Just Add Water: Summer Holidays in Narrandera Shire
“Oh naur, Cleo! The condensation!”
Some summers feel rushed; others stretch out slow and sun warmed. Ours unfolds around water, wildlife and easy adventures — school holidays that don’t need filling, just living. This is the kind of summer where the days run long, the kids fall asleep on the drive home, and tomorrow’s plans can wait until morning.
Where summer days begin: Top things to do with kids in Narrandera
If you’re travelling with kids, this is where summer clicks into place. Lake Talbot Water Park is a perfect first stop with slides, splash zones, and pools. Shaded BBQ areas and wide grassy spaces make it easy to settle in for an easy day by the water. Only five minutes away, tucked along Lake Talbot, Rocky Waterholes offers a more secluded swimming spot. It’s perfect for floating, kayaking and paddleboarding. Picture towels draped over rocks, snacks shared in the shade, and a spot of fishing. This is the part of summer everyone remembers — wet hair, sun-warmed skin, and long days by the water.
When you’re ready to dry off, the Narrandera Flora and Fauna Reserve offers one of Australia’s most magical experiences. Home to one of Australia’s most successful koala colonies, the reserve is one of the most reliable places in the country to spot koalas in the wild. Wander beneath towering river red gums, lift your eyes to see koalas dozing in branches overhead or walking along the sandy shores of the Murrumbidgee River. Close to town, it’s an easy, family-friendly walk. Read our full koala-spotting guide here →
A visit with Uncle Mick at Sandhills Artefacts is a wonderful way to form a deeper connection with our beautiful landscapes. Learn about ancient knowledge, cultural practices, and an enduring connection to Country through stories, artefacts, and conversation. Together with our waterways and wildlife, this experience gives context to the place you’re exploring, grounding summer fun in something older and more meaningful.
Summer events and school holiday highlights
Christmas Lights Train Tours | 19-24 December | Climb aboard the Lions Train for a festive evening ride through town, taking in Narrandera’s Christmas lights. Tours depart from Marie Bashir Park at 8:15pm and are a favourite school-holiday tradition.
New Year’s Eve: Retro Rewind | 31 December | Ring in the new year with a family-friendly celebration featuring rides, face painting, street eats, a roller disco, live music and a 10pm fireworks display.
Creative Journalling Workshop | 7 January | A relaxed, creative session for young people at the Narrandera Library.
Painting Workshop | 13 January | Hosted by Hayley from the Wild Easel at the Railway Art Hub.
Free Youth Kayaking & Paddleboarding | 20 January | A summer highlight offering young people the chance to get out on the water at Rocky Waterholes in a relaxed, supervised setting.
Summer Roller Skate Party | 22 January | A free, high-energy roller disco to round out the school holidays at the Narrandera Tennis Courts.
Australia Day 2026 | 26 January | A full day of summer festivities from hearty breakfasts, bush poetry, yabby races and cultural workshops to evening kayaking and paddle boarding as the sun sets.
Long after the swimmers are dry and school bags come back out, this is the summer that sticks. The one measured in river swims and wildlife adventures, where the days blur together and no one’s quite ready for it to end. There’s room here for big moments and small ones — spotting a koala overhead, floating a little longer than planned, staying out past sunset because no one is quite ready to head home yet. Narrandera offers a summer that feels increasingly rare: unhurried and generous. In the end, all you need to do is just add water.