School holidays activities at the Botanic Gardens
These exciting school holiday activities will keep the kids entertained over the next few weeks!
Self guided activities
We have self guided activities on offer to do at your leisure that can be printed from home or pick up from the brochure holders at the Community Noticeboard opposite the café (Please note, copies are limited over the weekends).
- Bird spotting quiz in the gardens
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Alphabet i-spy
- 25 fun things to do
- Epic voyagers adventure trails
Rock art painting with Jo-Ann Clout
Cost: $5 per person
Dates: Wednesday, April 7
Time: 2pm to 2.45pm and 3pm to 3.45pm
Location: Meeting room (opposite cafe)
Join Jo-Ann Clout and let your imagination run wild to create some funky fun rock masterpieces! All resources are supplied. Bookings are essential and places are limited. All children must be accompanied by an adult. To book your spot on these workshops, go to https://www.trybooking.com/BPVZD
Creatures of the gardens self guided trail
Pick up a self-guided activity sheet from Gardens Administration or under the noticeboard (opposite café) and follow the instructions to find all 10 stops where you can learn about the creatures of the gardens Please note, copies are limited over the weekends and public holidays in the noticeboard.
Put a sticker in the box for each question you can correctly answer on all the creatures you learn about. Copies can also be downloaded here (please note you will need to supply your own stickers if download from home).
Free Friday guided walks
Cost: Free*
Dates: Friday, April 9 and Friday, April 16
Time: 10am
Location: Gardens Administration
*Bookings are essential and places are limited. Phone Gardens Administration on phone 4952 7300 to book your spot.
"Sharing the Insect World" with Maya Harrison
Cost: Free*
Dates: Friday, April 16
Time: 10am to noon
Location: Botanic Gardens meeting room
*Bookings are essential and places are limited. To book your spot, please phone 4952 7300.
Have you heard of the Bizarre Looper, the felt docile Spiny Leaf Insects, seen the new arrival of Tawny Coster butterflies, or watched the action of the Bungee Jumping Caterpillars?
Come along to the Botanic Gardens meeting room and investigate a variety of these live insects, photos and information with Maya Harrison of “Maya’s Nature”, then go on a walk to find where some of these insects might live in the Botanic Gardens. This workshop is suitable for school aged children. Please bring a hat and water bottle and children to wear comfortable walking shoes.
Plastic bottle art workshop
Cost: Free, drop in activity
Dates: Thursday, April 8 from 2pm to 3.30pm and Thursday, April 15 from 10am to 11.30am
Location: Botanic Gardens Meeting room
Help us to create a recycled plastic bottle garden display of colourful flowers which will be showcased at the Botanic Gardens Open Day.
Drop into the Botanic Gardens Meeting Room and join us to create a decorative flower or garden ornament. Leave your amazing creations with us to be included in a colourful display at our Botanic Gardens Open Day on Saturday May 29.
Please bring your own plastic soft drink bottle (1.25L or 2L is best), we will supply paint, paint brushes and other craft materials to create your masterpiece!
Parental supervision is required, all ages welcome (adults included). Please note waiting periods may apply as numbers are limited in Meeting Room for social distancing to be practiced.
Parents and caregivers are also welcome to create plastic bottle flowers at home and drop them into the Botanic Gardens Administration. We will hold them and include them in our botanic display. For more information, please contact the Gardens on phone 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au
Bocce with a buddy
Join our knowledgeable guides for a leisurely walk in the gardens and learn about our Living Collection of plants. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Cost: $5 for hire of bocce set
Dates: Monday to Friday
Time: 9am to 4.30pm
Location: Malta Garden Bocce Court
Enjoy a game of bocce on our sand bocce court. Bring your own sets or hire a set from Botanic Gardens Visitor Information.
Botanic Endeavour 250 adventure hunt 
Become an epic voyager and follow the Botanic Endeavour 250 trails to discover some of the local native plants that were collected 250 years ago by botanists, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. Along the way, let the kids discover some fun facts about some of the plants that were collected!
Keep up to date with the gardens, visit our website www.mackayregionalbotanicgardens.com.au or Facebook page or phone 07 4952 7300 or email botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au
Contact: Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens
Phone: (07) 4952 7300
Email: botanic@mackay.qld.gov.au