WITH Christmas over and done with, many parents are probably wondering how they will keep their children amused through the long, hot school holidays. To save you some time, the Finda team has compiled activities in Toowoomba to keep your family busy this holiday season.

Garden City

Toowoomba is known as the Garden City, so why not get out and explore some of the fantastic parks and gardens the region has to offer. Many of the parks have play equipment to keep the kids amused.


Pick a park bench with a view and take in the scenery while your children burn up energy on the swings, forts and monkey bars. You can follow the links below to find out more about some of the parks around town. Each one is marked on the map.

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Queens Park, Newtown Park, Ju Raku En Japanese Garden, Picnic Point Park, Laurel Bank Park, Lake Annand Park.

Take a hike

If you are keen for a taste of the outdoors, why not try climbing Tabletop Mountain or taking a stroll along one of the numerous walking tracks in Ravensbourne National Park. Best of all, both these activities are free, but don't forget your sunscreen and hats.

The trek up Tabletop Mountain is about 1.9km so it should take you around three hours if you take it easy. The view from the top is absolutely spectacular, so don't forget your camera. Although it might sound a little challenging, provided you take it easy, it is do-able for all ages.

Ravensbourne National Park is around 50 kilometres out of town. From Toowoomba head along the New England Highway to Hampton, then take a right into Esk Hampton Road and follow it until you reach the park.

While you're at the park you can take a walk along the tracks and do a spot of birdwatching while you are at it. There is also picnic facilities, but you are advised to boil or treat any water before you drink it.

If you were keen to extend your outdoors adventure in the area, you could also check out Crows Nest National Park or do a spot of fishing on Cressbrook Dam. Make sure you are well informed on the laws which apply to fishing in Queensland dams first though.

A cool outing

Looking to cool the kids down? There's plenty of fun to be had that takes the edge off the heat this summer in Toowoomba.

Top of the list on the 'cool' stakes would have to be the temporary ice skating rink which has been set up in the Clive Berghofer Events Centre at the Toowoomba Showgrounds. The rink will be in Toowoomba until January 26 so there's plenty of time for the kids to enjoy it, several times if they like.

If you are going to give ice skating a go, make sure you take a pair of jeans and a jacket with you. As hot as it may be outside, it will be really cold inside the rink and the jeans will protect you if you take a tumble.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for under 13s, $5 for under 5s and skate hire is $3 each. A family pass is $50 which includes skate hire. For more information, contact 1300 455 088.

If the freezing cold isn't your thing, then you can simply cool down at Milne Bay Aquatic Centre on the corner of Herries and Victoria streets.

The acquatic centre has plenty of facilities to keep the whole family amused, including a 25m indoor heated pool, heated outdoor 50m pool, wave pool, water slide, giant inflatables, children's wading pools, cafe, creche, spa and a sauna.

Milne Bay Acquatic Centre is open from 5.30am to 9pm weekdays and from 7am to 7pm on weekends.  Entry is $4.70 for adults, $3.70 for children 5 to 15 and pensioner/students, $3.40 for children aged five and under and babies under one year old are entitled to free entry. For more information, you can contact the acquatic centre on (07) 4637 1900.

Library fun

The Toowoomba City Library has plenty of fun activities for kids of all different ages this school holidays.

There's everything from baloon twisting workshops to hula hooping and a clown show to top it all off.

You can download a PDF file with all the details here.

Most sessions require a booking, which must be made in person at the library. No phone bookings are accepted.

Children aged under eight are required to be accompanied by adult.

Bushcapades

Toowoomba Regional Council will be running fully supervised activites in Toowoomba's Bushland Parks. There's penty of activities for all age groups, but like the library, children aged under eight but be accompanied by an adult.

The activities run each weekday until Friday January 23. Family discounts are available.

Bookings are essential and can be made by calling (07) 4688 6514.

You can download a PDF file with all the activities and details here.

Adrenaline kicks

If you're looking for an adrenaline kick these school holidays, then there's plenty to get your pulse racing in Toowoomba.

For some fast and furious action, get on down to the Oz-E Kart indoor go-kart track in Freighter Avenue, just near the airport. Weekdays they are open from 11.30am to 9pm on Monday to Wednesday and 10pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Saturdays they open from 10.30am to 10pm and Sundays from 10.30am to 8pm.

Prices start from $12 for five minutes in a Junior cart, but there are lots of other options including exclusive track hire and Grand Prix racing. You can find the price list on their website or call (07) 4633 2980 for more information.

If you'd like to lower the speed but keep the rush, why not go hot air ballooning in the Lockyer Valley with Balloons Above.

The balloons depart just after first light each day and Balloons Above promise 'the ultimate experience'. Prices start from $265 for children aged from eight to 12 years. For more information you can visit their website or call 1800 648 050.

Special events

This festive season there's plenty of fantastic holiday events around the Toowoomba region. Listed below are just a few of these special activities for all the family to enjoy.

• Fairytale Christas Under The Tree 2008 at the Empire Theatre

• Christmas on William Street at Gatton Baptist Church

• Christmas Tree Festival at St Luke's Church

• Crikey it's Christmas - Carols in the park at Eiser St Park

• New Years Eve bushdance at the Jondaryan Woolshed

• Australia Day Celebrations at Highfields Pioneer Village

Other things to do

Here's a few more activities around the Toowoomba region that you could try out this school holidays.

• Miniature steam train railway

• Vacation care program at PCYC

Search for more events.

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