With everything from farmstays, kids clubs, nature-based activities and the Great Barrier Reef, Central Queensland provides plenty of child-friendly activities to keep kids of every age amused. The only hard part is choosing where to go first…
Experience every day life on a working cattle station at Glassford Creek Farmstay – a 2000 hectare property 90 minutes south west from Gladstone. A great place for the kids to get hands on experience with horse riding, milking cows, feeding horses and exploring the farm by 4WD, Glassford Creek offers a taste of life in the Outback with genuine country hospitality. www.glassfordcreekfarmstay.com.au
Famous for its two world-class golf courses, Capricorn Resort, located on the Capricorn Coast near Rockhampton, also has plenty on offer kids. There is a nine hole mini golf course, waterslides, wetland eco tours, rainforest canoe adventure and even horse riding on the beach where the whole family can take in spectacular views of the Keppel Island group. www.capricornresort.com.au
For a trip the kids will never forget, jump aboard the bright pink amphibious LARC all terrain vehicle and journey across the pristine waterways and deserted beaches of the Town of 1770 and Agnes Water. 1770 Larc Tours offer family friendly full day and sunset tours of the local coastal landscape that even includes a dip in the water! www.1770larctours.com.au
Challenge the kids to try and keep count of the turtles you spot on a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island on the Southern Great Barrier Reef with Lady Musgrave Great Barrier Reef Cruises. Swim right up next to the turtles while snorkelling or spot them from the underwater observatory. Other fun activities on Lady Musgrave Island include fish feeding, tours of the island and reef fishing. www.lmcruises.com.au
Walk straight off the beach and snorkel the Southern Great Barrier Reef in the protected waters of the Lady Elliot Island lagoon. On low tide grab a hat and a pair of reef shoes (supplied by Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort) for a guided educational reefwalk. Operating during the Queensland and New South Wales school holidays, the Junior Reef Rangers Club will entertain youngsters with a range of planned activities including creating costumes for themed dinners and getting out and about and exploring the island. www.ladyelliot.com.au
Heron Island, off Gladstone, offers a great Junior Ranger Program where reef walks, bird watching, beachcombing, paper making and tree planting are just some of the nature based activities on offer for young visitors. Children aged seven to 12 can join in the fun during the school holidays or through prior arrangement outside this period. www.heronisland.com
Getting There The Central Queensland region is accessed from Rockhampton and Gladstone. Rockhampton is an eight hour drive north of Brisbane. Direct flights are available to Rockhampton from Brisbane (Qantas, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways) and Sydney and Townsville (Virgin Blue and Qantas) with connections from other major cities. Gladstone is a six hour drive north of Brisbane. QantasLink offers direct flights to Gladstone from Brisbane, with connections from other major cities. QR’s Tilt Train also services the region.
