School holidays activities

A range of exploring and creative activities are available each school holidays to help keep the kids entertained as they discover the flora and fauna of the botanic gardens.

Each school holidays, the gardens offer a range of self-guided, booked and drop-in activities for school aged children to create connections with nature and inspire children to find out more about the flora and fauna that surrounds them. These activities will be listed here.

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for details as the school holidays approach.

Term 1 School Holiday Activities in the Botanic Gardens

Get involved and join us for some school holiday fun in the Botanic Gardens. Come and see some of our plants which are Living Fossils!  There are drop-in, self- guided and booked activities to get involved in!

Strolling Story Trail - 'Birds Don't Have Birthdays'

Featuring 14 panels over a 350m looped route, starting just past the Malta Garden and bocce court, visitors to the Gardens can follow Berky the brush turkey on his travels around the Mackay Region.

Details – This Strolling Story trail will be available from Friday, March 22 to Monday, April 22 in the Botanic Gardens. FREE, family friendly activity.

Kids Outdoor Games with MRC Libraries Team.

Grab your picnic rug and some morning tea and join the MRC Libraries team with free outdoor games on the beautiful Tropical Sun Lawn. No bookings necessary, your invited to turn up and enjoy.

Details -Wednesday, April 3, 10am to 12noon, Tropical Sun Lawn, FREE family friendly activity.

Drop-In session with Garden Friends - 'Plant and Creature Fossils Display and Craft'

Join the Garden Friends in the Meeting Room to explore plant fossils on display, how they were formed and create your own plant fossils to take home. Details - Wednesday, 3 & Thursday 4 April, 10am to 3pm, Botanic Gardens Meeting Room FREE, family friendly activity.

Children’s Mini Painting Workshop, with Kate Kennedy Art - Booked activity, limited spots.

Nurture your child’s inner creativity! In this session your child will explore different painting techniques with artist quality acrylic paints, guided by local artist Kate Kennedy. They will learn to create their very own masterpiece to take home. Artist supplies are all-inclusive, beginners are welcome!

Details - Friday, April 5 10-11am, Botanic Gardens Meeting Room, booked activity, limited spots (12). $10 per spot. Suitable for kids aged 8-16 years. To book your spot – phone the gardens 4952 7300. Payment is required at time of booking to confirm your spot.

Mini Terrarium Workshop - Mini Prehistoric Garden in a Jar - Booked activity, limited spots.

Create your own mini terrarium with the Botanic Gardens team. All materials provided.

Details - Wednesday, April 10, 10-11am Botanic Gardens Meeting Room. $5 per spot, booked activity. Suitable for kids 10-16 years. Parental supervision required. To book your spot, phone the gardens on 4952 7300. 

Plant Fossil Craft drop-in session - FREE drop-in session.

Create your own plant fossil to take home using clay and found materials from the Botanic Gardens. Suitable for kids of all ages.

Details - Wednesday, April 10, 2-3pm on the Tropical Sun Lawn.  FREE drop-in activity. Short wait periods if busy.

Yoga in the Gardens with Karla (partnered with MRC Libraries Team).

Basic Yoga in the Gardens for Beginners Tickets, Fri 12/04/2024 at 9:00 am | Eventbrite

Join Karla on the lawn in front of the cafĂ©, bring your own mat or borrow one from the MRC Libraries team. This basic yoga session is for beginners of all ages with no prior experience required. Delivered by Mackay Meditation. Details - Friday, April 12, 9am to 10am, Tropical Sun Lawn,  FREE. Bookings essential via Eventbrite.

Prehistoric Plants I Spy Activity.

Discover some of the living ancestors of plants that grew when dinosaurs roamed.  Available Monday to Friday when Botanic Garden Visitor Information is open, 9am to 4pm. FREE, self guided activity, suitable for kids aged 4-8 years.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES:

Tibbles Hunt
Held in the Tropical Shade Garden, Tibbles Hunt is available weekdays, 9am to 4pm (closed weekends and public hoidays). Pick up an activity sheet from the gardens' Visitor Information Centre, find all the gnomes and decode the prehistoric message.

Bocce with a Buddy
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm during school holidays
Malta Garden Bocce Court
Enjoy a game of bocce with a friend on our sand bocce court. Bocce sets are available to hire from the botanic gardens' Visitor Information Centre or bring your own to play. Cost is $5.00 to hire a bocce set. Please note bocce hire is not available during our Christmas closure from Thursday, December 21, 2023 to Sunday, January 14, 2024.