Christmas

Santa Runs in the Hills
Santa runs in the Hills are a great tradition! Here's a list of those on in and around the Hills. There's never been a better time to show our appreciation for the firies and all they do.
Read moreThe Ultimate Guide to Christmas in the Hills
Get the most out of the festive events planned by the Hills community in 2019!
Read moreChristmas lights in the Hills
Here's a list of the houses and streets in the Hills and surrounds with great Christmas lights!
Read moreChristmas Checklist
Simple things you can check off to avoid a whole lot of @*#& on Christmas Eve!
Read moreThe Australian Ballet presents: Storytime Ballet
Experience the world’s most famous ballet live on stage in a brand-new production of The Nutcracker, created especially for children aged three and up, at the incredible new Sydney Coliseum Theatre on 11 & 12 January. It makes for a perfect first ballet experience & is an excellent Christmas present for tiny dancers!
Read moreHO HO HO – GIVE A GIFT TO GRO!
Go green this Christmas and give a living gift! At Gro Urban Oasis you'll find the perfect gift for everyone! At Rouse Hill Town Centre and opening at Castle Towers on 5 December!
Read moreSanta’s coming to Seven Hills Plaza!
Capture a special Christmas memory with Santa at Centre Court. Saturday 30 Nov - Tues 24 Dec.
Read moreChristmas at Castle Towers
Check out what's on at Castle Towers this Christmas period! There's the all important photos with Santa, kids' workshops, roving entertainment, gift wrapping and more!
Read moreChristmas at North Rocks Shopping Centre
Arrival parades, breakfast with Santa, Christmas trading hours and more! Everything you need to know about Christmas at NoRo!
Read moreJoin in the Christmas festivities at Castle Hill RSL!
There's lots of festive fun to be had! Santa arrives for professional photos on 30 November! And don't miss Lah-Lah's Stripy Christmas show, the Christmas Kids Day and the Ultimate Christmas Magic show!
Read moreCelebrate Christmas Day at the Novotel Sydney Parramatta
Let the Novotel Sydney Parramatta look after your entire family on Christmas Day with their all-inclusive buffet lunch! Kids under 4 eat free, parking is complimentary and Santa is visiting!
Read moreChristmas has arrived at Rouse Hill Town Centre!
Santa photos are now underway at Rouse Hill Town Centre, with a brand new Santa House in Market Square! This year, you'll need to pre-book your session to make sure Santa knows you're coming. And join in the festive spirit for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Thursday 28 Nov and breakfast with Santa on Sat 7 & 14 Dec.
Read moreLatest

The Hills Sydney: 2019/2020 Summer School Holiday Guide
A camp, class or workshop is a great way to entertain kids during the school holidays. Here are some awesome options in and around the Hills - there's something for everyone!
Read more5 work-at-home jobs to consider
Now that you're a mum, you may have found that your priorities have shifted or your previous job isn't a good fit with your family. Have you ever wondered what roles you could do from home? Here are some suggestions.
Read moreCo-parenting during special occasions
Co-parenting is often challenging at the best of times and special holidays like Christmas can sometimes make things that little more difficult. Here are some tips from a legal expert on ways to navigate these occasions and co-parent respectfully and successfully after you've separated.
Read moreCheck out Cherrybrook Woolworths’ latest refresh
If you haven't visited Cherrybrook Woolworths lately, next time you pop by you'll notice it’s had a makeover - and these enhancements make the shopping experience for mums a more pleasant one and great in time for Christmas.
Read moreCastle Towers: Fresh food marketplace and food court to open next month
With an additional 4,700sqm of floor space, 45 lifestyle, food, home and service retailers will begin trading before Christmas, with an additional eight stores set to open from early 2020. Plus, there will be direct access to the new Castle Hill metro station & bus interchange via a pedestrian tunnel.
Read morePlaces to head on super hot days
It's tricky to entertain kids and keep cool on days when the temperature is extreme and it's even too hot for the beach or outdoors in general. Here are some ideas.
Read moreIs your child ready to start school?
‘School readiness’ seems to be a bit of a minefield and for some parents it can be overwhelming. Here are some things to consider.
Read moreDay trip to Yarramundi
We're so lucky to have a gorgeous spot like Yarramundi not far from the Hills. It's a popular spot recommended by lots of Hills District Mums as a great spot for a family day out. And we totally agree!
Read moreOllie Webb Reserve | Parramatta | New Playground
The Ollie Webb Reserve Playground is Parramatta's first all-inclusive playground and water play park!
Read moreDon’t miss

Enjoy a stay at Crowne Plaza Canberra these holidays!
There's lots on over Christmas and the Summer holidays in the nation's capital! And Crowne Plaza Canberra has a great 25% off deal for stays through to May 2020 if you're planning a getaway.
Read moreStrike & Holey Moley Castle Towers has your Christmas holiday fun sorted!
Bring your tribe in before 5pm and 2 adults and 2 kids can play 1 game of bowling or 18 holes of mini golf for only $50!
Read moreTuff Nutterz returns to Castle Hill Showground!
Tuff Nutterz is Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle course and it's returning to Castle Hill Showground on 19 - 22 December - a perfect early Christmas present! Be sure to book your tickets ASAP. And this time there's a dedicated toddler zone, Tuff Toddlerz for 2 - 6 year olds, as well as Bouncing Beats for teens 16 and under!
Read moreOsso at Rouse Hill is treating mums to lunch!
Check out this special deal just for mums and bubs! Lunch for both of you for only $19.95! What a great excuse to get together with a group of friends.
Read moreChristmas has come early to The Little Gym!
The Little Gym loves spoiling its members so it's offering exclusive deals for 2020! Whether you have a non-walker or your little one is starting Kindy, there's a class for you!
Read moreDiscover The Sydney Coliseum Theatre | Sydney’s new home for the Arts
The biggest stars will soon be performing on Sydney’s newest stage – right here in Western Sydney! The Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ is located in Rooty Hill and will open its doors on December 12 to a spectacular line up of stars headlined by Grammy Award winning Keith Urban!
Read moreHDM Party Guide | Spring 19 / Summer 20
Planning a party can sometimes be stressful! Here's our new Party Guide, full of ideas for venues, entertainment and catering to get your party started!
Read moreParks and coffee – a mum’s perfect combination
Here are a few suggestions of parks in the Hills and surrounds where you can get a great coffee within walking distance, meaning it's one stop only with the kids.
Read moreQuestacon | A Canberra must do
Questacon, the National Science & Techology centre, is top of the list when visiting Canberra! Here's why.
Read moreToot toot! HDM visits Galston Valley Railway
There's a piece of history right on our doorstep that's great fun for little ones and makes for a lovely family outing!
Read moreOne of our favourite places: Fagan Park
Fagan Park is a truly beautiful park and one of our favourite places to visit with our kids. And the lower playground has recently been refurbished!
Read moreBox Hill | The Gables | New playgrounds
With 3 new playgrounds opened within the last year and families moving in, The Gables in Box Hill is starting to come to life! The playgrounds are fresh, clean, new and a little different! Here are the details of each playground.
Read morePubs, clubs and restaurants with a playground in or near the Hills
A playground or play area in a pub, club or restaurant means that mum and dad can usually enjoy a meal and drink in relative peace. Here's a list of some local venues with this perk!
Read moreHDM checks out the new menu at Castle Hill RSL
Castle Hill RSL has relaunched their menus, introducing fresh, vibrant and healthy options alongside revamped classics and club favourites. We checked it out recently.
Read moreHDM visits Panetta Mercato in Baulkham Hills
We love a large fresh food and produce store that stocks EVERYTHING your heart (and stomach) desires! That's what Panetta Mercato in Baulkham Hills offers. And you can even enjoy a coffee and slice of Papa's cheesecake in store mid shop! We checked it out recently.
Read moreThe Burrow, Cherrybrook
The Burrow is a welcoming family run cafe in Cherrybrook that's serving up some delicious dishes! We visited recently.
Read moreBest cafes in the Hills: 2019 edition
We're really proud of the burgeoning cafe scene in the Hills! Here's our 2019 list of local venues that are consistently good. Enjoy.
Read moreDelicious breakfast spots for 2018: The Hills Sydney
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day and it's often the easiest to eat out with kids. Here's a list of places in the Hills and surrounds to road test for eggs, pancakes and more.
Read moreLunchbox hacks and hints
The school year is long and there are a lot of lunchboxes to fill. Do you needs some tips and ideas?
Read moreWhat is family mediation?
Separating from a spouse or partner can be extremely difficult and it's common to disagree on important aspects such as care of children and division of property and other assets. This is where mediation can be beneficial. But what does it involve and where do you start?
Read moreNavigating the legal minefield when your relationship ends
When a relationship ends, the legal side of things can often be confusing and overwhelming. Forming a relationship with your lawyer to assist you during this time is important. Our resident family law expert explains more.
Read moreProperty, superannuation and divorce
Separating is such an emotional and confusing time so it's good to know the basics about how assets like property and superannuation are handled during the process.
Read moreEvery mum’s most feared four letter word
It’s the four letter word that strikes fear into even the most seasoned of school mums. In fact, there are two four letter words so take your pick!
Read moreFinding the will
As parents, the importance of having a Will in place can't be ignored. But what's involved and what do you need to consider? Here's some great information to get you started.
Read moreTaming your toddler at bed time
Are you pulling your hair out at bed time and through the night with your toddler? Here are some issues that local child sleep consultant Chantal Cohen frequently see families with toddlers facing and some quick tips to help them go to sleep and stay there all night.
Read more10 things that happen to children when they sleep with their mouth open
Mouth breathing in children is a lot more serious than we used to think. Local GP Dr Suzan Bekir explains some of the associated risks.
Read moreThe parents’ guide to childhood injuries – scratches, scrapes, sprains & more
The big question that parents ask when their child has an injury or a possible broken bone is “Do I need to go to a hospital Emergency Department?" It's good to know what other options exist to avoid possible long wait times and expense.
Read moreAfter hours chemists in and around the Hills
It's the middle of the night and you would do anything to make your little one better. Here's a list of late night chemists in and around the Hills.
Read moreOvercoming 5 common sleep issues in little ones
Here are five helpful tips which can rapidly improve your little one’s sleep habits.
Read moreFive ways to increase your child’s resilience
We often read about building resilience in our children. But what is it and how can we teach our children this important life skill? Here are five parenting tips.
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