From iPad animation to slime science, escape rooms to African drumming, there is plenty to keep the kids entertained this school holidays at the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre and Cairns Libraries and parks.
Cairns Libraries
Cairns Libraries are hosting 19 events across all eight libraries throughout the school holidays, including a free all-day Fun Palace at Earlville Library on Friday 30 September, celebrating all things art, craft, science and technology.
Fun Palace activities will run from 9.30am until 5pm with many hands-on workshops including coding and robotics, big blue blocks imagination playground, floral arranging, pottery, and make your own pom pom earrings to take home.
Registration is not needed for school holiday activities at Cairns Libraries but parental supervision is required.
Find the full program for school holidays and Fun Palace at Cairns Libraries.
Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Budding filmmakers and animators are invited to register for the 'It's alive' animation character workshops at Cairns Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre.
The two-hour workshops, being held daily from Tuesday 27 September to Friday 30 September, are open to children aged eight and over and will teach them how to design their own character, develop a story and animate their work into a short film.
Online registration is essential and workshop spots are limited.
ENERGY exhibition at Tanks Arts Centre
Young artists will want to check out the work of the region's up-and-comers this school holidays at the ENERGY exhibition in Tank 4 at Tanks Arts Centre.
ENERGY is a presentation of works by high school visual art students across the region, open 9am to 4:30pm weekdays and 10am until 2pm weekends. There are 148 works on display by students from 25 schools throughout the region.
Playground activities
For children with energy to burn, there are new playgrounds, pump tracks and games to try around Cairns.
Harald Falge Park in Manunda has a new multicourt and two new playgrounds; Bill Wakeham Park in Babinda has a new 300-metre pump track, and Council has introduced an augmented reality app called Magical Park at three parks throughout Cairns.
The new app-based augmented reality game can be downloaded and played at three Council parks: Ravizza Park at Edmonton, Goomboora Park at Brinsmead, or the Smithfield Libraries lawn. Find out how to download the app here.
Free stuff around Cairns
As well as all the free activities and new facilities, there is always plenty to do for free around Cairns; the school holidays is the perfect time to revisit a favourite spot:
- Esplanade and Lagoon: Swim at the Lagoon, play at Muddy's Playground, go for a stroll or a bike ride, play at the fun ship, or have a barbecue.The Lagoon is closed every Wednesday from 6am to midday for regular cleaning and maintenance.
- Cairns Botanic Gardens and Centenary Lakes: Explore the beauty of tropical plant life at Cairns Botanic Gardens. Children will also love 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 tracksCairns is a great place to get outdoors and be active. There are a range of paths and cycleways that allow you to explore this beautiful region at your own pace. For younger riders, check out the Learn to Ride Road Safety Training Track at the Moody Creek Detention Basin, off Ramsay Dr in Kanimbla.
- Walking tracks: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 hike to consider include the 2.4km (return) Ivan Evans Trail in Bayview Heights, and the popular Earl Hill track in Trinity Beach.
- Visit your local pool: Swim laps or laze in the water at Tobruk Memorial Pool Babinda, Gordonvale, Woree or the Marlin Coast Bicentennial Pool at Smithfield.
Visit Council's events directory for more school holiday activities.
