School holiday outings for the whole family
January is an amazing month in Sydney, with lots on for all the visitors that locals can enjoy too. It’s always a great time to plan a few outings to make the most of the warm weather and see some sights ahead of another busy year. Here are some fun events for kids and teens.
Head to the movies
Yes, it’s nice to curl up on the couch and watch Netflix, but an outdoor movie on a balmy summer night is pretty special. This summer, Movinbed is hosting an outdoor cinema at Barangaroo’s Harbour Park, laying out 280 tons of white sand and 120 king- and queen-sized beds, with pillows and blankets, in front of the largest outdoor screen in Australia. Running until March, you can choose from new releases and classic films, including Wicked, We Live in Time and Mufasa the Lion King. There’s even an option to upgrade your ticket and bring your dog along, with a dog bed provided.
Go on a mystery picnic
This is a great way to discover a new side of Sydney and an original gift idea. Book a mystery picnic through Amazing Co for friends, couples or families. Choose your preferred area and follow the clues and riddles through your smartphone until you reach your picnic basket of locally sourced goodies. There are a few routes to choose from, including Central Coast beaches.
Summerific at Darling Harbour
A trip into the city is a summer-holiday essential, and this January, Darling Harbour has some brilliant events to enjoy. Summerific runs for the whole of January and includes synchronised swimming shows, live music and free open-air movies.
The Sydney Festival is another summer favourite, and this year there will be some awesome trapeze shows thanks to Sydney Trapeze School, with free drop-in circus skills workshops.
If you need to put your feet up, the Chinese Garden of Friendship is a peaceful oasis between Darling Square and Darling Quarter, with a lovely tea house where you can enjoy dumplings and tea before exploring the garden’s beautiful sculptures.
Pick a show
Now on at the State Theatre Sydney, The Lord of the Rings – A Musical Tale is the Australian premiere of a musical based on JRR Tolkien’s classic trilogy, which has already captivated audiences in the US and UK.
At the Opera House you can see another timeless story brought to life, Cinderella, also making its Australia debut after rave reviews overseas. Expect gorgeous costumes, opera singing and a pop-up storybook set – a magical night out.
Learn on the go
Sydney’s museums are a wonderful way to make learning fun and get some inspiration for the year ahead. The Australian National Maritime Museum will be delving into deep sea exploration with a new exhibition, James Cameron – Challenging the Deep, with footage from the Titanic and fascinating insights into what lies beneath our oceans.
The Australian Museum will be taking visitors through 3000 years of Peruvian history and culture with Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru, showcasing jewelry and ceremonial masks among many other treasures.
Keen photographers will want to check out the Nikon-Walkley Press Photography Competition at the State Library of NSW – a chance to see the winners and finalists of 2024’s Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, with amazing photos from around the world across 30 categories.
Get ready for wheels
Keeping it local, Hornsby Library is hosting a Youthsafe Learner Licence workshop on January 30 for older teens and young adults looking to start driving this year. Aimed at helping learners prepare for their Driver Knowledge Test, participants will receive complimentary access to driving lessons up to the value of $150 and reimbursement of the cost of their Learner Licence ($30.) Free to teens aged 16–19 years who live in the Hornsby or Ku-ring-gai local government areas, but bookings are essential.
Selling this year? Talk to us
Looking beyond the holidays, do your plans for the year include a home sale? Reach out to Page&Co today.
