Worthwhile days out, with plenty that costs nothing.
Your September community edition
Make room for a good day out
Park play, lanterns, live music and small discoveries outdoors. This September guide mixes things happening soon with school-holiday ideas worth booking ahead, so you can choose what fits your family and your area.
Plus our Pure Contour Australia feature and one advertisement.
Richmond Park in New South Wales, photographed in May 2019. The park is the venue for Wednesday’s Playtime in the Park.Photo: Michael Cleary · Original photograph · CC0. Web-sized image; no crop.
Richmond Park hosts a morning of sensory play, craft, puzzles and music for families with young children. Playtime in the Park also brings local services together, giving parents and carers an informal chance to find out what support and activities are available nearby.
When
9 September, 9.30 to 11.30am
Cost
Free; no booking
More details about Playtime in Richmond Park this Wednesday
The event is at Richmond Park, 180 Windsor Street, as part of National Child Protection Week. There is no booking requirement in the council listing. Check the event page before leaving for any outdoor-event updates, and bring what your family needs for a morning in the park.
Lanterns and local performances in Raymond Terrace
Illuminate Raymond Terrace brings an evening of light and entertainment to Boomerang Park. Schools and community groups have helped shape the event, which includes a lantern parade and a fireworks display scheduled for 7.30pm. It is a local celebration with something to see before and after dark.
When
19 September, 4 to 8pm
Cost
Free entry; purchases extra
More details about Lanterns and local performances in Raymond Terrace
Lantern-making sessions are also listed at MarketPlace from 11 to 14 September, 10am to 4pm. Check the organiser’s programme for participation arrangements and any changes. Entry to the main event is free, while food or other purchases should be budgeted for separately.
Source and visitor detailsPort Stephens CouncilChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
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Commercial feature · Pure Contour Australia
An evening option from Pure Contour Australia
Pure Contour Australia’s 5% HA Night Cream comes in a 50 ml size and sits alongside the day cream and facial serum in its Australian catalogue. The product page is the place to check its current price, description and full directions before adding anything to your routine.
The published directions describe applying it to the face and neck after cleansing and toning, before sleep. It is for external cosmetic use. We have linked the Australian product directly so readers can make their own comparison, and decide what fits their existing routine.
The Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Art Prize exhibition gives visitors a chance to see how artists interpret their connection with Brisbane. Works in different media are on show at Petrie Terrace Gallery, offering a quieter city outing before the exhibition closes on 13 September.
When
Exhibition ends 13 September; 10 September session 10am to 3.30pm
Cost
Free; no booking
More details about Brisbane through local artists’ eyes
The gallery is at 162 Petrie Terrace. Council lists a Thursday 10 September viewing session from 10am to 3.30pm, with free entry and no booking requirement. If another day suits you better, use the linked gallery details to confirm its opening hours first.
Source and visitor detailsBrisbane City CouncilChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
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Live musicPerth, WA
A free folk evening at Perth Bowling Club
Tatts Folk and Roots brings Ilan Zagoria and the Parko and Sero duet to Perth Bowling and Recreation Club for a Thursday evening of live music. The monthly programme is supported by a City of Perth grant and offers an evening out without an admission charge.
When
10 September, 6 to 9pm
Cost
Free entry
More details about A free folk evening at Perth Bowling Club
The venue is at 2 Plain Street. The event listing reports an accessible toilet and ACROD parking. Check with the venue about your particular access needs and any arrangements on the night. Free entry covers the performance; refreshments you choose to buy are separate.
Source and visitor detailsCity of PerthChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
06
Young readersPerth, WA
Stories in Japanese, French and Mandarin
City of Perth Library’s language storytimes welcome children aged up to six and their families, including English speakers. The September programme lists Japanese on the 9th, French on the 16th and a Mandarin Mid-Autumn session on the 23rd. Stories offer a gentle way to encounter another language together.
When
9, 16 and 23 September, 11am to noon
Cost
Free; arrive early
More details about Stories in Japanese, French and Mandarin
Sessions take place at the library, 573 Hay Street. The listing advises arriving early. It also reports wheelchair access and accessible toilets; contact the library if you need further detail. Choose the date for the language you want, as the programme changes from week to week.
Source and visitor detailsCity of PerthChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
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Hands-on holidaysPerth, WA
Build a catapult at a free library workshop
Catapults and Dragons gives children aged seven to 11 a practical building challenge at the City of Perth Library. Participants make a catapult they can take home, bringing a little engineering into the school holidays. Two sessions are listed, so families can choose a morning time that suits them.
When
29 September, 10 to 11am or 11.30am to 12.30pm
Cost
Free; booking required
More details about Build a catapult at a free library workshop
The venue is 573 Hay Street, and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Book a place through the event listing rather than relying on space being available on arrival. Check the workshop details for any materials or participation instructions.
Source and visitor detailsCity of PerthChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
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Outdoors with childrenKings Park, WA
Take storytime outside in Kings Park
A view towards Perth from Kings Park in October 2023. Location photograph, not the storytime meeting point.Photo: Calistemon · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 4.0. Web-sized image; no crop.
Storytime in the Park brings stories and craft to the Poolgarla Family Area in Kings Park. The session is aimed at children aged two to six and makes a simple starting point for a family morning outside. The meeting area is near Koorak café.
When
30 September, 10 to 11am
Cost
Free; no booking
More details about Take storytime outside in Kings Park
Bring a blanket or chair, as the listing recommends. Three ACROD parking bays are noted, but check the route and availability arrangements if these are important to your visit. Follow the organiser’s event page for outdoor conditions or changes before heading out.
Source and visitor detailsCity of PerthChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
09
Nature for childrenParkville, VIC
Look for spring’s small details in Royal Park
A magpie-lark photographed in Royal Park, Melbourne, in November 2008.Photo: Lip Kee Yap from Singapore, Republic of Singapore · Original photograph · CC BY-SA 2.0. Web-sized image; no crop.
Junior Rangers: Wings and Wattles invites children aged five to 12 to investigate the flowers, birds and bees of Royal Park. It is a guided school-holiday activity for young explorers and their guardians, with a focus on what can be noticed in the park during spring.
When
22 to 25 September and 28 September to 1 October, 10am to noon
Cost
Free; booking required
More details about Look for spring’s small details in Royal Park
Meet at Ross Straw Field Pavilion in Parkville. Choose and book a listed weekday session before attending. The event page lists an accessible toilet, but does not establish that every part of the activity route suits every mobility need; ask the organiser about the route if necessary.
Source and visitor detailsCity of MelbourneChecked 8 September 2026. Times are local.
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Walks and fresh airAdelaide, SA
Join a free guided walk in Adelaide Botanic Garden
Volunteer guides from the Friends of the Botanic Gardens lead a daily walk through Adelaide Botanic Garden. The 90-minute tour combines seasonal plants with stories about the garden, offering a way to notice details that can be easy to pass on a self-guided visit.
When
Daily, 10.30am to noon
Cost
Free standard walk; no booking
More details about Join a free guided walk in Adelaide Botanic Garden
The published meeting point is Schomburgk Pavilion. Standard visitors do not need to book, but groups should check the organiser’s arrangements rather than assuming an organised group can simply join. Check current garden notices before travelling and ask about the planned route if you need step-free access.
Western Sydney libraries make room for practical wellbeing
Spring into Health brings a month of library activities across Blacktown, Cumberland, Parramatta and the Hills Shire. The programme includes movement, information sessions and practical topics such as lunchboxes and oral health. Readers can choose a local session rather than travel across the whole area.
When
September programme, listed through 1 October
Cost
Free activities; check individual bookings
More details about Western Sydney libraries make room for practical wellbeing
This is a programme listing, not a single event with one venue and start time. Follow the official links to the participating library’s timetable for dates, age groups and booking requirements. The sessions are community activities and information, rather than individual medical consultations.
