6 FREE school holiday adventures your kids will love

Published on 08 December 2022

6 free school holiday adventures your kids will love

School holidays can be a challenging time for parents to conjure up exciting and entertaining activities for their kids.

With all the hard work parents, grandparents and guardians do during the school term, it can be easy to lose track of time and miss out on planning things to do once the kids are home.

Whether you’re holidaying, visiting family or having a stay-cation in the Rockhampton Region, there is plenty of activities to keep the young ones fulfilled and amused...and it won’t break your budget either.

Why not try these 6 free school holiday adventures on for size this summer?

See you at the Zoo

Meerkats, macaws and otters oh my! Home to almost 100 animals, spanning more than 30 species of native and exotic varieties, the Rockhampton Zoo is a must see during the school holidays. Located in the leafy suburb of The Range, the Zoo is situated right next to the beautiful Botanic Gardens. Check out the cheeky chimpanzees, marvel at the mob of meerkats and stop by the Australian wetlands zone to meet our giant saltwater crocodile ‘The Colonel’. The talented keepers at the zoo also do daily keeper talks and animal feeding. You can tour the zoo at your own leisure, explore the stunning Botanic Gardens afterwards and drop into the shaded Tea Rooms for a light sack or lunch.

Make your own wrestling mask

The Rockhampton Museum of Art is hosting an exciting school holiday activity inspired by one of their current exhibitions WrestleMANIA. Bring the kids down to marvel at the amazing exhibition and afterwards head into Level 1 Program Rooms where they can try their hand at making their very own unique wrestling mask. They will have plenty of fun trying on costumes and getting into character. Their imaginations can then run wild at the drawing easels and enjoy the sensory play experiences. The activities will be held now until 22 January, 2023. Make a day of it and view the Museum's collections and other exhibitions.

Make your own mask

Walk among the treetops

Take your school holiday activities to new heights with a visit to Mount Archer’s Nurim National Park. Keep your eyes and ears peeled as you take in it's natural beauty. The iconic Nurim Circuit is a must see to tick off your school holiday bucket list. Among the treetops, you and the kids can view the city of Rockhampton in all its majesty – the best views are just on dusk or dawn. Don’t forget to take a camera to capture the breath-taking view. For the budding photographer, you may even like to learn some tips and tricks of taking the perfect sunset shot. Mount Archer has several other bush walking tracks that take you to spectacular mountain views from all directions. Why not pack a lunch or some delicious snacks from the local shop in town and make a day of it? There is also a kids adventure playground at the summit where your kids can weave through the totem poles, jump on the trampoline or swing amongst the trees.

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Take a trip back in time

Do your kids know what life was like without their iPhone or video games? It might be hard for them to even fathom, but all the more reason to find out more about it. Ditch the screens and delve into region’s rich history, from the heritage listed historical architecture of Quay Street to its quirky museums and railway stations. The town of Mount Morgan (approximately 45 minutes from Rockhampton’s city centre) is a day trip all on its own, which exudes small town charm with a golden past.The Historic Museum and Railway Museum in Mount Morgan have plenty to see and do for the whole family. You’ll walk away with a head full of stories from years gone by and a whole new appreciation for the history of the area.

Make History Here

Play Hard!

On those perfect summer days, nothing beats a playground! And Rockhampton has plenty to choose from! Stretch the legs, enjoy the fresh air and let the kids run wild at one of the many lush green parks, adventure playgrounds including:

• Rockhampton Botanic Gardens
• Boyd Park, Mount Morgan No. 7 Dam
• Cedric Archer Park
• Alf Kele Memorial Rotary Park
• Kershaw Gardens
• Mount Archer National Park (Nurim)
• Riverside Park (Tunuba)

Our picturesque parklands offer the perfect place to enjoy a picnic followed by an afternoon stroll amongst the gardens. Pack a snack or a barbecue lunch and make the most of the perfect summer weather.

Its play time!

Learn and interact at the library

If the summer heat is starting to become a little too much, the Rockhampton Regional Library offers a wide range of activities to keep the kids amused in creature comfort. Let their imaginations run wild with the Lego club, unleash their inner creativity with Kids’ Craft or discover the skills to become an anime/manga artist. There’s something for everyone. Sessions are held throughout the school holidays and are free.

QUESTACON - For an interactive experience your kids won’t soon forget the library is hosting a special QUESTACON Exhibition during school holidays. The exhibition will feature eight interactive displays offering fun challenges for all ages, ranging from magnetic aquariums and food chains to a star tracer and catenary arches. This exhibition will be open to families free of charge until 14 January, 2023.

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