What's On Summer School Holidays in Southern Queensland Country

What’s on these holidays - family friendly dates for the diary

Here are our top picks on the greatest holiday activities, workshops and experiences across Southern Queensland Country worth driving for:

• Downs Explorer Steam Train Trip, Warwick – Enjoy an authentic steam train ride through the Countryside. Take a return trip, departing from Warwick to Clifton with a 2 course lunch, and experience some holiday magic before the Jolly man himself visits, with special rides across the festive season. December 24, 2022 - Cost including lunch: Adults - $95, children ages 5 -14 - $50. To book and for all other scheduled trips check out https://downsexplorer.org.au

• Operation Ouch, The Empire Theatre, Toowoomba – This one is for those more analytically inclined with the opportunity to dive into the incredible world of medicine and biology. This sell-out show is jam packed with crazy experiments, mind blowing illusions and amazing facts that is bound to have you laughing and grossed out at the same time, but most assuredly – will keep the kids entertained for hours. January 19, 2023 – tickets from $54.90. For more information or to book tickets – visit: https://www.empiretheatre.com.au

• Miles Historical Village Tour, Miles – Family day out? Take the family to experience Queensland during the colonial period and discover what life was like before pen and paper as you explore the country village with 34 authentic buildings along the village streetscape. Open 7 days (excluding Christmas Day). Family pass (parents plus any school aged children) - $45. Children under 5 free. Special holidays offer: 10% off all admissions and guided tours - valid to 24 Jan 2023. Check out this link for more information- https://www.mhv.org.au
  
• Queensland Transport Museum, Lockyer Valley – “Kids, were going on a treasure hunt!” A sentence sure to excite even the most picky of adventurers. Throughout December, the kids can enjoy a treasure hunt throughout the Queensland Transport Museum and stretch their thinking powers with clues relating to the historic vehicles and machines on display. Once they have mastered the brainteaser, pop across the road to Lake Apex for a picnic beside the water. Entry to the museum, adults - $8, children (5 – 15) - $3. Under 5 are free. Check out this link for more information - https://www.luvyalockyer.com.au/queensland-transport-museum

For more to do in Southern Queensland Country, here's our guide to hitting the heritage trail.

For the Adventure Seekers at Heart

Pack the over night bag and camping gear to really make the most of these activities.

• E-bike tours – guided Tours of Toowoomba’s Escapement, Bikeline - All fitness levels are welcome on this e-bike ride. See Toowoomba’s stunning escarpment and views over the Great Dividing Range with this 25km family ride. Stop for photos along the way or make the experience extra special with a picnic. For more information, visit - https://www.bikeline.com.au

• Foxbar Falls, Stanthorpe - Sleep under the stars, roast marshmallows by the campfire and escape the summer heat at the ‘coolest’ place in Queensland with dips in granite waterholes and waterfalls at Foxbar Falls. Did we mention the fur children are welcome as well…? Open all year round, however early bookings are essential – hit this link for all the details: https://www.foxbarfalls.com.au

• Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park & Lake Coolmunda, Inglewood – Make the most of water levels being at their best at these two crowd-free locations. If summer water sports are an activity the whole family loves, then bring the boat and stay cool while having a bucket load of fun water skiing and tubing. Stay for longer with the options of a caravan park and cabin accommodation at Lake Coolmunda and plenty of other accommodation in the town of Goondiwindi.

• Lockyer Valley Speedway, Gatton Showgrounds – Rev heads can get their fix at the Lockyer Valley Speedway, one of the best dirt speed tracks in the region, with a fun family day out including fireworks, derby, sprints and so much more exhilarating action. Add this one to your list of must-do experiences for the ultimate family day out. Be there December 10 at 10am for all the action. Adults - $25, Students - $15. Kids under 12 – Free. Tickets at the gate.

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Wholesome Family Fun

Check out our list of wholesome family fun activities that are guaranteed to make some moments to remember.

• Windy Acres Farm, Toowoomba – This is the definition of wholesome! Enjoy a picnic amongst the lavender and check out the bee keeping workshops at the Windy Acres Farm “In bloom Picnic and Market Day”. While you’re there explore the range of local food vendors and artisan market stalls. Plus there’s facepainting and a painted rock find and swap.

• Ashbern Farms and Eastern Colour, Stanthorpe - A delightful way to spend a day with the kids – we guarantee they will be smiling from ear to ear with this fun activity. Pick your own strawberries fresh from the patch or buy them freshly packed from the farm shop. You can also buy a small range of yummy take away treats, including homemade ice cream and coffees. Strawberry jam and strawberry gifts are also available. Ashbern farms is open 8am to 3pm Friday to Sunday (closed public holidays, while Eastern Colour hold their own PYO event days.

• Sunflower Fields, Allora and Cambooya - Summer is sunflower season in Southern Queensland Country and every year they’re blooming beautiful! From late December onwards, a sea of yellow floods parts of the region as spectacular sunflower fields line major highways and country roads around Warwick and Allora. Perfect for a family road trip, or for an extended stay and play adventure. Most sunflower farms are on private property and can only be viewed from the roadside. For more information, check https:// southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au/ southern-downs-summer-sunflower-guide/

• Bunya Mountains, Western Downs – You’ll feel like you can almost touch the stars in this 30-million-year-old national park. Kids won’t be able to wipe the smile off their faces as they come face to face with the rare Chocolate Wattle Bats emerging on dusk and the spectacular stargazing by night. By day, enjoy a horse drawn wagon tour where you can follow the old logging tracks through private rainforest and enjoy billy tea, fresh damper and roasted bunya nuts around a campfire.

There is so much for the whole family to discover in Southern Queensland Country. Seek wholesome adventures and make unforgettable moments like this.