After School Activities In The Illawarra
After school activities are such a great way to introduce your child to something new, encourage social development, nurture talent or interest and let’s face it, it’s the best way to burn off all their excess energy before you face the homework-dinner-bed evening ritual! No matter which way you look at it, activities for after school is top of mind for parents at the moment as we settle into a new school term.
Options, options, options. We have loads of them!
Tennis
Tennis is one of those sports that our parents all seemed to say, “you have to play tennis, it is such a great social sport”, and it turns out they were right. We wish we listened to them! We have a couple of great tennis clubs in the Illawarra that do weekday and weekend group lessons. Or if you are wanting a bit of extra attention they also offer private lessons.
Swimming
Learning to swim is essential for any Aussie kid. If you dread the thought of spending your precious Saturday mornings at swimming lessons, then consider lessons after school to cover those vital skills and water safety. And, for the kids who love being in the pool and want to develop their swimming skills further, there are stroke correction and squad training sessions available too.
McKeon’s Swim School – Unanderra
UniActive Swim School – Wollongong
PK Swim School – Dapto
Crawchy’s Swim School – Helensburgh
iSwim – Bulli
Corrimal Swim Club – Corrimal
Leonie’s Swim For Life – Barrack Heights
Northern Stars – Russell Vale + Dapto
Beaton Park Heated Pool – Gwynneville
Port Kembla Youth Project – Port Kembla
Shellharbour City Council: Learn to Swim – Shellharbour
Sue’s Swim Stars – Albion Park
Kiama Leisure Centre – Kiama
Gymnastics and Acrobatics
There are so many great reasons for kids to give gymnastics a try. They’ll benefit from increased flexibility, strength and balance, plus it works wonders for a child’s confidence and self-esteem. Gymnastics covers lots of different apparatus, providing variety and interest for kids. There are recreational classes, through to competitive options for the more serious gymnasts. Great for boys and girls.
PCYC
Treetop Arts – Helensburgh
Northern Gymnastics Academy – Bellambi
Circus Monoxide – Fairy Meadow
Wollongong City Gymnastics – North Wollongong
Gravity Gym – Warrawong
South Coast Gymnastics Academy – Unanderra
Totally Tumbling and Tricks – Unanderra
My First Gym – Figtree + Shellharbour
Carmel & Co – Barrack Heights
Kiama Leisure Centre – Kiama
Physical Culture
We would describe ‘Physie’ as somewhere between dancing, gymnastics, and aerobics. It’s loads of fun and kids absolutely love it. Physie is good for posture, strength, flexibility and all-round fitness with a focus on building confidence and self-esteem. Physie is a really affordable option as well, but this is one just for the girls.
Mount Ousley Physie – Fairy Meadow
Wollongong City Physie – Wollongong
Figtree Physie – Unanderra
Dapto Physie – Dapto
Lakeview Physie – Shellharbour
Kiama Physie – Kiama
Girl Guides and Scouts
We reckon the Illawarra is a pretty awesome place for the kiddos to get their guide or scout on. With so much natural beauty to explore, a brilliant local community and loads of opportunities to learn and discover.
Scouts Austinmer
Scouts Bulli
Scouts Balgownie
Scouts Russellvale
Scouts West Wollongong
Scouts Keiraville
Scouts Figtree
Scouts Mt St Thomas
Scouts Unanderra
Scouts Dapto
Scouts Albion Park
Scouts Oak Flats
Scouts Warilla
Scouts Shellharbour
Scouts Kiama
Scouts Jamberoo
Music / Singing
Don’t get put off by the recorder or the violin phase in the early years, they actually sound quite beautiful once they get past the single note tunes! BUT if you feel like the kids need to branch out, there are so many awesome musical lessons available to get their groove on. We’re talking piano, harp, flute, sax, guitar, drums, and even the banjo! That’s pretty cool! Or if they love singing in the shower or along to the radio in the car, then we have some wonderful voice coaches and singing lessons also available.
Music
Five Islands Music – Mobile
The Academy of Music Dance & Drama – Thirroul
James Neilson – Woonona
Neillon Guitar – Woonona
Doblix Guitar – Wollongong
ChiME Music Lessons – Wollongong
Haworth Music School – Wollongong
Melodique Music School – Wollongong + West Wollongong
Wollongong Flute Studio – Figtree
Creative Classical Piano – Dapto
Piano Education Services – Dapto
David J Powderly Guitar Lessons – Berkeley
Grand Tuition Music Studio – Port Kembla
Park Sound Factory – Albion Park
Epics Music – Kiama
Singing
Singsational – Mount Pleasant
Melodique Music School – Wollongong + West Wollongong
Encore Performing Arts Studio – Figtree + Oak Flats
Dynamics Performing Arts Studio – Albion Park
Grand Tuition Music Studio – Port Kembla
Southern Lights Vocal Academy – Dapto
Theodore School of Music – Windang + Cordeaux Heights
Park Sound Factory – Albion Park
Emma Dean Sings – Kiama
Drama
Let your kids unleash their inner thespian with after school acting and drama lessons.
Treetop Arts – Helensburgh
The Academy of Music Dance & Drama – Thirroul
The Dance Affinity – Unanderra + Woonona
The Illawarra Performing Arts Centre – Wollongong
Encore Performing Arts Studio – Figtree + Oak Flats
Dynamic Performing Arts Studio – Albion Park
Air Cadets
Air Force Cadets – Warrawong
Air Force Cadets – Albion Park
Little Athletics
Art Classes
We love to encourage creativity in our kids, and art classes are such a great option for an after school activity. Not only does it give them their craft fix but it is also a wonderfully therapeutic and calming activity that could have some great benefits for them after a busy day at school.
Go Create Art Studio – Thirroul
Eyecatcher Arts – Woonona
Creative Ark – Corrimal
Black Duck Ceramics Studio – Towradgi
VoArt Studio – Wollongong
Wollongong Art Gallery Classes – Wollongong
Da Vinci Art Studio – Shellharbour
Classes at Kiama Art Society – Kiama
Martial Arts
Martial Arts is very popular and for good reason. Not only will your kids improve endurance, flexibility and strength but also it is an incredible activity to increase confidence and self-esteem.
PCYC
Taekidokai Martial Arts – Various Locations
Rhee TaeKwon-Do – Various Locations
Fire Phoenix Martial Arts – Corrimal + Coledale
Samurai Dojo – Thirroul
Portal Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – Thirroul
Budo Kenkyukai – Thirroul
First 2 Strike – Woonona + Figtree
Illawarra Karate – Woonona
Life BJJ – Fairy Meadow
Adapt Martial Arts and Boxing Academy – Wollongong
Legacy Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Corrimal
Gracie Barra: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Wollongong
Shaolin Warrior Martial Arts – Wollongong
Grappling Bros – Wollongong
Shinkyokushin Karate – Wollongong
Reflex Centre Martial Arts & Fitness – Wollongong
Kan Zen Ryu Karate – Figtree
Xtrme B-Force Martial Arts – Cringila
Illawarra Taekwondo – Lake Heights
Illawarra International Judo – Kembla Grange
Origem Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – Kanahooka
Kwak’s Taekwondo – Oak Flats
GKR Karate – Wollongong + Albion Park
FreeStyle MMA – Windang
South Coast Martial Arts Centre – Lake Illawarra
Groundworks MMA – Barrack Heights
FiveStar Martial Arts – Albion Park Rail
My First Gym – Figtree + Shellharbour
Illawarra Kung Fu – Kiama
There are also tons of sporting clubs and dance studios dotted all around the Illawarra, so if cricket, football, rugby, league tag, hockey, ballet or hip hop [to name a few] sound like fun for your little [or big] ones, reach out to your local club or posse for more information!
