15 Jan Australia Day Activities For Kids
Your guide to what’s on this Australia Day and how you can celebrate it with the whole family.
Want to get the kids out of the house this Australia Day? We’ve got you sorted.
SYDNEY
Children’s Festival Tumbalong Park
Throw a thong or chomp a watermelon in the True Blue Bush Games. Run away to the Circus Playground and test your skills. Jump around with the giant bouncing kangaroos. After all the fun and games, indulge yourself with the great food and activities on offer at Darling Harbour.
Australia Day Live
Australia Day Live is a unique concert taking place both on land and water, featuring live musical performances choreographed to a flotilla of yachts, jet-skis and fly boarders, with a synchronised pyrotechnics display on the harbour.
Everyone is welcome to gather around Circular Quay, or watch it live on ABC TV or iview. Limited free tickets to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt are available at australiaday.com.au from 15 January.
MELBOURNE
Docklands Australia Day
Celebrate at the NewQuay Piazza with the Australia Day Market, Nova DJs, performances by contestants from The Voice and cast members from Strictly Ballroom The Musical, as well as lots of games and giveaways. Entertainment will extend across to Victoria Harbour Promenade with on-water activities.
Festival of Sails
The Festival of Sails is the largest annual keel boat regatta in the Southern Hemisphere with over 300 yacht entries and 3,000 competitors annually taking part in the event.
The Festival promises something for all, thrilling sailing action, exciting on water activities for all to try, and a great way to spend quality time with your family over the Australia Day Long Weekend.
ADELAIDE
Australia Day In The City
The event begins with one of the largest Australia Day Parade’s in the country from 6:00pm, featuring more than 4000 people celebrating what they love about Australia and being Australian. The Parade includes over a 150 community groups, vintage cars, horses, marching bands, a giant echidna, floats, giant characters and includes a fly past by an F-18 Hornet.
Following the Parade a huge free family Concert will commence just after 7:00pm.
Australia Day In The City Website
BRISBANE
Australia Day Fireworks
No Australia Day celebration is complete without that grand finale of fireworks. Brisbane caps the night off early, sending its light display into the night at South Bank by 7:30pm. Recommended viewing locations are Clem Jones Promenade, the Cultural Forecourt and River Quay. Keep an eye out this year for six pyrotechnic jet ski performers, which is a new spectacle for the celebration.
Alternatively, there are also events capped off with fireworks displays on Bribie Island and in Redcliffe, both at 8pm.
Redcliffe Australia Day Festival
For atmosphere, sun and plenty of Australia Day entertainment, Suttons Beach in Redcliffe is a popular spot for families. From 3-8pm, there will be live performances, a lamington-eating contest, sand and water activities and free inflatables.
PERTH
Fireworks At Skyworks
Skyworks is Western Australia’s largest annual display, with fireworks launching from bridges, barges and buildings in Perth’s CBD as part of the ‘Laser and Water Spectacular’.
Langley Park Entertainment Zone
Kids can enjoy over 100 activities across six areas, including the rides park, spots zone, challenge area, adrenalin corner and art zone, where they can decorate a paper umbrella, make friendship bracelets, cards, badges and more.
CANBERRA
Lake Burley Griffin Fireworks Spectacular
Pack a picnic or tantalise your taste buds at the food trucks at both Regatta Point. Finish the night off with a show-stopping fireworks display from the lake and Commonwealth Avenue Bridge at 9pm.
Canberra Website
Words by Jenna Templeton / Photography by Jordan Whitt
