July school holiday activities 2018

Here in Port Stephens there are a great range of activities for children of all ages during the school holidays Monday 9 July until Sunday 22 July 2018.

Vacation Care

Are you looking for Vacation care in July 2018? Vacation Care provides programmed activities, learning experiences and excursions for school age children from 4 -13yrs.

View the Port Stephens Children Services programs

Contact our Children's Services Administration Office on (02) 4988 0308 or childcare@portstephens.nsw.gov.au for more information and to request enrolment forms.

Library School Holiday Program

We are pleased to announce our July 2018 school holiday program. Bookings are essential for all activities as places are limited. You can contact the library or follow the links below for more information.

DateActivity/EventVenueTimeCostAge
11 July Slimeastic Tomaree Library 10.30-11.30am $5.00 6-10
12 July Family Movie - Babar The Movie Tomaree Library 2.00-4.00pm Free 2+
16 July Earthen Rhythms Drumming Workshop Raymond Terrace Library 10.30-11.30am $10.00 3+
16 July Earthen Rhythms Drumming Workshop Tomaree Library 2.00-3.00pm $10.00 3+
18 July Collage Workshop Raymond Terrace Library 2.30-3.30pm $5.00 7-12
19 July Nature Walk & Haiku Poetry Workshop Tomaree Library 4.00-5.30pm Free 10+
20 July Moonhack Raymond Terrace Library

10.00-12.00pm

 Free 7-18
20 July Moonhack Raymond Terrace Library 2.00-4.00pm Free 7-18

Raymond Terrace Library - Art Space exhibition

30 June - 27 July 2018

Fantastic Forgeries - Tilligerry Arts Group and Port Stephens Artists

The Fantastic Forgeries are a collection of artworks created by artists that have duplicated and appropriated famous masterpieces, ranging from Renaissance to Modernism and includes paintings, ceramics and quilting.

For more information regarding this exhibition contact Marcia Wakeman via email or phone (02) 4982 4835.

Find out more about Art Space exhibitions.

What's on in Port Stephens

Check out everything that's happening around the Port Stephens area. We've got information on community, cultural and Council events. View the Council and Community events calendar.

  • Whale Tales - Barry Park, Fingal Bay - Sunday 8 July. Talks 1hr duration starting at 10.30am with last session at 1.30pm.
  • Wilderquest - make your own boomerang - 10am - 12pm on Thursday 12 July. Price: $15 per child, ADULTS FREE. Meeting point: End of Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay. Entrance to Tomaree National Park.
  • Wild about whales at Tomaree - 10am - 2pm on Friday 13 July. Price: Adult $10, Child $5 per person. Family $28 (for 2 adults and 2 children). Meeting point: Corner of Tomaree Crescent, Boat Harbour. Entrance to Tomarere National Park.
  • Annual Port Stephens humpback whale outline at Fingal Beach - Sunday 15 July 10am registration with the formation at 11.45am.
  • Wild about whales at Tomaree - 2-4pm Thursday 19 July. Price: Adult $10, Child $5 per person. Family $28 (for 2 adults and 2 children). Meeting point: Corner of Tomaree Crescent, Boat Harbour. Entrance to Tomarere National Park.

If you are looking for things to do, visit the Port Stephens Tourism website.

Visitor Centre

Port Stephens Visitor Information Centre friendly staff will help you make the most of your stay in Port Stephens.

Find out more about where to stay, events that are on and what to do while in Port Stephens.

Skate parks

Help burn off some of the kids energy on their skateboards, scooters and BMX.

Council has seven skate parks that cater for beginners to skilled riders. All skill levels are equally entitled to use the ramps, however skate parks are not an appropriate place for toddlers using mini-bikes or toy riders.

Share Our Space Program

Schools are the heart of our communities and offer a range of quality recreational and play facilities.

Over the coming school holidays, the NSW Department of Education is rolling out a program at 167 schools across the state which will open up the playgrounds, ovals and sports fields for the whole community to enjoy.

School HolidaysDatesTime
Winter 9 July - 20 July 2018 8am - 5pm
Spring 1 Oct - 12 Oct 2018 8am - 5pm
Summer 24 Dec 2018 - 25 Jan 2018 8am - 6pm

To find out which schools in Port Stephens are involved, please visit the schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au or contact them on 1300 679 332.

Aquatic Centres

Our swimming pools are top quality in the state, ranking high safety scores in NSW.

Have fun on the water, there’s something for everyone at one of the Port Stephens aquatic centres. Remember swimming is a year-round activity.

Commercial operators

There are a range of licensed commercial operators in Port Stephens providing fantastic services on local beaches, playing fields and reserves. These operators include:

Find out more about the commercial operators in Port Stephens.

Parks & reserves

Port Stephens is home to numerous and picturesque reserves and parks ready for you to explore. There are numerous playgrounds, public amenities, open spaces and picnic facilities across the region making the area a perfect place to live or visit.

Find out more about our popular parks and reserves.

Beaches and foreshores

Port Stephens has a variety of beautiful beaches, foreshores and reserves on offer with large patrolled beaches ideally suited for surfing and small enclosed beaches perfect for a family picnic or get together.

Port Stephens Council contracts professional lifeguards from Surf Life Saving Services NSW to provide weekly patrols for Birubi Beach and Fingal Beaches with a 7 day per week patrol (including public holidays) at One Mile Beach.

Go cycling

Take the kids out on their bikes along one of the cycling tracks in Port Stephens. Port Stephens has designated cycleways that provide safe cycling around the peninsula, taking you from Salamander Bay right through to Fingal Bay with some spectacular waterviews as you pass from Bagnalls Beach to Dutchies Beach to Nelson Bay. There's some shaded riding through bush and reserves from Shoal Bay to Fingal Bay and plenty of parks, playgrounds and cafes along the way.

Find out more about the long and shared cycleways in Port Stephens.

Dog parks

Take the dog out for a walk. Port Stephens has numerous parks and reserves where dogs may be exercised off-lead.

Find out where you may exercise your dogs on/off leash and the dog prohibited areas.

Take care on the roads

Just because Schools on a break, doesn’t mean our Children can't still be learning!  Holding hands, walking and talking with young children is a fantastic way to help our little people learn how to stay safe in and around traffic. This is called Commentary Walking.

Parents and caregivers play an important part in teaching their children about road safety. Children learn largely by experience, and as parents and carers we have regular, daily opportunities to discuss road safety with our children while on the way to the shops, park, beach or school.

When crossing the road, talk about where and when it is safe to cross the road…….and why!  (How many times does a small child ask us that question?)

When crossing the road, look out before you step out.