Escape the summer heat at Cairns Libraries and Council's art galleries this school holidays with daily activities for children of all ages.
Cairns Libraries is hosting activities throughout the region (excluding Sunday and Christmas closures) from Babinda to the northern beaches, with 19 different workshops and activities planned, including Dungeons and Dragons, coding and robotics, plenty of craft and art, stop motion animation sessions, circus, music-making, movies, a Sphero rally, drop in and build sessions and, of course – the Summer Reading Club.
The Court House Gallery in Abbott Street is also hosting activities throughout the school holidays including 'art buffet' events for all-ages and Green Screen Animation workshops for children over 10 years.
The three-hour animation workshops will be held on the 17, 18, 20 and 21 of January.
- Online registration is essential through the event listings on the Court House website.
Here are a few more ideas for parents these school holidays:
Parks and playgrounds
- There is always lots to do and see for free at the Esplanade. Swim at the Lagoon, play at Muddy's Playground, go for a stroll or a bike ride, play at the fun ship or Figtree Park.
- Explore the beauty of tropical plant life at Cairns Botanic Gardens or take children for a multi-sensory play experience at the Nature Playground, located at Freshwater Lake on Greenslopes St (near the Zhanjiang Friendship Garden).
- Cattana Wetlands is a rich natural wonderland with five flat walking trails; each one takes you on a different experience with interpretive signage provided along the way that informs you of the special features, plants and animals at the site.
Cycling and walking tracks
- Cairns is a great place to get outdoors and be active. There are a range of shared paths and cycleways that allow you to explore this beautiful region at your own pace.
- Get outside and challenge yourself and the kids on the popular Red Arrow, Blue Arrow, Green Arrow and Yellow Arrow walking tracks that wind through Mt Whitfield Conservation Park, behind the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Edge Hill.
- Other hikes to consider include the 2.4km (return) Ivan Evans Trail in Bayview Heights, and the popular Earl Hill track in Trinity Beach.
Public pools and Sugarworld
- Sugarworld Adventure Park is fun for the whole family. With gentle rides and slides for the littlies, shaded resort-style pools and heart-pumping waterslide action for the daring thrill seekers,
- The region's highest profile swimming complex, Tobruk Memorial Pool, includes three pools, toddler water play pool, Flow Rider (artificial wave rider), and café and retail shop.
- Along with Tobruk, other public swimming pools are located at Babinda, Gordonvale, Woree and Marlin Coast Bicentennial Pool at Smithfield.
