Top Things To Do This Boxing Day Long Weekend 2016

We love a long weekend! A relaxing long stretch of holidays to spend quality time with the family. What do you want to do? We’ve got heaps of ideas and a couple for a rainy day back-up.

1. Go On A Picnic

After all that Christmas cooking, take the opportunity to relax and just enjoy the time out with the family at one of the best picnic spots in Sydney specifically on Boxing Day! We also highly recommend the picnic hamper experience at Centennial Parklands, where you can experience park elegance at its finest with a pre-made hamper. You might also like to try one of our top 6 picks for Sydney family picnic spots + guide to what makes for a great picnic, as well as our tips on how to make a perfect picnic for kids. Picnics combine family bonding with fresh air, food and playtime, the perfect combination for families. Choosing a waterside spot is ideal if Boxing Day is set to be a scorcher.

2. Take The Family Fruit Picking

It’s fruit season! We love taking the kids out to pick the season’s fruit which includes peaches, nectarines, blueberries, strawberries, cherries plums & more! Whether your a local family looking for a great way to bond together in nature, or you’re holidaying in Sydney and looking for a quintessentially Aussie experience, then fruit picking is for you. Check out our list of pick-your-own farms within 90-minutes of Sydney. Our favourite spots include the Bilpin Fruit Bowl, Canoelands Orchard, and Watkins Farm.

3. Outdoor Cinemas

Who doesn’t love to watch the stars and enjoy a balmy night watching a film? Grab your picnic rugs and huddle on the rich grass at one of these kid friendly outdoor cinemas! Cinema in the Sand is an extremely unique outdoor cinema where you can watch movies from the water at Wet’n’Wild! You’ll also catch us at Movies By The Boulevard, where movies on the schedule include Zootopia, Storks, The Lion King, The Jungle Book & The Secret Life Of Pets! And the best part? It’s FREE! Before you go, check out our top tips for a fabulous experience with kids. 

4. Catch an Exhibition

There’s heaps of family exhibitions going on around Sydney!  If your little one is a pirate fan, head to SEA LIFE aquarium for some swashbuckling fun with Shipwreck Shores- the all new and limited time only exhibition. They are never too young to get exposed to the arts- take them to the fabulous MCA this summer to check out the mesmerising Tatsuo Miyajima exhibition where you’ll discover rooms full of light and a dedicated family space where you can create your own art. For chocolate lovers, head to the Sweet Addiction exhibition at the Calyx in the Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. You will experience chocolate like never before all your senses stimulated. LEGO lovers cannot miss the ‘Wonders of the World’ exhibition, where certified LEGO professional Ryan ‘The Brickman” McNaught will showcase his incredible recreations of famous world attractions.

5. Splash and Muck about

We scoured Sydney’s coastline and found the BEST kid friendly beaches all across Sydney. With playgrounds, rock pools and within great proximity to cafes, you’ll love our top picks in the North Shore, Northern Beaches, around the Harbour, in Pittwater, the Eastern Suburbs & South Sydney. For little ones, families love the accessibility and ease of a splash around at a water play park- check out our list of the best FREE ones in Sydney!  For something a little bit more exciting, head to Wet’n’Wild for some major thrills and spills. Wet’n’Wild have heaps happening over the Summer, including the Live Summer Music Series, freestyle motorcross shows by FMX , and and outdoor cinema experience called Cinema in the Sand. 

6. Go Bushwalking

We love going bushwalking – it’s a fun way to explore Sydney and give the kids an opportunity to have a sensory adventure. We challenge you to check off our list of four Sydney bushwalking trails this long weekend! Our favourite? The Fairylands Pleasure Garden in the Royal National Park- a mere 20 minutes from the CBD. Throw in a little imagination and enjoy the history of this overgrown garden that was once a picturesque pleasure garden. Don’t go without checking out our tips for bushwalking with toddlers. If you prefer something a little more accessible and have a pram in tow, then check out our 6 favourite pram friendly walks in Sydney. 

7. Watch A Movie

Air conditioning, popcorn and choc tops… watching a movie is a sure-fire way to entertain kids and adults at the same time. There are heaps of kids movies that get released on Boxing Day in 2016, so get in there first and meet Moana, the brand new polynesian Disney Princess, or listen to the new musical comedy Sing that’ll have you tapping your toes. Check out out full list of Summer must-sees.