Any Parent in Bondi Will Tell You That This Is the Place to Live.
There are so many things for kids to do, and plenty of places that are family-friendly. Just moving here can be a scary experience. You may not know anyone and have no idea what attractions, schools and activities are available for children and teenagers.
Here is your one-stop place for a parent’s guide to living in Bondi. Everything you could want or need is available right here.
Primary and Secondary Schools in Bondi
For parents, finding a good school is the most important thing. You may need the best primary school or want a secondary school that will push your tweens and teens. You will not be stuck when it comes to Bondi schooling.
Montessori East Primary and Pre-School is the first on the list, at 8 Wellington Street. There is an education programme for both 3-6 year olds and 6-12 year olds. The school promises to offer an education model to help every child within the school. You can contact the school on +61 2 9130 8313.
Another option is Bondi Public School, just next door at number 5 Wellington Street. The public school office is open 8:30am to 3:30pm and the contact number is +61 2 9130 6998. Education is available for children between Kindergarten and Year 6. There is a buddy system and parent involvement is encouraged to ensure the success of the children.
The Bondi Beach Primary School is located on Campbell Pde. I wasn't able to locate the exact hours the school office is open but I would imagine it's similar to the Bondi Public School hours above, 8:30am to 3:30pm. If I do locate the hours I will update the post. The contact number I did find. It's +61 2 9130 2116. Bondi Beach Primary School was first established in 1923. They have specialist staff in Technology, Art, Dance, Music and Languages Other Than English a bonus for those moving to Australia with children that do not speak English.
When it comes to secondary schools, Rose Bay Secondary College is certainly an option. Located in the suburbs on Hardy Street, the school has a range of state-of-the-art facilities, including a theatre, gymnasium and science lab. There are some cost associated with the school, which go towards excursions, school books and extra-curricular activities. The school is available on +61 2 9369 4096.
Waverley College is another secondary schools, located on Birrell Street. There is something for all interests at this school, whether your child wants to get involved in rugby or loves to play chess. The website also has a parent’s login section, offering a private space for all. You can contact the school on +61 2 9369 0600.
After School Activities with the Kids
After school and on weekends there are plenty of activities to get involved in. One of those is Action Atelier for the young actors and drama fans out there. There is something for children between 8 and 16, on Tuesdays and Thursday nights depending on age group. Not only do children get involved in their acting passion, but they also grow in confidence and get involved with a foreign language.
For artists, Plaster Master Fun offers a fun-packed opportunity. The family friendly art centre has something on throughout the year, with holiday clubs available when you need to find something for your children to do during time off school.
You can also opt for pottery or urban painting classes with Waverley Woollahra Art School. There are courses for both children and teenagers, and you can contact the school on +61 2 9387 2461.
What about the activities for younger children? What about two years and older?
The good news is that there is something available. For those two and up, there is the Baby Ballet Academy, with half hour sessions available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays depending on ages. Big Steps Little Feet is another option.
For four years to teens, ballet, hip hop and lyrical dance classes are available, along with boys-only break dancing. These are available throughout the week and on Saturdays for those who need a weekend activity.
Another option for the younger children is Trifu Dojo Karate, offering the chance for motion skill development, confidence and discipline. The classes are for children between two and five years, and do involve the parents. As children get colder, there are Taekwondo or Capoeira (Brazilian self-defence) classes available.
Surfing and swim clubs are popular with children of all ages. There are surf lessons available at Bondi Beach for those age 7 and over. However, if your child is 5 or over, there is the option of Nippers. This is an excellent surf life-saving club that has a pool proficiency swim test before joining to ensure the safety of all.
Nippers is designed to help children improve their beach and surfing skills to ensure they are ready for the water, with a competition squad available for those interested.
Relax and Enjoy a Family Day Out
You don’t want your children’s schedules to be packed with learning and activities. As a parent, you want to spend time with them before they grow up and leave the nest. At Bondi, there are lots of family-friendly spaces.
Event Cinemas is one of the first places that comes to mind. This movie theatre has special offers just for families, and there will be other parents there with kids the same ages as your own. It is one of the local cinemas, and has a range of movies available throughout the year.
The Bondi Beach Playground is another excellent child hotspot. Designed for children between 0 and 4, this playground has a large fenced area, helping to keep your children safe and away from the water.
There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes in the local area, perfect for play dates with other moms and dads to go for coffee or lunch afterwards.
When the kids get older and want to hang out with their friends, Bondi Skate Park, also at Bondi Beach, is just one place for them to go. There is a spot for picnics close by, so you can quickly and easily make this into a family event.
Yearly Bondi Family-Friendly Events
Every year there are Bondi events that are both entertaining and family-friendly. For those interested in movies, the Flickerfest Film Festival is just one outdoor event, taking the cinema to the beach. There are locally made and filmed shorts, comedies and documentaries available.
The Openair Cinema is another fun attraction running throughout February. Sponsored by ice-cream maker Ben and Jerry’s, the cinema features comedies, documentaries and children’s movies to capture all interests and age ranges.
Between March and July, there is also the Bondi Farmers Market at Bondi Beach Public School. The market is held every Saturday, giving you the chance to buy locally-sourced meat and vegetables while spending a day out with the family. During the same period, the Bondi Market is available on Sundays, giving you something to do for the whole weekend.
Winter is a magical time, and during those months the Winter Magic event is on. This is excellent for children and adults of all ages, with bars and cafes especially open for the events, winter specials and coastal walks available. There is also an outdoor skating rink located on the beach and open to the public for a fee.
What Are You Taking to Sydney When You Move? Do You Know Yet?
The truth is you don’t need to know right now, for sure, what’s going with you.
But you do have to get a shipping quote ASAP, especially now.
Why? Because international moving companies need to schedule your move to Australia far in advance, some ask for 6 months in advance. Yes, COVID has changed everything, including international shipping.
When filling out the form below…
- You don’t need a street address for where you’re moving to, only the city and country. What they really want to know is the main shipping port.
- Moving date is an estimate. You don’t need exact dates right now. Go with your best guess.
- Estimate volume is an estimate. Don’t bother with calculating your volume. Use one of the estimates below for your estimated volume.
- Studio or 1 Bedroom —> 20 m3
- 2 Bedroom —> 25 m3
- 3 Bedroom —> 30 m3
- 4 Bedroom or 3 Bedroom + Car —> 50 m3
- Use your “real” contact details for BOTH phone and email. Yes, the form is secure. If you don’t use your real contact details, then they can’t get in touch with you for your quote. Makes sense, right?
