Things to do in the regions this week (8 to 14 January)

The weather is warm and the holiday sun is still shining so enjoy it while we’ve got it! We’ve put together a list of arts shows, nature walks, bush discovery tracks, book exchanges and more for a good start to the year. There are plenty of events for the kids until they go back to school but also some stuff for the adults, who are no doubt looking for a little me time after Christmas.

Multiple Days

Dionisia Salas Of mouth and mind

When: 8 to 14 January
Where: Goulburn Regional Art Gallery Civic Centre, 184 Bourke Street, Goulburn
Cost: Free.

Salas’ work seeks to explore the interplay and relationship of both the physical and psychological aspects of the lived experience. Through intricate and considered works of line and shape, she represents movement, emotion and physical experience, creating paintings that are at once very human and very unhuman. Stare at the artist’s work and you will find that the isolated and separate colours and the muscular and cloud-like shapes tell a story that words would fail.

Wild Afternoons at Mogo Wildlife Park

When: Until 14 January, 2 to 3 pm
Where: Mogo Wildlife Park, 222 Tomakin Rd, Mogo
Cost: Ticket prices vary, check website.

The Mogo Wildlife Park is offering a free adventure showbag for every kids ticket (3 to 15 years) to the park purchased online for park access after 2 pm. Kids can join the adventure trail with a map. Once all eight stamps have been collected, they’ll give you your showbag valued at $60. The fun doesn’t end when the park closes as the showbag contains a koala toy, colouring sheets, gummy bears and a Mogo park tote bag as well as a return ticket to one of their wildlife parks.

Narooma Seals and Whales Discovery tour

When: 10 January, 9:30 and 11 am
Where: Bar Rock Lookout, Narooma
Cost: $10 to $15.

Meet with your National Parks guide at the Narooma Bar Rocks and walk along the beautiful coastline to see Australian and New Zealand fur seals as they flawlessly navigate the sea. Your guide will give you all sorts of insight and valuable knowledge about these natural wonders. Learn about how they travel so far, how they avoid sharks and predators and how they withstand extreme temperatures. This stretch of coast is also a common place to see whales and with some luck you may just see them. You’ll also learn how to spot and identify different species of whales. Binoculars are recommended, as well as summer-safe clothing. But if you’re looking to spot something smaller, we also have you covered.

Thursday

Mountain Pygmy Possum guided tour

When: 9 January, 10 am to noon
Where: Kosciuszko Education Centre, Thredbo-Perisher area
Cost: $20 per child, accompanying adults free.

Thrill your kids this Thursday with the Mountain Pygmy Possum guided tour. Kids (and the parents accompanying them) will be led through the habitat of the pygmy possum. They will learn about their diet, their behaviour and the way they survive the harsh Kosciuszko winters by hibernating under the snow. Kids will learn through action too, playing games and doing activities to better understand this part of our ecosystem. See conservation firsthand and gain a better understanding of how our wildlife works and what we can do to help them.

Please bring sunscreen, water and sun-safe clothes.

Saturday

Marulan Book Exchange

When: 11 January, 10 am to 1 pm
Where: 93 George Street, Marulan
Cost: Free.

If you’re looking to declutter but just find it impossible to throw a book away, the Marulan book exchange is a perfect opportunity to let your old books find a loving home where they will thrill and entertain in their second life. It’s a great way to avoid waste and help foster a community of sharing readers. Come and give away some of your books and receive some in return if you want; who knows what you could find.

Sunday

Brunch with the Bunch

When: 12 January, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Blackwattle Alpaca Farm – Murrumbateman
Cost: Tickets from $10 to $60.

This brunch experience at the Blackwattle Alpaca Farm is a unique event, allowing you to meet, feed and pose for photos with the alpacas. You’ll gain some furry friends with the beautiful Brindabella Range as a backdrop. Your tour of the alpaca farm will then go on to a group talk by an experienced guide who will be able to answer any questions about the farm and about the animals themselves. Once that’s done, you’ll head to the shop which has all sorts of packs, gifts and wools from the farm itself. Then of course, sit down to a cafe-style brekkie of bacon, eggs, mushroom, spinach, tomato and bread rolls, all served with tea, coffee, hot chocolate or juice.

Master your Makeup

When: 12 January, 11 am to 1:30 pm
Where: Batemans Bay Pavilions, 12 Vesper St, Batemans Bay
Cost: Tickets $59.54.

Leeanne Manariti gives a class for all ages, teaching anyone with a willingness to learn about the methods, techniques and styles that suit different people. She will run you through different styles of makeup for different occasions as well as different times of day, letting you shine through as best you can. Through personalised skincare routines and the transformative nature of makeup, Leeanne seeks to celebrate the beauty in everyone. Makeup products and brushes will be provided but customers are welcome to bring their own if they would prefer.

Children’s Discovery Walk

When: 12 January, 10 to 11 am
Where: Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden, Deep Creek Dam Rd, Batemans Bay
Cost: Free.

The Eurobodalla Botanic Gardens welcomes you to its grounds, where friendly trained guides will help you look for some of the many amazing creatures that call the gardens home. Learn about the fantastic plants that grace the gardens and make it a beautiful place for the critters you’ll find. This is a great event for kids who need their explorative side indulged. Will you see a bright beetle? Maybe a family of birds nesting in a tree? Perhaps a frog enjoying the wet weather? Either way, you’ll find something to marvel at in the botanic gardens.