The seasons are splendid in the Ranges and winter is no exception, although it may make our school holiday activities look a little different to the other ones. Never fear! We have put together a list of the best winter school holiday activities in the Ranges and surrounds for you so that you can plan some days to be out and about, and other days for snuggling up at home and resting.
Activities so far in brief: Macedon Ranges Libraries / Woodend Neighbourhood House / Edgar’s Mission Kindness Club / Wild Action Workshops / Interval Art / Creative Writing Lessons by Kat B Creative / Gentle Sensory Program / Sunbury Neighbourhood House Neurostars / Gisborne Toy Library Games Day / High School Musical Jr by Sprout Theatre Company / Gisborne Village Shopping Centre / Sunbury Shopping Centre / Myths & Legends Fairy Storytime / Daylesford Spa Railway / Maze House / Kyneton and Gisborne Swim Intensive Program and Inflatable Fun / Chin Chin Farm Tours / Shadowland (Puppet workshop in Kyneton) / Dance School Holiday Program / Hanging Rock Art Exhibition / Sunbury Holiday Lawn Bowls / Best Day Trips from the Ranges / Fresh Air Fun / Amazing Playgrounds / Indoor Excursions, Activities, Best Board Games, Treasure Hunt.
Macedon Ranges Libraries: Our libraries once again have a range of fun, free activities for your children to enjoy these holidays including: Ancient Greek paper mosaics; origami Olympics; DIY Olympic torches (I see a theme here), vision boards, a performance by KINJA for kids; monster sock puppet making and movies to watch. Head to their website for more details and book your child’s place. Kung Fu Panda 4 is screening Tuesday 4 July from 10.30 am to 12 noon at Gisborne Library, and Wednesday 10 July from 2 pm to 3.30 pm at Romsey Library. Trolls Band Together is screening Wednesday 3 July from 2 to 3.30 pm at Romsey Library and Monday 10 July from 10.30 am to 12 noon at the Gisborne Library.
Woodend Neighbourhood House: There is loads of fun to be had at Woodend Neighbourhood House these holidays: bucket drumming, drama workshops, West African drumming, yoga for kids of all ages, and an air dry clay workshop. Book at www.woodendnh.org.au or call 5427 1845.
Kindness Club: The wonderful Edgar’s Mission is running a program called Kindness Club these school holidays: a hands on, interactive experience for children aged 6 to 12 years old. The program is $20 per child and there will be two sessions per day, one in the morning (10 am to 12 noon) and one in the afternoon (2 pm to 4 pm). Each session is capped at 8 children to ensure a rich and engaging experience. Activities during the session will include arts and craft, engaging with some of the animals at the sanctuary, scavenger hunts, storytime and more! The program is led by a qualified teacher with the support of Edgar’s Mission volunteers. Bookings can be made here.
Chris Humfrey’s Awesome Australian Animals: Wild Action’s Chris Humfrey’s is running workshops featuring Aussie animals on Tuesday 9th, Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th of July. Chris will be showcasing some of his favourite live native animals and teaching about their classification, adaptations, habitats, diets, threats and ecological niches. There are three sessions per day: 10 am to 11.15 am, 12.30 pm to 1.45 pm and 2.30 to 3.45 pm. The show is 45 minutes long and there are opportunities to chat with Chris and his team afterwards. The live animals include koalas, joeys, pygmy possums, echidna, owls, python snakes, turtles, lizards and more! Tickets are $30 for children and adults, (children under 2 are free). Click here for more details and to book.
Interval Art: Interval Art is running workshops these holidays for children aged 9 to 14 years old. There is a Journal Making workshop on Tuesday 2 July. There are 3 x 2 hour session times to choose from and all materials are provided for students to assemeble and sew together their own personalised A5 journal. On Wednesday 3 July and Thursday 4 July there are 3 x 90 minute sessions available for Creative Painting of which students take part in 2 x 90 minute sessions. They will be taken through the process of developing ideas to paint and then transfer the idea onto a 16 x 20 inch canvas. The cost of both the Journal Making and Creative Painting programs is $50. For more details on sessions and how to book, click here.
Creative Writing Workshops: Kat Buttigieg, a local writer, poet and musician, is running 2 one hour workshops on Friday 12 July in New Gisborne for writers aged 8 to 14 years old. The first workshop is from 9.30 am to 10.30 am on Poetry and Song Writing, and the second is on Short Story Building and is from 10.45 am to 11.45 am. Each one hour workshop is $20 per student. Email Kat at kbuttigieg@macedonrangeswriters.com or DM her via her Kat Buttigieg Facebook page to secure your child’s place.
Gentle Sensory Holiday Program: Gentle Sensory is offering Arts & Crafts, Lego Building and Group Gaming sessions these holidays on July 1st and 8th with the option to join an individual 90 minute session (for $50) or attend for a full day, 10 am to 4 pm ($200). For more details and to book, email admin@gentlesensory.com or, alternatively, message them via their Facebook page.
Sunbury Neighbourhood House Neurostars: Come to a school holiday meet up for neaurodivergent tweens (8 to 12 years old). Parents and carers come along and bring your tweeen to meet some like-minded people, join in some boardgames and group activities at Sunbury Neighbourhood House on Thursday 4 July and Thursday 11 July from 10.30 am to 12 noon. There are tea and coffee facilities, a break out space and a main room with games. The cost is a gold coin donation. Parents and carers are asked to stay. PM via their Facebook page if you have any questions.
Gisborne Toy Library School Holiday Games Day: The Gisborne Toy Library is hosting a fun filled morning on Tuesday 9 July fom 9.30 am to 11 am. This is a free event for members and non-members. Explore the toy library, enjoy some friendly competition by playing some board games or doing some puzzles and enjoy some delicious morning tea.
High School Musical: Come and see a wonderful show by Sprout Theatre Company (Youth Musical Theatre in the Macedon Ranges) on Saturday 6 July at the Bluestone Theatre in Kyneton at 2 pm and 5 pm. Book your tickets here.
Dromkeen: Enroll your child into the Winter Holiday Cartoon Workshops at Dromkeen.
Big and little kids are welcome to join for cartooning workshops on Monday 8 July.
Session One is Draw Awesome Characters and runs from 10 am to 10.45 am. Session Two is Make a Book Cover and runs from 11.00 to 11.45 am. Both sessions are $15 each. Students are to bring their own sketch pad, pencils, a snack and a drink. The tearoom will be open for adults who wish to stay around. RSVP to Bernadette to book your child’s place via bernadette@dromkeen.com.au.
Gisborne Village Shopping Centre: Hang out in their school holiday garden and keep the kids busy with their free arts and crafts on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the first week and Monday, Tuesday and Friday in the second week. All activities start at 10am and run for 2 hours finishing at 12pm, ranging from craft and herb planting to creating grass heads and face painting. (See images below for more details). These are suitable for kids aged 3 and up and adult supervision required at all times.
Sunbury Shopping Centre: Visit Sunbury Square these school holidays for Free winter activities with Anna & Elsa, including Slime & Snow Making and Face Painting on Wednesday 10 July from 11 am to 2 pm, and Snowflake Crafts and Facepainting on Thursday 11 July from 11 am to 2 pm.
Myths and Legends Storytime: Join the fairies for storytime in the Magic Forest and Secret Garden (including wishes, games, stories, fairy treats, facepainting and more!). The cost is $30 per child, one parent per child may attend for free or fly away for the hour. Bookings can be made via phone only. At time of publication, Thursday 4 July 10.30 am was booked out, 12 to 1 pm had only 2 spots left and Thursday 11 July 10.30 am was booked out and 12 to 1 pm was still available. Book on 5428 4802.
Daylesford Spa Railway: Daylesford Spa Railways’ train rides are running every Wednesday, Saturday and usual Sundays of the school holidays. Enjoy a fun family day out, especially if you have little ones who love trains. A family ticket (2 adults and 3 children is $50) or you can buy single adult or concession/child tickets. Children under 5 are free. The railway is also dog friendly. Train times and booking details can be found here.
Maze House: Have some amazing fun at Maze House, which is located in between Creswick and Daylesford. Find the clues in the maze to win the prize. There are also various old carnival games to try out. Be sure to book to secure your place.
Kyneton and Gisborne Aquatic Centre Swim Intensive Programs and Inflatable Fun: Book your child in for a swim intensive program these school holidays. Inflatable fun is also returning to both Kyneton and Gisborne Aquatic Centres. Enjoy a swim and a play at the same time. Click here to see the links and details for both programs, including times for inflatable fun at each centre.
Chin Chin Farm: Take the family on a farm tour on 7 July from 10 am to 11.30 am and learn about lavender, bush foods and floristry flowers, as you wander through paddocks, taste bush foods straight from the plants, and take in the scenic views. Finish the tour with a hot chocolate treat. (Tickets are $15 per person and children must be 8 years or above in age). Or enjoy an Aussie Bushfood Damper Experience on 14 July from 11 am to 1 pm. Have an interactive cooking experience, bushfood tasting tour and enjoy your creation around a campfire. (Tickets are $50 per person and children must be 8 years old minimum and accompanied by an adult). Click here for more detials and to make a booking.
Shadowlands: On Wednesday 10 July from 10 am to 11.30 pm Creative Kids is presenting a school holiday workshop on contemporary shadow theatre. Children will design and create their own shadow puppets and will be able to use them in the 10 different domed tents in Kyneton Hall. These will be facilitated by art and designer, Lynne Kent, and run for 90 minutes on Wednesday 10 July at 10 am and 2 pm, and Thursday 11 July at 10 am and 2 pm. Tickets are $15 – book here to secure your child’s place.
Dance School Holiday Program: Keep your child active these holidays and enrol them in this dance progam at Buffalo Stadium in Woodend. Over three fun-filled morning sessions on Monday to Wednesday from 9 am to 12 noon, your child will learn, hip-hop, acting and acrobatics with a qualified facilitator. Reserve a place for your child by emailing Studio2tinytackers@mrsc.vic.gov.au.
Hanging Rock Art Exhibition: Head to Ngannelong/Hanging Rock these holidays, there is so much to do there! Check out the art exhibition in the Discovery Centre (open 9 am to 5 pm), walk the Rock, have a picnic or a kick of the footy on the lawn, play at the playground, and have a bite at the lovely Hanging Rock Cafe.
School Holiday Lawn Bowls Fun at Club Sunbury: Let your kids try bowls for free at the Sunbury Bowling Club from 11:30 am and 12:30 pm on 4 and 11 July. To book, simply phone 9744 1211. Food and drinks are available from the Kiosk or book into the Bistro for lunch.
Best day or weekend trips from the Ranges: If you are after a full day out of fun, check out our blog on our favourite destinations outside of the Macedon Ranges. Head to Castlemaine, Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Melbourne and the Bellarine. We have a list of activities for you to choose from when you get there.
Fresh Air Fun Destinations: We have reviewed many amazing local walks and landmarks. From mountains and rocks to waterfalls and watering holes, we have you covered for your local Fresh Air Fun. Rug up in this wintery weather and wear sturdy shoes.
Amazing Playgrounds: We are spoilt with first class playgrounds in the Ranges and surrounds. Kyneton, Taradale, Gisborne, Woodend, Riddell, Romsey and many more, offer lush grassy areas, flying foxes, ropes courses, climbing frames and multi-directional swings. Once again, dress for the weather and we suggest taking an old towel to dry down any wet equipment.
Play inside or at home: We have a list of inside excursions for wet and cold days, wet weather activities for at home, our favourite boardgames and a DIY treasure hunt for those days you want to stay warm inside.
Have we missed a great school holiday activity or destination or program run by your business or association? Get in touch. Email Kat at kbuttigieg@macedonrangeswriters.com
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