It looks like Spring has set in and boy does it feel good!
Sometimes the long, cold, dreary months of winter seem to last forever! Now the sun is finally shining, and the air is filled with the scent of awesome spring flowers like jasmine and cherry blossom.
It’s such a gorgeous time of year to get out and about with your little ones. We have put together our list of the best spring family activities in the Sutherland Shire – there will be something here to excite kids big and small.
Camelia Gardens
On those days when the mercury rises and you need to escape the heat, Camelia Gardens, overlooking the beautiful Yowie Bay, is a great alternative to the beach. There is plenty of natural shade to be found, thanks to its wealth of mature trees, while the park’s footpaths lead along an enchanted trail of flora and fauna, which is sure to captivate curious little minds. Feeding the ducks is a firm favourite for most kids. And, if they still have energy to burn, there are two activity playgrounds within the park. Coffees, snacks and adorably-styled high-teas, are served up in the quaint little teahouse at the park entrance.
Audley Dance Hall Café
Okay so not strictly in The Shire, but close enough (just 10 mins drive from Sutho). A good café next to a good park is the Holy Grail of all parents looking to get out of the house with the kids. Audley Dance Hall Café in the heart of the Royal National Park, is the gold standard, and the perfect place to head out if you want to catch up with friends.
The food is delicious and caters to all dietary needs, while the coffee is fantastic. They are also licensed, so you can have a cheeky glass of wine as you sit in the sun. There’s a gorgeous grassed area in front of the café for your kids to run around as you chill out, catch up and recharge your batteries.
Taren Point Hotel
If you are looking to soak up some spring sunshine over lunch, Taren Point Hotel is the perfect spot. The décor has a fun retro, beach-feel, and there are two play areas spanning across age groups – a small toddler area, together with an outdoor table-tennis and hoop-shooting area for teenagers (and energetic adults!)
And, there’s no compromise on food with all the usual bistro favourites, together with some healthier options like poke bowls. Huxley’s Food Truck brings a dose of Americana, with smoked meats, hotdogs and burgers. It’s a pretty relaxing spot to chill with kids – well as much as is possible with kids anyway!
Rock Painting & Dropping
This is a lovely activity to get into with your kids. You can either collect the perfect rocks for decorating from the park or the beach, or buy them from garden stores.
With your children, paint and decorate the rocks with pictures that inspire them or little messages that would make someone’s day. When these are ready you can take a walk in some local parks and drop the rocks for others to find. Kids love both the arty aspect of this activity as well as the surprise factor of dropping them for other children to find.
Little Pip’s Parties
Why save pampering for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary? We think the start of spring is a good enough celebration to get pampered!
Little Pip’s Parties offers a range of pampering options for children and grown-ups and anyone who deserves to be spoiled really. Why not throw a little garden tea party with your girlfriends and invite Little Pip’s Parties to show everyone a good time?
And there is no better time to get your toes ready for showing off in pretty summer sandals – you could arrange for well-deserved pedicures for everyone.
Harry Potter Wizards Unite
Remember when Pokémon Go was all the rage? Any child from pre-tween upwards would beg you to walk around town with them and your phone catching strange little creatures?
The latest incarnation of this is Wizards Unite, created for Harry Potter fans. Kids absolutely love it, and it gets the whole family out and about as you interact with the wizarding world in your local environment through the magic of this magical app.
BusyBods Mobile Personal & Small Group Training
With the warmer months comes summer clothes and bathing suits – which you may not be quite ready for yet!
BusyBods is a small agency offering very personalised training in The Shire. You can book them for one-on-one sessions, or perhaps get a group of your mum friends together to exercise in the local park while the kids play in the sun.
No more excuses for not exercising – and it is truly much more fun when you have someone else to exercise with!
Royal Motor Yacht Club Port Hacking
Even if your family isn’t into sailing (and as your kids get older, you should definitely consider this – it is a wonderful activity for tweens and teens!) you will have a great day out at the RMYC. It is lovely for a coffee, lunch or a refreshing drink, but there’s also some extra fun for budding fisher-people.
Through the school holidays and on the second Friday of every month through spring and summer they also run Kids Fishing, which is a free event to help kids get into fishing. With presentations and prizes for the best catches, your kids will find a whole new hobby to love (and something much better than sitting on their iPads!)
Gran Nannies
And if you are craving a day out in the sun with your partner, without the kids – then you have to check out the services of Gran Nannies Babysitting and Nanny Agency. This is a super cute boutique childcare agency who place experienced carers into babysitting and nannying jobs in the Sutherland Shire.
This kind of childcare brings extra peace of mind for you to have a much-deserved date with your partner or maybe a day out with a group of mums who all deserve some time without children. Can you see yourself sitting in the sun outside a local winery perhaps? So can we!
We live in such a magical part of the world – spring is the perfect time to get out and enjoy it! If you have a favourite spot in the Sutherland Shire for happy spring days, comment on our Facebook and let everyone know.
