20 FREE activities for kids - Warrnambool Photographer

20 FREE activities for kids this winter in the South west region of Victoria.

If like me you are not heading to Queensland or the ski slopes these holidays then you may be wondering what the heck you are going to do to entertain kids for the next two weeks. Being at home with nowhere be, nowhere to go and no lunch boxes to make is my ultimate happy place. I do however need a plan B most days for when we all just need to get out and discover something new. So with that in mind I have compiled a quick list of 20 free activities for kids and families in and around our south west corner. Check out the links I have found and start planning your holidays now! Happy Days xx

1) Yambuk Slide - 248 Carrolls Rd, Yambuk

This is a favourite of ours! Pack a picnic and head out to Yambuk where you will find a giant sand dune slide. Your kids will be happily exhausted after a few turns climbing up and down the steps to the top. From top to bottom the slide is a 33m ride and provides loads of giggles. You could also drop a fishing line in the lake or have a walk along the beach which looks directly out towards Lady Julia Percy Island. But remember it’s a treacherous beach and swimming is not advised.

2) Griffiths Island - Port Fairy

Port Fairy’s Griffith Island has a wonderful walking track which loops around along the beach towards the Light House and then back into Port Fairy along the river. It is a sanctuary for short-tailed shearwaters, locally known as ‘muttonbirds’, wallaby’s and native plants. The walk takes 1-2 hours with kids and please remember dogs are not permitted.

3) Whale Watching - Logans Beach, Warrnambool

Between June and September, female Southern Right whales with their new calves can usually be spotted from Warrnambool’s Logans Beach. There is a specially constructed platform for viewing but remember to pack some binoculars.

4) Bear Making Event - Warrnambool, 1st and 5th July

Join with Stufflers Bear Building to make your own furry friend. A crafting event for kids in Warrnambool.
”Bring down the family and make a PAWsome day of it. Find bears, animals and creatures to become a brand new keep sake.”

5) The Picinnany Walk - Dunkeld

This bush walk is a nice and gentle one to do with kids. I have walked it with my five year old but it did involve some piggy backing. It is a gradual climb through open forest with a slightly steeper ascent to the summit where you will discover excellent views of Dunkeld and Mount Abrupt. Don’t forget your drink bottles, a rain coat and good walking shoes.

6) Forrage for Olivine at the Mount Shadwell Quarry - Mortlake, By appointment

Mortlake - Australia's olivine capital! Olivine is a mineral that exists in many different forms and you can fossick for it with your little geologists at the Mt Shadwell quarry. To register visit the Moyne Shire office in Mortlake for further information. You will be given high vis reflective clothing to wear and need to sign up.

7) Warrnambool Art Gallery - Web and Mobile Design Workshop Ages 10+, 5th July

Learn what it’s like to work as a designer in the tech industry, how are apps designed and how to test ideas out without building them. In this hands-on workshop, Sher Rill who works as an author and illustrator as well as a web and mobile designer in Melbourne, will lead you through the process of designing a phone app using paper cut-outs, a technique used by many designers at the start of an interactive project. At the end of the hour, you’ll walk away with your very own design template, an insight into the working world of web and mobile design, and the tech industry. This is a FREE event however bookings are essential.

8) Port Fairy Fairy Hunt - Port Fairy

Find some magic in the town. Pick up your clues at the Information Centre (from 9am-5pm) and then head down the rabbit hole into Alice’s wonderland. Keep your eyes open and see if you can find the White Rabbit’s missing gloves, or the Queen’s guards busy painting the roses red. Just please look out for the nasty Queen of Hearts!! A treasure hunt through Port Fairy based on Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland as part of the Winter Weekends festival. Free, Every day from 9am, Start at the Visitor Information Centre, Bank St.

9) Photography Workshops - Port Fairy, Friday 5th and Sunday 7th July

Renowned southwest photographers Perry Cho and Pete Chamberlain traverse the region to capture exceptional moments and scenes. Here in Port Fairy, Perry, Pete and friends will guide you on how to take great night shots, including tips on exposure, framing, in-camera settings and more. Free - No bookings required. All ages and levels welcome.

10) Light up Port Fairy - Wishart St, Port Fairy

Enter the crisp winter night to see an old street in a new light. Illuminated in a play of colour, shadow and light, the whole of Wishart St will be transformed during the Winter Weekends festival. Walk down one of Port Fairy’s most iconic avenues with more than 15 colonial cottages and 19th century villas, and their gardens, lit up to bring the heritage area alive, 6-10pm every festival weekend.

11) Jack Russell terrier & Hunting Dog Show - Hamilton Show Grounds, July 14th

Visit the Hamilton Show grounds on Sunday, July the 14th for some best in show action. This event is for registered Jack Russell Terriers and Hunting Dogs and includes classes from waggiest tail to fattest, plus novelty events from 11am including sack race, egg and spoon race and more.

12) Plant a Tree - National Tree Day - Hamilton & Port Fairy July 28th

Do something positive for your community and the environment by connecting with nature. Special tree planting events have been organised in Hamilton and Port Fairy (as well as many other towns near you). So rug up and join in with the whole family to improve biodiversity in your local area with tree planting.

Port Fairy - Sat 20th July 10am-12pm Battery Hill.

Hamilton - Sunday 28th July.

13) Community Gardens - Spend a day in your local community garden

With hundreds of community gardens in Victoria, there is likely to be one near you. From former bowling clubs to inner city rooftops, you might be surprised by the location of your local community garden. Use a directory search to find your local community garden or contact your council for more information. You might also consider starting a new community garden?

14) Meals on wheels - Volunteer to help with Meals on Wheels

Every day a friendly smile, a chat about the weather, a nutritious meal and knowing someone will drop by to say hello, changes the lives of many Australians. Volunteers are crucial to the operation of every Meals on Wheels organisation. They drive the cars and deliver the meals and other food services to clients. No matter what an individual can offer, every bit of help adds up to a happier, healthier community. Contact your local council to see how you can volunteer for your local Meals On Wheels initiative.

15) Port Fairy Park Run - Port Fairy, Saturday Mornings 8am

Wear the kids out early with a run around the Russell Clark Reserve. Other towns have similar events so check it out with your local council and start your own weekly race against the clock.

16) Winter Weekends Festival - Port Fairy

The Winter Weekends festival is a great way to escape the dullness of winter. So many exciting activities to attend from concerts, exhibitions, lunches, see the town bathed in light, bike riding, fishing, farmers market’s and much more. Make a trip to Port Fairy and join in the fun! Download the full winter weekend program at http://www.portfairywinterweekends.com.au/

17) Tower Hill Wildlife Reserve - Tower Hill, 18kms west of Warrnambool

Explore this massive volcanic feature by taking one of the five self-guided walks. Each has a different theme. Enjoy a picnic, spot some local wildlife and learn about the Aboriginal heritage of the area at the Worn Gundidj Visitor Centre. You may find koalas, emus, kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, turtles and possums and even snakes in spring and summer!

(My last three ideas do require a small entry fee or gold coin donation)

18) Children’s Make and Create - Port Fairy, St John’s Church Hall, Barclay St.

Learn, play and experiment with a number of fun art techniques. Come and spend a morning amongst artists who’ll share fun ways to create using items you may already have at home. Local artists will bring ideas and supplies to inspire children. All materials provided. Suitable for ages 6+, children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Sat 6 July 10am-12:30pm, Gold coin donation.

19) Volcano Discovery Centre - Penshurst

To see a volcano blow its top and a red river of molten lava cascade down its side visit the discovery centre in Penshurst. You will be transported back thousands of years when volcanoes were erupting right across the Western District and into South Australia. You will also learn how volcanoes are formed, their geology, their history in the Western District. Family entry $15

20) J Ward, Ararat’s old Gaol - Ararat

Take a guided tour of J Ward, Ararat's Old Gaol and Lunatic Asylum. Hear stories of murderers, ghosts and mistreatment of mental illness. J Ward is close to the Grampians and open daily for tours by passionate Friends of J Ward volunteers. There is so much to see that no two tours are exactly the same.

Tours run at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm each day with  extra tours at 12pm and 3pm on Sundays and Victorian public and school holidays (except Christmas Day). Adults $17, concession $15, under 16 $5, under 5 free.

Emily Wilson