Children can program robots, build a recycled Pyrmont Bridge and watch two free films at Big Ideas Factory, a new school-holiday program taking over Tumbalong Park on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October 2026. The free event runs from 11am to 3pm, with most activities operating as drop-in sessions for families.
It is designed as an outdoor discovery festival, so families can arrive at any point and move between science, construction, coding, creative reuse and games without booking separate workshops. That flexibility matters for siblings of different ages, with activities ranging from Science Storytime for three to five-year-olds to robotics challenges for children aged eight to 12.
Saturday has an extra reason to stay. Tumbalong Park will screen The LEGO Movie at 3.30pm and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs at 5.30pm, both free outdoor screenings, although the viewing area may fill during the school-holiday afternoon.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the program was intended to give families free activities that kept children active and curious during the holidays. The event forms part of Darling Harbour’s Spring School Holidays program, which runs from 26 September to 11 October 2026.
The youngest visitors can begin with Science Storytime, where Rebecca Young and Heath McKenzie’s picture book The Speedy Sloth leads into animal-speed experiments, movement activities and a take-home climbing-sloth craft. The session is drop-in, with a reading nook available for children who need a quieter pause between activities.
Children aged three and above can make short science toys such as airballs and wacky wobblers in the Creative Construction Zone. Older primary-school children can put on a high-vis vest and safety goggles, use tools and build a toolbox, giving the construction activities a practical edge.
The Robotics Lab is aimed at eight to 12-year-olds. Six interactive stations ask children to program Edison robots through obstacle navigation, light-following, line tracking and remote-controlled driving, with a Robot Skills Certificate awarded after the final challenge.
There is a distinctly Sydney element to the family engineering activity. Reverse Garbage will help children and adults build a replica of Pyrmont Bridge from reclaimed materials, linking the waterfront’s engineering history with the question of what can be made from objects that might otherwise become waste.
Reverse Garbage educator Lara Timms said the organisation found value in seeing children solve problems through making. “It’s incredibly rewarding to watch children problem-solve and discover creative solutions through making,” Timms said.
The inner-west creative-reuse organisation began in 1975, when teachers and community workers established a centre for materials that could be reused by educators, artists, makers and community groups. Its education work reaches about 16,000 people each year, and participant feedback highlights the balance between child-led experimentation and supportive guidance.
Big Ideas Factory gives families a broader free mix than a single-session library workshop, combining science, coding, construction, sustainability, lawn games and cinema in one central location. Compared with paid Darling Harbour attractions such as SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, it offers a no-admission-cost outing that can be paired with the precinct’s playground, water play, picnic areas and food outlets.
The program is part of a busy holiday calendar that includes Moon Festival activities at Darling Square and Little Chef cooking sessions from 3 to 11 October. The Australian Museum is offering free general entry during the holidays, while other robotics and coding sessions across Sydney may require bookings, giving Big Ideas Factory a useful advantage for families who need flexibility.
Families seeking a quieter visit should aim for the 11am opening, while the middle of the day may bring heavier demand at the six robotics stations. The event page does not publish capacity limits, so children keen to complete the robot challenges should avoid leaving that activity until the busiest period.
Public transport is the practical choice for Tumbalong Park during school holidays. From Town Hall Station, exit towards Bathurst Street and walk downhill; light-rail passengers can use Exhibition for Tumbalong Park and ICC Sydney, while buses approach from Market, Park, Druitt, Bathurst and Liverpool streets.
Driving is possible through secured car parks, with Darling Quarter Car Park promoted as the closest option for Tumbalong Park. Recent advertised weekend evening rates were $18 online or $20 drive-up, but families should check the live price and availability before travelling because parking conditions and rates can change.
The park has accessible paths, stable Supa Trac flooring, accessible toilets about 150 metres from either side of the site and a sensory-friendly room. Families who need specific access or communication support should contact the Darling Harbour team before arriving, and everyone attending outdoor activities should check the forecast, bring suitable footwear and pack spare clothes for younger children.
Darling Quarter sits beside the park, with cafes, restaurants, picnic space and a large playground with water play. Families can extend the visit to the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Pyrmont Bridge, the Australian National Maritime Museum or Darling Square, while Saturday visitors can turn the free STEM program and outdoor films into a full-day itinerary.
Related to This Story
Tumbalong Park
Tumbalong Park is a major public park within the Darling Harbour precinct in central Sydney. It includes a large children’s playground, water-play facilities, public art, event infrastructure and nearby cafes and restaurants, and has hosted concerts, festivals and family programs since the Darling Harbour redevelopment opened in 1988.
Reverse Garbage
Reverse Garbage is a Sydney inner-west not-for-profit creative-reuse centre established in 1975 by teachers and community workers. It redirects commercial and industrial materials for reuse and runs education programs focused on sustainability, creative problem-solving and the value of discarded materials.
Place Management NSW
Place Management NSW manages and promotes major public precincts including Darling Harbour and The Rocks. It coordinates events, public-space operations, accessibility and visitor information across Darling Harbour.
Big Ideas Factory runs at Tumbalong Park from 11am to 3pm on 3 and 4 October 2026, with the outdoor films scheduled for Saturday 3 October only. Entry is free, and families can choose how much science, making, movement and movie time suits their day.