things-to-do
Townsville Family Activities and Kids Guide 2026, Best Things to Do with Kids in Townsville
Townsville kids guide 2026: the best family activities and things to do with kids in Townsville, Reef HQ Aquarium, Museum of Tropical Queensland, Magnetic Island, The Strand and school holiday activities.
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Townsville Family Activities 2026, Overview
Townsville is an underrated family destination with Australia's largest living coral reef aquarium, excellent museums, beautiful The Strand beachfront, Magnetic Island ferry trips and easy access to tropical national parks. Here's a guide to the best family activities in Townsville.
Marine and Wildlife Experiences
- Reef HQ Aquarium, 2-68 Flinders Street East, Townsville CBD. Australia's largest living coral reef aquarium, the only place in Australia where you can see a genuine coral reef ecosystem without a boat. Sharks, rays, giant sea turtles and spectacular coral displays. Turtle hospital with ICU (injured sea turtles being rehabilitated). Excellent for children of all ages. reefhq.com.au
- Billabong Sanctuary, Bruce Highway, Nome (20 minutes south). Hands-on Australian wildlife park. Hold a koala, hand-feed kangaroos, see saltwater crocodile shows, wombats, cassowaries and Tasmanian devils. billabongsanctuary.com.au
Magnetic Island, A Perfect Family Day Trip
- Magnetic Island Ferry, 20-minute ferry from the CBD (SeaLink ferries). Magnetic Island has 23 bays and coves, hiking trails to the old WWII forts (with native rock wallabies), Horseshoe Bay beach and the Koala Care Centre. A full day or overnight family adventure. sealinkqld.com.au
Museums and Indoor Activities
- Museum of Tropical Queensland, 70-102 Flinders Street East. The HMS Pandora shipwreck (the ship sent to capture the Bounty mutineers) is the centrepiece exhibit, alongside tropical dinosaur fossils and Indigenous cultural displays. Excellent for children aged 7+. museumtropicalqueensland.com.au
Free Family Activities
- The Strand Beachfront, 2km of patrolled beach and foreshore parkland with stinger net (safe year-round swimming), water park, fitness equipment, free BBQs and a rock pool. One of Queensland's great free family precincts.
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