LIST
By Jess Pridmore
Theme Parks | Learn to surf | Whale watching | Dinosaur fossils | Mud springs | Working farm | Turtle rehab | Aboriginal experience
Running out of ways to entertain the kids when winter rolls in? Chase the sun north and swap screen time for sandcastles these school holidays.
Whether they’re dino-obsessed, ocean-obsessed, or just need to burn off some serious energy, Queensland’s got the goods. Think fossil hunts, surf lessons, wildlife encounters, and eco-adventures that'll actually tire them out (you’re welcome). And there’s plenty of beach time too, obviously.
Here’s where to head for a winter family holiday that’s anything but boring.
Sunshine, surf and zero signs of boredom - this winter, the Gold Coast has your school holidays sorted.
From world-famous beaches and ancient rainforests to theme parks, shopping sprees and eats for every appetite, this place is basically a giant playground (with better weather).
Big kids, little kids (and let’s be honest, grown-ups who still think they’re kids), there’s no better way to max out the fun than a day at one of the Coast’s legendary theme parks. Say g’day to superheroes and stars at Movie World, feel the thrills at Dreamworld, make a splash at Wet’n’Wild or WhiteWater World, or get up close with dolphins and penguins at Sea World. They’re all close enough to hop between, but big enough to keep you busy all day.
Calm, glassy and kid-approved. Tallebudgera Creek is made for family-friendly beach days. Set up on the sand, let the little ones splash about in the sheltered shallows, and soak up this total stunner. Either BYO a picnic, or stop in the local favourite, Custard Canteen, just beyond the sand, for some of the Coast’s best coffee, sandwiches and custard tarts.
Kickstart your day with pancakes and a pouchful of cuteness at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Tuck into a gourmet breakfast surrounded by fuzzy faces, swap stories with the keepers, and get up close with a koala. It’s the kind of breakfast guest list you’ll never forget.
Earn some serious parental street cred this winter school holidays and book the kids (and maybe yourself) a surfing lesson on the Gold Coast. Its world-famous beaches, surf breaks, and year-round warm weather set the scene for a perfect fun-filled day spent on golden sand – and guarantees big smiles and tired bodies come sunset. Check out Get Wet on Main Beach, Walkin’ On Water in Coolangatta, and Surf in Paradise in Surfers Paradise, or find the best surf school for your family.
The world’s whale-watching capital and home to K’gari – the largest (and most beautiful) sand island on Earth – a UNESCO biosphere site, World-Heritage Marine Park, and, there’s more to this relatively small stretch of unspoilt Queensland coastline than meets the eye.
Grab the kids, ditch the land, and dive into the action at Hervey Bay – the world’s first official Whale Heritage site! The winter school holidays are the perfect time to catch the humpback whales making their grand migration north from Antarctica (lucky them, huh?). They love hanging out in Hervey Bay’s warm waters, and sightings are pretty much guaranteed – sometimes, you can even spot them from dry land! Plus, there’s a whale festival every year to roll out the red carpet for these magnificent mammals.
Ready for a wild night? Sign the little adventurers up for the Junior Ranger Program at K’gari Beach Resort on K’gari (Fraser Island). It’s a full-on island adventure with the Head Ranger – think dingo tracking, frog listening and then winding down with a yarn around the campfire about the white spirit who became K’gari. Perfect for kids five and up – and perfect for a night they won’t forget.
Let your kids live out their marine biologist dreams on one of Queensland’s most beautiful islands, Lady Musgrave. An incredible ‘day in the life’ tour, the Lady Musgrave Experience arms young minds with important knowledge about the island’s Reef. You’ll snorkel, spot a heap of local marine life, and help collect valuable data alongside a Master Reef Guide, used by scientists to help protect the reef. For a truly unforgettable holiday these school holidays, go fully off-grid and book an overnight stay on Lady Musgrave – available from the beginning of the Easter Holidays to the following January each year.
Vast, diverse, and stunningly beautiful, a visit to Outback Queensland is a feast for the senses. From iconic road trips to ancient landscapes millions of years in the making, a little red dust adds a touch of magic to any family winter holiday.
Got a budding palaeontologist at home? Hit the road and follow Queensland’s infamous Dinosaur Trail, 98 million years in the making. Kronosaurus Korner in Richmond is home to the best-preserved dinosaur skeletons in the country, while a visit to the Eromanga Natural History Museum, is a must for any dinosaur enthusiast. Don’t skip the Dinosaur Stampede at Lark Quarry Conservation Park near Winton – home to the remains of the only known dinosaur stampede in the world.
The jewel of the Gulf Savannah, Cobbold Gorge is about as far away as you can get from civilisation – and makes for an adventurous leg of a school holiday road trip. Approximately six hours inland from Townsville and Cairns in Far North Queensland, take to the waters of this other-worldly ancient landscape on a stand-up paddleboard. Join a local guided tour and drift between the gorge’s 30-metre-high, million-year-old sandstone cliffs, as you learn a little about the orange-hued sandstone formations.
Aptly referred to as the ‘oasis of the outback’, no visit to the stunning Lara Wetlands will disappoint. Hidden off the highway between Blackall and Barcaldine in Outback Queensland, kayak amongst the mystic ghost gums and try your hand at spotting one of the 127 bird species that call this habitat home. Sunrise and sunsets on the water’s edge are breathtaking – so a stay at the property’s historical homestead, Lara Station, or at one of the property’s waterside camping sites, makes for memorable family holiday memories.
It may be in the middle of the outback, but make sure you BYO togs – you’ll need them to bathe in the healing mud springs at Eulo Mud Baths. A naturally occurring outdoor spa, Eulo boasts a bathing area complete with three baths and a relaxing sunset viewing area with four single tubs available. Mum and dad can soak separately to the kids, guaranteeing a relaxing, muddy good time for all.
Known locally as Brisbane’s World Heritage-listed backyard, the Scenic Rim may only be 1.5 hours from the Queensland capital – but it feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle. If your kids revel in the great outdoors – and love an animal encounter or two – spend some time breathing in the fresh, country air these school holidays.
Hidden deep in the hinterland of South East Queensland, think of a stay at Mt Barney Lodge as a (well-deserved) break for parents and energy-busting adventure playground for kids young and old. A Nature Play accredited provider, there’s plenty of activities on offer to inspire (and tire). Kid's Night Adventure, Bushtucker Tracker, Bush Kids, and 'Light your Fire' excursions can be booked at the lodge, while adventurous families can try their hand at rock-climbing and abseiling, enjoy a guided hike and mountain expedition, seek out one of the many beautiful watering holes in and around the World Heritage-listed Mt Barney National Park.
Tommerups Dairy Farm, Scenic Rim
Get the kids to pitch in on working property Tommerups Dairy Farm. Located just 75 minutes from Brisbane and the Gold Coast in the picturesque Lost World region of Scenic Rim, Tommerup's Dairy Farm is heart-warming fun for children and adults alike. A 200-acre working farm, guests are encouraged to get their ‘hands dirty’, helping the property owners with daily animal feeding and egg collecting, milking the property’s cows and tending to the farm’s pigs and sheep.
Abbey Medieval Festival
Dust off your tunic and sharpen your (imaginary) sword – the Abbey Medieval Festival is back from 11 - 13 July 2025. Step into a world of knights, jesters and jousting at this legendary weekend of time-travelling fun on the grounds of the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology. Expect thrilling re-enactments, medieval performances, market stalls and more.
Home to not one, but two, World Heritage sites – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics, Queensland’s tropical north is Mother Nature’s playground. From family-friendly Cairns and the picturesque coastal town of Port Douglas, to the lush, dense Daintree rainforest and remote Far North Queensland, take the kids on an adventure they’ll never forget.
A world-class wildlife facility on the Great Barrier Reef, the volunteer-run, not-for-profit Turtle Rehabilitation Centre on Fitzroy Island is a place to learn and get hands-on with nature. Little ones will have the opportunity for up-close encounters with rescued Green and Hawksbill turtles, while learning about their rehabilitation journey at the centre. Book one of their daily tours and know your visit is helping one of the turtles through their six-month-long journey back to the ocean.
Get to know this ancient land; grab the family and join Juan Walker on Walkabout Cultural Adventures’ Ngana Julaymba Dungay tour. Marvel at the magnificent Mossman Gorge and the southern Daintree rainforest, where you’ll learn first-hand about foods and medicines foraged from nature. Sample some bush tucker, collect shellfish and try your hand at traditional Aboriginal hunting practices – even have a go a boomerang and spear throwing!
There’s a plethora of adrenalin-inducing crocodile experiences to be had in Tropical North Queensland, but none more spine-tingling than swimming with a saltwater crocodile. At Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas, you’ll come eye-to-teeth with the great Estuarine Crocodile. Offering 180-degree underwater viewing, dive into the 2.3-metre-deep enclosed pool, where you’ll be inches away from the closest living thing to a dinosaur.
Looking for more inspiration these winter school holidays? Check out all these incredible events happening right across Queensland.