That’s a wrap for Term 1 of the 2023 school calendar. Don’t get caught leaving the kids in front of a screen these school holidays when there’s plenty of activities on offer to stimulate their senses, both indoors and out, right across our region.
Saturday 8 April
Easter Fun Day. Hunter Wetlands Centre. 9.30am – 1.30pm. Tickets $7.50pp. Bookings essential.
Easter Bunny Tea Party. Marketown. 10am – 10.30am, 11am – 11.30am and 12pm – 12.30pm. Free.
Jungle Easter Egg Hunt – Moore Street, Maitland. 9.30am – noon. Ages 2-12 years.
Sunday 9 April
Easter Fun at Miss Porter’s House Museum. Sunday and Monday 1pm – 4pm. Bookings essential.
Tuesday 11 April
Gums to Bums, a free science show. Newcastle Museum. All ages. 45-minute sessions at 10.15am, 11.15am and 12.15pm.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Young People’s Theatre, Hamilton. Tickets $25. Until 13 May.
Young Adult Book Bingo at Wallsend Library from 4pm – 5pm. Free.
Free Art by the River – Bourke Street Link, The Levee, Maitland. Daily at 10am – 1pm until 21 April.
Wednesday 12 April
Digital Drawing Workshop. Wangi Library Creative Hub. Basic digital drawing for beginners aged 5+ Half-hour sessions at 10am, 10.30am, 11am and 11.30am. Bookings essential.
Musical Pictures Workshop. Toronto Library. 45-minute sessions 2.30pm and 3.45pm. Ages 5+. Bookings essential.
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe: Narnia Experience at Young People’s Theatre. Years 2-4. 10.30am – 2.30pm. Cost $75.
DIY Temporary Tattoos. Wallsend Library. 1pm – 3pm. Free. All ages.
Thursday 13 April
Digital Drawing Workshop. Wangi Library Creative Hub. Ages 5+. Half-hour sessions at 2pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm and 4pm. Bookings essential.
Author Talk: What if, learn how to flip your fears into fun. Lambton Library. Ages: 7-12. (Must be accompanied by an adult). Free. Bookings essential.
Gums to Bums, free science shows. Newcastle Museum. All ages. 45-minute sessions. 10.15am, 11.15am and 12.15am.
Weaving with Recycled Materials. Wallsend Library. 9am to 10am. Ages 5+. Free
Junior Sleuths; Tattoo Tales. Maitland Gaol. 11am – 12pm. $15. Bookings Essential. Ages 5 – 12. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe: Narnia Experience at Young People’s Theatre. Years 5-6. 1.30pm – 5.30pm. Cost $75.
Draw Your Own Fantasy Map. Wallsend Library. 3pm – 5pm. Free. Ages 12+.
Virtual Reality at Newcastle City Library. Free. Bookable sessions between 1pm and 3.30pm. Ages 13+.
Friday 14 April
Author Talk: Lessons of a LAC series, ‘Little Anxious Creature’ series. Lambton Library. 10am to 11am. Ages 3-12. (Must be accompanied by an adult). Free. Bookings essential.
Yarn Painting Workshop. Newcastle City Library. 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Free. Ages 5-12.
Make It Maitland – Let’s Roller Skate. Maitland regional Athletics Centre. Free. 5pm – 9pm.
Saturday 15 April
Hot Potato Band Children’s Concert. Rathmines Theatre. Tickets $10. Sessions 11am and 1pm. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Make It Maitland – Let’s Roller Skate. Maitland regional Athletics Centre. Free. noon – 9pm.
Little Festival in High Street – Maitland’s secret art scene. Free. 9.30am – 2pm.
Sunday 17 April
Weaving with Recycled Materials. Newcastle Library. 9am to 10am. Ages 5+. Free.
Monday 16 April
Make It Maitland – Let’s Roller Skate. Maitland regional Athletics Centre. Free. 10am – 3pm.
Tuesday 18 April
Crafty Kids, Monster bookmarks and masks. Cardiff Library, karum. Ages 4+. 10am to noon. Bookings essential. Also at Morisset Library, bawarramalang from 3pm to 3.45pm.
Teddy Bears Picnic. Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, Heatherbrae. Craft workshops, market stalls, Hunter Heroes, BYO teddy or dinosaur. $5pp. 10am to 2pm.
Gums to Bums, free science shows. Newcastle Museum. All ages. 45-minute sessions. 10.15am, 11.15am and 12.15am.
DIY Temporary Tattoos. Wallsend Library. 1pm to 3pm. Free. All ages.
Wednesday 19 April
Magic Workshop for Kids with Joel from JD’s World of Magic. Charlestown Library, walyamayi. Children aged 6+. 10am to 11am. Bookings essential.
Digital Drawing Workshop. Wangi Library Creative Hub, wanji wanji. Ages 5+. Half-hour sessions at 10am, 10.30am, 11am and 11.30am. Bookings essential.
Yarn Turtles Workshop. Wallsend Library. 9am. Free. Ages 5+.
Mr Stink – Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC). Two shows (60-minutes) at 12.30pm and 2.30pm. $25 ticket.
Thursday 20 April
Gums to Bums, free science shows. Newcastle Museum. All ages. 45-minute sessions. 10.15am, 11.15am and 12.15am.
Digital Drawing Workshop. Wangi Library Creative Hub, wanji wanji. Ages 5+. Half-hour sessions at 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm and 3.30pm. Bookings essential.
Crafty Kids, Monster bookmarks and masks. Belmont Library, ngarrabangba. Ages 4+. 45-minute sessions at 2pm and 3.15pm. Bookings essential.
Junior Sleuths; Tattoo Tales. Maitland Gaol. 11am – noon. $15. Bookings Essential. Ages 5 – 12.
Interwoven (Aboriginal Weaving) Workshop. Wallsend Library. Free. Ages 5+. 45-minute sessions at 10am, 11am and noon.
Virtual Reality at Newcastle City Library. Free. Bookable sessions between 1pm and 3.30pm. Ages 13+.
Friday 21 April
Mining and Crafting, Lego Workshop inspired by MineCraft. SEEN@Swansea. 10am to noon. Ages 6+ $17. Bookings essential.
The Rumble Moneybowl. Bar Beach Bowl. 10am to 7pm.
How to make a collage animal. Lambton Library. Free, 10am to 11am. Ages 7 to 12. Bookings essential.
Yarn Turtles Workshop. Newcastle City Library. 1pm to 2pm. Free. Ages 5+.
For more holiday ideas:
- First sighting of the Easter Bunny recorded in the Hunter
- Your guide to markets in our region
- Your guide to op-shops in our region
- Your school holiday guide
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