Image source Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park

AUSTRALIA WALKABOUT WILDLIFE PARK
1 DARKINJUNG RD, CALGA

The park has 80 acres of feral-proofed and feral-free natural bushland with 180 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. There are animals around the Animal Loop Walk including dingoes, a koala, wallabies, wombats, pythons, echidnas, Tassie Devils and flying foxes. Other animals you might see in the park include kangaroos, emus, bandicoots kookaburras and blue-tongue lizards. There are two other walks in the park, the Aboriginal Sites Walk (30 - 45 minutes, easy) and the Mt White Lookout Walk (50-90 minutes, difficult). You cannot feed kangaroos or emus at this park but there is a petting zoo of farmyard animals where you can feed the goats and alpacas. There are also chooks, geese, rabbits, guinea pigs and Waffles the pig.

Ranger-guided activities include morning and afternoon scatter feeds for the emus and kangaroos, dingoes going for a morning walk, feeding the Tassie Devils and giving the koala new leaves.

You can go on a Wild Night Out evening tour and stay overnight for a Wild Sleep Out in a tent or a cabin.  www.walkaboutpark.com.au

Image source Australian Reptile Park

AUSTRALIAN REPTILE PARK
PACIFIC HIGHWAY, SOMERSBY

Not surprisingly, there are lots of reptiles at the park including many species of snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, alligators and fresh and salt water crocodiles. Other Aussie animals at the park include koalas, kangaroos, flying foxes, Tassie Devils, possums, dingoes, platypuses, parrots, cockatoos, cassowaries, kookaburras and frogs. There are Aussie spiders such as funnel webs and red back spiders plus tarantulas. The park collects snake and spider venom for anti-venom programs.

Included in admission throughout the day, there are walks such as the Komodo Dragon Walk, shows such as the Reptile Show, talks such as the Dingo Talk and feedings such as Koala Feeding, Alligator Feeding (warmer months) and feeding Elvis the crocodile (weekends and in school holidays). Other experiences for additional cost are Animal Encounters, Kids to Keeper for different ages, Behind the Scene tours and Kids Birthday Parties. There is a café, picnic areas and a playground,  reptilepark.com.au

School Holidays
The park often presents special shows and / or experiences with a different theme each school holidays.

Image source Early Start Discovery Space

EARLY START DISCOVERY SPACE
UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG MAIN CAMPUS, BUILDING 21, NORTHFIELDS AV, WOLLONGONG

This Children's Museum is full of interactive experiences for children to exercise their curiosity and imagination. Learn through play with your child aged from birth to 10 years. Experiences include Construction where you help build a house, Tummy Tour about digestion, Antarctica Research Vessel about what to take and what you'll see, Bricks and Clicks building with LEGO®, Emergency, Emergency where you dress up and role play as an emergency worker. Other spots are the Book Nook, Crawlers Beach, Puzzle Room, Lights, Sound, Action stage and the Discovery Garden.  www.earlystartdiscoveryspace.edu.au

For babies to 5 years
Much of the museum is suited to this age group.

School Holidays
Workshops are scheduled in school holidays.

Image source Imaginarta

IMAGINARTA AUSTRALIAN PUPPET CENTRE
SUTTON FOREST HALL, 7414 ILLAWARRA HIGHWAY, SUTTON FOREST

Puppet Shows presented by Sydney Puppet Theatre and other companies are presented on Sundays at 11am.  www.imaginarta.com.au

School holidays
Workshops for kids to adults are held on selected days in school holidays, for example, Make a Peek A Boo Puppet and Create a Christmas Elf Hand Puppet.

Image source Jamberoo

JAMBEROO ACTION PARK
215 JAMBEROO RD, JAMBEROO

The park has lots of water-themed rides, the chairlift, bobsleds, the Jamberoo Express and mini golf. The Park opens daily in the Spring school hols and then on weekends in Oct and Nov (also Fridays in Nov) and then daily from Dec 1 (most days) until the end of Jan. Then back to Fridays to Sundays in February, weekends in March and April and daily for the Autumn school hols.  www.jamberoo.net

Image source Illawarra Fly

ILLAWARRA FLY TREETOP ADVENTURES
182 KNIGHTS HILL RD, VIA JAMBEROO MOUNTAIN RD, KNIGHTS HILL

The 'fly' is a 1.5km walk through the treetops on a steel walkway, 20-30 metres above ground. There are also two springboard cantilevers and Knights Tower spirals up to a height of 45m.
The Zipline Tour has cable spans, suspension bridges and tree platforms  www.illawarrafly.com

Image source Science Space

SCIENCE SPACE
60 SQUIRES WAY, NORTH WOLLONGONG

This museum has interactive science exhibits, science shows and a planetarium. At Super Saturday Family Matinees, on the first Saturday of the month, a family-friendly film screens is the Planetarium at 10.30 am. Birthday parties are also available.  sciencespace.com.au

For babies to 5 years
Mini Mondays is a science-based play session for under 6s. Guided activities/shows run between 9.30 am and 10 am. Then stay in the museum for as long as you like.  sciencespace.com.au/attraction/mini-mondays

School holidays
Science Holiday Camps for ages 6-12 run on selected days from 9am - 3pm.  sciencespace.com.au/visit/schoolholidaysciencespacewollongong

Image source Jenolan Caves

JENOLAN CAVES
4655 JENOLAN CAVES RD, JENOLAN CAVES, BLUE MOUNTAINS

There are 10 show cave tours, many without a minimum age limit, 3 adventure cave tours (minimum age 10, 12 and 16) and a self-guided cave. There is also accomodation and a restaurant.  www.jenolancaves.org.au

School Holidays
In the school holidays, the Stones & Bones Tour runs for children only aged 7 to 11. Find fossils and bones on this 90 min geological discovery tour.  www.jenolancaves.org.au/buy-cave-tour-tickets/show-cave-tours~1