NAKED CITY – SCHOOL HOLS ON THE CHEAP!
Anybody with young children will be well aware of the high costs often incurred in entertaining them over the holiday period. A day at the zoo, Luna Park, the Sydney Aquarium or Wet’n’Wild, even a simple outing to the movies can end up costing a small fortune – especially when multiple kiddies are involved. Of course it doesn’t have to be that way, and the Naked City has discovered numerous Sydney attractions that are absolutely free!
Here then is our cheapskate guide to ultra budget outings, which despite the minimal outlay, are bound to excite young imaginations and keep the credit card well under control:
EEL FEEDING IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS: A day at the Zoo can be exhausting, and a family pass to the Sydney Aquarium isn’t cheap, but the voracious eels in the duck pond in the Sydney Botanic Gardens are free for all. Take a bag of stale bread and the kids will have hours of fun feeding the slimy little creatures. (Just remember to keep those little fingers at a distance.)
‘SEAL’ AT THE OPERA HOUSE: If your kids are fans of The Voice, they’ll be delighted when you tell them you are off to the Opera House to catch Seal, the English singer who was once a judge on the show. They will be even more thrilled when they realise your deception and discover the seal is of the furry sea creature variety, basking on the harbour steps and proving a real tourist attraction.
GODZILLA AT CUSTOMS HOUSE: There’s something very empowering about trampling over a scale model of the City of Sydney like the glass topped model in the foyer of Customs House. The kids will soon think they are Godzilla stomping down another incredible Tokyo miniature. Grab a free newspaper or mag in the nearby reading room and let them run riot!
RONALD McDONALTOWN: At some stage during any excursion the kids will be howling for Maccas, so why not a trip to ‘McDonaldtown’ with the promise that they might actually get to meet the original creepy clown. When the initial disappointment subsides, spend a half hour trainspotting on the station and then hand out those salad sandwiches – both educational and healthy!
BUSKING AT CIRCULAR QUAY: Putting the kids to work during the hols might seem almost Dickensian, but if they have any musical talent whatsoever, why not let them generate some much needed family income? No need to worry about those ridiculous Council licences (who is going to bust a 10-year-old kid?) as they belt out a selection from the Sound Of Music during the peak hour rush. With all the loot you make from an hour or two of out of tune warbling you will be able to treat your kids to a real outing, like a day at the Australian Museum or a ride on the harbour jet boat – proving that you aren’t really a cheapskate after all!
