Keeping kids entertained is a full-time job. Luckily the Sutherland Shire offers an absolute smorgasbord of entertainment options!
Whether you’re looking for ways to keep the kids busy over the school holidays or just need some inspiration to make your weekends more exciting, you’ll find helpful ideas on the list below.
There’s sure to be something to please everyone here so that you can prevent the dreaded “I’m bored” catch cries and create treasured memories instead.
Take the family on a bushwalk. Here are some of our favourite family-friendly bushwalks in the Shire.
Head to a new local playground. Use our playground reviews to help you decide where to go or refer to our guide to the Shire’s best playgrounds.
Explore a new suburb. Our “A day out in…” the Shire guides are a great place to help you discover fun new destinations.
Enrol in an organised activity. There are so many different school holiday activities in the Shire that your kids can join, which will help them build new skills and confidence. From swimming, sports, singing and dancing to theatre sports, sewing, arts and crafts.
Make it a movie day. Check out what’s on at Event Cinemas Miranda or Hoyts Cronulla for a movie the whole family will enjoy, or take the kids along to a kids movie night at South Village, where they’ll be supervised while you are free to dine at one of the fabulous restaurants in the precinct.
Glam up the girls (or boys!) The Bridal Bar is holding Little Glam workshops for kids and you can book your child’s spot now, or have a day out with your child that can be as simple as you both having your nails painted, if your kids are on the younger side, or go for a full mani/pedi with your older kids at a local salon like Professional at South Village.
Have a themed day or week. This is one of the easiest ways to stop kids from telling you they’re bored! Simply pick a theme they are interested in and make all your activities revolve around it for as long as they are still interested. You can use our Busy Kids guides for themed inspiration. They include ideas for where to go, what to make, watch, play and listen to for a range of different themes.
Find a local event. We regularly update our What’s On calendar with fun family-friendly events happening within the Sutherland Shire.
Look into your library. Sutherland Shire Libraries are such a great free resource for kids, which will help them continue their learning on weekends and holidays. They also host lots of different events and activities for you to check out.
Visit a beautiful beach. The Shire has some beautiful beaches and when the weather is right they are an easy way to spend a few hours. Feel like you’ve done Cronulla beach to death? Try a new beach location.
Go for a ride. Grab the bikes or scooters and hit up one of the Shire’s local skate parks. Barden Ridge Courts and Bellingara Courts in Miranda are also popular spots for learners and first-time riders.
Splash and swim. Sutherland Shire Leisure Centres enable you to swim without bringing sand home! With toddler pools and splash parks at some locations too, Sutherland Shire Leisure Centres.
Picnic at the park. Don’t need a playground to keep the kids entertained? Head to a pretty park or garden in the Shire with your rug and basket and just enjoy the scenery. You can even hire a picnic from The Boatshed.
Grab a bite. The Shire is full of family-friendly spots to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner! We like Tradies Caringbah, Bangor Tavern, Sharks at Kareela Golf Club, The Prince Hotel, Civic Cafe, The Boatshed, Cronulla Golf Club, Union Place Hotel, or Cronulla RSL. And there are plenty of others listed in our “A day out in…” the Shire guides too.
Embrace active indoor fun. When the weather is wet and woeful there’s plenty of fun still on offer in the Shire! Climbfit at Kirrawee, Flip Out and Inflatable World at Taren Point, AMF Bowling at Southgate Sylvania and other local Play Centres will help the kids burn their energy before they start climbing the walls at home!
Game on. Younger kids will love the novelty of visiting Timezone Miranda, while more serious gamers may be interested in joining the Sutherland Shire Gamers for regular meet-ups where kids can make gaming social and play together.
What’s your favourite thing to do in the Sutherland Shire? Let us know if we have missed anything!
