As autumn properly settles in, April brings those picture-perfect days that remind us why we love living in the nation’s capital. 

Cool enough to enjoy being active outdoors, warm enough to linger over coffee at outdoor cafés, it’s the ideal month to explore what Ginninderry has to offer.

From school holiday activities to regular fitness sessions and community workshops, April is packed with opportunities to try something new and reconnect with nature. 

Here’s your complete guide to what’s on in and around Ginninderry this April.

FAMILY 

School Holiday’s with the Ginninderry Conservation Trust

Step into the world of reptiles and insects with this exciting hands-on adventure! Cristy from Curious Kids will be joining the Ginninderry Conservation Trust to deliver an exciting program for children aged 5 and up. Head out on a nature hunt, then meet and gently handle either a real reptile or stick insect, learning more about how they eat, and survive in the wild. To finish, children will create their own nature-inspired bookmarks, blending art and science in a special take-home keepsake.

Monday 13 April – two sessions available at 10:30am – 11:30am and 2 pm – 3pm. | Cost: $10 per family | Register here. 

Strathnairn Playgroup 

Every Friday morning during school terms, The Link hosts playgroup for children aged 0-5 and their carers from 9:30 am to 11 am. It’s a relaxed space for little ones to socialise and explore activities while parents connect over a cuppa (available at The Link or from Cafe Stepping Stone next door). 

Perfect for making new friends and establishing a Friday morning routine in the neighbourhood. Attendees are encouraged to register with ACT Playgroups beforehand – it’s free and takes just a few minutes.

Every Friday morning during school terms | The Link | More information here.

Tiny Tutus Preschool Ballet

Australia’s leading kids’ ballet school offers beautiful, developmentally appropriate beginner ballet classes teaching classical ballet basics, movement, music appreciation, rhythm and poise. 

Classes encourage imagination and creative movement with gentle introductions to ballet positions, centre and cross-floor exercises. 

Best of all, Tiny Tutus has open ballet classes, which means you are welcome to stay in the studio and watch your little ballerina as she twirls!

Weekdays, dependent on term schedule | Belconnen Arts Centre Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank | Register here.

Blueberries 

Blueberries is a dance, music and drama program for two-to-four-year-olds. The program is designed for toddlers to attend with their parents for an hour of high-energy fun. There’s no uniform, with little ones encouraged to dress up and express themselves! It’s family-friendly, with other siblings (i.e. babies in prams) welcome. 

Weekdays, dependent on term schedule | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

English Conversation Group

Practice your English in a relaxed, welcoming environment at Café Stepping Stone’s weekly conversation group. Every Thursday morning, fluent speakers guide conversations whilst welcoming participants of all language levels. 

There’s no need to register or commit to every week – simply drop in when it suits you, grab a coffee, and join the conversation. It’s a wonderful opportunity to improve English skills, meet people from different backgrounds, and connect with the local community over a cuppa. Whether you’re building confidence in English or simply want to chat with friendly faces, you’re welcome at the table.

Every Thursday, 10 am to 12 pm | Café Stepping Stone, Strathnairn | Free, drop-in | All levels welcome | More information here.

Fortnightly Crafternoon @ Strathnairn

Pop along every Sunday fortnight for a free afternoon of creativity and community at Cafe Stepping Stone in Strathnairn. Their Crafternoon sessions are the perfect escape into the world of arts and crafts. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a curious beginner, this event is for you!

Sunday 19 April, 2 pm to 4 pm |  Café Stepping Stone, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | More information here.

Silent Book Club @ Café Stepping Stone

Taking place fortnightly on Sundays, this Silent Book Club is open to everyone, with no fees or age limits. You can engage with others as much or as little as you like! Unlike traditional book clubs, there’s no assigned reading or discussion, just a peaceful space to read your book among fellow book lovers.

Here’s how it works: arrive, settle in with a drink, and maybe share what you’re reading, spend a quiet, undisturbed hour reading, and then socialise (or continue reading if you prefer). Bring your current read, order your favourite beverage, and enjoy some uninterrupted reading time.

Saturday 12 and 26 April, 2 pm to 4 pm | Café Stepping Stone, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | More information here.

EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS 

The hidden world of the small – beautiful, powerful or vulnerable

The Hidden World of the Small examines the often overlooked. Seven artists from the Tin Shed Art Group pull focus onto the minute details of life, finding the power and beauty in tiny, quiet subjects.

Through a range of mediums, the group navigates the tension between beauty and power on a small scale, uncovering moments that usually stay hidden in plain sight.

See how the smallest subjects can tell the biggest stories.

Running until Monday 27 April | The Link | More information here. 

EASS 2025: Zali Odlum, Sophie Kihara-Murer & Madeleine Forner

Strathnairn Arts presents the 2025 Emerging Artist Support Scheme recipients in a compelling exhibition exploring materiality, identity, and contemporary experience. Zali Odlum, Sophie Kihara-Murer, and Madeleine Forner work across ceramics, mixed media, and painting to examine themes of ecological fragility, grief and repair, and cultural reclamation. 

This is emerging talent worth watching, artists at the beginning of their careers creating work that’s already asking important questions and demonstrating technical skill.

8 April until 3 May | Strathnairn Arts Homestead | Opening: 8 April, 5 pm to 7 pm | Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm | Free entry | More information here

Photowalk with Hilary Wardhaugh

Grab your camera (or phone!) and join photographer Hilary Wardhaugh for an urban landscape photowalk around Belconnen. This inclusive two-hour session welcomes photographers of all abilities and equipment levels, whether you shoot with an SLR, compact camera, or smartphone. 

Starting at Belconnen Arts Centre with 15 minutes exploring Hilary’s work in the “Between What Remains” exhibition, the group will then walk Belconnen Town Centre capturing images that reveal urban landscapes and abstraction.

It’s an opportunity to get fresh air, exercise your creative eye, meet other photography enthusiasts, and see your neighbourhood through a new lens. 

All ages and abilities welcome, photography is for everyone.

Sunday 26 April, 4 pm to 6 pm | Meet at Belconnen Arts Centre | $25 / $10 Concession | Duration: 120 minutes | Book tickets online here

Chasing Alice: Annie Lok

Annie Lok’s “Chasing Alice” presents the latest works in her ongoing “Rabbit Holes” series – carefully constructed digital compositions where female protagonists navigate landscapes created through photo manipulation, filtering, warping, and layering. Each piece explores symmetry, balance, texture, and color while tackling the human experience through social, political, and art historical lenses. 

The series takes on deeper meaning, knowing it emerged from Lok’s 2021 workplace accident that left her with ruptured discs and chronic pain. Her “Rabbit Holes” become both creative expression and escape, testing our physical, intellectual, and emotive boundaries when encountering familiar and unfamiliar spaces. 

Does our trauma response activate, or do we find welcomed escape? Only viewers can determine how each Rabbit Hole serves them. Opening night 27 March at 6 pm.

27 March until 17 May | Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | Opening: 6 pm Friday 27 March | Free entry | More information here

FITNESS AND MINDFUL MOVEMENT 

Evening Taekwon-Do to wind down after a busy day

If you want gentle exercise but not first thing in the morning, enjoy evening Taekwon-Do classes at The Link. The class is aimed at beginners of all ages, from preschool age and over – adults are also most welcome and encouraged to join in with their children. Of course, anyone with TKD experience is also very welcome.

No experience necessary – the class will accommodate fitness levels of all sorts, from those with a high degree of fitness and flexibility to those who don’t. After all, we all have to begin somewhere!

Mondays between 6 pm to 7 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here

West Belco Bike Bus 

Join a bunch of like-minded people and cycle into work. The West Belco Bike Bus has a set route and timetable so it can pick up more ‘passengers’ along the way. 

Cycling is a quick, fun way to get to work while keeping fit and healthy, along with saving emissions from a car or bus commute. The West Belco Bike Bus starts off from Kippax shops, then cycles through to the Belconnen Town Centre, Civic, Commonwealth Avenue Bridge and on to Barton. 

Monday 2 February, 7 am to 9 am  | Meet at Kippax Fair, 26 Hardwick Crescent, Holt | More information here.

Roll your way into fitness 

Strap on your skates and join RollerFit instructors Matt, Amelia, and Zeb to learn the amazing style of roller dance! Roller dance, also known as rhythm skating, has deep roots in Black North American culture. 

This unique style combines different steps, turns and individual moves to get multiple skaters flowing and moving in sync. It’s a sure way to get fit!

Fridays, 6 pm to 7:30 pm | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Fitness in The Park

Fitness class for all levels of fitness for the whole community. Join Ginninderry local Vince as he takes you through a group fitness class in the fresh air at Paddys Park.

Every Wednesday, 7.30 am to 8.30 am, Paddys Park, Asimus Avenue, Strathnairn | Find out more here.

Tap into your zen with yoga classes

Get bendy on Thursday evenings at a yoga class! You don’t need any experience – just head along for the slow-flow class that will help melt away tension, build strength and mobility, and give you a chance to recharge. Take along a yoga mat, water bottle, and comfy clothes.

Every Thursday, 6.45 pm to 7.45 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

Salsa Dance Classes by Move Me Studios 

Get your groove on with these free beginner classes – no partner or experience required. Bring your two left feet and enjoy a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Dance is a fantastic way to get fit, stay active and meet new friends. 

You don’t need to bring a partner, but feel free to take one along for a fun date night! Spots are limited, so make sure you book your spot. Did we mention it’s free? 

Sundays, 4 pm to 5 pm | Belco Arts Dance Studio, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.