Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
Term 3 has wrapped up, and the school holidays are just around the corner! Rather than heading far away, why not explore all the amazing things the Burdekin region has to offer? Right here in Ayr, Home Hill, and surrounds, there are plenty of fun-filled activities, community events, and local gems waiting to be discovered. Here are some suggestions to help plan a holiday full of smiles, adventure and discovery.
Splash, Bowl and More
Burdekin Aquatic Centre (Ayr)
A must for hot holiday days — the Aquatic Centre in Ayr has a 50m main pool, plus a children’s wading pool and water park. Shade covering at the water park and shallow ends helps keep things sun-smart. Great for families to relax, splash and play.
Home Hill Swimming Pool
Also a great option locally — Home Hill Pool has shade, a separate shallow pool for younger kids, and consistent water temperature thanks to artesian water. A perfect place for a swim on a hot day.
Burdekin Bowl (Ayr)
Whether it's a hot afternoon or rainy day, bowling is a fun-indoors option. Burdekin Bowl offers tenpin bowling for families — a great way to spend some friendly competition time, especially when you want to do something indoors.
Parks, Walks & Picnics
Take advantage of our natural surroundings. A picnic under shady trees, walk the bridge or exploring local green spaces — these are simple but powerful ways to enjoy time together. Alva Beach Park, Anzac Park, Arch Dunn Memorial Park, Coutts Park, Ford Park, Plantation Park, Spiller Street Park, Watsons Green Park are just a few of the awesome outdoors spaces kids have to play in the Burdekin.
Ephemera at Lloyd Mann Gardens
From 22 September to 9 November, Lloyd Mann Gardens transforms into an open-air artist hub as five talented local artists showcase their incredible installations. It’s the perfect school holiday outing — take the kids for a stroll through the gardens, discover the creativity in our community, and vote for your favourite piece!
Local Cafés
No holiday adventure is complete without a tasty treat or a good coffee stop! Luckily, the Burdekin has plenty of welcoming cafés where families can refuel between activities.
Visit Your Local Library These Holidays
Looking for free, fun and educational activities? The Burdekin Library and Home Hill Branch Library are bursting with things to do these school holidays. It’s the perfect way to escape the heat, spark curiosity, and let the kids try something new without travelling far.
Here’s just a taste of what’s on:
Learn & Craft: Recycling – Monday at 10:00 AM at Burdekin Library.
VR Reef Experience – Tuesday at 9:00 AM (plus extra sessions) at Burdekin Library.
DIY Kids’ Craft – Tuesday at 1:00 PM at Home Hill Branch Library.
Podcast Power Hour – Tuesday at 2:30 PM at Burdekin Library.
Reel in Spring – Wednesday at 9:00 AM at Burdekin Library.
Butterfly Magnets Craft – Wednesday at 1:00 PM at Burdekin Library.
Spring Flipbook Animation Studio – Thursday, 25 Sept at 3:30 PM at Home Hill Branch Library.
Play Time & Bots Coding – Saturday, 27 Sept from 9:30 AM at Burdekin Library.
Tabletop Games for Kids & Teens – various dates at both libraries.
Mini STEM & STEM Punks Catapult Challenge – fun, hands-on science sessions at Burdekin Library.
Family Cricut Workshop & Digital Art – creative mornings at Burdekin Library.
All of these activities are free, family-friendly, and run by your local libraries. Whether it’s crafting, STEM challenges, VR, coding or storytelling, there’s something for every interest and age group.
Check the Burdekin Library’s Facebook page for the full timetable and book your spots early — these sessions are very popular!
Why Staycationing Here Works
Exploring your own town helps children see how special their home is — the landscapes, the people, the culture. It builds pride, belonging, and sometimes even new favourite places you didn’t know about. At Airville, we believe that these experiences contribute to confident, respectful, responsible, positive, proud, and best-effort children (yes, we’re living The Airville Way) by helping them appreciate what’s close, connect with community, and try new things without the stress of long travel.
Here’s to an amazing holiday break! Whether it’s swimming, bowling, outdoor movies, parks or just lazy days exploring, we hope it’s restful, fun, and full of memories.