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Things to Do

School holidays, free activities, rainy days, parks, day trips and birthdays.

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Latest in Things to Do
An empty coastal path at the top of a sand dune at dawn with a rope fence and a dog lead coiled on a bollard.
beach

Taking a dog to the beach or the park: the rules

Off-leash rules are set street by street, by your council, and often…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A backyard birthday party table under a shade sail with paper cups, a plain cake and empty chairs.
australian families

Birthday party ideas by age, 1 to 12

The right party for a three year old and the right party…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
Individual paper cups in a row on a kitchen bench with one set apart on its own board and plate.
allergy aware

Allergy-aware party food

Hosting a child with a food allergy is mostly about what you…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A homemade birthday cake with uneven icing and candles beside a stack of plain paper plates on a kitchen bench.
australian families

Birthday parties at home for under $100

A home party for ten children under $100 is straightforward once you…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A beach shelter and towel set up on sand with a bucket, spade and wide-brim hat beside them at low tide.
australian families

Beach days with young kids in Australia

Water safety comes before everything else and belongs with the authorities who…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
An open bag in a car boot packed with towels, two broad-brim hats, sunscreen, a picnic rug and a water bottle.
australian families

What to pack for a park or beach day

Nine things decide whether a park or beach day works, and four…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A plate of quartered sandwiches, a bowl of fruit and two glasses of water set out ready on a kitchen bench.
afternoon routine

Beating the 4pm to 6pm witching hour

The late afternoon is hard because everyone in the house runs out…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A sheet fort built over dining chairs and a clothes airer in a lounge room with rain on the window behind.
australian families

Indoor activities for primary school kids

Eighteen indoor activities sorted by how long they actually last, using what…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A wall calendar with several weeks blocked in different colours and one week left blank, beside a closed laptop.
australian families

Working parents and the holiday care gap

Australian school holidays run roughly twelve weeks a year and annual leave…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A school uniform laid out on a bed beside a packed school bag and a pair of school shoes.
australian families

Getting back into the school routine after the break

The reset works better started a week early and in small increments.…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A sprinkler running on dry grass in a backyard with a half-finished cardboard project on a shaded verandah.
australian families

Christmas holidays: six weeks is a long time

The Australian summer break has three distinct phases and most households plan…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A ruled seven row week plan stuck to a fridge with magnets, one row left deliberately blank.
australian families

A free week of school holidays, day by day

Seven days of school holidays with nothing booked and nothing bought, built…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A backyard mud kitchen made from an upturned crate, old spoons, bowls and a bucket of water on a lawn.
australian families

Backyard activities that cost nothing

Twenty-one backyard activities that need nothing bought, sorted by the only thing…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A library children's area with low shelving and cushions on the floor, with greenery visible through large windows.
australian families

Brisbane school holiday activities

Brisbane holiday programs book out before most families hear about them. Where…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A scooter and a packed lunch bag on a bench at a suburban Australian playground under a shade sail.
australian families

Free things to do with kids these school holidays

The free school holiday program near you almost certainly exists and almost…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A shaded riverside path under large fig trees with a stroller and picnic bag at the edge of a lawn.
australian families

Free things to do with kids in Brisbane

Brisbane has an unusually good set of free public spaces for families.…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A bag packed with a lead, towel and travel water bowl on a park bench in early morning light.
australian pets

What to pack for a day out with a dog

The short list for one day out with a dog, plus the…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team
A family campsite with a tent, shade tarp, chairs and an esky set up in late afternoon light.
australia

Camping with kids for the first time

Make the first family camping trip one night, close to home, on…

Dovelyne editorial team
Dovelyne editorial team