, soccer and heaps more. Check out the program here
Top End Multi Sports & Gardens Tennis - Full day programs - soccer, Volleyball and Tennis and more. This is great for working parents. From school age 5+. Check out the program here.
Darwin Gymnastics Holiday Program - Half day and 1 hour gym fun programs to get the kids moving. Check out the program here.
Kid Fit NT School Holiday Activities - All day program designed to get the kids off the couch and out keeping active on their bikes while visiting Darwin attractions and participating in different activities. Activities include: Bike riding, ball games, water activities, team building games, arts & crafts and more. Check out the program here.
Rix Kix Arts Dance Studio - Free 1/2 hour youth dance holiday workshops and dance workshops and shows (8.30am - 3pm). Check out program here.
Fun & Fabulous
Nightcliff pool are putting on a fun pool party from 3pm to 6pm. Head down for a free sausage & pool game. Friday 5th July.
Head down between 3-6pm for a free sausage & pool games. Thursday 18th July.
Trailer Boat Club - Finding Dory July 2, Charming July 9, Mary Poppins Returns July 16
Darwin Waterfront - Smallfoot July 20
FlicNics - Goyder Square Palmerston - The Greatest Showman June 29, Gurrumul July 6, The Fencer July 27
Territory Wildlife Park - Duck Duck Goose June 29, The Bee Movie July 13, How to Train Your Dragon 3 July 27
Moscow Circus - I was totally impressed by the cage riding motorcyclists last year & everything else. June 27 - July 14
Happy Holidays!
* Please remember to check all the details on the web pages of the event organisers as things change and the most up to date details will be on those pages.
Libby Larsen - Growing up Troppo
Growing up Troppo provides honest travel advice tips and inspiration from parents about special and unique places to stay, play and eat with kids that parents love too!. Travel is and has always been, Libby's passion and she believes this shouldn't stop when you have kids.
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