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Townsville school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, and a Townsville summer means heat, humidity and the odd storm. Water play and shade in the morning, somewhere indoors and air conditioned by early afternoon, and a plan B for the wet days.

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around Townsville: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights.

Water play, for the hot days

Splash pads, pumps and creeks. Free, and the most reliable way to make a hot day work.

🎡 The Strand Rockpool, North Ward
North Ward · Open daily except Wednesdays (cleaning, excluding public holidays). Lifeguards 9am to 5pm in the Christmas school holidays · Free
FreeWater play☕ 1.0km to coffee
🛝 The Strand Water Park, Townsville
North Ward · 1 Nov to 30 Apr 9am to 6pm; 1 May to 31 Oct 8am to 5pm. Closed Tuesdays for cleaning, except Qld school holidays and public holidays · Free
FreeWater play☕ 140m to coffee
🛝 Riverway Lagoons, Thuringowa Central
Thuringowa Central · Daily 6am to 8pm (1 Nov to 30 Apr), 6am to 6pm (1 May to 31 Oct); gates locked outside these hours · Free
FreeToiletsParkingWater playToddler area☕ 1.6km to coffee

Playgrounds with real shade

An unshaded playground is unusable from mid morning in summer. These have shade sails or mature trees over the equipment.

🛝 Jezzine Barracks playground and parkland, Kissing Point
North Ward · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsFencedShadeBBQPicnic area☕ 700m to coffee

Indoors, for the wet days and the hottest ones

Air conditioning and somewhere to burn energy. Play centres are spread across the suburbs, and the free museums and libraries are the cheapest cool room in town.

🎡 Forts Walk koala spotting, Magnetic Island
Horseshoe Bay · Open all day · Free
Free☕ 1.9km to coffee
🎪 PlayTown free indoor play area at Castletown
Hyde Park · Centre hours. Free Story Time at Playtown monthly, 10am to 10:30am · Free
FreeCoffee nearbyPlay area☕ 710m to coffee
🎡 The Strand Rockpool, North Ward
North Ward · Open daily except Wednesdays (cleaning, excluding public holidays). Lifeguards 9am to 5pm in the Christmas school holidays · Free
FreeWater play☕ 1.0km to coffee
🎪 Ninja Parc Townsville, Thuringowa Central
Thuringowa Central · See booking site for session times · Casual play passes for one or two hours, see booking site for prices
☕ 1.4km to coffee
🎡 Museum of Tropical Queensland, Townsville
Townsville City · Daily 9am to 4pm; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day · Free general entry; some exhibitions and events are ticketed
Free☕ 300m to coffee

Big days out

When you need one proper outing to break the week up. Book ahead for the ticketed ones.

🎡 Forts Walk koala spotting, Magnetic Island
Horseshoe Bay · Open all day · Free
Free☕ 1.9km to coffee
🎡 Billabong Sanctuary, Nome
Nome · Daily 9am to 4pm, closed Christmas Day · Adult $54, child 4 to 16 $37, family (2 adults + 3 kids) $152
🎡 The Strand Rockpool, North Ward
North Ward · Open daily except Wednesdays (cleaning, excluding public holidays). Lifeguards 9am to 5pm in the Christmas school holidays · Free
FreeWater play☕ 1.0km to coffee
🎡 Museum of Tropical Queensland, Townsville
Townsville City · Daily 9am to 4pm; closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day · Free general entry; some exhibitions and events are ticketed
Free☕ 300m to coffee

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Townsville school holidays?
The summer school holidays run Sat 12 December to Tue 26 January 2027. The autumn school holidays run Fri 26 March to Sun 11 April 2027. The winter school holidays run Sat 26 June to Sun 11 July 2027. The spring school holidays run Sat 18 September to Mon 4 October 2027. These are Queensland government school dates. Catholic and independent schools set their own, and government schools add their own pupil free days, so check with your school.
What is there to do in the Townsville school holidays that is free?
A great deal. Every council playground is free, as are the water play areas, the library holiday programs and most of the community events on the what's on page.
What can you do with kids in Townsville when it is raining?
Indoor play centres, the free museums and galleries, the library, and the indoor pools. On a warm wet day a splash pad still works: they are already wet.