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Toowoomba school holidays: what to do with the kids

The summer break is the long one, and a Toowoomba 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.

Holiday programs and events

Dated events running during the break. Always confirm with the organiser before you drive over.

🎪 New Year's Eve Family Fireworks at Queens Park Toowoomba
East Toowoomba · Thu 31 Dec, 4pm to 9pm, fireworks at 8:15pm · Free entry and free carnival rides. Food and market stalls to buy
Free☕ 100m to coffee
🎪 Lockyer Valley Christmas Carnival with Santa and reindeer, Gatton
Gatton · Fri 18 Dec, 5pm to 8:30pm · Free entry, food vans and market stalls to buy
Free☕ 490m to coffee
🎭 Abracadabra family magic show at the Empire Theatre
Toowoomba City · Fri 22 Jan, 11am, 60 minutes, no interval · A Reserve $34.90, Premium $49.90, plus $5 booking fee
☕ 160m to coffee
🎭 Alice in Wonderland ballet at the Empire Theatre
Toowoomba City · Sat 12 Dec, 5pm · Adults $43.95, kids under 15 $39.95, plus $5 booking fee
☕ 160m to coffee
🎭 Shadow Puppet Show for ages 3 to 8, Armitage Centre
Toowoomba City · Sat 12 Dec, 12pm to 2:30pm · $21 per ticket, plus $5 booking fee
☕ 200m to coffee
🎭 The Greatest Christmas Show at the Empire Theatre
Toowoomba City · Wed 16 Dec, 7:15pm, about 1 hour 50 minutes with interval · Adults $59.90 to $79.90, kids under 15 $49.90 to $69.90, plus $5 booking fee
☕ 160m to coffee
🕯️ Wilsonton Community Carols with rides, Santa and fireworks
Wilsonton · Fri 18 Dec, 4pm to 9pm. Santa arrives about 8pm, fireworks 8:50pm · Free entry and free carnival rides. Food and market stalls to buy
Free☕ 460m to coffee

🎄 Everything on for Christmas around Toowoomba: 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.

🛝 Peacehaven Botanic Park dinosaur dig playground, Highfields
Highfields · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsParkingBBQPicnic areaWater play
👶 Ramsay State School Playgroup
Ramsay · Tuesdays 9 to 11am, school terms · Free (listed as not a paid group)
FreeWater playSandpit

Playgrounds with real shade

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

🛝 Newtown Park playground by the State Rose Garden
Newtown · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 1.2km to coffee
🛝 Picnic Point Lions Park and lookout playgrounds, Toowoomba
Rangeville · Open all day. Happy Harry train rides warmer Sundays 12pm to 3pm, weather permitting · Free. Train rides gold coin donation
FreeToiletsShadeParkingCoffee nearbyBBQ☕ 470m to coffee
🛝 Laurel Bank Park playground and scented garden, Toowoomba
Toowoomba City · Open all day · Free
FreeToiletsShadeParkingBBQPicnic area☕ 580m to coffee

Indoors, for the wet days and the hottest ones

Air conditioning and somewhere to burn energy. Play centres are spread across the suburbs, and the free museums and libraries are the cheapest cool room in town.

🎡 Crows Nest National Park and Crows Nest Falls
Crows Nest · Open all day · Free day visit. Camping permit needed to stay overnight
FreeToiletsParkingBBQPicnic area
🎡 Ju Raku En Japanese Garden at UniSQ Toowoomba
Darling Heights · Daily 6am to dusk · No entry fee listed
FreeToiletsShadeParkingPicnic area☕ 300m to coffee
🎡 Army Flying Museum, Oakey
Oakey · Wed to Sat 10am to 3pm. Closed 23 Dec to 2 Jan · Free, donations welcome
FreeBBQPicnic area
🎡 Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat boardwalk, fully fenced
Rangeville · Daily 6am to 6pm · Free
FreeToiletsFencedPicnic area☕ 740m to coffee
🎪 Tabatinga Toowoomba indoor play centre
South Toowoomba · Sun to Thu 9am to 5pm, Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat 9am to 5pm. Mini cars from 10am · Under 1 free, ages 1 to 3 $15, 4+ $17, adults free (members less). Half price in the last hour
Coffee nearbyClimbingToddler areaPlay area☕ 770m to coffee

Big days out

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

🎡 Crows Nest National Park and Crows Nest Falls
Crows Nest · Open all day · Free day visit. Camping permit needed to stay overnight
FreeToiletsParkingBBQPicnic area
🎡 Ju Raku En Japanese Garden at UniSQ Toowoomba
Darling Heights · Daily 6am to dusk · No entry fee listed
FreeToiletsShadeParkingPicnic area☕ 300m to coffee
🎡 Queensland Museum Cobb+Co, Toowoomba
East Toowoomba · Daily 9am to 4pm, closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Coffee shop 8am to 3pm · Adults $12.50, kids 3 to 15 $6.50, under 3s free, family $32. Free for Toowoomba Region residents
ToiletsCoffee nearbyHigh chairsKids menuPram access☕ 20m to coffee
🎡 Highfields Pioneer Village
Highfields · Check the village's daily program for opening hours · Adults $20, kids 5 to 15 $8, family (2 adults, 4 kids) $50, under 5s free
☕ 1.9km to coffee
🎡 Army Flying Museum, Oakey
Oakey · Wed to Sat 10am to 3pm. Closed 23 Dec to 2 Jan · Free, donations welcome
FreeBBQPicnic area
🎡 Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat boardwalk, fully fenced
Rangeville · Daily 6am to 6pm · Free
FreeToiletsFencedPicnic area☕ 740m to coffee

More ways to choose

💸 Free things to do🔥 Playgrounds with a BBQ🎡 Everything on this week

Common questions

When are the Toowoomba 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 Toowoomba 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 Toowoomba 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.