Darwin September October School holidays 2024

Are you ready for our September October holidays 2024?

School holidays will start on Saturday 21st September (for Darwin public schools, private and independent school holidays may be slightly different – please check with your school). Students will return to school for Term 4 on Tuesday 8th October (public schools).

Darwin Family Life has rounded up some of the fantastic options that are free (or affordable) activities to do with your kids these September October School holidays 2024.

Darwin September October School holidays 2024

Rollarama – Skate Session Friday 20th September

No frills, no structured lessons, just a cool place to skate your heart out to great skating tunes! Rollarama’s are not a coached session, they are a roller disco, perfect for all ages and skill levels. They have safe zones if the main floor is a bit too much for you. From 6pm to 8pm at Marrara Indoor Stadium. Book your tickets here

Kite Festival – Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September

Activate Darwin is excited to announce the return of the Darwin Kite Festival! Held across two days, this year’s festival promises to bring just as many kites and community-fun as last year. On Friday 20 September on from 5pm – 9pm and Saturday 31 September on from 12pm – 9pm.

Be amazed as hundreds of giant, colourful and mesmerising kites take over our beautiful blue skies on the Cullen Bay Lawns. There will be plenty of action on the ground too, with free kids entertainment like jumping castles, face painting, roving entertainment, music and much more. They’re making attending this year’s Festival a breeze! Catch the Kite Express (Bus 14) from the Darwin Interchange to Kite Festival or jump on the Kite Shuttle, taking you from Mindil Beach and Myilly Terrace overflow parking to Kite Festival! Both of these options are free for Kite Festival attendees.

photo source from City of Palmerston

Aquafest – Swell Palmerston – Saturday 21st September

Dive into Aquafest – the splashiest way to wrap up Water Safety Week! Head down to Swell Palmerston from 10:30am to 3:30pm. A free day packed with excitement, learning, and community fun. Aquafest is the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends and family while brushing up on those all-important water safety skills. Plus, there are awesome prizes up for grabs!

FlicNics FREE outdoor movies – Saturday 21st September

The popular outdoor movie program, FlicNics is on again from 5:30pm – 9pm. Enjoy the last Saturday night for their FREE outdoor movie in Palmy! This Saturday Migration (G) will be shown at Joan Fejo Park, Rosebery. Food trucks: Hangry Dogs n More and The Smoothie Van will be on site and kids entertainment prior to movie will be Origami, bird/animal craft.

Darwin International Film Festival – Fantastic Mr Fox – Sunday 22nd September

Presented by Darwin International Film Festival. DIFF partners with Darwin Waterfront to screen a selection of acclaimed favourites by the master of quirk, Wes Anderson. Screening at the Waterfront Screen on Sunday 22nd September from 8pm. This event is FREE and NON-TICKETED. After 12 years of peaceful life, Roald Dahl’s Mr Fox betrays a promise to his wife by raiding the farms of their human neighbours. As the farmers drive him and his family underground he must rely on his cleverness to secure their survival. A charming, exquisitely crafted, family friendly stop-motion animation featuring the voice acting talents of George Clooney, Meryl Streep and Willem Dafoe.

Top End Multi Sports – September October School holidays program

Looking for school holiday fun? Keep your kids entertained & active these school holidays with their multi sports program. TEMS have their popular sports holiday program back each week in the September October holidays break. From Monday 23rd September to Thursday 3rd October.

Join them for an action packed weeks of sports including: Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball (optional) + Pool & Movie Time. Their coaching staff will provide a safe environment for children to develop their sporting skills through games, skill sessions, drills whilst having bucket loads of fun. For ages 5+ 8am to 4pm (half days and earlier starts available on request)

Cost is $250 for 4 day (week) or $75 per day

Enrolments are now open and filling up fast! For more information and to enrol, click here.

Hooked On Palmerston

Embrace the Top End’s fishing lifestyle in one of the lakes with City of Palmerston’s recreational catch and release barramundi competition! Open to all ages, this season’s competition is on until 30 September 2024 providing plenty of time to tackle a tagged barramundi. Head here for more info!

Art Classes these School holidays

School Holidays Art Classes at the gorgeous Greenhouse Nightcliff. Open to ages 6 and up. 5 year olds welcome if parents can stay and support them through the class. Host holds an Ochre card and you are welcome to drop and pick up the kids after class (for 6 years and up). Parents and Guardians are welcome to join the class if they want for spend a few hours being creative with their little ones. The tickets are priced the same for kids and adults. Happy Painting! Various times and days available. Book your tickets here

Hey Caddy Palmerston and X-Golf – School holidays special

Head on down to one of Darwin’s newest entertainment venues for Hey Caddy and X-Golf School holiday special offers! Take the whole family out for $99!

X-Golf Deal

What’s included?

* 1.5hr Sim Hire

* 1 Pizza to Share

* 4 Drinks (max 2 alcoholic drinks)

* Valid Monday to Friday, 10am till 4pm

* Up to 6 People (max 2 adults)

Hey Caddy Deal

What’s included?

* 18 Holes of Mini Golf

* 1 Pizza to Share

* 4 Drinks (max 2 alcoholic drinks)

* Valid Monday to Friday, 10am till 4pm

* Up to 6 People (max 2 adults)

They can’t wait for you to come down and make memories with them these holidays! Both offers will run during school holidays.

FREEZE Skate Session – Wednesday 25th September

This FREE skating session is exclusively for teenagers. Bring your friends! Bookings essential as places are limited. Ages 12-20 only from 5:30-7pm at Darwin Ice Skating Centre. Snack will be provided. Don’t forget your socks!! Registrations will open 19th September– no advanced registrations available. More info here

Deckchair Movie – Thursday 26th September

FREE movie at Deckchair – Coraline (PG). Tickets are free for ages 12-25
(and the first 100 youth ticket holders through the door get a free popcorn). You can still purchase a ticket if you’re outside that age range. Book your tickets here

Mermaid Magic at Darwin Waterfront – Thursday 26th and Friday 27th September

Head on down to the Darwin Waterfront from 5pm to 8pm both days for two afternoons of fun by the Rec Lagoon Beach! Snap a photo with their Magic Mermaids and enjoy lots of themed activities and arts and crafts this school holidays! Pack your swim gear, meet the mermaids and enjoy beach games and dancing by the Rec Lagoon. All activities are FREE and booking is not required.

Gaming after Dark (with XR VR Gaming) – Friday 27th September

Gaming After Dark is a safe, action-packed and inclusive place for young people aged 12-17 to hang out and play casual setups, compete in low stakes esports competitions, socialise and make new friends. Gaming After Dark is held at Casuarina Library 6:30 to 8:30pm, snacks provided.

GEEK UP – Sunday 29th September

Geek Up is a FREE event for young people (aged 15-25) held on the last Sunday of the month at Casuarina Library from 1pm to 4pm. PLUS a DIY toastie station! There are three activities on offer:

> Board Games with The GG Social Club
> Dungeons & Dragons with Grimm
> Digital art with a different guest artist each month

Marrara Sports Trek – Tuesday 1st October

Join in for a free sports taster day across the Marrara sports complex! Young people will get the chance to try their hands at a variety of sports (soccer, squash and more!), meet new people and get comfortable visiting some of the awesome sports facilities available to them. Lunch and snacks provided. Sports appropriate clothing should be worn on the day – think socks, sneakers and comfy clothes that won’t be too hot. Marrara Sports Trek is for ages 12-17 only. Meeting at the Shak 9:30am to 4pm and will be held at Marrara Sports Complex. Free event but registration essential here

Pirate plunder – Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October

Head on down to Darwin Waterfront to join in all the Pirate fun from 5pm to 8pm! Meet at the Peninsula Lawns for an afternoon of adventures, on Thursday there will be building a pirate ship and all sorts of crafts, games, activities, face painting and storytelling! On Friday 4 October for an epic Pirate Disco will be happening, dress up as a pirate and win prizes! All activities are FREE and booking is not required.

Family Fun Day – Sunday 6th October

Head to the Palmerston Golf and Country Club for their FREE Family Fun Day on Sunday the 6th of October from 11am- 1pm. Hyper the Clown, face painting, petting zoo, live music, craft table and a sausage sizzle will all be happening on the day!

Leanyer Recreation Park

Another great option to keep the kids busy these Darwin September October School holidays is to visit Leanyer Recreation park. It is a FREE water recreation park located at 215 Vanderlin Drive Leanyer. The Park consists of dry and wet recreational areas. The wet area includes a swimming lagoon (shallow in many areas – great for toddlers and young children), three massive water slides for the older kids. There are large, grassed areas for play, BBQ’s, a dry playground, skate park and basketball courts. The Park has lots of shaded areas including over the pool, the wet play area, the skate park and the grassed areas. There are toilets and change room facilities.

Opening hours during the school holidays are:

Park from 9am

Wet Play & Lagoon from 10am

Slides from 11am

Park closes at 6pm

Leanyer Recreation Park holiday events

All events are FREE and no registration required.

Monday 30th of September 10am – 12pm

Yenz Entertainment will be doing a ‘Paint me Silly’ craft workshop. Come and go as you please and create your own masterpiece to take home.

Tuesday 1st of October 10am – 1pm

a range of inflatables will be spread across the grassed areas with a glitter tattoo station for everyone to enjoy!

Wednesday 2nd of October 10am – 12pm

Yenz Entertainment will be doing a ‘Rad Badge’ craft workshop. Come and go as you please and create your own masterpiece to take home.

Museum and Art Gallery – Natural History – Silent Disco Tour

Join for a fantastic trip back in time to discover the Northern Territory’s unique flora and fauna. Dance your way through the exhibits and connect with the importance of our beautiful and diverse landscapes and their incredible creatures. On these school holidays: Thursday 26 September, Friday 27 September and Saturday 28 September. Two sessions to choose from 10:30 AM – 11:30am and 12:00pm – 1:00pm. Suitable for ages 6 – 12 years. Price: $12.50 per person. Bookings are Essential. Book tickets here https://bit.ly/3zf21D5

City of Palmerston Library Holidays program

Join City of Palmerston Library for their School Holiday Program! 23 September – 4 October 2024, 10:00am -12:00pm. All sessions are FREE for ages 5-12 & activities kick off 10am daily. From Slime making, movies, painting and more Check out the full program here

City of Darwin – Fun in the Parks

Fun in the Parks is a school holiday program that is full of fun activities and operates every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during school holidays, except on public holidays. All families are welcome to come along and have some fun. For more info on their holiday sessions head here

City of Darwin Libraries

From STEAM zone, board games, yoga, make a pillowcase workshop, Kroc Awards party and more! Check out what’s on here

Taminimin Community Library holiday program

Taminimin Community Library located at 70 Challoner Cct Humpty Doo. Check out their Facebook page for more information about FREE school holiday activities. From Minecraft gaming, midday movies, lego volcanos, library bag art and more. Some bookings are required.

Office of Youth Affairs

The Office of Youth affairs publish School holiday calendars for 12-25yr olds. Check out their calendars here

Playshack Palmerston

Why not head into the Playshack located in the Hub complex Palmerston (Shop 7, 3 Maluka Drive). Let the kids run and burn their energy on the massive indoor playground and you can enjoy a coffee or drink and a snacks available for purchase. Their hours during school holidays will be 8.30 am till 2 pm Monday – Friday, plus the usual weekend times of Saturday 9 am till 2pm and Sunday 10 am till 3pm. Entry is only $9.90 per child and bubs under 1 are free with an older sibling (or $3). Please remember your socks!

Palmerston Water Park

Palmerston Water Park is the second water park in Darwin. It also FREE and open seven days a week. Located at Cnr University Ave and Roystonea Ave (access via Roystonea Ave). The water park includes a 14 metre high – 100 metre long – six-line racer water slide, a wet play area for families and toddlers featuring sprays, water curtains and a shallow wading pool. Another wet play area for teenagers featuring more active water cannons, buckets and high intensity interactive play, a café, toilets and change room facilities, open grassed play area with BBQs, shaded areas and a skate park.

Opening hours during the school holidays are:

Park from 9am

Wet Play from 10am

Slides from 11am

Park closes at 6pm

The SHAK Youth Hub – at Sanderson Middle School

The Shak is located at Sanderson Middle School is located at 60 Matthews Road Malak, for 10-17yr olds. Hosting a variety of School holiday activities. Check out event details here

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and have a great September October School holidays 2024! Please leave a comment if you found this blog helpful and hit share with your friends on Facebook!

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Darwin September October School holidays 2024

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