What’s on in Toowoomba for summer holidays

From meeting all the animals at the zoo to exploring science at Cobb & Co, here’s a list of things to do in Toowoomba these summer holidays.

As the Christmas cheer settles and the New Year’s festivities abates, there’s still another three weeks until school’s back.

Whether you are staying in Toowoomba to save for the next holiday, or need to recover from your Christmas budget, the city still has an array of options for kids of all ages.

Here’s a full list of what to do these holidays in Toowoomba, whatever budget you are on.

1. Museums and libraries

Cobb & Co Museum has an array of events on these summer holidays. Picture from 2021 by Nev Madsen.

Cobb & Co Museum

This iconic Garden City museum has an array of events, from the free science discovery room to a virtual aquarium, or ticketed wildlife shows and nature collage workshops.

To view the full list of events check out museum.qld.gov.au/cobb-and-co

Toowoomba Regional Libraries

The next four weeks will be packed with events across the regions libraries, including messy science experiments, building Egyptian shadow puppets, papyrus paper making, robotics and even a Lego day.

See the full list of events at: www.eventbrite.com/o/toowoomba-region-libraries-66571600873

DownsSteam Tourist Railway and Museum

To explore trains and learn how they work, as well as see how this army of volunteers have put a few locomotives back on the tracks, go no further than the DownsSteam museum. Open back up from January 7, 2025, keep any eye on their Facebook page for more events.

Usual opening hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am to 3pm. Entry donation $5/adults

Highfields Pioneer Village

Travel back in time 100 or so years and explore some of the old and new buildings of Australia’s colonial past, as well as transport relics, memorabilia and stories of the early European pioneers. If you’re lucky, you might just catch the Myrtle May, the mini steam train, as it makes its way around the village. Check out the Highfields Pioneer Village Facebook page for details over upcoming events.

2. School workshops, summer camps and more

Empire Theatre has a number of workshops on these summer holidays. Lockyer District High School students Rebecca O'Brien, Bayley Thrupp and Danielle Burns all secured bursaries through the Empire Theatre Youth Bursary.

Empire Theatre Workshops

The city’s most beloved theatre and nurturer of tomorrow’s talent have a number of workshops on these summer holidays and include:

1. A Shakespeare series for teens aged 15 – 19 years to help advance performance skills with a deep dive into Macbeth. The five day program, from January 7 – 11, 2025, will end with a performance on the evening of the last day of rehearsal.

2. The 18-Hour-Play-Project will bring together enthusiastic kids and teens between the ages of 9 – 14 years old to build an original performance from the group up. The three-day workshop runs between January 21 – 23, 2025. 

Empire Theatre Shows

What We Ought To Be

This Homegrown Independent’s Program Production explores the aftermath of an aristocrat’s murder in a “whodunit” and old gothic style way of storytelling.

Ages 16+, January 16 – 17, 2025.

Theatre of Magic

Australia’s top magicians, perform before an exclusive 44-seat audience, hidden in a room within the Empire Theatre with mind bending illusions, comedy, and close up magic.

Ages 10+, 5pm and 7.45pm on January 18, 2025.

Toowoomba Ballet Theatre presents Don Quixote

The Garden City’s ballet company will bring this classic Spanish ballet to life on the Empire Stage.

Suitable for all ages, January 24 – 25, 2025.

Toowoomba Regional Youth Orchestra Galactic music camp

The legends of Toowoomba’s youth music galaxy are coming together to spend a four days between January 14 – 17, 2025 to play out-of-this-world sonic sagas which will culminate in an evening showcasing their work.

The camp is for 11 – 24 year olds and will include a full orchestra, junior ensemble, and vocal group.

For more information or to register go to www.tryo.com.au

McGregor Summer School

While the McGregor Summer 2025 Visual Arts Workshops registrations are closed, a number of free entertainment and talks will be held at the University of Southern Queensland between 13 – 16 January, 2025. Check out the schedule at www.schoolcreativearts.unisq.edu.au/mcgregor

3. Parks, hikes and a zoo

Stephanie Robinson with 10-week-old lion cub Caesar at Darling Downs Zoo, 22 October 2024. Photo: David Martinelli.

Darling Downs Zoo

Open throughout the holidays this zoo is a perfect place to get close (but not too close) to wildlife from around the world. From meeting a baby crocodile to learning about tigers, giraffes and cheetahs this zoo is sure to inspire a love of all creatures great and small.

Open 9am – 4pm daily.

Explore Toowoomba parks

Feeding the ducks at Lake Annand, exploring the gentle Japanese Gardens, smell some roses at Newtown Park, challenge yourself along the Picnic Point and Jubilee Park walks, take the dogs for a walk at Horn Park or watch some birds at the Waterbird Habitat – there is a park for all ages in the Garden City.

Hikes, mountain bikes, or city tracks

Hike up Tabletop Mount, explore the trails of Mount Peel, Redwood Park, Jubilee Park, Glen Lomond Park or East Creek trails by foot or by two wheels.

Watering holes

A day trip out to Crows Nest Falls or Maidenwell Coomba Falls for a swim, or you can even spend a day out on the water, fishing, boating or kayaking at Lake Cooby and Cressbrook.

Murphy’s Creek Escape

A camping ground with an eco billabong, this oasis is open for one day to one week long adventures and includes an adventure playground for older kids.

4. Get Crafty

Tinker Art School

This Toowoomba art school will be appearing in libraries and shopping centres in Toowoomba, Gatton, Laidley, and Warwick and caters to children between 5 – 13 years.

For their full program of classes visit tinkerart.com.au

Sensational Sewing

From 1pm between Monday to Friday from January 13, 2025 this gorgeous little sewing store which backs the railroad is opening up for school kids between the ages of 8- 17 years old. It provides a list of beginners projects if they need a little help in getting started.

Reserve your spot at www.sensationalsewing.com.au

6. Pools, trampolines and more

Climb Toowoomba head setter/coach Nick Marrington shows his skills at the newly opened indoor bouldering gym, Monday, October 14, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Bouldering Gym

If you’ve got a new year’s resolution to get the whole family fit, trying out Toowoomba’s newest bouldering gym. Climb Toowoomba is sure to combine exercise with a bit of strategic thinking as you navigate between the holds. Located along Prescott St the gym has kids and adults classes as well as free climbing. Open from 8am to 9pm Wednesday to Monday, and 1pm to 9pm Tuesdays.

Kloud9ine Trampoline Park

For older children who are up for expending some energy during the heat of the day, Kloud9ine Trampoline Park might just be the perfect option. Located at the Bernoth Centre opposite Chipmunks, the jumping park is open between 10am – 5pm during the school holidays.

Milne Bay and Highfields pools

There are nine swimming pools across the Toowoomba region, but perhaps the most frequented is Milne Bay and Highfields Aquatic Centres both which adequately satisfy the summer’s need to cool off.

Check out their Facebook pages for more information on summer activities.

Chipmunks Toowoomba

An ultimate playground adventure for kids aged up to 11 years old. Located at the Bernoth Centre opposite Kloud9ine, the indoor playground is open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 4pm Sundays.

Ten Pin Bowling

For some family friendly fun, Toowoomba has a range of bowling options from Sunset Superbowl, iPlay Toowoomba Bowl and Toowoomba Indoor Bowls Hall.

Escape Room

Become a detective for a day and unlock the mysteries at the Tick Tock Escape Room in Margaret St. Suitable for children aged 8 and over, and adult supervision required.