Front up to the waterfront
Sun Herald
Sunday March 27, 2011
Celebrate Easter and the essence of Sydney with any number of harbourside happenings, writes Jason Mountney. Sydney Harbour will host plenty of school holiday activities. The centrepiece to the city, the harbour offers safe beaches, a sense of history and a chance to have great fun on the water.A ferry ride will delight most children - and parents, too. And with the most expensive adult ticket costing $6.60 one-way, it is quite a cheap way to have a day on the water. There is no better way to start a day at the zoo than to arrive at the Taronga Park wharf.Cheaper still, a walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge is free and short enough for children not to get bored, particularly on a day when the harbour is full of boats.For a more active experience on the water, Woollahra Sailing Club is holding four-day sailing courses. As well as techniques such as tacking, children will be taught safety and the rules of boating.Mickey Hughes, who works at the club, says while children finish the course able to sail a boat on their own, they also come away with a better understanding of the wind, the weather and other natural elements. "It's very broad, what they learn," she says.Hughes says the course's age range is about seven to 13, with some older children represented. "If they're not having fun, we ease back," she adds.For young swimmers unsure of the big waves pounding Sydney's oceanside suburbs, harbour beaches such as Shark Bay at Nielsen Park in Vaucluse and Balmoral Beach have more tranquil waters - and are often less crowded. And an ice-cream is still not too far away. If you head to Shark Bay on April 24, an Easter-egg hunt is being held at nearby Greycliffe House, followed by indigenous-themed games. Bookings are required through the NSW Department of Environment.On dry land, The Rocks Discovery Museum is letting kids aged five to 12 play detective during the holidays. Children examine five suitcases and use clues to solve a crime. The hands-on activity is being held from April 11 to 15.Situated in the middle of Port Jackson, Fort Denison gives kids a great 360-degree view of the harbour, with the bridge looming above them and water traffic on all sides. The island fort has princess- andpirate-themed days, where children dress up and learn about life on the island during the convict era. The days will be held on April 12 and 19, respectively. Bookings are required through the NSW Department of Environment.Sydney's most famous harbourside building, the Opera House, will host the kid-friendly show Me and My Shadow, with a special family-friendly cafe also set up.Further west, Darling Harbour has IMAX movies, a huge Lego display and an espionage-themed exhibit at the Powerhouse Museum.
© 2011 Sun Herald
