WINTER school holidays are often the hardest for parents to fill with engaging activities for the kids.

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The holidays can be a challenge for parents to fill so many hours with holiday fun for children.

A visit to the Raymond Terrace or Tomaree Community Libraries is great for chilly days and there are hours of entertainment in the pages of some classic children’s books.

There are nature walks and of course it’s well worth a trip to the coast where you can try your luck at spotting whales.

There’s a whale watching areas at Boat Harbour, where you can also explore the rock pools.

Other whale watching vantage points include Barry Park at Fingal Bay and Birubi Point.

Of course the ultimate in whale watching is to take a cruise out through the heads and it should feature on everyone’s stay at home vacation calendar at some time.

Or you can treat the kids with a mini marine biologist day at Irukandji Shark and Ray Centre.

Whale watching season is end of May to the beginning of November.

MarketPlace Raymond Terrace has free kids school holiday entertainment this July.

Colleen Mulholland-Ruiz of MarketPlace Raymond Terrace told News Of The Area, “For week one, Monday 8 July to Friday 12 July from 10.00am to 2.00pm daily, we will be celebrating NAIDOC Week with a variety of Indigenous art activities, with different art to do each day. These will be limited to 100 per day for children up to 14 years.

“For week two, Monday 15 July to Friday 19 July from 10.00am to 2.00pm, we will have Sandwizard where kids can get crafty with coloured sand and take home their very own masterpiece,” she said.

For a day focusing on the grown ups take a trip to Murray’s Brewery for the Gin and Jazz festival on July 13-14, there’s plenty of space for the kids to run around and you can enjoy great free entertainment with Half Nelson and the Rehab Brass Band performing.

Take a wander along the foreshore around Tomaree Headland or Soldiers Point, while visiting Soldiers Point make sure you stop by and check out the sculptures.

There are some new additions to the marina’s outdoor art gallery that will intrigue the kids and they are sure to see plenty of smiles.

Port Stephens also has some great skate parks and wonderful playgrounds to explore, try checking out Boomerang Park and Neill Carroll Park.

By Marian SAMPSON