2024 Winter School Holiday Survival Guide
As a small family business, at Gympie Web Design we know the importance of keeping the youngest members of the family occupied during the school holidays.
Whether you’re a local family like us or visiting the Gympie region in June and July, we’ve put together our top 10 activities to survive the winter school holiday season in Gympie!
Our team will be enjoying some family time during the last week of June with availability for new website builds and SEO clients in July – reach out to us if a new website is on your to-do list for the new financial year!
We hope this list helps add some core memories – enjoy and stay warm!
Rhys & Olivia
1. Rally Gympie Region
Image: Gympie Regional Council
Dates: Friday 28 – Sunday 30 June 2024
Ages: Motorsport enthusiasts, big and small!
Cost: Free, with some ticketed events (e.g. Gympie Rally Rocks is free for under 4’s with tickets starting from $10 for ages 5+).
If the little people in your life love Hot Wheels cars, this is your chance to take them to see the real thing! This three-day festival has something for everyone with motorsport spectator points nestled in the Mary Valley, the Winter Trees street party featuring Wheels on Mary (that’s right – 80+ rally cars lining Mary Street!), or a night of live music at Gympie Rally Rocks.
Pro tip: Rally Queensland has spectator guides available here so that you can find the best rally vantage points from 8:45 am on Saturday 29 June.
Find out more: https://www.visitgympieregion.com.au/rally/
2. Free Family Fun at Gympie Regional Gallery
Image: Gympie Regional Gallery
Dates: Tuesday 25 & Wednesday 26 June, Tuesday 2 & Wednesday 3 July 2024
Ages: All ages welcome (parents must stay with children for supervision)
Cost: The best things in life are free!
Drop into Gympie Regional Gallery with your budding Picasso between 10 am – 1 pm on the program dates to explore grotesque design! Inspired by the work of Natalya Hughes (currently in the Children’s Art Centre at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane). No bookings are required.
Pro tip: Best to dress your kids in older, comfy clothing. Whether it’s paint, glue, glitter, or pen, for little artists it can be a whole-body creative experience. Rug up but not in that new white jumper!
Find out more: https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/events/event/857/winter-school-holiday-program-free-family-fun
3. Gympie Ten Pin Bowling & Entertainment
Dates: View their opening hours here or book a lane for their Superhero Dress Up Night on Saturday 6 July 2024 from 5 pm – 8 pm
Ages: All ages welcome (lane bumpers available for the little ones…or millennial parents who aren’t as good as they remember!)
Cost: Packages start from $12 for a single game per person. Need inspiration for your next birthday party? Gympie Ten Pin Party Packs start from $20/pp.
We had so much fun here with the extended family during our last visit in March, and we’ll be back again during these school holidays! Parking is easy, the refurb is schmick, there’s snacks and drinks and even an arcade game section – and that’s before you even start bowling. Fight it out one strike (or gutter ball) at a time; one of our top picks for wholesome family fun.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to pack socks 🙂
Find out more: https://www.facebook.com/gympietenpin
4. Get Outdoors at Victory Heights Recreation Trails
Dates: Daytime hours each day, or join the weekly Park Run on Saturday 22 June, Saturday 29 June, or Saturday 6 July 2024.
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
This is a must-do for families looking to burn off excess energy and spend time away from screens. Whether you prefer a walk, run, or hopping on the bike – this is a great way to spend an hour or two as a family! Located across from the Victory Store (easy parking, toilets on site, and even picnic tables if little stomachs can’t last 20 minutes without a snack). There are a range of bike routes and 2km, 3km, or 5km walking/running trail options depending on energy levels!
Pro tip: If you’re walking with a baby, bring your favourite baby carrier – it’s too bumpy (not sealed) and narrow for prams.
Find out more: https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/recreation-tourism/outdoor-activities/tracks-trails/victory-heights-trail-network
5. Winter Cookie Decorating at Goldfields Plaza
Image: Goldfields Plaza
Dates: Wednesday 3rd July 2024 11 am-2 pm
Ages: All ages are welcome
Cost: Free
Need to collect your latest order from Kmart or pick up morning tea at Baker’s Delight? This is a great drop-in activity for savvy shoppers looking to run errands and occupy the kids at the same time. These edible creations might even save you an argument in the chocolate aisle at Coles (wishful thinking?). This sounds like fun!
Pro tip: Take baby wipes for sticky fingers!
Find out more: https://goldfieldsplaza.com.au/winter-school-holidays/
6. Watch a Family Film at Gympie Cinemas
Image: Gympie Cinema
Dates: Check showtimes weekly online here.
Ages: The Garfield Movie is rated G for general audiences (all ages), or there are PG options with Inside Out 2 and Despicable Me 4.
Cost: Tickets start from $12 for children aged under 15 (note the online booking fee of $1 per ticket if selecting tickets ahead of time). Children under 3 are free!
You guessed it – it’s core memory time! Our pick these holidays is Inside Out 2 for our four kids aged under 10, but there are multiple options to choose from (even flicks for those with teens to please)!
Pro tip: Why not combine your movie session with activity 5? Gympie Cinemas offer 11 am session times, so there’s time to cross the road and decorate winter cookies afterwards!
Find out more: https://gympiecinema.com.au/
7. Gympie Studio Trails
Image: Gympie Regional Council
Dates: Official launch at Gympie Regional Gallery on Saturday 29 June 2024 3 pm – 5 pm, or explore behind-the-scenes of the Gympie region’s artist studios from Saturday 6 July 2024
Ages: All welcome, check individual studios for access details and/or ages for workshops
Cost: Free, with some ticketed workshops (expect to pay around $35/pp)
From demonstrations to workshops, there are 20 studios open on the last weekend of school holidays for families to explore. From chain sawing carving to wheel throwing and painting, be inspired by the Gympie region’s finest artists, artisans, and creative practitioners who are generously opening their galleries and studios throughout July (Gympie Studio Trails run from 6-29 July 2024).
Pro tip: There’s a bus! If transport is a challenge or you’d like to meet like-minded people, Gympie Regional Gallery is also running a small bus to a selection of studios. $15/pp and bookings are essential.
Find out more: https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/studio-trails
8. Gympie Regional Libraries School Holiday Activities
Dates: Various, check the what’s on calendar for your preferred location or activity
Ages: All ages (check individual activity details – parents generally need to stay and assist with activities).
Cost: Free (bookings are essential for some school holiday programs)
From Baby Bounce on Wednesday mornings at Gympie Library to solar system craft with Blast Off! at Kilkivan Library, the network of libraries in the Gympie region has a full schedule of offerings these school holidays. Bookings are essential for some activities and there are also age recommendations in place (e.g. ages 5-8, 5-12, 12-17 etc.). There are six library branches across the region with activities on offer across all locations: Gympie, Goomeri, Imbil, Kilkivan, Rainbow Beach, and Tin Can Bay.
Pro tip: Older clothes and baby wipes on hand for activities is a must. One of the Easter holiday activities featured superglue…you can probably see where this story is going!
Find out more: https://gympie.events.mylibrary.digital/
9. Children’s Wand and Assemblage Art Workshop
Image: Nora Hanasy, The Glamour Cats (2022).
Dates: Friday 28 June and Friday 5 July 2024 from 10 am – 12 pm at Gympie Regional Gallery
Ages: 5-15 years (parents are not required to stay for supervision)
Cost: $15 per child (bookings essential)
Accio wine! If you’ve made it this far and almost locked in your school holiday itinerary, make sure this one is on your list! Inspired by the exhibition ‘Finders Keepers’ by Nora Hanasy, children will create their own assemblage art from natural materials, wire, and other ephemera. Places are limited.
Pro tip: While the kids are occupied crafting the next Elder Wand, the Gallery is only a short walk from Goldfields Plaza and Mary Street shopping precinct. This is a drop-off program, so a perfect excuse to warm up with a coffee and support small business while waiting for your artisans to finish!
Find out more: https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/events/event/858/winter-school-holiday-program-children-s-wand-workshop
10. Gympie Ninja Camp
Image: Gympie Ninja Camp
Dates: Thursday 27 June 2024 from 9:30 am – 2 pm at 11 Bent Street, Gympie
Ages: 5-13 years
Cost: $40 per child (bookings essential)
Martial arts? Self-defense? Nerf guns? Yes, yes and yes! If your child is an Energiser Bunny in disguise, then this might just buy you an early bedtime (don’t tell them that!). No ninja experience is necessary and this just sounds like a whole lot of fun. Contact Miss Green on 0431 991 940 or book online.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to bring a water bottle, wear comfortable clothing, and pack some lunch/snacks to keep your child fuelled. Nerf guns are BYO or supplied by request.
Find out more: https://mfgympie.wufoo.com/forms/ms9w5ro001oz5b/
See you out there!
And that rounds off our 10 things to do with your kids in Gympie this Winter school holidays.
Got some activities and events to add? Let us know in the comments!