10 fun activities for Canberra teens these holidays
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Can’t find anything to do after the assessment adrenaline has worn off?
Here’s a range of activities you can do with friends and family around the city these holidays!
Head to the ultimate, free art festival!
Calling all arty teens! Art IRL is back at the National Gallery of Australia this year, with an endless amount of activities available, and incredible opportunities for everyone attending! You can spend your afternoons on the garden grounds while listening to (and dancing to) the diverse range of musicians performing, while having a picnic with the provided refreshments. If your mind is craving a relaxing break, try out the Simply Mindful meditation practice taking place in their Sculpture Garden, which will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.
If you’d like a more hands-on experience, you can visit the Art Lab where artist Joanne Searle takes you on a two-hour Mindfulness with Clay experience, where you will learn how to use the medium, then collect your creation two weeks later after it has been fired and glazed!
This experience is a must for teens in need of some fun, especially during a well-deserved break!
Friday 14 until Saturday 15 April | National Gallery of Australia | nga.gov.au
Bounce into the holidays!
Glad school is over, yet still want to see all your friends? BOUNCE is the perfect place to get your blood pumping while attempting limitless flip variations, creating a fun and positive atmosphere full of smiles and laughter. The indoor trampoline park creates a safe space where you can improve balance, coordination and agility skills in an interactive environment.
Perfect for all ages, the 3,000 m2 playground is open throughout the entire holidays until Sunday 30 April, at the Belconnen venue. So strap on your shoes, arrive 20 mins early, and then let loose!
Until Sunday 30 April | 18 Benjamin Way Belconnen | bounceinc.com.au
Race along to Power Kart Raceway
Power Kart Raceway provides endless opportunities to connect with friends and family, through a range of fun activities and deals! You can race friends in karts along their Kart Raceway, or use the glow-in-the-dark indoor mini Jungle Golf course—the first in Canberra!
Illuminated by incredible LED lights, you can also experience Australia’s very first synthetic ice rink ‘iSkate Park’, all while snacking on their food pack selection! The raceway is open all holidays, so make sure you gather a group of friends and make your way down!
Open Monday to Sunday | 125 Canberra Avenue Griffith | powerkarts.com.au
Test your skills on the largest inflatable course in Australia!
Keen to unleash your inner child? Try out the largest inflatable obstacle course in Australia—Tuff Nutterz!
The course contains 30 different obstacles waiting to be challenged, including huge slides, climbing walls, hanging rails, balance balls and more! The action-packed maze creates the perfect balance between getting some fresh air and spending time with friends and family, especially for those who need a break from school and work! Open 9 am to 5 pm every day at the Parkes Place Lawns, the only thing missing now is you!
Until Sunday 23 April | Parkes Place Lawns, National Triangle | tuffnutterz.com/canberra
Get in touch with your artistic side
Interested in more art-related entertainment? The National Portrait Gallery has got you covered! Along with their Collection Display Galleries that are open all year round, a large selection of exhibitions are open these holidays, with entertainment options suitable for everyone regardless of age. Their Identity exhibition is open until Sunday 18 June, which is accompanied by a daily 30-minute tour of the exhibition, as well as their Little Darlings Youth Portrait Prize until Sunday 21 May—aimed at primary and secondary school students!
But if you’d prefer to stay at home, they are hosting a collection of Virtual Highlights Tours that dive into the minds of various artists and their work processes!
Give yourself a well-deserved break by taking a moment to appreciate these artists’ work.
Open Monday to Sunday, see website for specific dates | National Portrait Gallery | portrait.gov.au
Check out 160+ events at the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
If you’d like to get an insight into the artistic side of 19th and 20th-century history, check out the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival! A selection of exhibitions, workshops and tours are being held throughout the holidays, displaying feminist artwork, the work of Craft ACT artists, sharing stories, miniature scales of Modern Architecture, and self-guided heritage tours! Check out their website for further information on what may interest you the most!
Open Monday to Sunday | Canberra and surrounding areas depending on selection (check website for more information) | environment.act.gov.au
Calling all theatre kids!
A lot is going on at the Canberra Theatre Centre these holidays, with productions relating to dance, singing, acting and comedy coming to the stage! Earlier on in the holidays, Danny Bhoy’s comedy ‘NOW IS NOT A GOOD TIME’ is showing along with Pirritu’s East Coast Music Tour ‘FIRE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN’. Further on, ‘Macbeth’ is being performed for a full week, with Batchelor + Lea’s ‘A DANCE WEEK DOUBLE BILL’ wrapping up the break. Be sure to check it out before it’s too late!
Check the website for specific dates | Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Channel your inner sailor!
If you’d like to experience the great outdoors locally, try taking up a sailing course with the Canberra Yacht Club! They provide courses to anyone aged seven to 70, from beginners to those with some skills, and even to experienced sailors. There are courses available on evenings or weekends for those (part of the older generations), and courses that take place over three to five days for those still in school, so remember to put on lots of sunscreen beforehand!
Take a towel, an extra set of clothes, some food and some water, and yourself!
Open Monday to Friday, 8:45 am to 7:30 pm| Lotus Bay on Lake Burley Griffin | canberrayc.com
Clown around with the Warehouse Circus
Feeling ambitious and wanting to learn something new? Warehouse Circus’ Canberra Circus Festival is back from Tuesday 18 until Sunday 23 April! The festival is holding an immersive Youth Circus Training Camp over five days, perfect for emerging circus artists or those willing to give it a red-hot crack! A range of world-class coaches will be attending, who are hosting an endless number of fun activities, creating an exciting and enjoyable environment to learn in!
Warehouse Circus is performing award-winning international acts of its own, with something intriguing for everyone! A market day is also being organised on Saturday 22 April, where the best parts of Canberra’s community are hosting street shows and performances, providing a range of food and refreshments, selling local handmade goods, as well as a range of free activities and workshops all day! Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!
Tuesday 18 until Sunday 23 | The May Wirth Big Top, Chifley Community Oval & Warehouse Circus, Maclaurin Cres, Chifley | canberracircusfestival.com.au
Live out your Rock n Roll dreams!
Ever thought back to Year 6 Band and wondered what would have happened if you continued with your instrument throughout high school? Mojo Guitar Teachers provide an incredible Rock School Program every school holiday for teens interested in sharing their love for music with other kids their age! Everyone gets the opportunity to experiment with playing their instrument in groups or in bands with the other members, where they get to write a song and try performing their piece on stage!
They provide courses for those who play the guitar (of course), as well as bass guitar, ukulele and drums! The safe learning environment teaches students how to collaborate, listen and work together, quickly and successfully creating amazing musicians! You know what they say… you never know until you try!
Monday 17 until Wednesday 19 April | Dairy Road Precinct: Studio 6 Building 3.3 1 Dairy RD, Fyshwick | mojoguitarteachers.com/rockschool
