School Holiday Programs
Spring Holiday Fun Starts Here!
Spring is here, and the Coffs Coast is ready for school holiday fun! With warmer days, blooming gardens and plenty of ways to get active, creative and curious, there’s something for kids and families to enjoy across the City these holidays.
Make a splash at our pools, get creative at Yarrila Arts and Museum, discover the natural world at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden or head to your local library for hands-on activities, movies and digital adventures.
Whether you’re looking for something to do on a sunny afternoon, a creative activity for curious minds or an exciting family day out, there’s plenty to explore this spring.
Highlights include:
- Make a splash with the Sailfish Swim School Holiday Program and three heated City pools
- Get creative with spring-inspired painting, photography and hands-on artmaking at Yarrila Arts and Museum
- Get digital with coding, LEGO® animation and music-making workshops
- Explore nature with family bushcraft, wildlife spotting and after-dark adventures at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
- Be entertained with magic, music, theatre and family-friendly performances at Jetty Memorial Theatre
- Discover library fun with movies, crafts, bugs and creative activities
With plenty of free and low-cost events happening across the region, the Spring School Holiday Program is the perfect way to explore, create and make memories together these holidays.
Spring school holidays: 26 September – 11 October 2026
Monday 28 September
Sailfish Swim School Holiday Program
Keep kids active and build valuable water skills these school holidays with the Sailfish Swim School Holiday Program. This five-day program focuses on swimming, water safety and stroke development, with lessons tailored to each student’s ability. Perfect for preschoolers from 2½ years through to school-aged swimmers.
Location: Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Pool
Date: Monday 28 September – Friday 2 October
Time: Session times depend on student ability level
Cost: $101 for five days of lessons
Ages: Preschoolers from 2½ years and school-aged students
Payment: Required at time of booking. Active Kids Vouchers can be used towards lesson fees
Music Makers with Memo
Turn up the volume on your school holidays! Join local musician and conservatorium teacher Memo Beltzer for a half-day workshop exploring songwriting, composition, recording and audio engineering using Logic Pro.
Location: Digital Studio, Level 1, Harry Bailey Memorial Library
Date: Monday 28 September
Time: 10am – 2pm
Cost: $25
Ages: 12–16 years
Bookings: Essential
Code Kids! Learn to Code Your Own Minigame
Ready to become a game maker? Explore coding with Scratch, create your own simple game, solve hidden bug challenges and build your tech and problem-solving skills along the way.
Location: Woolgoolga Library
Date: Monday 28 September
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Tuesday 29 September
Code Kids! Learn to Code Your Own Minigame
Explore tech and coding with Scratch, create simple games, solve hidden bug challenges and build your tech and problem-solving skills.
Location: Toormina Library
Date: Tuesday 29 September
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Code Kids! Learn to Code Your Own Minigame
Take your coding skills to the next level with Scratch as you create a simple game, solve challenges and discover how things work.
Location: Harry Bailey Memorial Library
Date: Tuesday 29 September
Time: 2 – 4pm
Wednesday 30 September
Paint the Colours of Spring
Celebrate spring with artist Kelly Joy! Young artists will explore bright colours, playful painting techniques and creative expression while creating their own spring-inspired masterpiece.
Location: The Workshop, Yarrila Arts and Museum
Date: Wednesday 30 September
Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Cost: $30
Ages: 6–10 years
Bookings: Essential
LEGO® Animation Workshop
Build an awesome LEGO® creation, bring it to life with stop-motion animation and create your very own mini movie using iPads and professional filming rigs.
Location: Woolgoolga Library
Date: Wednesday 30 September
Time: 2 – 4pm
Cost: $10
Ages: 8+
Bookings: Essential
Thursday 1 October
UV Bug Lab
Build, paint and make your very own insect glow! In this hands-on workshop, young creators will make a mini sculpture, design a UV torch and discover the fascinating world of ultraviolet light.
Location: The Workshop, Yarrila Arts and Museum
Date: Thursday 1 October
Time: 10am – 12pm
Cost: $15
Ages: 10–14 years
Bookings: Essential
Mada's Magic Marvels
Get ready for magic, music and plenty of surprises! Mada's Magic Marvels is a hilarious and fast-paced interactive family show featuring Australia's own Mr Magic, Adam Mada, joined live on stage by Play School's Peter Dasent on piano with an original live musical score.
Location: Jetty Memorial Theatre, 337 Harbour Drive
Date: Thursday 1 October
Time: 11am & 2pm
Cost: Adult $40 | Concession $35 | Child under 16 $35 | Group 6+ $35 | Family $120
Friday 2 October
Kids Flicks: Strike
It's movie time! Enjoy Strike (G) at the library and follow Mungo the mole as he chases his soccer dreams and discovers how passion, courage and determination can change everything.
Location: Story Space, Ground Floor, Harry Bailey Memorial Library
Date: Friday 2 October
Time: 10:30am – 12:15pm
Cost: FREE
Ages: Recommended 5+ – children must be accompanied by an adult
Bookings: Essential
Saturday 3 October
Nature Connection for Families
Immerse your family in nature with an afternoon of nature play, naturalist skills and bushcraft at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden. Explore practical ways to cultivate curiosity, care and connection with the natural world while spending quality time together outdoors.
Location: North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
Date: Saturday 3 October
Time: 1:30 – 6:30pm
Cost: $10 per person or $40 per family
Ages: Children 8+ and adults
Bookings: Essential
Tuesday 6 October
Surreal Photography
What if trees floated through the sky or giant flowers filled the streets? Inspired by YAM's photography exhibitions, young photographers will use iPads and digital editing to transform photos of Coffs Harbour into extraordinary surreal artworks.
Location: Yarrila Arts and Museum
Date: Tuesday 6 October
Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Cost: $20
Ages: 12–16 years
Bookings: Essential
Awesome Animation!
Build an awesome LEGO® creation, learn stop-motion animation and create your own mini movie using iPads and professional filming rigs.
Location: Toormina Library
Date: Tuesday 6 October
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Cost: $10
Ages: 8+
Bookings: Essential
Wednesday 7 October
The Box Show by Junkyard Beats
What happens when ordinary household objects become musical instruments? In the hands of Junkyard Beats, unwanted junk comes alive in an exciting and surprising performance packed with rhythm, music and fun.
Location: Jetty Memorial Theatre, 337 Harbour Drive
Date: Wednesday 7 October
Time: 9:30am & 1pm
Cost: Adult $30 | Child $25 | Family $95 | Performance & Workshop Bundle $42
The Box Show – Enviro Beats Workshop
Turn trash into musical treasure! This energetic workshop combines rhythm, environmental awareness and creativity as participants discover how recycled objects can become instruments. Learn body percussion and group rhythm techniques, then make beats using buckets, broomsticks, plastic tubs, PVC pipes and other everyday materials.
Location: Jetty Memorial Theatre, 337 Harbour Drive
Date: Wednesday 7 October
Time: 11am
Cost: $22 | Workshop & Performance Bundle $42
Thursday 8 October
Gone Buggo!
Think bugs are creepy? Think again! Join Steven Gill for a fun and fascinating bug adventure combining LEGO®, photography and citizen science discoveries from backyard explorations.
Location: Story Space, Ground Floor, Harry Bailey Memorial Library
Date: Thursday 8 October
Time: 10:30 – 11:30am
Cost: FREE
Ages: 6+
Bookings: Essential
Friday 9 October
Wildlife After Dark!
Grab a torch and get ready for a night-time adventure through the Botanic Garden. Search for possums, gliders, koalas and other nocturnal creatures, while a UV torch reveals the magical fluorescence of flowers, lichen and insects.
Location: North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
Date: Friday 9 October
Time: 6:30 – 8pm
Cost: $5 per person
Ages: 4+
Bookings: Essential
Saturday 10 October
Nature Connection for Families
Immerse your family in nature with an afternoon of nature play, naturalist skills and bushcraft at the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden. Explore practical ways to cultivate curiosity, care and connection with the natural world while spending quality time together outdoors.
Location: North Coast Regional Botanic Garden
Date: Saturday 10 October
Time: 1:30 – 6:30pm
Cost: $10 per person or $40 per family
Ages: Children 8+ and adults
Bookings: Essential
Throughout the School Holidays
City Pools
Spring is the perfect time to get back in the water! All three City pools are heated, making them a great option for family fun and staying active during the school holidays. Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Pool is open year-round. Sawtell Pool and Woolgoolga Pool reopen on Monday 28 September, just in time for the school holidays. Whether you're swimming laps, splashing with the family or simply enjoying some time in the water, there's plenty of fun to be had.
Location: Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Pool, Sawtell Pool and Woolgoolga Pool
Date: Throughout the school holidays
Cost: See pool admission details
Self-Guided Artmaking at YAM
Drop into YAM these holidays for free, self-paced artmaking fun. Explore different materials, try your hand at creative activities and make something at your own pace. Stay for ten minutes or stay for an hour – it's completely up to you!
Location: Yarrila Arts and Museum
Date: Throughout the school holidays
Time: YAM opening hours
Cost: FREE
Crafty Corner at Coffs Harbour Libraries
Pop into your local library these school holidays and get creative with a fun, hands-on craft activity. Choose your activity, get making and enjoy some creative time at your own pace.
Location: Coffs Harbour Libraries
Date: Throughout the school holidays
Time: During library opening hours
Cost: FREE
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