Kids Can Now Visit the Zoo for Free - Melbourne Zoo's

The Victorian Government is giving kids free entry to three of Victoria's outstanding zoos - Healesville Sanctuary, Werribee Zoo and Melbourne Zoo - as part of their efforts to subsidise zoo entry fees for an estimated 266,000 kids.

The subsidy will reduce the cost of a full priced child's ticket from $12.6 to $0. A family ticket will be reduced from $58 to $50.80.

Metro Apartments on Bank Place offer Top Quality Melbourne Accommodation

JULY SCHOOL HOLIDAYS - What's On Sydney

The Following School Holiday Activities are taking place in Sydney this July 2011:

Sydney Aquarium

Walk underwater these school holidays to explore Australia's unique aquatic life at Sydney Aquarium! Discover some very ‘cool’ facts about Great White Sharks, Penguins, Ice Fish, Sea Dragons and other cold loving animals along the Ocean Winter Wonder Trail and don’t miss out on the last chance to see Australia’s largest collection of super-sized LEGO models. The LEGO models ON THE LOOSE exhibit features more than 25 giant LEGO models across Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World, using over 1.5 millions LEGO bricks! The world-class exhibit was created by LEGO Master Builders in the US and Prague and took over 10,000 man-hours to complete.

Feed/talk times: Dugong 10.30am & 3.00pm, Sharks 11.00am, Penguins 3.00pm Open 9am-8pm. A$35,C(4-15yrs)$18, Conc.$23.
To see the whole experience get a great value combo pass for Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World A$50, C(4-15yrs)$30 Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour.
Enq: 02 8251 7800 or www.sydneyaquarium.com.au

Sydney Wildlife World

These school holidays, get up close and personal with our cute and cuddly resident koalas including Boo, Sid, Jack, Moe and Charlie - and meet the latest little addition to the family! Let your family truly experience one of Australia’s best known icons at Sydney Wildlife World’s open air Koala Rooftop. Come and see these lovable animals as they climb around, graze on Eucalyptus leaves or just hang about. For those wanting a more personal experience, you can even meet, pat or have your photo taken with the Koalas!

Feed/talk times: Kangaroo 10.30am & 2.30pm, Koala on the hours from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Crocodile 11.00am, 1.00pm & 3.00pm, Cassowary 12.00pm A$35,C(4-15yrs)$18, Conc.$23. Koala photos $15 Sydney Wildlife World, Darling Harbour.
Enq: 02 8251 7800 or www.sydneywildlifeworld.com.au

Oceanworld Manly

Visit the tropical reef these July school holidays, with the new Reef Snorkel Adventure for kids. In this interactive experience, children can swim with Sea Biscuit our rescued Green Sea Turtle as well as our Baby Eagle Rays born here at Oceanworld this year. We also have a new brilliant Leopard Ray and hundreds of other colourful fish to find! Our expert instructors will teach the kids to snorkel and show them the time of their lives. For those wanting to stay dry, Oceanworld offers free guided tours at regular times throughout the day to ensure you get to most from your visit.

Kids Snorkel: 1.5hr experience suitable for children aged 5-13years available every day during holidays.
C$50 (includes admission). Bring swimmers and a towel. All other equipment is supplied. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Bookings are highly recommended.
General admission: A$20, C$10.
Guided tours are scheduled at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:30pm and 2:30pm.
Oceanworld Manly, West Esplanade, Manly.
Enq: 8251 7877 or www.oceanworld.com.au

Find ideal Sydney Accommodation at with Metro Hotels

School Holiday Fun in the Inner City MELBOURNE April 2011

WITH so much happening these school holidays the saying “I’m bored” will be banned from households across Melbourne.

Here is a comprehensive list of what’s on in the inner city.

The Great Moscow Circus is on at South Beach Reserve, St Kilda next to the sea baths, until April 26. Tickets: $60-25/$40-16 ($120 family). Book: 132 849. See moscowcircus.com.au.

Hey Dee Ho music classes for babies and toddlers at St Peter’s Church hall, 371 Neerim Rd, Murrumbeena, Fridays 10.30am. Phone: Roxanne, 0438 484 208.

The Kidz Flix program of family friendly films will run daily sessions from 9.30am for just $5 a ticket at Village Cinemas, including “Tangled”, “Megamind”, “Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”, “Gulliver’s Travels” and “Yogi Bear”. Buy at villagecinemas.com.au or from the box office.

Television’s favourite nuclear family, The Simpsons, is at the Icehouse all through the Easter break, with games and activities on and off-rink, at 105 Pearl River Rd, Docklands. Open daily 6am-midnight. Tickets: from $8. Phone: 1300 756 699.

Melbourne International Comedy Festival comedians and radio station SYN share tips in a workshop for budding teenage comics, at Signal, Flinders St Walk, Northbank, April 9, 5.30-7.30pm. Free event. Go to melbourne.vic.gov.au/signal

Create and learn workshops using Lego Education, Balwyn Community Centre, 412 Whitehorse Rd, Surrey Hills, April 11. Cost: $15. Bookings: createandlearn.com.au.

Malvern Central Shopping Centre will run fun free activities for children April 11-15, 11am-2pm, Easter basket decorating with visit from Easter Bunny; and April 20, 11am-2pm, Easter egg hunt, at 110 Wattletree Rd, Malvern. Phone: 9509 2288.

Gas Works will host creative holiday workshops, family cinema night (Toy Story 3), two live performances and free activities, corner Graham and Pickles streets, Albert Park, April 9-21, for ages 4-14. Details: 8606 4204 or gasworks.org.au.

Jungle Book: The Next chapter, an Edinburgh Fringe Festival hit, catches up with Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera, for children 5-10, Athanaeum Theatre, Collins St, Melbourne, April 9-23. Tickets: $20. Book: ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100.

Children’s choir for primary school aged children, rehearsals April 11, 13 and 15, 3-4pm, with a church service performance at the Albert Park Baptist Church on Sunday, April 17, 10-11am. Phone: Alison, 9534 8393.

Mini Grand Slam tennis for ages 4-17, all levels: North Kew Tennis Club, April 11-15; Burwood Tennis Club, April 11-15 and 18-20; Deepdene Tennis Club, April 18-20. Single, all day and weekly sessions. Cost: $22-$65 a day. Book: 9830 6618.

Kids in the Studio Ink and Paint workshops give kids the chance to paint animation cells and cartoon scenes based on Walt Disney’s immortal creations, for ages 3-plus, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square (access via Flinders St), April 11-15 and April 18-21, 11am-3pm. Free. Phone: 8663 2200.

AquaSafe program, Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre, 8 Warner Ave, April 11-15 and April 18-21. Cost: $52 week one/$42.60 week two. Book: 9885 0333.

Activities based on themes of Dream, Reflect, Imagine at the Ashburton, Balwyn, Camberwell, Hawthorn and Kew libraries, April 11-21. Highlights include performances by Fools Like Us and Knockabout Theatre. Book: 9278 4666.

Learn road safety in a safe environment, Kew Traffic School, April 11-21, 9.30-11.30am for ages 2-5, and noon-2pm for ages 6-10, corner Cotham and Grange roads. Cost: $10. Book: 9278 4768.

Free, hands-on art and craft activity for children aged 5-9, held by Shrine of Remembrance education staff, weekdays, April 11-21, 10.30am-noon, in the Shrine of Remembrance Visitor Centre, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra. Details: 9661 8100.

Easter egg hunt, cooking and science projects at Kew Primary School and Methodist Ladies’ College, Kew, April 11-21, 8am-6pm. Cost: from $14.36 a day. Book: extend.com.au.

Free gardening classes including how to pot a vegie seedling to take home, April 11-15 and 18-26 at 11am, Flower Power Garden Centre in at Chadstone Homemaker Centre, 605-699 Warrigal Road, Chadstone. Suitable for ages 3-10. Phone: 9569 6066.

School holiday program for children in years 6 to 9, April 11-21, includes ice-skating, bowling, go-karting, laser games, horse-riding, sailing, treetops adventure and movies. All activities depart from the Stonnington City Centre, corner Glenferrie Rd and High St, Malvern. Book: 8290 1333.

“The Frog Prince” pantomime, on April 11-26, at the Tivoli Theatre, 1390 High St, Malvern; shows at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Tickets: $18, includes traditional lemonade and fairy bread. Bookings: 9509 9066.

Origami art workshops presented by origami sculptor Gen Hagiwara at Prahran Library, 180 Greville St, April 12: Little Fingers (suitable for ages 5-6) noon-1pm, Big Fingers (7-9) 1.30-2.30pm, and Even Bigger Fingers (10-12) 3-4pm. Limited places, cost $2 a child. Book: 8290 3344.

Babysitting courses suitable for teenagers, includes child development and management, interview and communication skills, Bowen Street Community Centre, 102 Bowen St, Camberwell, April 12-14, 1.30-5pm. Cost: $85. Book: 9889 0791.

Japanese comic book art, history and creation, all materials supplied, April 13, 1.30-3.30pm, at the Carnegie Library and Community Centre, Boyd Room, level 1. Strictly for ages 9-14. Cost: $10 a child. Book: 9524 3333. Enquiries: 9524 3623.

You can draw cartoon workshops presented by artist, author and illustrator Richard Galbraith at Toorak/South Yarra Library, 340 Toorak Rd, April 13: Little Kids (suitable for ages 6-8) 1.30-2.30pm, and Big Kids (9-12) 3-4pm. Also: Phoenix Park Library, 30 Rob Roy Rd, Malvern East, April 15. Limited places, cost $2 a child. Book: 8290 8000 (Toorak/South Yarra) or 8290 4000 (Phoenix Park).

A fun-filled “crafternoon” of creative craftworks for all ages, Malvern Library, 1255 High St, April 14, 2-4pm. Free. Phone: 8290 1366.

Children’s trivia with author Leanne Davidson, April 14, Elsternwick Library, 4 Staniland Grove. Prizes to be won. Session one, 2.30-3.30pm for ages 4-6; session two, 3.30-4.45pm, ages 7-9. Tickets: $8. Book: 9524 3333. Inquire: 9524 3623.

Plenty of prizes on offer for skilled Lego builders aged 3-14. Free entry, all entrants given a Lego showbag. At Harbour Town Shopping Centre, 122 Studio Lane, Docklands, April 14-19. Go to harbourtownmelbourne.com.au.

The National Institute of Circus Arts’ autumn holiday program, April 14, 19 or 20, suitable for ages 7-17. Cost $46 (per day). Enrolment essential. Phone 9214 6975.
Easter Egg Hunt. Whoever returns most eggs in an hour wins a gourmet chocolate hamper from Cacao, Gasworks Theatre foyer, corner Graham and Pickles streets, Albert Park, April 17, 10.30am. Free.

Polyglot Theatre South Yarra children’s company takes City of Riddles to the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Lawler Studio, 140 Southbank Blvd, Southbank, April 17-20; shows 10am, 12.30pm and (April 18-19) 3pm. A 360-degree, interactive show where children 5-12 become mayors and town planners of miniature cities. Tickets: $22/$16.50 plus booking fee. Book: MTC Theatre Box Office, 8688 0800.

Beading, painting, jewellery making workshops for ages 9-14, April 18-21, 9am-noon and/or 1-4pm. Cost: $35 half day/$70 full day, Kraftworks for Kids, 4 Lansell Cres, Camberwell. Book: 9889 4481.

Discover how some animals have benefited from the suburban environment and meet creatures that inhabit your community. Suitable for ages 6-9. Bentleigh Library, 161 Jasper Rd, April 19, 11am-noon. Tickets: $8. Book: 9524 3333. Enquiries: 9524 3623.

An entertaining, engaging and interactive musical story session for ages 4-7, April 20, 11-11.40am, Caulfield Library, corner Glen Eira and Hawthorn roads. Tickets: $8. Book: 9524 3333. Inquire: 9524 3623.

The (Very) Big Laugh Out is family-friendly entertainment for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival until April 24. See fedsquare.com

Teapots as houses, colourful games, quirky figurines and wheeled toys are on show in a different perspective on a child’s world at NGV Kids Corner. Open Tuesday to Sunday weekly, 10am-5pm, until July 31 at The Ian Potter Centre, Cnr corner Russell and Flinders streets, Federation Square. Free but book: 8620 2222.

For more events further afield visit www.leadernews.com.au.

Looking for Accommodation, Metro Apartments on Bank Place