Getting out and about with baby is not only great for entertaining your little one, it’s also great for you to get out of the house for some fresh air and to feel a little more human. But with a pram in tow, sometimes knowing where you can go is a struggle. We’ve made it easy for you! Here’s our top picks for pram-friendly walks in North Queensland.
PRAM FRIENDLY WALKS IN CAIRNS AND SURROUNDS
1. Silver Crescent Park, Palm Cove
This park features open fields, shady trees to relax under, picnic facilities, and a playground.
2. Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove
The long walkway along Palm Cove’s shoreline is frequented by many families. Along the way you’ll find a playground, shops, restaurants, toilet facilities and a fishing jetty.
3. Coast Watcher Park, Trinity Beach
This is a beautiful park featuring plenty of trees and a billabong. There’s a playground, skate park, public toilets and picnic tables.
4. Arlington Esplanade, Clifton Beach
Stroll along Clifton Beach and watch the waves roll onto the shore. At the northern end of the Esplanade, you’ll find a park with playground, picnic tables, BBQ, toilet facilities and lovely boardwalk through the forest.
5. Vasey Esplanade, Trinity Beach
Along Vasey Esplanade you’ll find a playground, BBQ, toilet facilities, and restaurants. The beach also has two wonderful lookouts, but these are only accessible by stairs.
6. Cattana Wetlands, Smithfield
This location is bursting with abundant birdlife and greenery; enjoy a stroll on one of the many walkways looping around beautiful billabongs. At the wetlands you’ll find toilet facilities, picnic tables, a boardwalk, and informative signs.
7. Crystal Cascades, Redlynch
Not just a popular swimming hole, Crystal Cascades is fantastic for a stroll beneath the rainforest canopy as you listen to the water rushing close by you. There’s toilet facilities, BBQ, and picnic tables. Beware that the majority of this is uphill!
8. Cairns Botanic Gardens, Edge Hill
Take a leisurely stroll through the gardens and marvel at the beautiful plant life around you. The location has a café, toilet facilities, and picnic tables, but it’s important to note not all pathways are accessible by pram.
9. Centenary Lakes, Edge Hill
The lakes are home to many bird and plant species, and include BBQs, picnic tables, nature playground, and toilet facilities. Ideal for a family outing – keep an eye out for turtles!
10. Goomboora Park, Brinsmead
At Goomboora Park you will find an adventure playground, a swimming hole and a shallow paddling area for toddlers. The park also features a walking track with wide open spaces, picnic tables, toilets and BBQ facilities.
11. Cairns Esplanade, Cairns City
‘The Esplanade includes 2.5km of pedestrian and shared paths’ bursting with attractions such as the lagoon, Muddy’s playground, the Pirate Ship playground, beach volleyball courts, multi-use court, Skate Plaza, Bouldering Park, fitness stations, live music and Sunday markets. You’ll also find BBQs, picnic tables, restaurants and toilets.
12. Munro Martin Parklands, Cairns City
The Munro Martin Parklands feature an open field, seating, a variety of plants and toilet facilities. The venue is used for live performances but is open to the public unless there is a ticketed event on the day.
13. Moody Creek Park, Manoora
Perfect for an afternoon stroll, Moody Creek Park has open green spaces, shady trees and a playground.
14. Forest Gardens – The Lakes Park, Forest Gardens
This park has something for the whole family including a playground and sports’ facilities for a game of basketball or tennis. The park also offers picnic tables and shady trees.
15. Boxwood Close Reserve, Mt Sheridan
This reserve is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a play in the playground. In the area you’ll find open green spaces and plenty of trees.
16. Sugarworld Parklands, Edmonton
Frequented by families with kids of all ages, Sugarworld Parklands is known for its all-abilities playground, volleyball court, BBQ area, picnic tables, fruit orchard, and its location adjacent to Sugarworld Waterpark.
17. Barron Falls Lookout Track, Kuranda
Barron Falls is stunning all year round, especially so after the region has had some rain. There’s a wonderful lookout accessible by boardwalk through the lush rainforest. Facilities include toilet facilities and picnic tables.
18. Butterfly Walk, Tully Gorge National Park
Living up to its name, Butterfly Walk is often frequented by resident butterflies usually between September and February. Facilities include toilets, BBQs and picnic tables.
19. Mossman Gorge, Mossman
Along with BBQs, picnic tables, and toilet facilities, Mossman Gorge’s Baral Marrjanga walking track leads through the rainforest boasting stunning views of the Mossman River and mountain ranges.
PRAM FRIENDLY WALKS IN TOWNSVILLE AND SURROUNDS
20. Soroptimist Park, Belgian Gardens
This park features an exciting pirate-ship playground as well as picnic tables, toilet facilities and BBQs all on a fantastic beachfront location.
21. Bushland Beach
A relaxing stroll by the beach is hard to beat, but Bushland Beach really has it all including toilets, BBQ facilities, and a playground.
22. The Strand, North Ward
Stroll along the shore and enjoy the attractions The Strand has to offer, including multiple playgrounds, a waterpark, swimming pool, restaurants, toilet facilities, BBQs, and picnic tables, all with stunning beach views.
23. Jezzine Barracks, North Ward
Offering various facilities including BBQs, picnic tables and toilets, Jezzine Barracks is a favourite with families. There’s a playground, observation deck, and plenty of history to learn about.
24. Queens Gardens, North Ward
If you’re after a leisurely stroll amongst the trees and birds without leaving the city, Queens Gardens is for you. Facilities include picnic tables, toilets, and a playground.
25. Castle Hill
This iconic feature of Townsville is also one of the most popular walking tracks in the region. The 3.3km circular road is pram-friendly and leads all the way to the top, unless you’d like to take it up a notch and take bub in a carrier whilst you brave one of the winding trails.
26. Mount View Park, Kirwan
This park features a wonderful playground catering for younger and older kids, complete with large trees providing natural shade. Facilities include toilets, picnic tables, and a BBQ area.
27. Riverway and Dan Gleeson Park, Thuringowa
Walk amongst open green areas and shady trees in this amazing, creative space. There is also a playground and various shaded seating options and swimming pool at Riverway with heaps of fun, free, fitness activities, provided by the Townsvile City Council.
28. The Palmetum, Douglas
At The Palmetum you’ll discover a variety of lush plant life along with a pond inhabited by ducks; a wonderful place to relax and enjoy the scenery.
29. Ross River
Take in beautiful views of the water on a walk along Ross River. Depending on how far you walk, you’ll find toilet facilities, playgrounds, restaurants, and picnic tables along the way.
30. Anderson Park, Mundingburra
Take a stroll in the beautiful Anderson Park Botanic Gardens amongst a collection of gorgeous trees and plants. Covering 25 hectares, Anderson Gardens is the largest botanic
garden in Townsville. While there, make sure you pay the conservatory, fruit orchard and lotus pond a visit too.
31. Rossiter Park, Aitkenvale
This park has a huge variety of playground structures, toilets, BBQs, and picnic tables, all situated a picturesque riverside location.
32. Booroona Trail, Rasmussen
Take a walk along the beautiful Ross River and enjoy the sounds of nature. Keep your eyes peeled for many species of birdlife that inhabit the area.
33. Alligator Creek Boardwalk, Alligator Creek
This location contains a diverse habitat for local wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, and birds. Facilities at Alligator Creek include BBQs, toilets, picnic tables, and a visitor information centre.
34. Horseshoe Bay Lagoon, Magnetic Island
Off the main road near Horseshoe Bay beach, you’ll find a short, easy track that leads to a lagoon frequented by wild waterbirds.
35. TYTO Wetlands, Ingham
Discover art, culture, and nature all at TYTO Wetlands. The area is known for its abundant birdlife and modern architectural parklands, perfect for an afternoon out.
PRAM FRIENDLY WALKS IN MACKAY AND SURROUNDS
36. Bucasia Esplanade, Bucasia
One of the city’s favourite beaches, Bucasia Esplanade makes for a lovely walk with playgrounds, BBQ facilities and plenty of shade along the way.
37. The Gooseponds, North Mackay
Popular with families with young children, The Gooseponds is home to abundant birdlife including geese, ducks, and pelicans, along with toilets, picnic areas, and exercise facilities.
38. Blacks Beach
This is Mackay’s longest stretch of beach at 6km long. It is a popular spot for those escaping the city noise, making it fantastic for a leisurely stroll with gorgeous views all around.
Take a walk with bub in the sunshine and enjoy the wide-open spaces around you.
40. Bluewater Quay
Bluewater Quay is ideal for a leisurely walk or a BBQ with the family. Part of the Bluewater Trail, Bluewater Quay features a beautiful waterfront location, nearby playground and incredible public art.
41. Bluewater Trail, Mackay City
Bluewater Trail is a must for anyone with little ones. The Bluewater Trail, is a shared bicycle and pedestrian walkway which connects art, historic architecture and points of interest with natural beauty. Approximately 20 kilometres in length, you can see highlights of Mackay’s diverse cityscape, take in the beautiful views and stop at various popular parks and locations along the way including including the Botanical Gardens, Pioneer River, Bluewater Lagoon and Town Beach.
42. Canelands Park, Mackay City
Adjacent to Bluewater Lagoon and Canelands Central, Canelands Park features a playground on the water’s edge frequented by families and tourists alike.
43. Caneland Central
On a warm Mackay day, nothing is better than going for a stroll in the aircon and getting some shopping in of course!
44. Breakwater at the Harbour
Bask in the sun and feel that ocean breeze when going for a walk at Mackay Harbour’s Breakwater, perfect for your next stroll with bub.
45. New Mulherin Park Mackay
With spacious grassed areas, boardwalks, and the sea breeze in your hair, New Mulherin Park is a gorgeous location for a walk or picnic, complete with playgrounds, amenities and nearby eateries.
46. Queens Park, East Mackay
Home to the Orchid House and the newly opened Queen’s Park Playground, this location has something for everyone. Facilities include toilets and shaded tables which are scattered throughout the park, with electricity available to the Robert Bell Band Rotunda.
47. Town beach
This location is perfect if the idea of a late-afternoon walks to the sound of waves crashing to the shore appeals to you. If you have older children with you, Town Beach is fringed by Iluka Park playground which also has toilet and BBQ facilities.
48. Quota Park
Featuring a sensory garden, playground, public amenities and a location close to the beach, Quota Beach is a wonderful location for your next afternoon stroll.
49. Botanic Gardens, West Mackay
Take a leisurely stroll by the water and discover the beautiful plants on display. There’s a restaurant on site so you can have a peaceful meal with a gorgeous view.
50. Bicentennial Walkway, Airlie Beach
This walkway connects Airlie Beach to Cannonvale. Along the way you’ll enjoy unbeatable views of the Coral Sea and nearby Whitsunday Islands, with plenty of spots to relax along the way. At the end you’ll find Airlie Beach Lagoon which has a kids’ pool, perfect to cool off after a long walk.
51. Eungella
For mums who love to explore, Eungella is the place to go. Discover a wonderland of waterfalls, lush plant life and volcanic boulder formations in this beautiful area of raw nature. However, Eungella is more suited to mums who don’t mind taking bub in a carrier as it is not too accessible for prams.
A place where the rainforest meets the ocean, Cape Hillsborough is scattered with walking trails for mums happy to take bub with them in a carrier rather than a pram. If you’re lucky, you may even spot the iconic wallabies foraging on the shore.
