Six Of The Best FREE & Cheap Things To Do With Kids In Sydney These Summer School Holidays

By: Phoebe Ackland, ellaslist

The only thing more expensive than Christmas and the festive season is SCHOOL HOLIDAYS! ellaslist has you covered with some awesome, family-friendly and most importantly, FREE and cheap as chips things to do with kids these summer school holidays. They are big on entertainment, and easy on your wallet.

1. The Beach At Barangaroo

Part of Sydney Festival- you can get FREE ACCESS to this unlikely beach from 10am-5pm. A quintessential Australian experience is reimagined by Snarkitecture, a New York-based art and architecture collaborative practice. The shoreline will be transformed by the installation of 1.1 millionrecyclable polyethylene balls that make an ocean without sharks, gently lapping against a 60-metre wide shoreline free of sand.

Where: The Cutaway, 1 Merriman St, Barangaroo
When: 7-29 January 2017; 10am-5pm (closed Mondays)

2. Movies By The Boulevard

Nothing makes use of a balmy night more than an outdoor cinema experience where you can catch great family flicks under the stars. At Movies By The Boulevard, you can watch them for FREE! Returning to Sydney Olympic Park, this year’s movie schedule includes Zootopia, Storks, The Lion King, The Jungle Book & The Secret Life Of Pets! Pack a picnic rug and some tasty treats, or even purchase some snacks on the night.

Where: Cathy Freeman Park, Olympic Boulevard, Sydney Olympic Park
When: 7-22 January 2017; food and beverages available from 6pm for 8.30pm start time

3. House of Mirrors

Part of Sydney Festival, you can purchase tickets for just $10 at the venue, so it’s fairly easy on the bank. House of Mirrors is a labyrinth like no other. For about 30 minutes, have your mind blown with endless mirrors, magnified to terrifying dimensions! Lose yourself in bewildering reflections and try to find your way out. Might be one for older children!

Where: Around the Meriton Festival Village, Hyde Park North
When: 6–29 January 2017; 4.30PM – 11PM

4. Little Darlings Night Owls Kids Film Fest

This big film festival for little people is not to be missed! In addition to being FREE, kids will see a showcase of fresh new kids’ flicks to classic cinema moments. Each evening from 6pm there will a heap of pre-film fun, with highlights on the schedule including Snoopy & Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie, The Jungle Book, Kung Fu Panda 3 and Shaun the Sheep Movie.

Where: Darling Quarter
When: 6 to 25 January 2017; from 6pm

5. Miyajima Family Space at the MCA

Create, play and learn at the MCA’s FREE Miyajima Family Space. As a family, you can turn light into music, meditate on a lotus leaf, create a collaborative light drawing and curl up on a bean bag with a picture book in the story time corner! Engage with key ideas in Tatsuo Miyajima’s work and have fun in this interactive family space.

Where: Level 3, National Centre for Creative Learning, 140 George St, The Rocks
When: 17 December 2016 – 15 January 2017; 10.30am-4pm

6. Sand In The City, Museum of Sydney

Once you’ve paid entry into the Museum of Sydney (it’s reasonable- adults for $12, kids for $8 and under 5s FREE) you can access the Sand in the City exhibition for FREE! Sand + LEGO® is a winning combination. You’ll see LEGO® replicas of Sydney’s beautiful beaches, have a chance to build with LEGO® yourself, check out some amazing sand sculptures, and roll up your sleeves and have a play around! A totally interactive exhibition with something to keep adults and kids of all ages entertained. Kids will also eat FREE at The Governor’s Table with every adult main meal if you have visited this exhibition.

Where: Cnr Phillip and Bridge Sts, Sydney
When: 3 December 2016 – 23 July 2017; 10am – 5pm daily

If you want more family festivals, thrilling playgrounds and wicked waterparks, get your FREE ellaslist Digital Guide To Summer NOW!