52 Things To Do Before You Turn 12

From mountain bike tracks, skate parks, walking trails through to flying fox's and pirate ships, there's plenty to explore around Launceston.

The activities shared in 52 Things To Do Before You Turn 12 Around Launceston have been recommended by Launceston's young people and their families. The guide identifies the top activities on offer in Launceston for children aged 12 and under.

Start adventuring your way through the guide and tick-off the activities as you go!

1. Go Camping

Myrtle Park Camping & Recreation Ground, Lilydale Falls, at a National Park Campground, a Caravan Park, or in your Backyard

2. Visit City Park

Visit City Park: Visit the Ducks, Ride the Train, Ride your Scooter, Make Daisy Chains, City Park Radio Museum, Play in the Train Playground, Play Giant-board Chess, Visit the Conservatory

3. Explore Toddler's Playgrounds

Riverbend, Punchbowl, First Basin & Fairy Dell at Cataract Gorge, West Launceston Community Park, Charlton Park, St Georges Square, Civic Square Waterplay, Harley Parade, Blackstone Park

4. Build Fun Skills

Swim, Ride a Bike or a Horse/Pony at a 0-5yo Playgroup, Archery at Trevallyn

5. Cruise Toddler Trike Paths

Riverbend/Seaport/ Royal Park, Torren Street Park, Ti Tree Crescent Park, Heritage Forest, West Tamar Walking Trail, City to Cataract Gorge Path, Morsehead Street Reserve, Waverley Lake, Road Safety Centre

6. Go Swimming or Paddling

Launceston Aquatic Centre, First Basin (Cataract Gorge), St Leonards, Trevallyn Dam, Corra Linn, Lilydale Pool

7. Explore Walking Trails

Cataract Gorge, Youngtown Regional Park, Tamar Island Wetlands, Heritage Forest, Tasman Highway Bushland Reserve, Ti-Tree Crescent Park & Local Reserves at Trevallyn, Cambridge Street, Fraser Street and Woods Reserve

8. Get Active on a Flat Bike/Walking Track

Seaport/ Royal/ Kings Park, Penny Royal to Cataract Gorge (bikes not permitted), Hoblers Bridge (North Esk River), Machens Reserve, Rocherlea Old Rail Trail, Newnham Reserve (QR Code below)

9. Do a Short Hike

Merthyr Park (Lilydale), Launceston Urban Fringe Trails (LUFT), Aquatic Point (Trevallyn Lake) to Trevallyn Dam Walk, Zig Zag Track to Duck Reach (at Cataract Gorge) (QR link below)

10. Skate/Scooter at

Royal Park, Torrens Street Park, Mowbray Sport & Skate, Ravenswood Adventure Park

11. Hit the Mountain Bike Trails

Kate Reed, Trevallyn Reserve, Hollybank Reserve, George Town or Derby Rail Trails: Scottsdale to Billycock, Liffey, Rocherlea, Railton to Sheffield

12. Be a Local Tourist

Seek Ideas at Visitors’ Centre, Ride the Free Tiger Bus - City to Cataract Gorge, River Explorer, or City Route, City History Walk, Launceston Ghost Tour, Art Trail, Geocache

17. Bike a Pump Track

Ti Tree Crescent Reserve, Torrens Street Park, Hollybank, Legana, Beaconsfield, George Town & a new one coming! Join the BMX Club at St Leonards

18. Go Fishing

Corra Linn, Waverley Lake, Myrtle Park, St Leonards, Lake Trevallyn, North Esk near Hoblers Bridge, Windermere Jetty, South Esk River, Meander Valley, Brumby Creek, Four Springs Lake. (No licence required under 14yo. See QR link below)

19. Explore QVMAG - Museums & Planetarium

QVMAG - Museums & Planetarium: Phenomena Factory, Kids Connection Trail, Make it Days, Clue Hunts, Tram Ride, Learn at Home & Dinosaurs. Explore the Universe & Learn about Astronomy at the Planetarium

20. Play Tennis or Rolling Tennis

Royal Park, Bluegum Park, Myrtle Park Recreation Ground

21. GeoCache Treasure Hunting

Over 100 Geocache Sites in greater Launceston (QR link below)

22. Explore Heritage Forest

Heritage Forest: Flying Fox, Walking & Bike Trails, Playground, Dog Walking Trails + Dog Park/Agility Training Area, Orienteering Trails, Picnic Areas

23. Become a Maker

Make a Kite. Test Paper Plane Designs. Design & Paint a Rock to do a Tas Rocks Drop at a Park, Finger Knit, Do Origami, Build a Birdhouse, Create Junk Art

24. Fly a Kite

Coronation Park, Royal Park, Punchbowl, Torrens Street Park, Myrtle Bank, Trevallyn Reserve

25. Explore Cataract Gorge

Cataract Gorge: City to Cataract Gorge/First Basin walk, Duck Reach Power Station, Zig Zag Walk, Eagles Eyrie, Trevallyn to Cataract Gorge, See a Peacock Preening, Check out the View from each Lookout, See the Gorge in Flood

26. Do a Skill Tester Day

Tallest Lego Skyscraper, Billycarting, Family Code Club, Skateboarding, Bike Trails/Pump Tracks, Handstand Competitions, Learn Jump Rope, Learn Double-Rope Jump, Online Science Experiments for Kids, Knitting or Croquet, Learn to Sew, Revamp an Op Shop Find

27. Learn a New Game

Card Game, Board Game, Hand Clapping Games, Elastics, Jump Rope, Double Jump Rope, Finger Knitting

28. Visit a Nearby Mountain, Lake or Waterfall

MOUNTAINS: Ben Lomond, Mt Barrow, Mt Arthur, Mt Cameron, Great Western Tiers, Mountain Walks, Snow Play, Toboggan, Build an Igloo or Snowman. LAKES: FourSprings Lake, Great Lake, Blue Lake. WATERFALLS: Liffey, Lilydale, Meander, Ralph's Falls, St Columbia

29. Family Fun with the Dog

Walk the dog, teach them a trick, or visit a dog park at: Heritage Forest, Hoblers Bridge, Hardwicke Street, St Leonards, Waverley Lake Park, Rocherlea Recreation Ground, Newnham Reserve, Coronation Park, Arbour Park (not fenced)

30. Explore Lilydale

Camp at Lilydale Falls, Short Walk to the Falls, Merthyr Park, Geocache

31. Visit the Library

Visit the Library: Borrow a Book or e-Book, Research your Family History, Libraries may also have Storytime, Rock N Rhyme or Baby Play

32. Learn the Latest Dance Moves Online

Hip Hop moves like Running Man, Leg Wave, Finesse Walk, Swag Dance, V-step Flappy Arm Kick, CrissCross, Moonwalk. Check out other Dance Moves like: Cha-cha-slide & Electric Slide.

33. Treasure Hunt Flowers to Press on the Flora Trails at

Cataract Gorge, Carr Villa Native Flora Reserve, Havelock Reserve, Granville Street Reserve

34. Be Part of a Community Garden, Street Library or Seed Library

Newnham, Ravenswood, Punchbowl, Trevallyn, West Launceston

35. Cook a Treat for the Family

Design the Ultimate Yummy Dessert/Cake, Homemade Pizzas, No-bake Treats, Food from another Culture, Cook a Family Dinner

36. Explore Trevallyn Reserve & Surrounds

Explore Trevallyn Reserve & Surrounds: Walk to Duck Reach Power Station (Historic Site), Hoo Hoo Hut BBQ & Bush Play, Walk between Aquatic Point & Trevallyn Dam, Fly a Kite, Cable Hang Gliding, Try Archery, See Trevallyn Dam in Flood

37. Family Kayak Day

Trevallyn Dam, Royal Park/Seaport, Windermere (with a life jacket & an adult)

38. Visit a National Park

Visit a National Park: Blue Tier, Central Plateau, Cradle Mountain, Great Western Tiers, Gunns Plains Caves, Mole Creek Karst, Mt Direction Historic Site, Liffey Falls, Trevallyn, Kate Reed, Waterhouse, Ben Lomond, Narawntapu and Walls of Jerusalem

39. Try Something New

Sepak Takraw at Parkland Parade, Barefoot Bowls, Skim Rocks at Corra Linn, Dance or Drama Class, Fossick for Gemstones, Learn a Musical Instrument at Esk Band, Take an Art Class, Sketch your Family, Pet or Favourite Thing, Cubs/Brownies or Scouts/Guides, Walk Barefoot for a Day, Learn your Heritage (or someone else’s), Take part in a Play or Sing in Public

40. Check out Local Activity Centres

Community Centre, Neighbourhood House, PCYC or Recreation Centre, Search-up Holiday Drop-in Activities near you

41. Build a Massive Structure

Cardboard Box Castle, Lego Village, Blanket & Furniture Cubby House

42. Pick Fruit, Berries or Vegies to Eat

Near or at a Community Garden, Hollybank, Newnham Fruit Gardens (near the university), Dilston-Windermere area. Visit Local Farm Gates in Season

43. Explore Punchbowl Reserve

Explore Punchbowl Reserve: Morsehead Street Reserve Walk to Punchbowl, Climb the Steps > Walk the Block > Down the track to the Waterfall, Ducks, Playground, BBQ & Picnic areas

44. Orienteering

Heritage Forest (x2), Punchbowl, Riverbend, Royal Park (Permanent courses), Hollybank

45. Become a Star Photographer

Learn online to take fab photos then: Go Fossicking for Great Shots. Try taking Nature shots at Fraser Reserve, Hollybank, Granville Street Reserve, BlueGum Reserve & Cataract Gorge

46. Hold a Marathon Activity

Movie Festival/Outdoor Cinema, Board Game Night/Day, Bike Ride, Walk to a Cool Place

47. Explore Hollybank

Explore Hollybank: Mt Biking, Pump Track, Picnic, Watch Tree Tops Adventure, Zip Line, Picnic & BBQ areas

48. Discover Something Active you Love

Try something that’s a: Sport, Physical Recreation, Theatre, Do a Park Run. Explore Parks & Wildlife, Things to Do (QR link below)

49. Discover Something Relaxing you Love

Craft, Art, Musical, Board Games, Playing Cards, Yoga/Meditation/Mindful Walks/LoFi. Visit a Farm, a Petting Zoo (like Old Macs Farm), or Pet Sit a Friend's Pet, Get Lost in a Book

50. Do Something to Help Others

Do a Charity Run, Help out at a Fundraiser. Volunteer (more than once) in something you are passionate about, Help the environment, animals, or help people stay healthy & social. Learn about other people, Learn to Banter

51. Visit a Beach

Greens Beach, Low Head, Weymouth, Paper Beach, Bridport. FUN AT THE BEACH: Paddle, Learn to Boogie Board, Play water games, Try Surf Life Saving (Nippers), Build Sandcastle and Sand Sculptures, collect shells, investigate rock pools, climb rocks, dig dams and tunnels

52. Do a Destination Day Trip

Do a Destination Day Trip: HISTORIC TOWNS: Derby, George Town, Campbell Town, Beaconsfield or Evandale. INLAND TREASURES AT: Deloraine, Sheffield & the Western Tiers, Tasmania Zoo and the Tamar Valley. Visit a nearby Mountain, Lake or National Park.

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