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Hervey Bay school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, and a Hervey Bay summer means heat, humidity and the odd storm. Water play and shade in the morning, somewhere indoors and air conditioned by early afternoon, and a plan B for the wet days.

๐ŸŽ„ Everything on for Christmas around Hervey Bay: pageants, carols, Santa photos and lights.

Water play, for the hot days

Splash pads, pumps and creeks. Free, and the most reliable way to make a hot day work.

๐Ÿ› SplashSide water play and all-abilities playground, Maryborough
Maryborough ยท Summer (Sep to Apr) Mon to Sat 8am to 7pm, Sun 8:30am to 7pm; closed Thursday mornings until 1pm and Christmas Day ยท Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater playโ˜• 80m to coffee
๐Ÿ› WetSide Water Park, Hervey Bay (free water play)
Pialba ยท Term time Wed to Sun 10am to 5pm; school holidays daily 10am to 5pm. Closed May to mid Sep and Christmas Day ยท Free entry and free Aqua Ninja; water slides $8 for 10 rides
FreeCoffee nearbyWater playSlidesToddler areaFor older kidsโ˜• 40m to coffee

Playgrounds with real shade

An unshaded playground is unusable from mid morning in summer. These have shade sails or mature trees over the equipment.

๐Ÿ› SplashSide water play and all-abilities playground, Maryborough
Maryborough ยท Summer (Sep to Apr) Mon to Sat 8am to 7pm, Sun 8:30am to 7pm; closed Thursday mornings until 1pm and Christmas Day ยท Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaWater playโ˜• 80m to coffee
๐Ÿ› Pialba Adventure Playground on the Hervey Bay foreshore
Pialba ยท Open all day ยท Free
FreeToiletsShadeBBQPicnic areaโ˜• 330m to coffee
๐Ÿ› Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens nature playground
Urangan ยท Gardens daily 6am to 7pm; Orchid House Mon to Fri 9am to 2:30pm ยท Free
FreeShadeBBQPicnic areaClimbingNature playโ˜• 1.5km to coffee

Big days out

When you need one proper outing to break the week up. Book ahead for the ticketed ones.

๐ŸŽก The Story Bank: Mary Poppins birthplace museum, Maryborough
Maryborough ยท Tue to Fri 9:30am to 3:30pm, Sat and Sun 9:30am to 2pm. Closed Mondays, Good Friday, Anzac Day and Christmas Day ยท Adults $15, kids 5 to 17 $5, family $35. Discounts for Fraser Coast residents
Pram accessโ˜• 1.8km to coffee
๐ŸŽก Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum
Scarness ยท Fri and Sat 1pm to 4:30pm, Sun 10:30am to 4:30pm; open all Queensland school holidays. Closed Christmas Day ยท Adults $15, kids under 14 $5, under school age free
โ˜• 700m to coffee

More ways to choose

๐Ÿ’ธ Free things to do๐Ÿ”ฅ Playgrounds with a BBQ🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Hervey Bay school holidays?
The summer school holidays run Sat 12 December to Tue 26 January 2027. The autumn school holidays run Fri 26 March to Sun 11 April 2027. The winter school holidays run Sat 26 June to Sun 11 July 2027. The spring school holidays run Sat 18 September to Mon 4 October 2027. These are Queensland government school dates. Catholic and independent schools set their own, and government schools add their own pupil free days, so check with your school.
What is there to do in the Hervey Bay school holidays that is free?
A great deal. Every council playground is free, as are the water play areas, the library holiday programs and most of the community events on the what's on page.
What can you do with kids in Hervey Bay when it is raining?
Indoor play centres, the free museums and galleries, the library, and the indoor pools. On a warm wet day a splash pad still works: they are already wet.