School Holiday Fun at the Botanic Gardens of Sydney

The Botanic Gardens of Sydney School Holidays Programs are back with a bang this summer! Join them for an exciting series of fun outdoor activities in the Gardens.

There are so many creative and outdoor challenges on offer these holidays. Head on down to the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah and join the fun! Here are our top picks for the best things to do.

Santa's Studio 

Let your little creative minds embark on a festive journey crafting beautiful Christmas gifts for their family and friends at Santa's Studio across all three Botanic Gardens of Sydney locations. This engaging session introduces children to various art mediums and natural materials, ensuring they create heartfelt presents that will be cherished by parents and grandparents alike.

Book tickets for Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.

Where:  Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah
When:   Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: 20 - 21 December 2023
              Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan: 20 December 2023
              Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah: 22 December 2023
Cost:     $18 per participating child | $16 Foundation & Friends Members

Sunny Succulent Garden

Explore the world of sun-loving plants, discover the secrets of water-wise gardening for your garden or balcony, and have a blast creating a unique sunprint of your favorite succulent. Afterward, plant it in a charming mini succulent garden to take home and watch flourish!

Book tickets for Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah.

Where:  Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah
When:   Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: 9, 16 and 23 January 2024
              Blue Mountains Botanic Garden Mount Tomah: 11- 25 January 2024
Cost:     $20 per participating child | $18 Foundation & Friends Members

Sunshine Survivors 

Sunshine Survivors holiday program at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan promises to be a real school holiday adventure filled with the warmth of the summer sun!

This program is an awesome STEM challenge all about water conservation and the sun, offering kids the chance to tap into their creativity by crafting stunning botanical sun prints, embark on a guided garden walk to uncover the secrets of Australian native plants adapting to the sun, and engage in a fun STEM challenge to see which team can save the most water! Note: this program requires parent/guardian participation throughout.

Book your tickets here. 

Where:  Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
When:   12 January 2024
Cost:     $18.50 per participating child | $16.50 Foundation & Friends Members

Indigenous Bird Investigation Squad

Explore the genuine habitat of the ibis, learn about its food sources, and appreciate the valuable role it plays in supporting the Aussie bush with the Indigenous Bird Investigation Squad. As you wander through the gardens, keep an eye out for other native birds concealed in their habitats. Join in a mission to bring the chicken out of the bin and contribute to the creation of a bird-friendly environment! 

Book your tickets for the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Where:  Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
When:   Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: 9, 16 and 23 January 2024 
              Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan: 11- 12  January 2024
Cost:     $20 per participating child | $18 Foundation & Friends Members

Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour

Kids will explore the Cadi Jam Ora Garden at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney led by First Nations Educators to discover which native plants Aboriginal people used for food. Explore how native foods were traditionally prepared and consumed, and how they are still enjoyed and savoured today.

Walk with your First Nations guide through the Botanic Gardens to learn more about Indigenous bush foods and how these foods were used traditionally and adapted to the modern plate and palate. Book your tickets.

Where:  Cadi Jam Ora Garden, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
When:   Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 11 am, excluding public holidays
Cost:     Free for children under 7 years old, $20 Child (7-15 years old), $30 Adult

Sunset Spotlight Tour

In the Sunset Spotlight Tour, participants will stroll along the garden paths and explore biodiversity 'hotspots,' like the charming ponds, where you'll search for nocturnal friends—some just visiting for the night, others who call this place home.

Rely on your senses and some cool tech gadgets that scientists use to track down these amazing creatures. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might spot Golden Orb spiders, Brush-tailed Possums, Microbats, Flying Foxes, or Tawny Frogmouths. It's an adventure into the world of our nighttime neighbours!

Book your tickets for Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Where:  Woolloomooloo Gate, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
When:   13 December 2023, 10 January and 17 January 2024
Cost:     $42 Adult, $20 Child (7-15 years old)

More Summer Activities

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Fruit Picking in Sydney: Your Seasonal Guide for 2023
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