Thanks for your patience. We have put together a list of Summer School Holiday Ideas for your children and family this holiday season. Click the links for more information.
Goldfields Libraries Summer Program: Choose from at our local libraries: Gisborne, Woodend, Kyneton and Romsey. See the hilarious Mr Snotbottom at the Woodend Library on Monday 20 January at 10.30 am. There are some Big Summer Read activities including: Creative Connie Challenge and Fruit Salad Mix-Up at libraries, Paper Gelatery at Woodend and Romsey Libraries. Join author and illustrator, Sarah Allen, for a Paper Collage Birds workshop. Enjoy NGV Kids on Tour with crafting workshops like: Lots of Dots; Fashion, Culture and Creativity; Bogong Moths; and Pompom Bushflowers. There is also a Summer StoryWalk in Kyneton on the path by the Primary School and Kinder. At the Woodend Library there is a Nature Table drop in activity and on the Gisborne Library Deck a Summertime Splashs drop in acticity on Wed 8 January and Thursday 16 January from 12 to 2 pm. Movie sessions are The Wild Robot (I love this one!) at Gisborne Library on Monday 13 January from 11 am to 12.45 and Wednesday 22 January at Romsey Library from 10.30 am to 12.15, and Despicable Me 4 at the Gisborne Library on Monday 20 January from 11 am to 12.30 pm. Check out the program for more information and if you need to book.
Gisborne and Kyneton Aquatic Centres: Our local aquatic centres are running intensive learn to swim programs, as well as the inflatable fun program through the holidays. See the image below of which day the Inflatable fun is running in Gisborne or Kyneton. Contact your local centre for intensive program information.
Dromkeen: Why not drop into Dromkeen in Riddells Creek. There is a cafe, bookshop, gallery and beautiful gardens to walk through.
Jets Holiday Play: Jets Holiday Play is back. Enjoy 2 hours of fun, games and play for $19.95 per session. Open to members and non-members. Book via jetsgym.com.au/login.
Wild Action Showcase: Visit Jubilee Hall in Macedon on Tuesday 21 January and Wednesday 22 January to see a showcase of live native wildlife. There are two daily shows, one from 10 am to 11.30 am, and one from 1 pm to 2.30 pm. The show is interactive and suitable for all ages. See image below for more details.
Applewood Holiday Workshops: In these workshops young people can learn valuable life and horse skills in a small relaxed and supportive group setting. These are facilitated by a qualified Equine Assisted Learning practitioner, Mel Pritchard. Equine Assisted Learning has been proven to decrease anxiety, and increase calm and social skills in young people, assisting with their confidence, focus, responsibility, empathy, and much more. Workshops are on Wednesday 15th January and Thursday 16th January from 10 am to 2.30 pm in Tylden.
Other dates available for groups, shared and individual sessions throughout the holidays and school term, by arrangement. Contact: mel@applewoodequine.com.au to book and head to https://www.applewoodequine.com.au/sessionsandworkshops for more information.
Sunbury Social Club: Have lunch and a play at Sunbury Social Club. Kids eat free at lunchtime on weekdays (13th – 17th and 20th to 24th) for each main meal purchased. Let the kids enjoy the playground while you catch up with your friends.
Creative Writing Workshop: Follow Kat Buttigieg Creative to stay up to date of when Kat will be running creative writing workshops these holidays.
Hanging Rock Art Exhibition: If you head to Hanging Rock these holidays for a walk, a climb, and a bite at the Hanging Rock Cafe, you should check out the Discovery Centre as well.
Go fruit picking! Get the kids out in the fresh air these school holidays, doing something practical, fun, and encouraging them to eat their fruit. Check out the social media platforms and websites of Payne’s Orchards and Naturipe in Bacchus Marsh, Hampton Ridge Farm in Trentham, Morningswood Farm near Daylesford to keep up to date on what is ripe for picking where. Delicious fun!
Dance classes: The council is running a three day dance program these holidays at Buffalo Stadium in Woodend from 20 to 22 January.
Shoot some hoops: Casual hoops at the Macedon Ranges Sports Precinct in New Gisborne, 6-10 and 13-17 January between 10 am and 2 pm. Entry is $8 for adults and $6.30 for children (please note, the Precinct accepts card only).
Get your wheels on: Skate, Scoot and BMX Comp at Gisborne Skatepark on 18 January.
Woodend and Lancefield Pool Party Summer Holiday Program: There will be pool parties at Woodend and Lancefield outdoor pools on 21 and 22 January. (These are subject to the Council’s Outdoor Pools Temperature Guidelines).
Maze House: Have some amazing fun at Maze House, which is located in between Creswick and Daylesford and open every day of the school holidays. Find the clues in the maze to win the prize. There are also various old carnival games to try out. Be sure to book a ticket to secure your place.
Daylesford Spa Railway: Daylesford’s popular school holiday train rides are back on Wednesdays and selected Saturdays during the school holidays. Trains depart Daylesford at 10:15 am, 12 noon and 2 pm. The one hour round trip is $50 for a family of 2 adults and 3 children. Bookings are now available online. (Online booking closes at 9.30 am on the day of operation). Also, on Saturday 26 January their Y class diesel electric will be operating locomotive hauled services either with our N set or Brill trailer 200MT. Stay tuned to their Facebook page for more information.
Local shopping centres: We will keep you updated on any activities at your local shopping centres, Gisborne Village Shopping Centre and Sunbury Square.
Picnic at a playground: Pack a picnic or purchase some food from a local cafe (see those recommended in the individual reviews) and head to some of the best parks in the Ranges: Gisborne Adventure Playground, Woodend Children’s Park, Riddells Creek Lions Park, Ash Wednesday Memorial Park, Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve Playground, Galaxy Park in Sunbury, Community Bank Playground in Wallan, Romsey Ecotherapy Park and Kyneton Community Park.
Best bushwalks: Make the most of these sunny but cooler days by heading out for a family excursion in the great outdoors. Some of our favourite longer walks include: Hanging Rock, Black Hill Reserve Ridge and Circuit Walk near Kyneton, Sanitorium Lake on Mount Macedon, Conglomerate Gully Walking Track in Riddells Creek. Some of our favourite shorter walks (better for little ones) include: Camel’s Hump in Mount Macedon, Mount Macedon Memorial Cross, The Cascades in Metcalfe or Macedon Reservoir – ‘The Res’, (please note parent supervision is needed here as there is no barrier near the water), Trentham Falls, Lake Daylesford, and Wombat Hill Botanical Gardens (walk as far as you like).
For wet weather days: Head to Readings Cinemas in Sunbury, local play centres like Jumpin’ Joey’s in Gisborne or McDougall Playhouse Cafe in Sunbury, kid friendly cafes, Dromkeen Homestead in Riddells Creek, your local library, and local aquatic centres. For more details on these, click the link.
For hot days: If we get any hot days this summer(!), head to the local pool (Woodend and Lancefield have outdoor pools – see above), explore indoor landmarks like the Kyneton Museum, see a movie at Readings in Sunbury or at the Gisborne Library, go for an icecream at Woodend or Gisborne Icecream Co, head to Kyneton Community Park and Community Bank Playground in Wallan which both have waterplay areas, or go for a bushwalk where there is water like ‘The Res’ in Macedon and others (see above). For more details on these, click the link.
Bike rides: The Domino Trail in Trentham is great for mountain biking, as is La Larr Ba Gauwa Park in Harcourt. Lake Daylesford and the Campaspe River Walk in Kyneton are more family friendly and have a solid path for regular bikes, scooters and prams.
Day or weekend trips: Head out for the day to Castlemaine, Anakie, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, the Bellarine, and Melbourne. Click the link to read more.
Did we miss your summer holiday option? Get in touch with Kat at kbuttigieg@macedonrangeswriters.com
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