Winter School Holidays Activities Guide 2026

Your Winter School Holiday Survival Guide: Inner West Activities for Kids, Tweens and Teens

The July school holidays are creeping up, which means one thing: it’s time to start building the family survival plan before everyone is suddenly home, hungry and asking what’s happening today.

Luckily, there are plenty of Inner West and Sydney-based activities ready to do some of the heavy lifting. From gymnastics camps and dance workshops to art classes, public speaking, sports programs, tween photography sessions, creative club workshops and low-key local adventures, this winter school holiday guide has options for toddlers, primary school kids, tweens and teens.

Whether your child needs to burn energy, build confidence, get creative, make new friends or simply do something that doesn’t involve a screen, here’s what’s happening these July school holidays.

🌟A quick note before you book: be sure to mention Inner West Mums when enquiring or booking, as some providers are offering special IWM discounts or bonuses. It’s also worth checking whether you can use Creative Kids or Active Kids vouchers, because every little school holiday saving helps.

Click one of the links below to jump straight to the activity provider you’re interested in, or browse the full guide for school holiday inspo.

👶 Gymbaroo Summer Hill

Our Holiday Play sessions offer two hours of unstructured play on our fantastic range of bespoke Gymbaroo equipment.

Designed for babies under 2 and children up to 6 years of age, our 300sqm air-conditioned centre provides a clean, safe, and stimulating environment for your child to jump, climb, roll, swing, spin, and explore. This is an equipment-only session, allowing children to independently play on our specialised kids gym.

* You don’t need to be currently enrolled in Gymbaroo to attend these popular holiday sessions. Parents must supervise their child for the duration of the session.

Cost: $22

🌟🌟 IWM Offer:

Booking: https://tinyurl.com/SHT3HOL

Enquiry: summerhill@gymbaroo.com.au

______________________________________________________________________

🎨 Julie Peadon Art

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS!!

Jump into a wintery world of creativity these holidays for K-6 kids as well as Tweens and Teens! 🙌🖼️👌

⏰Half days (9am to 12 noon or 2pm to 5pm) and full days (9am to 3pm)
🖼️All tuition and materials included
🍎Snacks included (bring lunch for full days)
😁Fun unlimited!!

Heaps to choose from including BRAND NEW Winter Woolies, Polar Penguins, Ice Imagination, Roaming Road Trip, Fabulous Fashion and Design your own Snowboard and a Tweens & Teens Monoprint Masterclass plus heaps more including back by POULAR DEMAND Clay Snowmen and Watercolour Birds.

Book in TODAY! ☃️❄️☃️

www.juliepeadonart.com
➡️Children’s Page
➡️ Holiday Workshops! 🎨🙌

Cost: From $60

🌟🌟 IWM Offer: Book for 2 or more students using the coupon code FRIENDS and receive 10% off your booking!

Booking: www.juliepeadonart.com

Enquiry: www.juliepeadonart.com

Voucher: Creative Kids

____________________________________________________________________

🧑‍🩰 Le Ray Gymnastics

Our next School Holiday Camps are located at 3 of our locations (Birchgrove, Croydon & Wahroonga), have daily themes, and are open to kids aged 4.5+.

Camps have ZERO SCREEN TIME and include gymnastics, dance, craft, games & fun activities your children will love!

Your kids will be in good hands with our professionally accredited all-female coaching team (awarded the #1 Coaching team in NSW for 13 years running by Gymnastics NSW)

Cost: From $17 per hour

Camp Times, Dates & Fees
Time : 9am-3pm
Dates: Week 1: 7th – 10th Jul & Week 2: 14th, 16th & 17th Jul

🌟🌟IWM Offer:

Booking: https://www.leraygymnastics.com.au/schoolholidaycamps

Enquiry: https://www.leraygymnastics.com.au/schoolholidaycamps

Voucher: Active Kids, Creative Kids

_________________________________________

📷 Milk & Honey Photography

Not quite a child. Not quite a teenager.
Tweens are at such a unique stage of life, and it’s one that’s often overlooked when it comes to professional portraits.
Our Tween & Teen Studio Portrait Sessions are designed to celebrate exactly who they are right now – their interests, personality, creativity and confidence.
And these July school holidays, we’re hosting special Tween Mini Sessions! More info to come on those soon…
What makes these sessions different?
〰️ A relaxed, welcoming studio environment
〰️ A personalised experience tailored to their interests
〰️ The chance to include favourite hobbies, books, sports gear, musical instruments or even family pets
〰️ Outfit changes to showcase different sides of their personality
〰️ A cinematic viewing session afterwards, where you choose your favourite portraits together
Most importantly, we make it fun.
Your tween can love being in front of the camera or arrive feeling a little unsure. Any and all feelings are welcome, and we create a supportive environment where they can relax, be themselves, and let their personality shine.
Learn More and Book a July school holiday Tween Mini Session here: https://milkandhoneyphotography.myflodesk.com/ripayntvws
#tweenportraits #teenportraits #sydneyfamilies #innerwestsydney #balmainrozelle #julyschoolholidays #winterschoolholidays

Cost: $275

🌟 🌟 IWM Offer: With every Tween Studio mini session purchased you will also receive a ‘Mini Me’ photography course for your child, a simple online course to teach the basics of photography. (Valued at an additional $79)

Booking: https://milkandhoneyphotography.myflodesk.com/ripayntvws

Enquiry: anni@milkandhoney.com.au

_____________________________________

🏉 MOTIV8SPORTS INNER WEST – THE MOTIV8 GAMES 2026 🥇

These high-energy multi-sports 2-Day Camps (non-sleepover) provide kids with the perfect opportunity to participate in a variety of team sports, individual challenges, dance-offs and epic showdowns. 🤾🏽‍♀️ 🏒 🏈 ⛹🏽‍♂️t🥅t🕺🏼 ⚽ 🏏 🏃🏽‍♀️
Our primary focus is to create a community that teaches kids about kindness, respect, sportsmanship & resilience. With non-stop music, fun competitions and multiple prize giveaways, these camps are filled with awesome entertainment!
#playdifferent 💚💙

Cost: $135 (or $85 with an Active Kids Voucher) for 2 Days of Awesome Fun & Entertainment

Booking: https://motiv8sports.com.au/locations/inner-west-canadabay-strathfield/

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

🗣️ Speaking Schools Australasia

Most students fear public speaking – Speaking Schools Australasia turns it into the highlight of the school holidays. For 11 years, they’ve helped 30,000+ students go from “I can’t” to “watch this,” with a 4.9 Google rating and a money-back guarantee.

Workshops run across two weeks in July, with age-grouped programs for Kindy through Year 10 covering public speaking and debating. Programs include Speaking Skills Bumblebees (Kindy), Presentation Skills Tabby Cats/Tigers (Years 1–2), Speaking Camp Koalas/Kangaroos (Years 3–4), the brand new Debating Quokkas (Years 3–4), Public Speaking Honeyeaters and Debating Hummingbirds/Hawks (Years 5–7), and programs for Years 7–10.

Small classes (max 9 students per coach) ensure individualised feedback from experienced, passionate coaches.

Winner of the North Shore Local Business Awards for Outstanding Education Service 2023 and Businessperson of the Year 2024.

Available in-person across multiple Sydney locations and online.

Cost: From $260 (online) / $290 (in-person). Creative Kids Vouchers accepted.

IWM Offer: Get $25 off your July holiday workshop with the code IWM25

Booking: speakingschools.com.au

Enquiry: +61 480 028 640 | contact@speakingschools.com.au

Voucher: Creative Kids

__________________________________________________

🩰 Sydney Dance Company

SPECIAL OFFER Winter School Holiday Workshops | Sydney Dance Company

6-17 July | Ages 5-18

What’s Included:

– A supportive, inclusive and child-safe environment

– Musical Theatre, Commercial & Street Dance, Classical & Contemporary and All Styles workshops

– Beginner-friendly through to more experienced programs

– Arvo, 1, 2 or 3-day workshop options

When: 6–17 July 2026

Where: Sydney Dance Company Studios, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct & Pennant Hills, Mount St Benedict College

Ages: 5–18 years

Make these Winter school holidays all about dance!

Sydney Dance Company’s Winter School Holiday Workshops bring together a high-energy mix of styles for kids and teens aged 5-18, running 6-17 July 2026 across our Wharf studios and with two workshops being held in Pennant Hills.

From bold, high-impact Commercial & Street Dance to expressive Musical Theatre, alongside Classical & Contemporary training and All Styles workshops, each program offers something different to explore. Whether they’re stepping into the studio for the first time or already confident movers, dancers are encouraged to jump in, give it a go and enjoy the process.

With afternoon, 2 or 3-day workshop options, dancers will learn choreography, build technique and experience the rhythm of a full day in the studio. Along the way, they’ll develop coordination, confidence and a stronger connection to movement.

We also offer a Neuro Inclusive Dance Workshop, providing a welcoming and supportive environment for dancers of all abilities.

Led by experienced teaching artists, every workshop balances structure with creativity, creating a space where dancers feel supported, challenged and inspired.

An active, social and genuinely fun way to spend the holidays.

Book here https://www.sydneydancecompany.com/

___________________________________________________________

🏀 Sydney Uni Sport

Looking for a fun way to keep the kids active during the holidays?

Sydney Uni Sport’s School Holiday Programs give children aged 5–15 the chance to play sport, build skills and make new friends in a safe and supportive environment.

Led by our experienced coaching team, sessions are designed for all abilities and cover a wide range of sports — perfect for kids who want to try something new or develop their skills while having fun.

For over 15 years, Sydney Uni Sport has been a trusted choice for school holiday fun for families across Sydney.

Email sportscamps@sport.usyd.edu.au

_____________________________________________________________

⚽ Wests Ashfield Leagues Club

Join us at Wests Ashfield for two exciting, hands-on workshops designed to spark creativity, encourage social connection and give kids something special to take home. While they’re busy creating, parents can relax, grab a coffee, enjoy lunch and leave the planning, set-up and clean-up to us. Our winter school holiday workshops offer the perfect mix of creativity, entertainment and convenience.

*Tuesday 7th July – Mug Decorating Session: Get creative and design your very own hot chocolate mug to take home.
Children will decorate a personalised mug and receive a delicious hot chocolate pack complete with marshmallows, so they can enjoy a cosy winter treat at home using their creation.

*Tuesday 14th July – Winter Slime-Making Session: Mix, stretch and squish – Kids will love this winter-themed slime-making workshop where they’ll create their very own slime to take home and enjoy long after the session ends

🌟 Offer: Members receive a $5 dining voucher with every ticket purchased.

Cost: $20 (members); $30 (non-members)

Booking: https://holmanbarnesgroup.com.au/whats-on/july-school-holiday-fun/2026-07-07/

_________________________________________________________

🌱 The Footpath Pharmacy – Free Activity

Looking for a low-key activity to do with the kids? Grab the scooters and wander down the GreenWay in Haberfield. We have a tiny farm gate style plant nursery called The Footpath Pharmacy.

The cabinet is always open, so turn the key, pop some coins in the piggy bank (we also have PayID) and take home some winter-growing flower or vegetable seedlings. There are no crowds and you won’t have to wait in line. Just fresh air and a wholesome activity to take home.

We’re across the road from the bike path along Hawthorne Canal, 5 mins from Hawthorne and Marion tram stops and a few minutes walk from Gulgadya Playground, the netball courts and Cafe Bones.

Where: 142 Hawthorne Parade, Haberfield.

About Author

Inner West Mums

See author's posts

Winter School Holidays Activities Guide 2026