Blue Mountains Activities for Families & Kids
Blue Mountains Botanic Gardens Mt Tomah
Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens run special events for families during the year and especially during the school holidays - for full details visit their website at www.mounttomahbotanicgarden.com.au/your-visit/whats-on
Exo Skeletons: 1 November 2011 - 29 February 2012
A self-guided family activity looking at the curious and quirky world of insects and spiders.
Time: 10am - 5pm
Cost $3.50 per child
Where: The Garden, Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Enquiries: Telephone 02-4567-3000
Attack of the Carnivores: 1 March - 31 May 2012
A self-guided family activity to find meat eating dinosaurs and meat eating plants! Learn about the bizarre and curious carnivorous world. This activity takes about an hour to complete.
Time: 10:15am to 5pm daily
Cost: $3.50 per map
Where: Map available from the Visitor Centre of The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Enquiries: Telephone 4567 3000
Sculptures from Nature, School Holiday Workshops: 12 April or 19 April 2012
Explore and collect treasures in the colourful Autumn season to weave into your own artwork. See Autumn colours at their best - beautiful Maples from China and Japan, Oaks from America and Europe - oranges, reds, browns, yellows and all shades in between.
When: Thursday 12 April or Thursday 19 April
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Cost: $15.00 per child - 5 years+ (includes materials). Younger children may attend accompanied by an adult.
Where: Waratah Education Centre, The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Bookings: Essential - phone 4567 3000
Wizards School of Magic: 21 Apr to 8 Sep 2012
The Wizard's School of Magic offers an hour and a half of magical craft and fun activities which include a jumping castle (weather permitting). Why not combine this workshop with a ride on the Zig Zag Railway's Wizard's Express?
Dates:
Saturday 21 April
Saturday 19 May
Saturday 2 June
Saturday 16 June
Saturday 30 June
Saturday 14 July
Saturday 25 August
Saturday 8 September
Time: 2 sessions per day - 11am to 12.30pm OR 1pm to 2.30pm
Cost: $20.00 per child - 5+ years. Younger children may attend accompanied by an adult.
Where: Waratah Education Centre, The Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, Mount Tomah
Bookings: Essential - telephone 4567 3000
Scenic World - Katoomba
A popular attraction in the Blue Mountains, kids will love Scenic World where they can take the Scenic Skyway across the valley, then take a thrilling ride on the Scenic Railway down to the forest below.
Walk on the boardwalk through the forest. See the life-size bronze mine worker and his pit pony, sit in the Rainforest Room, learn about the history of the valley. At the end of the boardwalk ride the Cableway back to the top.
Scenic World is located at the corner of Cliff Drive and Violet Street, Katoomba.
For more information telephone 1300 SKYWAY or 02-4780-0200 or visit their website (www.scenicworld.com.au).
Jenolan Caves
During the NSW School Holidays, Jenolan Caves run special tours for kids:
- Bats, Bug & Beasties
- Stones & Bones
- Junior Guides Club
- Junior Explorers
There are 11 caves open for tours plus various music events held in the caves during the year.
Don't miss Carols in the Caves on 10 December 2011: This award winning event is the biggest annual event at the Jenolan Caves. Two wonderful concerts will be held in the Grand Arch - Matinee concert 1.45-3.30pm, Evening concert 7.30-10pm. Bookings are advisable. For details see - http://jenolancaves.org.au/december_2011_carols.php - or phone 1300-76-33-11.
For details on all activities at the Jenolan Caves, please telephone 1300-76-33-11 or 02-6359-3911 or visit the Jenolan Caves website (www.jenolancaves.org.au).
Leuralla - Toy & Railway Museum
The Toy & Railway Museum is housed in the historic home of Leuralla, one of the oldest Blue Mountains heritage listed homes set in 12 acres of beautiful gardens. See a unique collection of toys and trains including pre and post-war dolls, teddy bears, lead figures, comics, books, tinplate trains, aeroplanes, automobiles and working model railway sets. See the biggest Barbie Doll display in Australia and a Matterhorn railway garden plus NSW Railway memoribilia.
Also on display is the Doc Evatt Memorial photographic exhibition. The photographs commemorate the life of former Australian Labor leader Dr Herbert Vere Evatt (1894-1965) who was also elected President of the UN General Assembly in 1948. The photographs are a 'who's who' of international politics from the 1930s-1950s. Leuralla is still in the hands of the Evatt family.
Open daily 10am to 5pm at 36 Olympian Parade, Leura.
Telephone 02-4784-1169
Website: www.toyandrailwaymuseum.com.au
The Lolly Bug, Little Hartley
Who can drive past a lolly shop! The Lolly Bug is on the Great Western Highway in the Hartley Valley. Stop on your way from Katoomba to the Jenolan Caves (it's a 20 minute drive from Katoomba), or it's just 10 minutes from Lithgow. Look for the yellow VW.
You will find hundreds of varieties of lollies - old fashioned English sweets from Kingsway and Bassetts, Scottish delights from Ross' and Lees', boiled lollies, choc-coated temptations, giant lolly pops and Australian favourites such as rosy apples and musk sticks plus local honeys and jams.
The Lolly Bug is part of The Farmhouse Cafe where you can enjoy all day breakfasts, light lunches, burgers, salads, pies, sandwiches and sweets.
You will also find gifts such as hand-painted wine glasses and coffee mugs, hand-made children’s clothing and a wide selection of Vera May handbags.
If you can't get back and want to stock up on your favourite lollies, you can even buy lollies online!
Where: 2297 Great Western Highway, Little Hartley
Website: www.thelollybug.com.au
Telephone: 02-6355-2162
Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum
The museum houses a collection of historic railway and tramway locomotives which depict the development of rail transport in NSW from the 1880s to the 1980s. Have fun with Interactive exhibits of engines and carriages and view railway memorabilia. Take a ride in a restored historic Sydney Steam Tram, see the Model Railway, explore the oldest remaining Steam Locomotive Roundhouse in NSW and restoration works on tramway and railway exhibits. Valley Heights is located between Blaxland and Faulconbridge.
17b Tusculum Rd, Valley Heights
Telephone 02-4751-4638 (weekends only)
Open: 10am-4pm - on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month (except Mothers Day and last Sunday in December)
Entry: Adults $13, Pensioners/Concession $11, Students (5-18yrs) $9, Family (2 adults/2 children or 1 adult/2 children) $35, Children aged 4yrs and under - free
Email: atmuseum@optusnet.com.au
A Day out with Thomas the Tank Engine - Zig Zag Railway
13 April 2012 - 15 April 2012
Join Thomas and his friends for a unique steam train trip.Thomas will be there with James and Douglas and even Diesel will help pull the train. Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller, will be there to say hello and Mr Conductor will ensure you can find your reserved seats on the train. A little Thomas the Tank Engine will pull Annie and Clarabel for you to ride in. There is a jumping castle, merry-go-round and face painters as well as a Thomas model railway. Bookings essential - book online.
Cost: $39.50 per Adult and $27.50 per Child (children under 2 are free)
Where: Zig Zag Railway
Contact: 02-6355-2955
Website: www.zigzagrailway.com.au
Wizards Express - Zig Zag Railway
21 April 2012 and 5 May 2012
Take the family on an exciting journey on the Wizard’s Express. It is two hours of magical fun with a train ride, departing Platform 9-3/4, Clarence Station, Blue Mountains NSW.
Before you set off, prospective house members will be put under the sorting hat for carriage selection then Hagrid will see see you off. Enjoy Wizard food such as lizards, worms, frogs, sows ears etc. which will be served on the way. Professional magicians will entertain you.
Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning 02-6355-2955 or book online at Wizards Express bookings.
2011 costs are $39.50 for adults, $27.50 for children aged 4 - 13, and infants under 4 yrs are free however are not allocated a seat.
Selwood Science & Puzzles
The kids will love this shop. Visit the Puzzle Room, the Science Lab and the bookshop. Lots of hands-on activities and displays.
Open everyday during the school holidays.
Otherwise open 9am-5pm Thurs-Monday (closed Tue and Weds), 10am-4.30pm weekends and public holidays.
Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Good Friday.
Where: 41 Railway Parade, Hazelbrook
Website: www.selwoodscience.com.au
Telephone 02-4758-6235
Nana's Teddies and Toys
This shop can best be described as a mega teddy bear store. They stock over 14,000 teddy bears and plush toys! It's a great place to take the kids.
Open 9am - 5pm everyday except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Where: 21 Great Western Hwy, Blaxland
Telephone 02-4739-0677
Website: www.teddys.com.au
