There are so many fun things for kids to do in and around the region of Campbelltown NSW Australia, in addition to the typical ‘go to the cinema’ kind of thing. There is an especially long list of active outdoor kind of ideas for the weekend or for school holiday activities. It really is a family friendly part of the greater Sydney.
Campbelltown Arts Centre
Get the kids engaged in a counting game for the number of Koi fish in the stream at the Campbelltown Arts Centre Japanese Gardens or collect a Kids Art Trail Activity Sheet and draw, color, act, stomp, or explore your way around the Campbelltown Arts Centre’s galleries and gardens. Don’t miss a chance to wander through the art gallery while you’re there.
Bicycle Education and Road Safety Centre
How about getting out some of that boundless energy and develop kids bicycle and scooter skills at the Bicycle Education and Road Safety Centre.
Georges River Bushwalk With The Kids
There are some excellent places to go bushwalking with children to the northeast of Campbelltown along the Georges River. Freres Crossing Reserve is one such place but also check out Kentlyn Basin (known locally as ‘The Basin’, a treasured swimming spot from years gone by) and Keith Longhurst Reserve as well. The bushland along with the river is just beautiful around this area.
Campbelltown Local Library
For a quieter activity after they are suitably exhausted after some running around elsewhere, why not take the kids to the local library and enroll in the Bookalicious program?
Campbelltown Off-Leash Dog-Friendly Parks
With family fitness as a focus, how about getting back into energetic mode? Let’s face it, that’s the mode kids are in the most anyway, so why not get some exercise for all the members of the family and let the kids take management of the leash for a doggie exercise walk/run around one of the 4 parks where you’re even allowed to have the dog off the leash if it is well behaved? They are all open every day during daylight hours.
Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan
If it is more space in a natural environment you desire, the 416 hectares of the Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is more than enough space for the kids to run around and get a nature fix. It is an Australian native plants wonderland since it is the Australian native plant garden extension of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. There is lots of little opportunities for educational moments about water and land conservation while roaming around, so it really is a not to be missed visit opportunity.
Koshigaya Park
Another great place in the outdoors is Koshigaya Park. It has lots of open space and bike paths, with one excellent feature being a good-sized picnic and playground area covered by shade cloths which extends the opportunity to be out and about, especially in summer with the higher temperatures. Take the family there for a BBQ and let the kids have a spin around the bike paths in the process. Some well-cooked snags and suitably tired children are two of the more important things in life.
Dharawal National Park
If you are feeling a little more adventurous in the school holidays or the weekend for example, why not head south-ish to Dharawal National Park near Wedderburn for some stunning natural beauty. The area was only declared a national park in 2012 and it truly is a natural wonder. You could take the kids there for some wildflower spotting in spring. It is a lovely spot for hiking all year round and there are plenty of picnic tables and benches in well set out picnic spots too. You’ll also find walking and bike tracks, waterfalls, and swimming spots – perfect for a refreshing dip during summer. Because it is a national park, you are not allowed to take pets or any domestic animals into the area. Also, the park is a no-smoking area.
How To Get To Dharawal National Park From Campbelltown
The closest to Campbelltown is the park’s northwestern entry. Just head south along the Wedderburn Road, then turn right onto Minerva Road. Continue onto Lysaght Road, and turn left onto Victoria Road and continue to the park entrance.
Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre
If you’re looking for a pool for a swim on a hot day, about 30 minutes from Campbelltown down the old Hume highway at Picton, you’ll find the Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre. It is an aquatic centre perfect for a swim for the whole family or some swimming lessons.
Campbelltown Historical Background
As to a little historical background to Campbelltown. You can’t really call Campbelltown a town. Officially, it is one of only four cities within the Sydney metro area. You’ll find Campbelltown on the outskirts of the metropolitan area of Sydney, 53 kilometers south-west of the Sydney CBD. It is the seat of the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.
Campbelltown takes its name from Mrs. Elizabeth Campbell, who was the wife of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Originally named Campbell Town, the name was later abbreviated to its current Campbelltown.
It is important to note that the area was initially inhabited by the indigenous Tharawal people. The area has been settled for at least 10,000 years prior to the European settlement.
Campbelltown History
In regard to European settlement in the area, John Macarthur was granted 5,000 acres (20 km2) just south of the Nepean River in 1805. The town was named after Elizabeth Campbell, who was the wife of former Governor of New South Wales Lachlan Macquarie. It developed slowly in the early years prior to 1831 when the town residents took possession of the townland. The railway line reached Campbelltown in 1858, which led to faster development, and in 1882, Campbelltown Council was established allowing the basis of modern development. It became the first town in New South Wales to have piped water in 1888 and during the period between the World Wars, a local power station was built to supply electricity to residents.
The New South Wales Planning Authority designated Campbelltown a satellite city in the early 1960s, and a regional capital for the south-west of Sydney. Since then, extensive building and population growth has occurred.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
The New South Wales Planning Authority designated Campbelltown a satellite city in the early 1960s and a regional capital for the south-west of Sydney. Since then, extensive building and population growth have occurred.