Spring into fun these school holidays with free activities
Published on 16 September 2025
Spring is a fantastic time of the year to get the kids out and about over school holidays with the regions' aquatic facilities reopening and loads of fun free activities on offer in the beautiful natural settings of the Botanic Gardens and at the Bluewater Quay along our pristine river.
Discover new self-guided trails to explore through the city centre and waterfront with the kids while enjoying a coffee at a local café, grabbing a bite to eat or browsing unique boutiques. Sarina youth can unleash their creativity with the exciting new vibrant Mural Project, leaving a splash of colour in the heart of their town.
Bluewater Lagoon
The Bluewater Lagoon is expected to reopen Tuesday, September 23, upon finalisation of maintenance works. In the meantime, free access at the nearby Memorial Swim Centre is available from September 19 to 22. For updates, please follow the Facebook pages of the Bluewater Lagoon and council. Entry is FREE!
Mackay ARC
For opening hours, visit their website
Memorial Swim Centre, Mackay
Free access to the Memorial Swim Centre is available from September 19 to 22, while maintenance works are finalised at the Bluewater Lagoon. For opening hours, visit their Facebook page.
Mirani Swim Centre
Scheduled to reopen after winter maintenance on Saturday, September 20, 2025. For opening hours, visit our website for details.
Pioneer Swim Centre, North Mackay
For opening hours, visit their website.
Sarina Swim Centre
Scheduled to reopen after winter maintenance on Monday, September 22, 2025. For opening hours, visit our website.
Beach patrols
Beach patrols by Surf Lifesaving Queensland and local volunteer surf clubs commence again with the start of the September school holidays. Beaches patrolled include:
- Harbour Beach
- Lamberts Beach
- Eimeo Beach
- Sarina Beach
There is also a roving lifeguard service provided to assist with the patrols.
Beaches are patrolled on weekends, school holidays and public holidays. For more information on patrol times and beach conditions, please download the SLSA Beachsafe app or visit www.beachsafe.org.au or SLSQ’s Instagram page @mkylifeguards.
Kids Fun @ Bluewater Quay
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (Mackay Farmers Market Day) | 9am to 11am
Free facepainting, kids' activities with Active Squirtz and the Libraries team with Storytime and Playtime. Find out more at mackaywaterfront.com.au
City And Waterfront Trails
Get out with the kids and discover Mackay like never before with the City and Waterfront Trails!
Enjoy a vibrant collection of self-guided walking tours weaving through the heart of the city and the riverfront exploring our public art, art deco buildings, heritage, colourful murals and the First Nations Art Trail.
Along the way, take time to enjoy a coffee at a local café, grab a bite to eat or browse unique boutiques that add even more fun to the journey.
Explore today at City & Waterfront Trails.
The kids will enjoy being outdoors in our beautiful Botanic Gardens with loads of FREE activities on. No bookings required!
- Outdoor Games – Wednesday, September 24, and October 1, 10am to 12noon.
- Strolling Stories Trail “Birds Don’t Have Birthdays”.
- Tibbles Hunt in the Tropical Shade Garden – great for little nature detectives.
Don’t miss the Gardens Friends special drop-in session these school holidays:
“What Lives in the Lagoons” aquatic display
Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27 | 10am to 3pm
Get up close and explore the watery depths to see what’s been found without getting wet! Dragonfly nymphs, small fish, diving beetles, water scorpions and more! No bookings required.
For more details of the activities, visit their website at Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.
Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained these school holidays?
Head to your local library for a fantastic line-up of free activities! Let imaginations run wild with LEGO free play, teach valuable skills with First Aid for Kids and wind down with Bedtime Stories. Find all the details here MyLibrary School Holiday Activities
Don’t forget to keep young minds active - explore this list of junior titles and hit Reserve to build your child’s holiday reading pile: Browse Junior Books
Planning a road trip? Take the stories with you! Check out this collection of audiobooks perfect for family listening on the go: Explore Audiobooks
DBCT Kids' Theatre Season: Trash Test Dummies
Sunday, September 28, 2025 | 10:00 am
Everyone put your bins out, tonight’s bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty. With side-splitting slapstick comedy, daring acrobatics and dexterous juggling these Dummies are off on an imaginative adventure that is anything but garbage. With ballet and balloons thrown in for good measure, this fast-paced hour of “adept unadulterated mischief” (The Times) delivers a dump truck full of hilarity! Age Recommendation: Ages 5 years +
Colour to Win! DOWNLOAD PRINT AT HOME COLOURING PAGE
Drop your entry to Let the Children Play Toyshop for your chance to win a $200 Let the Children Play Voucher and Family Pass. Entries close 5pm Thursday, September 25.
Find out more and book tickets
Special kids tours of the Sarina Sugar Shed
10.30am every day of the school holidays
Normal tours run 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm
Cost: Adults at children’s prices $13.30 (bookings essential)
This fun, interactive session focuses on the kids, with the added bonus of adults being welcome at kids' prices!
During the 45-minute tour, the kids will discover the growing and harvesting of the sugar cane and complete a hunt for the critters that live in our sugar cane patch. They’ll enter our miniature sugar mill to see how sugar cane is crushed and sample deliciously sweet sugar cane juice straight from our miniature mill, 'Bill the Mill Junior’.
Special stickers help the kids to understand the machines that work in the process from turning juice into sugar – they can touch and feel the different stages of the production from the bagasse to the sugar and taste the molasses! They’ll also receive a free information sheet at the end and a quick, fun quiz. Finally, everyone gets to a chance to taste our non-alcoholic ginger beer brewed onsite and freshly spun fairy floss.
For more information or to book a tour online visit sarinasugarshed.com.au.
Sarina Youth Centre
The Mural Project (Sarina)
Sarina Youth Centre is teaming up with Donna Maree Robinson for this fantastic two-part mural project.
Leave a colourful mark on one of Sarina’s buildings these school holidays!
Part 1: Create a masterpiece in our Design Workshop!
- Monday and Tuesday, September 22 and 23, 11am – 1pm
Sarina Youth Centre (Corner of Broad and Anzac St)
Part 2: Be part of painting a vibrant mural on Central Street!
- Tuesday and Thursday, September 30 and October 2, 10am – 3pm
Grand Central (22 Central St, Sarina)
Open to young creatives aged 10 – 21. Lunch is provided both days.
Come along and get involved, express yourself and help brighten our town!
Register by calling Sarina Youth Centre on 4961 9278 or text 0448 941 077.
Follow SYC on Facebook for more school term and holiday programs > Facebook | Sarina Youth Centre
Find more school holiday activities and upcoming events at Mackay region's ultimate events guide: mackayevents.com.au.