Entertainment
19 December, 2021
School Holiday Fun
CAIRNS Regional Council is hosting a range of activities to keep the kids occupied these school holidays.
Here are a few ideas for parents these school holidays.
CAIRNS Libraries
Children can get involved in the Summer Reading Club’s Uncover and Discover Reading Challenge either at a Cairns Libraries branch or from home via the online website https://summerreadingclub.slq.qld.gov.au/ Cairns Libraries’ School Holiday Program runs from 11 December to 21 January 2022. Check out the Cairns Libraries website:www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library for details of all the events, activities and programs.
Coding at the Court House
Children are invited to create and animate a unique story about themselves using the web-based coding and animation software, SCRATCH. This program will run at the Court House from December 14 to 24, between 10am and 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Finished Scratch animations will be on display at the Court House with the Cairns Scratch Up Studio being updated daily.
Minecraft workshops
Council is hosting Minecraft workshops in December and January, catering to new players through to advanced exponents. Beginners Minecraft for Kids and Carers (ages 6 and up), one-day workshops at Botanic Gardens Visitors Centre: The workshops cost $30 and will be held December 14 to 17, from 10am to 2pm. Participants must bring a water bottle and lunch. Advanced scale build workshop (ages 12 and up), four-day workshop at The Court House: The workshop costs $90 and will be held January 4 to 7 2022, 10am to 2pm each day. Participants must bring a water bottle and lunch. Mini game design (ages 8 and up), two-workshops at Botanic Garden Visitors Centre: Two workshops are available, January 18 and 19 and January 20 and 21, from 10am to 2pm each day. Cost of the workshop is $60, and participants must bring a water bottle and lunch. For bookings call the Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre on 4032 6650. More information is available at www.cairnsminecraft.com.
Esplanade and Lagoon
The Lagoon will be open every day from 6am to 9pm, including Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. The Lagoon is closed every Wednesday from 6am to midday for regular cleaning and maintenance.
Cairns Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands
Explore the beauty of tropical plant life at Cairns Botanic Gardens and Cattana Wetlands. Discover more about the plants and animals with a tour. The Friends of the Botanic Gardens conduct free guided tours of Flecker Gardens or become your own tour guide with the audio tours. Children will also love the Nature Playground, located at Freshwater Lake on Greenslopes St (near the Zhanjiang Friendship Garden) which encourages children to interact with nature and learn about their surroundings. Cattana Wetlands is a rich natural wonderland with five flat walking trails. Each one takes you on a different experience with interpretive signage provided along the way that informs you of the special features, plants, and animals at the site. More information is available on the Council website.
Cycling tracks
There are a range of paths and cycleways that allow you to explore this beautiful region at your own pace. Detailed maps of the city’s cycling tracks can be found online. For younger riders, check out the ‘Learn to Ride Road Safety Training Track’ at the Moody Creek Detention Basin, off Ramsay Dr in Kanimbla.
Walking tracks
Get outside and challenge yourself and the kids on the popular Red Arrow, Blue Arrow, Green Arrow and Yellow Arrow walking tracks that wind through Mt Whitfield Conservation Park, behind the Cairns Botanic Gardens in Edge Hill. The Park is a 300-hectare forested mountain range, home to rainforest, eucalyptus and grasslands. Other hikes to consider include the 2.4km (return) Ivan Evans Trail in Bayview Heights, and the popular Earl Hill track in Trinity Beach.
Tobruk Memorial Pool
The region’s highest profile swimming complex includes a 50 metre pool for lap swimming, 25 metre program pool for warm up/warm down (events), 25 metre pool for hydrotherapy activities and learn to swim, toddler water play pool, Flow Rider (artificial wave rider), and café and retail shop. Along with Tobruk, other public swimming pools for use by the general public for a small fee are located at Babinda, Gordonvale, Woree and the Marlin Coast Bicentennial Pool at Smithfield.
Sugarworld
Escape the heat at Cairns’ coolest water park. With gentle rides and slides for the littlies, shaded resort-style pools and heart-pumping waterslide action for the daring thrill seekers, Sugarworld Adventure Park is fun for the whole family. Closed on Christmas Day, Sugar World is open 10am to 5pm every weekend, public holiday and school holidays. Visit http://sugarworldwaterpark. com.au/ for more details.
