School holidays are a much-anticipated break from the daily grind, routine of classes and homework.

This winter holiday is a time when children and parents alike can unwind, explore, and create lasting memories together. Whether you're looking to embark on thrilling adventures, delve into creative pursuits, or simply relax and enjoy quality time with loved ones, we have outlined 17 of the best indoor and outdoor activities across the Illawarra to make the most of your school holidays – and get some rest as parents.

Indoor School Holiday Activities

1. Treetop Arts – Looking to keep your kids active and engaged this winter school holiday? From Monday 3 to Thursday 13 July, Treetop Arts is offering half or full-day programs filled with parkour, gymnastics, aerials, and arts & crafts at Burgh Healthy Hub. 
2. UOW Science Space – All in prehistoric fun, UOW Science Space is offering Jurassic July with a new dinosaur-themed theatre and planetarium show, reptiles and baby dinosaur encounters, fossil digs and bone constructions. Plus camps for ages 6 to 12 focusing on Dino Detectives, Lego filmmaking and Jurassic Park designers. 
3. Merrigong Theatre – Merrigong Theatre Company runs a holiday Creativity Camp (already sold out) and there are fantastic performances on for kids on at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre (IPAC). Andy Griffiths’ universally celebrated book series will finally land on stage in the hysterical production Just Live On Stage! Plus, preschoolers will love Hiccup, a hilarious rocking musical extravaganza about working together, finding friendship and how to, once and for all, cure the hiccups.
4. Early Start Discovery Space – Head to Early Start Discovery space for hands-on, play-based art experiences designed to ignite your child’s inner creativity. Daily sessions include watercolour wash, 3D sculptures, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) inspired programs and interactive storytimes. 
5. The Illawarra Hawks – The Illawarra Hawks are hosting fun-filled school holiday camps for young HawkHeads. Boys and girls aged 6-16 can come to learn skills first-hand from the players. Morning tea and lunch will be provided, all that players will need to bring is a basketball, drink bottle, towel, and their enthusiasm to learn and have fun.
6. Wollongong Art Gallery – The winter school holiday workshop program includes painting cityscapes, egg carton animals, hybrid animal and manga drawing and the junior art trail. 
7. Gravity Gym – Gravity Gym has a range of programs including All Day Gym and Street Ninja Camp. The day will consist of a mixture of gymnastics/street gym activities & circuits, there will also be some crafts activities/board games and the option of a movie should the kids be worn out at the end of the day.
8. Go Create Art – This arts school in Thirroul is running three art creating sessions a day, split by age group.
9. Wollongong City Libraries – Across the Illawarra, city libraries are hosting a variety of activities. On offer at Thirroul Library, kids can take part in Soccajoeys, Harry Potter Breakout Room, Craft for a Cause, D&D Dungeon Crawl. In Helensburgh, the team is hosting a winter movie and a robotics class. Check out your local library website to find out what's on.  

Outdoor School Holiday Activities

1. Green Connect – Just 13 minutes’ drive south of Wollongong CBD you’ll discover an 11-acre award-winning urban farm that follows organic farming and permaculture principles to produce vegetables, fruit, herbs, nuts, eggs, honey and free-range meat. School holiday farm tours are on Wednesday 5th, Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th July.
2. Motiv8sports – Motiv8 Games is a 2-day camp on 3rd & 4th July in Shellharbour. It is a futuristic version of the Olympics, a 2-day multi-sports event that will give kids a chance to participate in a long list of team sports, individual events, showdowns and team-building challenges.
3. Local bush walks for tiny legs – Check out tried and tested short bush walks, great for kiddies. Short enough, easy enough and engaging enough so you shouldn’t have to carry anyone, other than those that can’t walk yet.
4. Darkes Forest Ranch – The camp is for ages 7+ and starts at 8.30am and finishes at 3.30pm. The cost includes horse hire, instruction, morning tea and lunch.
5. Wollongong Tennis – Wollongong July Holiday Clinic runs from Monday 3 to Thursday 6 July, 9am to 12pm daily. The holiday programs feature a wide range of activities run by Tennis Australia Coaches. 
6. Symbio Wildlife Park – Symbio Wildlife Park’s Junior Keeper Camp program will see your child will spend the day walking in the footsteps of a zookeeper as they learn about our wildlife, get up close with animals and make new friends along the way.
7. Stand-up paddle boarding – Need location inspiration? Take a look at the top 7 spots across the Illawarra, recommended by Bec Dunning of Stand Up Paddle Boarding Shellharbour. 
8. Surf School – Learn how to catch a wave with a local instructor. Fiona Hunt of Essential Surf store in Helensburgh and Nic Squiers of Illawarra Surf Academy run lessons at local beaches.

If you feel like we've missed any key activities, share your feedback. We always love to hear it.

Happy holidaying!