FREE Park Entry: Reptile Shows, Planting Workshops, Face Painting & Zog Magic
Few places spark genuine excitement quite like The Ginger Factory during school holidays, and this September (21 Sept - 2 Oct) it's truly coming alive with two HUGE weeks of hands-on activities, free entry, and the kind of messy, creative fun kids actually remember. With something special happening nearly every day, this is the perfect place for families to explore, play, and make unforgettable memories—no expensive entry fees, just genuine family adventure.
WEEK 1 (21-25 Sept): SCALES & TAILS with WILD HQ Zoo
FREE reptile shows run twice daily at 10:00am and 11:00am (Mon-Fri) @ The Barn, with roaming keepers from 9:30am-12:30pm. Meet scaly friends up close—snakes, lizards, and other fascinating creatures brought to life by expert handlers. Note: Due to popularity, sessions may close once capacity is reached, so arrive early.
WEEK 2 (28 Sept - 2 Oct): LITTLE GARDENERS CLUB
Kids can plant and decorate their own pot plant to take home and watch it grow into something special. Genuine hands-on activity where they dig, decorate, and plant (9:30am-1:30pm @ The Potting Shed). $15 per person, tickets on sale soon—perfect for kids who love getting messy and watching things grow.
RUNNING THROUGHOUT BOTH WEEKS:
CRAFTY KIDS (Tuesdays & Fridays, 10:00am-2:00pm @ The Toy Emporium) - FREE creative activities where kids make something special to take home. Paint, build, design—whatever captures their imagination.
MEET ZOG (Monday-Saturday, appearance times: 10:15, 10:45, 11:15, 11:45, 12:15 @ The Toy Emporium) - Catch magical meet-and-greets with Zog, the resident friendly dragon. Bring your camera for genuinely ROAR-some selfies and share the magic with family.
PLUS ALWAYS-AVAILABLE EXPERIENCES:
Hop aboard Moreton the Ginger Train (relaxed 15-minute ride through gardens), sail away on the Overboard boat ride (gingerbread man adventure around the world), try delicious handmade gelato at Gingerlatis (18 flavours churned on-site), decorate a gingerbread man cookie, explore the free Rainforest & Gardens with AR-powered Zog Trail, bounce on Bee-Trice the jumping castle, climb and play at the Kids Playground, let little ones explore Little Explorers soft play space, and watch the Live Bee Show. Free craft activities throughout, story time magic at various times, and the Rainbrella Project's hundreds of rainbow umbrellas in the garden canopy.
This is the budget-friendly holiday with quality experiences—free park entry, free activities, optional paid programs ($15 for Little Gardeners, regular ride costs for train/boat), quality café for meals, and genuine connection with animals and nature rather than screen time. Kids leave with dirt under their nails, stories to tell, and pot plants they grew themselves.
With so many free activities running throughout the week, it becomes an easy, budget-friendly day out for the family. It's a wonderful way to turn an ordinary holiday into something special, full of imagination, connection and family fun!
