Things to do with kids in Wagga Wagga & the Riverina
Wagga is easy with kids, and much of it is free. Wagga Beach is a sandy river beach five minutes from town, with an adventure playground and shady barbecues. If anyone goes in the river, the council asks for life vests. The zoo in the Botanic Gardens is free, with a walk-through aviary and peacocks on the paths. The Museum of the Riverina is a short walk away and free too.
Kids who love trains should go to the Junee Roundhouse, which has a giant turntable, old locomotives to climb on and a big model railway. In Temora, the Aviation Museum has hangars of old military planes and flight simulators.
On hot days, the Lake Talbot Water Park in Narrandera has slides, a splash park and shady lawns. Out west in Hay, shearers show their skills twice a day at Shear Outback. In Griffith, a heritage trail leads to Hermit's Cave, where a man lived alone and painted daisies on the walls.
90 family outings, waterfalls and walks across the region, sorted by drive time from Wagga Wagga. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.
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Top things to do in Wagga & Riverina
Splash at Wagga Beach
This sandy beach on the Murrumbidgee is five minutes from central Wagga, with shady grass, sheltered barbecues and the Riverside Adventure Playground. It was the first inland beach named on a national Top 20 beaches list, for 2020. The council asks anyone heading into the river to wear a life vest.
under 5 min
Swimming spot · Wagga Beach
Photo: MrMosely, CC0
Walk among the birds at Wagga Zoo
Entry is free to this zoo in the Botanic Gardens, home to dingoes, camels, kangaroos, emus and reptiles. Walk through a free-flight aviary of about 100 birds, while peacocks, ducks and geese roam the paths. It opens Thursday to Monday, 9am to 4pm, and every day in school holidays.
under 5 min
Wildlife park · Wagga Zoo and Aviary
Photo: Bidgee, CC BY 3.0
Trace Wagga's story at the Museum of the Riverina
The museum's Botanic Gardens site holds objects from more than 60,000 years of life on Wiradyuri Country, from traditionally crafted canoes to old farm machinery. Entry is free, and it sits about 500m from the zoo. It opens Tuesday to Sunday, closing at 2pm on Sundays.
under 5 min
Museum · The Museum of the Riverina
Photo: Chris.sherlock2, CC BY-SA 4.0
Step aboard the locos at Junee Roundhouse
Junee's roundhouse is fully circular and has a 100-foot turntable. Kids can explore steam and diesel locomotives, a sleeping car and a mail van, then watch a large working model railway. It opens Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, and a family pass is $35.
about 40 min
Museum · Junee Roundhouse Museum
Photo: Robert Montgomery, CC BY 2.0
Walk the hangars at Temora Aviation Museum
Historic ex-military aircraft fill the hangars, and the museum also has simulators and virtual reality exhibits. It opens 10am to 4pm every day, and entry for kids aged 3 to 16 is $10. No flying displays are scheduled for the rest of 2026 or for 2027.
about 1 hr 30
Museum · Temora Aviation Museum
Photo: Travelling Nomad, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ride the slides at Lake Talbot Water Park
Narrandera's water park has three pools, a splash park and water slides, with barbecues on shady terraced lawns. The 2026–27 season runs from 3 October to 29 March, and swimmers aged 4 to 59 pay $5. Under-4s swim free with an adult, and slide passes start at $3 for five rides.
about 1 hr 30
Pool · Lake Talbot Water Park
Photo: Picture taken by Bidgee, CC BY-SA 2.5
Watch the shearers at Shear Outback
Shearers show their skills in the Hay woolshed at 10.30am and 1pm every day. Inside, the Hall of Fame tells the stories of shearing legends. The centre opens 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and closes at 3pm on Sunday.
about 4 hr 15
Museum · Shear Outback Hay Visitor Centre
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Spot waterbirds at Fivebough Wetlands
About 174 bird species have been recorded at these 342-hectare wetlands near Leeton. A walking loop circles the water, with four bird shelters along the Wetlands Walk. Go at first or last light, when the air is cool and the waterbirds are easier to spot.
about 2 hr
Walk · Fivebough Wetlands
Photo: Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 au
Explore Hermit's Cave on Scenic Hill
Valerio Ricetti, a former Broken Hill miner, lived here as a hermit and built stone walls, paths and steps into the hillside. A heritage trail leads to the Garden, the Chapel and the Main Cave, where he painted small daisies on the walls. The paths are uneven, so wear sturdy shoes.
about 2 hr 45
Cave · Hermit's Cave
Photo: RoseB0311, CC BY-SA 4.0
Everything on the map
Over the border
Nearest first, from Wagga Wagga
Animals
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Beaches and islands
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Waterfalls, lakes and swimming
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Walks and lookouts
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Big playgrounds
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Play
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Museums and history
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Libraries, cinemas and theatres
Over 30 minutes
from Wagga Wagga
Over 1½ hours
from Wagga Wagga
Gardens and science
Also in this region, more than 4 hours from Wagga Wagga
Hay South (about 4 hr 15): Shear Outback Hay Visitor Centre
Hillston (about 4 hr 15): Hillston Historical Museum
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.