The spring school holidays are just around the corner, and we’ve started compiling the best-of-the-best Central Coast school holiday camps available for you!
We’ve found Raw Challenge camps, soccer camps (offering 10%+ off), leadership camps, ninja camps, circus camps and sporting camps that’ll teach your kids awesome skills, plus get them active and having a blast.
PLUS, we’re GIVING AWAY a one-day soccer camp with The Football Grounds for your kid and their friend!
And we’re GIVING AWAY a family pass to see Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
For your chance to win, scroll down and enter!
Scroll down to get your holidays started, and be sure to check back soon as we’ve got more fun activities to share.
Central Coast School Holiday Camps
10% off The Football Grounds full-day school holiday camps, Erina
Have a kid who’s soccer mad? Us too.
Soccer is HUGE at the moment. With the Mariners taking out the A-League championships for the 2nd year in a row, it feels like every local Coastie kid wants to be the next Ronaldo. AND, guess what? We’ve found a program that can help that happen: The Football Grounds.
Every school holiday, The Football Grounds runs full-day soccer camps for kids aged 5-15. The focus here is on ensuring kids have fun while also honing their skills. Throughout the day they’ll do team-bonding games, agility games/courses and drills that improve their soccer skills. It’s learning in an environment that’s encouraging and fun: there ain’t no drill sergeants.
This spring they’re running camps across six days. Here’s why we love the classes and we know you’ll love them too:
- They’re held indoors in Erina, so great in rain or scorching heat.
- They run 9am-3pm (great for working parents).
- These camps are SUPER flexible! You can do 1 day, 2 days, 3 days… heck, you can do all 6 days if you want to.
- They offer a multi-day discount, so the more days you do, the cheaper it is!
- You can choose the exact dates you want to do. This kind of flexibility is so awesomely helpful for parents trying to manage the school holiday juggle of activities!
- The children are separated into suitable age/ability groups (and they keep friends together).
Plus, right now The Footbal Grounds are offering Playing in Puddles’ readers 10% off their school holiday camps and term-time soccer classes! To read more about their term-time classes, which occur at Pluim Park Lisarow’s FIFA-approved synthetic pitches, click here.
The Football Grounds holiday camps
Where: Central Coast Adventist School Erina.
Age group: Kids aged 5-15.
When: Camps run 9am-3pm. Mon 30 Sept, Tues 1 Oct, Wed 2 Oct, Wed 9 Oct, Thur 10 Oct, Fri 11 Oct 2024.
Cost: One day $70 | Two days (save $15) $125 | Three days (save $35) $175 | Four days (save $55) $225 | Five days (save $75)) $275 | Six days (save $95) $325.
Discounts! Enter Code “PIP10” to receive 10% off their 1-day spring school holiday camps. If you’re booking for 2 or more days, use the TFG discount codes on the registration page, as that way you’ll get an even bigger discount.
Contact: For more details, visit their website or get in touch via phone 0481 002 524 or email [email protected].
Raw Challenge’s spring school holiday camps, Doyalson
Raw Challenge! We missed it over winter and we’re so excited to share that it’s back these spring school holidays!
We love a school holiday activity that gives families flexibility and options – and Raw Challenge delivers it in bucketloads.
At Raw Challenge’s school holiday program, you have three options:
+ Drop your kids and run.
+ Stay ‘n’ play and join in on the fun.
+ Walk, watch and cheer from the sideline.
How awesome is that!
Across 3.5 fun-filled hours, your kids will conquer 25-30 EPIC obstacles on the Raw Challenge course. They’ll climb net rope bridges, balance across beams, crawl through tunnels, slip down slides and wade through mud pools. They will get muddy. They will get messy. They will have an ABSOLUTE BLAST! And, the best part is, you can choose to jump in there and do it with them too.
These Spring holidays, Raw Challenge is hosting TWO awesome days – and siblings of all school grades (plus their adults) can do it together. Parents, this is winning as it’ll save you petrol, sanity and that feeling of simply being a taxi running here there everywhere.
+ Thursday 3 October 2024. 9.30am-1pm (drop off 9.15-9.25am). This Raw Challenge camp has 25+ obstacles and is recommended for kids aged 5-10 years old. But any child aged between 5 and 17 can join this program; the cut off is not 10 years of age (they just recommend the 10-17 year old program for older kids as it includes some additional more challenging obstacles that older kids will likely enjoy).
+ Friday 4 October 2024. 9.30am-1pm (drop off 9.15-9.25am). This Raw Challenge camp has 30+ obstacles included and is recommended for kids aged 10-17 years old. But it’s actually open to any kids aged 5-17 (plus their adults). They just recommend this camp for kids aged 10+ as it will include a few more challenging obstacles that don’t appear in the Thursday camp.
Raw Challenge holiday camps
Where: Raw Challenge, 110 Pacific Hwy, Doyalson.
Age Group: Kids aged 5 -17 + their adults (see specifics above).
Inclusions: Lunch (sausage sandwich and a soft drink).
Cost: $49.50/person (plus small booking fee).
Contact: For more details, visit the Raw Challenge website.
Ninja Kids Erina’s full-day and half-day school holiday camps
Have you heard the news? In February, a fabulous new ninja obstacle training facility opened in Erina! And, as well as regular term-time kids classes and birthday parties, they’re running full-day and half-day school holiday camps!
AND, great news for private school families, for the first time these holidays, Ninja Kids Erina is offering a full-day camp during the extra week of holidays that private schools have this spring. We know there aren’t many (if any) camps that run during this extra week, so that’s excellent news for working families – be sure to tell your friends.
Ninja Kid Erina is fitted out with myriad obstacle and parkour equipment – from warped walls and cargo nets to giant trampolines and spider walls. There are monkey bars to swing across, slack lines to balance on, salmon ladders to leap up and rock walls to clamber along. It’s a space guaranteed to show your child a whole lot of fun.
Plus, better yet for busy parents, the camps are running nearly every single week day of the holidays! Yep, you read that right: they’re running Monday to Friday from the 27th Sept to 11th October (8.30am-3pm), and you can sign your kids up for as many days as you like. This is so awesomely game-changing! We’ve never heard of anywhere offering this kind of flexibility and we’re totally all for it.
At Ninja Kids Erina’s school holiday camps, kids will build strength and agility, develop new skills and increase self-confidence – all while having a heap of fun! The day will be broken up between tackling obstacles and learning parkour and gymnastics-style tumbling with other activities such as arts and crafts to give the kids’ hardworking hands and muscles a little rest. They’ll also join in team-based games and races, such as timed ninja courses and Beat The Wall competitions.
Want them to attend multiple days? Well, the great news is that the coaches will be putting the kids through different obstacles, skills and games, so no two days will be the same! They sold out last holidays, so don’t delay bagsing your spot.
Ninja Kids Erina’s holiday camps
Where: Ninja Kids Erina, 3/5 Bonnal Rd, Erina.
Full-day camps: Weekdays – Friday 27 September to Friday 11th October (except for Wed 2 Oct and Mon 7 Oct of the long weekend). Full-day camps run 8:30am till 3.30pm. $70 for full day plus insurance if your child hasn’t attended Ninja Kids and completed insurance for 2024 ($25 valid until 31st December 2024, or $5 per day).
Half-day camps: Friday 4th and 11th October. Afternoon camps run 12pm-3.30pm and morning camps run 8.30am-12pm. $40 for half day, plus insurance if your child hasn’t attended Ninja Kids and completed insurance for 2024 ($25 valid until 31st December 2024, or $5 per day).
Age Group: Ages 5 to 15.
Contact: For more details, visit the Ninja Kids Erina website.
Creative Kids vouchers and Active Kids vouchers accepted.
Little Leaders full-day holiday camps, Central Coast
Little Leaders is a camp like no other!
The full-day camps keep your kids active and entertained while exposing them to strategies that help build resilience, gratitude and mindfulness.
Some of the awesome activities they’ll be doing these spring holidays include:
+ A huge waterslide!
+ Colour run.
+ Mystery challenges.
+ Arts and crafts.
+ Music and dance.
Sounds like fun, right? And it is. But what the kids don’t realise is that behind these purpose-selected activities, there’s a heap of learning too. They do challenges where one child has to lead a blindfolded child along an obstacle course – teaching them about teamwork, trust and cooperation. They do craft activities that help kids express themselves and find calm in their creativity. They do journaling to help encourage kids to foster emotional growth, reflect on their day and create a positive mindset.
As well as the life-long benefits, Little Leaders also get a heap of things right that mean you’ll love and appreciate them as an easy-breezy camp option, too:
- Their camps are flexible and run all day, so they’re great for busy parents. You can enrol in one day, two days, three or four. If you enrol in multiple days, you get a little discount, too.
- They have two Central Coast locations – Kincumber and Erina!
- They provide lunch! Happy dance! Time off from packing lunch boxes.
Little Leaders’ holiday camps
ERINA CAMP VENUE: CENTRAL COAST ADVENTIST SCHOOL
- Thursday 3 October & Friday 4 October 2024. Camps run all day – 8:30am till 3:30pm.
- One day is $79.99 and two days is $149.99.
KINCUMBER CAMP VENUE: KINCUMBER HIGH SCHOOL
- Thursday 10 October & Friday 11 October 2024. Camps run all day – 8:30am till 3:30pm.
- One day is $79.99 and two days is $149.99.
Inclusions: Lunch is provided on all days and first-time Little Leaders will be presented with their very own wellness journal.
Age Group: Kindy to Year 6.
Contact: For more details, visit the Little Leaders Australia website.
Creative Kids vouchers and Active Kids vouchers accepted.
Motiv8sports 2-day Big Battle school holiday camps + 5-on-5 Footy Fanatics tournament
The team at Motiv8Sports are hosting three camps and one tournament these Spring school holidays, and as always, they’re bound to sell out!
Motiv8 says their new BIG BATTLE camp will wrap up with the coolest challenge they’ve ever created! This optional activity, called Battle Grounds, is a 90-minute finale that includes slime slides, coloured powder, water bombs and never-before-seen challenges. It sounds epic.
They’ll be hosting three 2-day BIG BATTLE camps! These run for 2 days and include 16 incredible sports challenges, such as Super Soccer, Vortex Gridiron, Sector-8, Flagball, Big Dog Cricket, Ultimate League, Ruckus, Street Hockey, Ballers, The Grid, Raiders & Courage Under Fire.
They’ll also be hosting a 5-on-5 Footy Fanatics one-day tournament. Grab your mates and form a team of five and get set for an epic day of fun. Kids will compete in touch footy, super-tag and Motiv8Sports own hybrid sport Ultimate League. There will also be a live DJ and fun individual challenges such as the $100 dash 4 cash.
Motiv8sports runs incredible school holiday sports camps, and what makes them so awesome is that they’re not just for “sporty kids”: far from it. These camps offer high-energy experiences that encourage all kids to be included in the fun and action – regardless of their skill sets or abilities.
Kids will love the non-stop fun. Parents, you’ll love that your troops are entertained for two whole days, so you can work, relax or catch up on the neverending life admin.
BIG BATTLE CAMPS
These holidays they’re running three BIG BATTLE camps: 1-2 October (8.30am-3.30pm) at CCGS, Erina Heights | 3-4 October (8.30am-3.30pm) at CCGS, Erina Heights | 10-11 October (8.30am-3.30pm) at Lakes Grammar, Warnervale.
Cost: From $75. See website for details.
5-on-5 Footy Fanatics one-day tournament
Thursday 3 October (8.30am-4pm) at Bateau Bay.
Cost: $80 per player (includes a customised Motiv8sports footy team jersey).
Age group: Children in Kindy-Year 6.
Contact: Click here to book or call 0424 951 175
Active and Creative Kids vouchers accepted.
Roundabout Circus school holiday program – 1 hour to full-day workshops!
Ever thought about fire twirling? How about juggling, unicycling or trapeze? If you want your child to pick up some awe-inspiring skills, sign them up to a Roundabout Circus workshop these holidays!
This Spring they have an epic line-up of activities on offer, such as acro balance, tumbling and contortion, silks and even family circus where your whole tribe is invited to join in the fun.
Have a professional in the family? They’ll be running teens and experienced youth ‘level up camps’ in which students will be exposed to fire-spinning, specialty apparatus and more challenging skills.
Fancy running away to the circus yourself? Check out their adult classes these holidays! You’ll learn aerial, acro and mixed circus skills, and all levels of experience are welcome.
Roundabout offers 1-hour, 2-hour, half-day and full-day workshops! AND if you book multiple days or workshops they offer a discount. They also accept Creative Kids and Active Kids vouchers for school holiday programs (see website for details).
Plus, did you hear the news? Roundabout Circus moved to a new – and bigger – location in Gosford earlier this year. The new venue has even more space for circus performers to play and learn plus 6m-high rigging for aerialists.
When: Multiple workshops operate across multiple days throughout the holidays. See their website for the timetable.
Where: Roundabout Circus, 96 Showground Rd, Gosford.
Cost: Different costs – see website for details.
Age Group: Family Circus is for children who are walking/18 months+ through to adults | acro workshops are for 8yrs+ | Camps are for ages 5 yrs -13 yrs+ | Level up camp is for ages 8 yrs -17 yrs+.
Contact: 0243 117 133, roundaboutcircus.com.au
Creative and Active Kids vouchers accepted.
WIN a school holiday soccer camp for 2 kids with The Football Grounds!
Want to win a one-day The Football Grounds school holiday camp for 2 kids these spring school holidays? It can be two siblings, or your child and their friend. Have a kid already enrolled? You can even gift it to two friends.
PLUS, the camps are running across 6 days and you get to choose what date the kids attend. Awesome right! Dates available are listed below.
To be in with a chance to win, simply subscribe to our free newsletter by entering your details below*. Already a subscriber? Just add your details below so we know you want to enter this comp.
*COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
PRIZE: We are giving away a one-day The Football Grounds school holiday camp for 2 kids these spring school holidays.
COMPETITION OPENS: 2 September 2024.
COMPETITION CLOSES: 23 September 2024.
Dates available for the soccer camp: Mon 30 Sep, Tue 1 Oct, Wed 2 Oct, Wed 9 Oct, Thu 10 Oct, Fri 11 Oct 2024.
ENTRY TERMS: By entering, we’ll email future issues of Playing in Puddles’ weekly newsletter free to your inbox (you may unsubscribe at any time). Entry email addresses will not be shared with anyone outside Playing in Puddles. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
PRIZE TERMS: This prize is valid for a one-day camp. Both children must attend on the same day. If only one child can attend the second placement is forfeited. The dates available are Mon 30 Sep, Tue 1 Oct, Wed 2 Oct, Wed 9 Oct, Thu 10 Oct, Fri 11 Oct 2024. The winner will be notified by email. The Winner has 5 days to reply to redeem their prize. If the winner does not reply in that time, Playing in Puddles reserves the right to choose another winner. Prize is not redeemable for cash and not transferable. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
WIN a family pass to see Tinkerbell in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney these holidays!
This Spring school holidays, join in an enchanting world of song and dance as the adventurous Tinkerbell flits into the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney for Tinkerbell and The Dream Fairies. Along the way, she’ll meet up with some fairies from A Midsummer Night’s Dream – the cheeky Mustardseed, fluttery Moth, daring Cobweb and sweet Peaseblossom! These fairies will help Tinkerbell on a magical quest to find her lost wings.
Watching theatre unfold outside in the stunning surrounds of the Royal Botanic Gardens is such a delight and a really beautiful way to instil a love for theatre and the arts in your cherubs.
The audience is invited to join in the fun and come along in their favourite fancy dress outfits, too! We can’t wait to see lots of fairies, elves, Jedis, pirates and superheroes in the audience. We recommend packing a picnic and making a day of it in the Gardens.
WIN a family pass to see Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies!
We have four tickets to give away to Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies show on Saturday 28 September 2024 at 1.30pm.
To be in with a chance to win, simply subscribe to our free newsletter by entering your details below*. Already a subscriber? just add your details below so we know you want to enter this comp.
*COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
PRIZE: We are giving away a family pass (4 tickets). Valid for the performance on Sat 28 Sept 2024 at 1.30pm.
COMPETITION OPENS: 6 August 2024.
COMPETITION CLOSES: 18 September 2024.
ENTRY TERMS: By entering, we’ll email future issues of Playing in Puddles’ weekly newsletter free to your inbox (you may unsubscribe at any time). Entry email addresses will not be shared with anyone outside Playing in Puddles. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
PRIZE TERMS: This prize is valid for the performance on Sat 28 Sept at 1.30pm only. The winner will be notified by email. The Winner has 5 days to reply to redeem their prize. If the winner does not reply in that time, Playing in Puddles reserves the right to choose another winner. Prize is not redeemable for cash and not transferable. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
More Activities to Enjoy these School Holidays
Have you visited the Central Coast’s 68 Attractions?
Be a tourist in your own town! We have animal and adventure parks, farms to visit, go-karting, laser tag, family entertainment centres and more. Start planning your visit! Check everything out here.
Indoor Adventures on the Central Coast
Escape the cold! Find fun play centres, trampoline parks, and indoor adventures here.
Discover a NEW Playground Today
We have more than 100 playground reviews on Playing in Puddles. Click here to discover a new playground near you.
Art and Digital School Holiday Camps on the Central Coast
Central Coast Creative Hub
What: One-day art camps (full days and half days available). From Water bead Puffy Slime and Picasso Mixed Media wall hangings to Clay pot Fairy Houses.
Where: Point Clare.
Ages: 4.5 years old – 15 years old.
Luna and Co art classes
What: One-day art camps. From air-dry sculpture to acrylic painting.
Where: Niagara Park.
Ages: Different ages across different classes.
Coding camps
There are multiple businesses that run online and in-person digital camps – from coding and website building to DJ and youtube workshops. These businesses sometimes run camps in person on the Central Coast. Check their websites for details.
CIY Club
Code Camp
Sport School Holiday Camps on the Central Coast
All Sports Days at Kincumber Indoor Sports
What: One-day sports camp. They’ll get to play a whole heap of ball games including dodgeball, soccer, bull rush, volleyball, and more. They’ll even get to do rock climbing!
Where: Kincumber Indoor Sports.
Ages: 5-14 years old.
To learn more: Check out our feature here to learn more (please note that the dates listed are not current). For current dates and to sign up, email [email protected] or call 4368 3197.
Motiv8Sports Central Coast
What: Two- and three-day sport camps plus 4-on-4 football tournaments.
Where: Multiple locations across the Coast. These can vary so check website for details, but generally Erina and Warnervale.
Ages: 5-15 years old.
MVP Football school holiday soccer clinics
What: One- to three-day soccer camps.
Where: Umina.
Ages: Under 6s+.
Brazilian Soccer Schools, Central Coast
What: Three-day soccer camps (half day and full day available).
Where: Tuggerah.
Ages: 5-16 years old.
Dean Heffernan and Central Coast United soccer camps
What: one- and two-day soccer camps (half day).
Where: Tuggerah.
Ages: Under 8s – Under 16s.
Rose Football Academy
What: Half-day soccer camps.
Where: Killarney Vale.
Ages: Kids aged 5-12.
Mighty Mariners Holiday Clinics, Central Coast
What: Three- and two-day soccer + activity camps (half day only).
Where: Tuggerah.
Ages: 6-14 years old.
Newcastle Jets community soccer clinics and Mini Olympic clinics
What: One- and two-day camps (half day only).
Where: Speers Point, New Lambton, Lochinvar, Maitland, Adamstown, Belmont.
Ages: 6-12 years old.
Skateboard, Scooter, BMX and Rollerskating school holiday camps at Slam Factory
What: One- and three-day camps in specific disciplines: skateboarding, rollerskating, BMX or scootering.
Where: Slam Factory, Tuggerah.
Ages: Kids aged 5+.
Horseriding and Animal School Holiday Camps on the Central Coast
The Outlook Riding Academy horseriding holiday camps, Terrigal
What: One-, two- and three-day horseriding and activity camps (full day only).
Where: Terrigal.
Ages: 5-16 years old.
Glenworth Valley Horseriding camps
What: Half-day junior beginner horseriding camp and full-day level 1 beginner horseriding camp. (This is a 1-day camp)
Where: Glenworth Valley.
Ages: 5-16 years – different ages for different camps.
The Australian Reptile Park’s Little Kids to Keeper, Big Kids to Keeper and Inclusive Kids to Keeper experiences
What: One-day experience. A fully escorted workshop offering exclusive behind-the-scenes access and hands-on animal experiences.
Where: The Australian Reptile Park, Somersby.
Ages: Little Kids 2 Keeper: ages 7-12 years. Big Kids 2 Keeper: ages 13-18 years. Inclusive Kids 2 Keeper: ages 7-18 years.
Adventure and Active School Holiday Camps on the Central Coast
Glenworth Valley Adventure Max School Holiday Camp
What: One-day adventure camp. Activities vary depending on the season, but may include horseriding, quad biking, laser tag, kayaking, abseiling and team games (full day only).
Where: Glenworth Valley.
Ages: 7-16 years old.
Roundabout Circus school holiday camps
What: One-day, half-day and 1.5-2 hour camps are available in everything from aerial silks, trapeze and lyra to tumbling, juggling and hula hooping.
Where: Wyoming.
Ages: All ages. Different ages across different classes.
School Holiday Workshops (camps that run for just a couple of hours)
The following venues run school holiday workshops that kids can attend for a couple of hours. It’s a great way to give kids the opportunity to learn a new skill or gauge their curiosity in a different activity.
Ice skating at Erina Ice Arena: 1.5-hour ice skating workshops for children aged 7-15 years old | Erina.
Ninja classes at Australian Warrior Fitness: 1.5-hours of “Australian Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle training for children aged 6-12 (split into age groups) | North Gosford.
Ninja classes at Obstacle Course Racing School: 30-45 minute classes of “Australian Ninja Warrior”-style obstacle training for people aged 3-14+ (split into age groups) | Tuggerah.
Art classes at Gosford Regional Gallery: 2-hour art classes in everything from jewellery making to expressive drawing. Different classes for different age groups from ages 6-adult | East Gosford.
Roundabout Circus: 2-hour classes in anything from silks and trapeze to tumbling and juggling. All ages (classes are split into different age groups) | Wyoming
Other Central Coast school holiday camps to look out for!
From time to time the following venues run school holiday camps and workshops. Check their website for dates.
Marine Discovery Centre
Charmy Indoor Sports
NSW School Holiday Dates for 2024 and 2025.
We know it’s tricky to plan vacations in advance and to get school holiday camps sorted so parents can continue to work. To make it that little bit easier, here are the school holiday dates for NSW public schools in 2024 and 2025.
2024 NSW school holiday dates and terms
- Spring 2024 school holidays – Monday 30 September 2024 to Friday 11 October 2024.
- Summer 2024 school holidays (Eastern division; Central Coast) – Monday 23 December 2024 to Thursday 30 January 2025.
- Summer 2024 school holidays (Western division) – Monday 23 December 2024 to Thursday 6 February 2025.
2025 NSW school holiday dates and terms
- Autumn 2025 school holidays – Monday 14 April 2025 to Thursday 24 April 2025.
- Winter 2025 school holidays – Monday 7 July 2025 to Friday 18 July 2025.
- Spring 2025 school holidays – Monday 29 September 2025 to Friday 10 October 2025.
- Summer 2025 school holidays (Eastern division, Central Coast) – Monday 22 December 2025 to Monday 26 January 2026.
- Summer 2025 school holidays (Western division) – Monday 22 December to Monday 2 February 2026.
To advertise your events or holiday camps on Playing in Puddles, click here.
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
This feature may also contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.
