28 best things to do in Townsville with kids

Looking for fun things to do with the kids in Townsville? Townsville North Queensland is the best place to enjoy rural Australia while being at the beach and right by the Great Barrier Reef. Families can explore ancient rainforests or spend a relaxing day on the water. You can spend hours underwater exploring colourful coral gardens, with the cool, crystalline pools, waterfalls and rainforests of Queensland’s Wet Tropics.

As well as outdoor activities, Townsville is morphing into a vibrant dining and arts destination. You’ll find plenty of family-friendly eats on both sides of the city, which is split in two by the serpent-like Ross River. The city has also been ranked as one of the top 100 sustainable destinations in the world.

Sunny Townsville has an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. Pack your hat and sunscreen and get ready to explore the best things to do in Townsville with kids. 

1. Visit The Strand

The Strand Townsville is a 2.5-kilometre coastal strip fringed in palms and an oasis of parklands. Kids will love hopping between playgrounds and free water play parks. Then dipping in the iconic tidal ‘Strand Rockpool’. What’s more, this special spot now has the additional benefit of also being home to an award-winning gin distillery: Tan Lines Distilling. After the little ones have tired themselves out in the water, walk, bike or scooter along the palm tree-lined foreshore. Grab lunch at one of the restaurants and cafés, or fish and chips from Tobin Fish Tales at North Ward is rated Townsville’s best fish and chips. Or enjoy a picnic, taking in the views of Magnetic Island.

2. The Strand Water Park

At the Strand Water Park kids can splash, squirt and play among the water features. The children’s water park has slides, water cannons, dumping buckets and water sprayers. This attraction in Townsville is completely free.

3. Stinger free swimming at the Rock Pool

This fun seawater pool is at the north end of The Strand. The pool has sandy banks, a shallow end and is wheelchair accessible. There are barbecues, picnic spots, showers and lifeguards on duty during the summer holidays.

4. Visit the Museum of Tropical Queensland

The best way to introduce the region to first-time-to-Townsville kids is by acquainting them with life in the tropics via some fun, interactive learning at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. The interactive science museum focuses on researching and interpreting the cultural and natural heritage of tropical Queensland. Kids will love the 20+ hands-on exhibits. 

In the First Nations Foyer, the stirring Wulgurukaba Country by Bindal/Wulgurukaba Wakka Wakka artist Niketa Law is a great reminder of Townsville’s rich indigenous culture. Then at the Ancient Sea and Reef Exhibit, kids can eagerly learn about how the World Heritage-listed rainforests and reefs of North Queensland and how they continue to shape the region’s unique landscape and provide a home for marine life, native animals and insects. It is a lesson that perfectly set the scene for some exciting exploration at the other things to do in Townsville.

5. Paluma Range National Park

Take the hour-and-a-half drive north to Paluma Range National Park. The Wet Tropics World Heritage Area begins here. Its also known as a spot where you can spot platypus. Paluma Range National Park is made up of two sections. In the north is Jourama Falls. The picturesque waterfall is framed by rainforest. In the south is the rainforest-cloaked Mount Spec which rises almost 1000 metres above the Crystal Creek floodplain.

Stay at Hidden Valley Cabins eco-retreat and you will have a 98 per cent chance of seeing platypus on the Platypus Safari.

6. Visit Billabong Sanctuary 

Get up close and personal with Australia’s native wildlife at Billabong Sanctuary Townsville. It is the place to see all the local critters in one place just south of Townsville. The kids will love visiting the menagerie of koalas, wombats, dingoes, and the ginormous 5.1-metre, 800-kilogram saltwater croc called Krakatoa – the largest captive crocodile in mainland Queensland. Experiences include cuddling a koala, getting a selfie with a python or croc, hand feeding a kangaroo and watching a crocodile feeding show. Billabong Sanctuary aims to teach kids will learn the importance of protecting our native wildlife. 

7. Take in the views from Castle Hill

Before you leave Townsville, don’t miss a trip up to Castle Hill, a giant pink granite monolith. Walk, cycle or drive to the top where you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the city and surrounding islands. Try heading up early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat in the middle of the day.

8.  Explore Magnetic Island 

Take the scenic 20-minute ferry ride from Townsville and you’ll be on Magnetic Island.  Magnetic Island, Townsville’s favourite beach-meets-bush backyard location. Affectionately known as Maggie, its 23 sparkling bays offer swimming, snorkelling and sailing, and with 26 kilometres of walking trails, there’s always somewhere new to explore. Two-thirds of the island is classified as national park. Magnetic Island has Australia’s largest population of koalas and you can cuddle one at Bangalow Bay Koala Village. Kids must be at least 140 cm tall for a cuddle. The island is also home to many blue tiger butterflies. The old schoolhouse at the back of Horseshoe Bay is one of the best places to spy them.

A perfect day trip, Maggie makes for an even more idyllic weekend with a stay at Little Bush Hut at Nelly Bay. The hut’s garden often has visits from echidnas, kingfishers and the blue tiger butterflies.

9. Ross River Parklands 

Ross River Parklands offers free family fun with gardens, sports grounds and over 11 kilometres of riverside path perfect for bike rides. After cycling you can cool off with a swim in either of the two lifeguard patrolled lagoons. The parklands has the riverwalk scenic pathway, picnic areas, barbecue facilities, playgrounds, and open spaces for recreational activities. On the water, try kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding or fishing and keep your eyes peeled for turtles. Finish up with a picnic lunch along the banks of the Ross River or grab a bite from the café. 

10. Townsville Maritime Museum

Townsville Maritime Museum was established in 1986. The museum has the HMAS Townsville, SS Yongala, traditional navigation instruments, artefacts found on the 1911 Yongala Shipwreck and a collection of lenses and light mechanisms from Queensland’s decommissioned lighthouses.

See models ships and have a go at tying ropes, ringing a telegraph and sounding a foghorn.

Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for children

Location: 42-68 Palmer Street, South Townsville

11. Texas meets Townsville at Leahton Park

For a little taste of Texas near Townsville, head west to Leahton Park. The farm was once home to a Guinness World Record-breaking bull. Johnny Reb (JR) was a pure Texas Longhorn with the longest horns in the country. At the 40-hectare cattle ranch, you can visit the Gallery of Horns honouring JR, meet the rest of the herd and ride in a horse-drawn wagon before sharing a campfire smoko with bush damper and billy tea. The kids will talk about it for years.

12. Jezzine Barracks

Townsville’s traditional Indigenous culture is joined by a rich colonial and military heritage. Jezzine Barracks is a 15-hectare precinct at Kissing Point Headland where you’ll find coastal boardwalks, artwork, traditional plantings and parklands. Thirty-two commissioned public artworks, a coastal boardwalk plus an ethnobotanical trail explains the significance of native flora and fauna in recognition of the cultural link to the land’s traditional owners, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples. Taking in an important part of the region’s heritage has never been so much fun.

13. The Museum of Underwater Art

Townsville’s Museum of Underwater Art (MOUA) was built on John Brewer Reef in early 2020. The Southern Hemisphere’s first underwater gallery was created with reef conservation, education and restoration in mind. These living pieces of art were crafted by internationally renowned underwater sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor.

The family-friendly Ocean Sentinels snorkel trail was modelled on notable local and international marine scientists, conservationists, and traditional owners. The trail brings to life an accessible citizen science program, encouraging visitors to record their observations through the iNaturalist program to capture information that will aid in the reef’s ongoing protection and management.

14. Barra Fun Park

Need to find something to do on a hot day? Say no more! Barra Fun Park has endless activities for the family. Barra Fun Park offers fishing, wakeboarding, an aqua obstacle course, banana boat rides and paddle boarding.

Try out their big barra pass to catch barramundi fish in their dams, and even if you don’t, get a full refund. Have a go learning to cable ski and wakeboard or grab a lift on the banana boat. Families love the aqua obstacle course because it has a slip-and-slide and it offers lots of fun.

They offer amazing family passes so this is one of the best-value activities in Townsville.

15. Cuddle a koala

Jump on a boat to Magnetic Island and head on over to Selina Magnetic Island (formerly Bungalow Bay Koala Village). Koalas can be found all over the Island but for a guaranteed encounter, book the 8:30am Breakfast with the Koalas. A cooked breakfast is served alongside visits from Harry the Southern Hairy nosed wombat and Pebbles, a female koala. Children under two are free. Selina also had accommodation, wildlife park tours and glamping tent packages.

16. Street Art Walking Trail

The free self-guided Street Art Walking Trail through Townsville’s CBD takes you through the inner-city streets and laneways to uncover stunning murals. You’ll find them on power boxes, down hidden alleys and on walls a bit further out of the city. It also features some cool augmented reality pieces that will spring to life on your phone through an augmented reality app. You can download the map here, each artwork is marked with a spray can.

17. Sea Reef HQ Aquarium

Closed until 2026

Another thing to do in Townsville with kids is to look under at the Sea Reef HQ Aquarium where the array of coloured fish brightens up your day.

Opened in 1987, the aquarium’s largest tank holds over three million litres of water, that’s 16 and a half times bigger than Townsville’s population!

18. Grab a treat at Juliette’s Gelateria

Rated the number one quick bite in Townsville, this ice cream shop is worth the hype. Accommodating the special diets code, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free etc, their treats are top-notch.

Juliette’s gelato Coppas (sundaes) are not something to miss. Gelato filled with toppings, how could you refuse? Don’t forget their smoothies, gelato spiders and smoothies. Breakfast is available as well as pastry sweets baked in the house daily.

19. Search for gold at Charters Towers Miner’s Cottage

Take a trip back to the 1850s and search for gold at Charters Towers Miner’s Cottage. The town of Charters Towers is 90 minutes from Townsville. It is the site of the largest gold rush in Queensland history, back in the 1870s, and gold can still be found. To give your kids the best chance of striking it rich, they can take a hands-on gold panning session at the Miner’s Cottage with retired prospector and owner Alan Silverwood. You’ll need to pick up a Queensland Fossicking licence before getting started, but if you’re lucky to find even a small sliver, at almost $2,000 an ounce it’s worth getting your hands dirty.

The entrance fee is $5 with an add-on of $5 to enjoy a gold panning lesson. You get to take home whatever gold you find and the whole family will love learning about Townsville’s gold mining history.

20. Anderson’s Botanical Gardens

Townsville is home to three Botanical gardens but Anderson’s Gardens is most popular because of its impressive collection of plants. A walk with the family through the gardens followed by a picnic makes for a lovely day out.

Explore the many routes and pathways to find a nice green patch to enjoy some home-packed lunch or head over to a nearby café.

21. Finish the maze The Queens Garden

Your kids will get a thrill from running through the life-size maze at Queens Garden.

The heritage-listed botanic garden is a short walk from the strand, at the base of Castle Hill.

22. Watch a show at Townsville Civic Theatre

Opened in 1978, the theatre is a dynamic centre of entertainment, offering many genres and topics to entertain all ages including comedy, music, dance, and opera to name a few. All you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

23. Ninja Parc Townsville

If you’re looking for indoor adventures with your family in Townsville, this is the place for you. Kids love the climbing walls, slipping down slides and rope climbing in the obstacle course.

The park is suitable for kids of all ages and levels of skill.

24. Explore Townsville from up above

If you are tired of walking places, hop on a helicopter that will show you around Townsville. You don’t have to lift a finger.

Fly with Nautilus Aviation for a 30-minute ride starting at $399 per person. The scenic ride will showcase views of Castle Hill and the beaches of The Strand. Great fun for everyone.

25. Discover quality cuisine

You’ll find lots of kid-friendly eats and three Chef-hatted restaurants in Townsville. The city is split in two by the Ross River and on the south side, Palmer Street’s restaurants draw inspiration from multi-cultural cuisines. And Cactus Jack’s dishing up delicious Tex Mex. On the northern side, Townsville Brewery has a great kids’ menu and some excellent local brews for grown-ups to try. 

26. Dine at A Touch of Salt

Rated number one out of 253 restaurants in Townsville by Tripadvisor, A Touch of Salt is not to be missed.

The $25 Table d’Hote option for children makes for a great value dinner. The Modern Australian menu is filled with a variety of seafood and steaks, not to mention a mouth-watering dessert menu. Located right on Ross Creek, it is a beautiful waterfront dining venue.

27. Visit Wallaman Falls – Australia’s tallest single-drop waterfall

Australia’s tallest single-drop waterfall – Wallaman Falls is 268-metres high. Wallaman Falls is in Girringun National Park, surrounded by the world’s oldest rainforest, 2.5 hours north-west of Townsville. You can see the waterfall mere moments from the carpark so it’s a great one to visit with little ones that don’t love walking. Adventurous families will love hiking down to the bottom; the 3.2-kilometre track traverses a 228-metre descent and takes around one hour. You can swim in the waterhole below the waterfall too!

28. Day trip to Ingham

Ingham is a small town home to TYTO Wetlands with over 240 species of birds and the TYTO Regional Art Gallery. You’ll find plenty of places to cool down along the 1.5-hour drive to the town. The best spots are found at Paluma Range National Park. It is the southern gateway for the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area with easy walking tracks. Jourama Falls, at the north end of the National Park, is a great swimming and picnic spot.

Pull into the Frosty Mango on the highway for pancakes and tropical fruit ice cream. You can also stretch your legs with a walk through the fruit orchard.

For more information and things to do in Townsville visit townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au

This article was created in partnership with Townsville Enterprise Limited and is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.

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