The best things to do with kids in Townsville and beyond

Townsville’s tropical climate means there’s plenty of flourishing gardens and parks for the kids to explore – and many have free water play parks too.

Head to The Strand, where you can walk, run or bike the easy two kilometres of oceanfront foreshore and then cool off with a splash or a dip. The Strand Rockpool is a tidal sea water pool popular during stinger season, but the favourite for younger kids is the free Strand Water Park with interactive aqua play spaces, tipping bucket and playground. It’s also the perfect spot for a picnic overlooking Magnetic Island.

In the suburbs, Ross River Parklands offers free family fun with spacious gardens, sports grounds and a meandering 11km riverside path perfect for bike rides. Let the kids cool down afterwards with a swim in either of the two huge lifeguard patrolled swimming lagoons. Bring or buy your lunch at the cafe to make a full day of it. 

2. Visit Barra Fun Park

Head to Townsville’s largest outdoor activity park for over 25 acres of fun. Kids can take on toboggans, waterslides and trampolines, have a go at water skiing and wakeboarding, learn how to cable ski, and join a banana boat ride.

Throw a fishing line in at one of the Barramundi-filled dams, or tackle the slip and slide that the whole family will love. 

Note: Reopens September 2024

3. Hop over to Magnetic Island

There’s plenty of nature to get up close to on Magnetic Island.

Just a quick 20 minute ferry glide from Townsville, two-thirds of Maggie is designated national park and is home to northern Australia’s largest colony of koalas in the wild. But if you want to meet one, grab the gang and visit The Koala Park by Selina, a wildlife sanctuary offering an interactive 'Breakfast with the Koalas' experience.

24 km of walking trails weave throughout the island, and you’re likely to spot rock wallabies, echidnas and koalas along the way. When it’s time for a swim, choose from 23 picturesque beaches and bays - all with their own unique beauty and some patrolled by lifeguards.

Adventure is around every turn here. Snorkel the reef on the DIY snorkel trail marked by buoys at Nelly Bay. Spend the day hopping between beaches, bays and snorkel sites with Aquascene. Set sail with Big Mama for a half-day, full-day or sunset sail off Magnetic Island with Townsville as your backdrop.

Here are more things to do on Magnetic Island.

4. Jump ship to the Maritime Museum of Townsville

If your kids love playing captain and first-mate, include a visit to the Maritime Museum where a mind-blowing collection of artefacts from the S.S Yongala (now a dive site) and H.M.S Pandora are waiting to be explored.

5. Spark their curiosity

Inquisitive kids will love the Queensland Museum Tropics.

Visit the ancient sea and reefs exhibit, learn about what crawls and creeps during the day and night in North Queensland, and take on the mind and body bending challenges in Sciencentre’s discovery-zone. Round it out with a visit to the interactive Enchanted Rainforest; an incredible example of the UNESCO World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforest found in Townsville.   

6. Grab a scoop

Heading north? Be sure to stop in to a North Queensland institution - The Frosty Mango. With over 25 fruit varieties growing in the orchard and a beguiling selection of natural ice-cream flavours to choose from, spoil the kids and yourselves with a scoop or three along your road trip.

7. Chase waterfalls

An easy day trip north of Townsville to Paluma Range National Park will bring you to the southern gateway to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. Big and Little Crystal Creeks are popular picnic spots for families (camping is available at Big Crystal Creek); both offer cool, fresh water waterholes and small cascades where your kids can swim.

The small mountain town of Paluma is worth a wander to pick up local arts and crafts. Further up Paluma Range, a visit to Hidden Valley Cabins - the first carbon neutral resort in Australia running only on solar energy - has an even bigger surprise. This is one of the best places in Australia’s to see platypus in the wild and by taking a tour with one of the locals you’ll have a pretty good chance of spotting them.

If you've got older kids who love to bushwalk and swim, this road trip to Townsville's best waterfalls will be the nature break you needed.

8. Go wild at Billabong Sanctuary

20 minutes south of Townsville, Billabong Sanctuary is a boutique wildlife park with big heart, earning them advanced eco-tourism accreditation. Visit native Australian animals in their natural habitats, including wombats, pythons, dingoes and cassowaries. Hold baby crocs, or stick around and watch the heart-jumping moments the big crocs get fed. More than just a good time, your kids will learn the value in protecting and conserving our local wildlife for future generations to continue to enjoy.

9. Explore an underwater world

The Museum of Underwater Art is a one of a kind underwater art gallery themed with reef conservation, education and restoration in mind.

This Southern Hemisphere first is designed by world renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor (creator of MUSA in Mexico and Museo Atlantico in Spain) with installations in Townsville and at John Brewer Reef. Be sure to check out Ocean Siren while wandering The Strand - while if you have teens who love to dive, the Coral Greenhouse and Ocean Sentinels can be experienced on a scuba dive.

Make sure you add it to your list of things to do in Townsville to be one of the first to see it.

10. Get a taste of Texas in Townsville

"Everything is bigger in Texas". And that goes for cattle, too. Texas Longhorns are perhaps the most famous and iconic cattle in history - and the longest horned cattle in the world. Pile the family in the car and head west of Townsville to meet the largest herd of pure-bred Texan Longhorns in Australia on a safari or wagon ride with Texas Longhorn Tours, before enjoying a traditional smoko.  

Many steers have horns spanning more than 100 inches tip-to-tip and JR, who was a former Guinness World Record Holder, is on display in the JR Gallery of Horns with a horn span exceeding 3 metres!

11. Pan for gold

While you're out west, be sure to check out Charters Towers; home town of the largest gold rush in Queensland history. Your kids will love panning for gold at the Miners Cottage and you’ll be surprised to learn that Charters Towers stakes a claim as being the place where the world’s first stock exchange kicked off.

12. Dig into history

Townsville is a treasure trove of history, with many significant sites to visit. But for one that pays homage to both Townsville’s traditional Indigenous culture and rich military heritage, Jezzine Baracks is a stand out.

Wander the 15-hectare site on Kissing Point Headland which commemorates Townsville’s unique history with 32 commissioned public artworks, interpretive signage and a coastal boardwalk to explore. An ethnobotanical trail explains Indigenous foraging techniques and the various uses of local flora for food and medicine.

13. Delve into 45,000 years of culture

Make your way to Mungalla Station for a tour that introduces your family to 45,000 years of Nywaigi Aboriginal Culture. Mungalla Aboriginal Tours will take your through the historic homestead, sharing stories, teaching skills like boomerang and spear throwing, and imparting the history and wisdom of life on Country.

14. Take in the views from Castle Hill

No visit to Townsville is complete without sitting atop Castle Hill - the city’s most recognisable landmark. The best place to catch a Townsville sunrise and sunset with 360 degree views, several walking trails are suitable for kids including the Cudtheringa or West Ridge tracks. If it's a hot day or you have young children, opt to drive to the top of Castle Hill instead and wander to the various lookouts the peer over the city, Magnetic Island and Mount Stuart.

Looking for more to do in Townsville? Check out this list or start planning the perfect Townsville getaway.