Things to do with kids in Townsville

SeaLink's ferries run up to 17 times a day from the Breakwater terminal in Townsville, reaching Nelly Bay in about 20 minutes. The island has 23 bays and beaches and more than 26km of walking trails. A public bus runs daily between Horseshoe Bay and Picnic Bay, and cars and open-top jeeps can be hired on the island.

This 4km walk takes about two hours, climbing through open woodland to World War II forts and wide ocean views. There's a good chance of spotting a wild koala low in the trees; stay back and never touch or feed them. Go early, when it's cooler and wildlife is more active, as the loop at the top is steep with many steps.

Allied rock wallabies live among the boulders at Geoffrey Bay in Arcadia and are often seen around sunrise and sunset. A self-guided snorkel trail leads out to the Moltke wreck; pick up a trail card from a nearby shop first. There's no stinger net here, so wear a full-body suit in stinger season, 1 November to 31 May.

The Strand is a 2.2km palm-lined beachfront with playgrounds, a fishing pier and the free Strand Water Park, full of slides and water cannons. The water park opens 9am to 6pm from November to April and 8am to 5pm otherwise, and closes Tuesdays outside school and public holidays. Crocodiles have been sighted off the beach, so for a swim use the Rockpool at the northern end.

This stinger-resistant seawater pool at the northern end of The Strand costs nothing to use. It slopes gently from a shallow area for children into a deeper swimming pool, with a playground, barbecues and outdoor showers beside it. It closes every Wednesday for cleaning, except on public holidays.

Kids can hand-feed a cassowary, hold a baby crocodile and watch the daily croc feeding at no extra cost. The sanctuary at Nome opens 9am to 4pm daily except Christmas Day. A family ticket for two adults and three kids aged 4 to 16 was $152 in October 2026.

Entry to the North Queensland galleries is free, including the Pandora Gallery and the Sciencentre. Pandora tells the story of the ship sent to capture the Bounty's mutineers, and Your Shipwreck Adventure is an interactive exhibition built for young children. The museum is on Flinders Street in the city and opens 9am to 4pm daily.

The Goat Track climbs about 1km from the bottom of Castle Hill to the summit car park above the city. It reopened on 20 July 2026 after step repairs, but the Cudtheringa Track is still closed. Older kids handle the climb best; pack hats and water, as council warns it takes only six minutes to burn.

Two lagoons sit under shady raintrees beside the Ross River at Thuringowa Central. The lower one has sand and shallow water for building sandcastles, and lifeguards are on duty whenever the gates are open. Entry was $3.65 for two hours in October 2026, and it opens 6am to 8pm from November to April.

Paradise waterhole is a popular swimming spot beside a picnic area with free barbecues, sheltered tables and toilets. It's in the Mount Spec part of Paluma Range National Park, off the Bruce Highway between Townsville and Ingham. The rocks are very slippery, so never jump or dive in, and causeways can flood in wet weather.