Nine things to do in the Riverina this week (6 - 13 January)

In some ways, the new year can be a quieter time as galleries, theatres and entertainment venues gear up for the year ahead.

But on the flip side, summer is a great time to get out and make your own fun! Among all the school holiday programs and trips to the coast, there are plenty of great things that you can do every day across the Riverina.

From swimming and sliding to movies and haunted dolls – here are nine reasons you won’t be bored during the holiday period.

All Week

Movies

When: Various
Where: Forum 6 Cinemas, 77 Trail Street, Wagga
Cost: Various; visit their website for more info.

Blueback is a new Aussie flick based on the best-selling novel by Tim Winton. Starring Mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana, it’s a story about the ocean and a young girl’s power to change the world.

Tom Hanks is back as A Man Called Otto, playing a grumpy widower who strikes up an unlikely friendship with his pregnant neighbour.

And for the kids, it’s hard to go past Puss in Boots: The Last Wish with Antonio Banderas returning as the swashbuckling kitty cat in this smash-hit Shrek spin-off.

Eight More: The Art Factory

When: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm until 22 January
Where: Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, Civic Centre, corner of Baylis & Morrow Streets
Cost: Free.

Eight More celebrates the work of four creative duos working collaboratively over several months to explore individual and shared practices and diversity between artists with and without disabilities.

The exhibition wraps up on 22 January at the Wagga Art Gallery.

Strawberry picking

When: Every day, 9 am to 3 pm
Where: Bidgee Strawberries and Cream, Billagha Street, Wagga
Cost: $5 per person or $16 per family.

A great activity for the family to get outside and enjoy some amazing local produce.

You can learn about hydroponic farming, pat and feed the sheep, check out the bee hives and, best of all, taste test the two varieties of strawberries and the homemade strawberry sorbet and ice cream.

The beach is back!

When: Any time!
Where: Wagga Riverside Precinct
Cost: Free.

Australia’s 9th best beach (in 2020) is back in time for the height of summer! The river is back and the sand has reemerged along with the warm weather.

Riverside Park is looking good and you can now pick up a coffee and a donut from the mobile food vans that are there every day.

Remember to take care in the river and slip-slop-slap in the sun.

Junee’s Haunted Doll Museum

When: Every day, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Belmore Street, Junee
Cost: $5.

Junee’s ‘Queen of the Dolls’, Silvia Heszterenyiova, has relocated her Fairies Reborn Magic Nursery and Haunted Doll Museum to the old Salvation Army Barracks in Belmore Street, opposite the police station.

There are thousands of dolls on display and thousands more to unpack, including some of the creepiest creations you’ve ever seen!

Coolamon Cheese Factory

When: Thursday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Monday to Wednesday, 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
Where: Cowabbie St, Coolamon
Cost: Free for a look.

A trip to Coolamon is not complete without a stop at the artisanal cheese factory on Main Street.

Boasting a unique selection of cheese, including their signature lactose-free range, you can see how it’s all made and grab a coffee and a bite to eat before exploring the antique stores along the street.

Griffith Pioneer Park Museum

When: Every day, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Remembrance Dr, Griffith
Cost: $8 to $12.

Set high on the hill overlooking Griffith, the Pioneer Park Museum celebrates the region’s history.

You can explore original local buildings, old vehicles, wagons and farm machinery, and there’s a broad range of antiques used in the local area.

Watersliding at Narrandera

When: Monday to Friday, 6 am to 8 am, then 10 am to 7 pm; weekends, 10 am to 7 pm
Where: Lake Talbot Water Park, Narrandera
Cost: $2 to $4.

After a late start to summer, it’s time to hit the pool, and the Lake Talbot Water Park in Narrandera Shire is the best place to do it.

Right next to the lake, you’ll find four swimming pools, terraced lawns, BBQs and, of course, the slides, including a high-speed ‘dual racer’ that allows for two people to slide at a time!

Temora Aviation Museum

When: Every day, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Tom Moon Avenue, Temora
Cost: $10 to $30.

There are planes galore at the Temora Aviation Museum, paying tribute to Australia’s historic ex-military aircraft.

You can wander the museum and enjoy extraordinary flying displays by the Temora Historic Flight Club.