How to Spend an Afternoon in Maryborough, QLD

We recently spent more than two months house and pet sitting in Central Queensland. Although we didn’t explore all of Maryborough, we did see two of its top attractions, which we’re excited to share with you today.

If you’re wondering about things to do in Maryborough, read on to discover the best places to visit with a leisurely few hours in the town.

The Story Bank

The Story Bank is in the house where P.L. Travers, the author of the Mary Poppins books, was born. It has been transformed into the Banks family home, weaving in all the magic of Mary Poppins with local stories from the Maryborough area.

We watched both the Mary Poppins movies to prepare for our visit to The Story Bank in Maryborough! Ayla also got the complete book collection from the library, so the kids knew all about Mary Poppins before visiting the museum.

It’s completely interactive, so perfect for kids. They’re allowed to open drawers and cupboards in every room, and enjoy hands-on fun from making shadow puppets to sending postcards to Mary Poppins.

There are also 26 mice for them to find throughout the rooms, along with coloring sheets and more.

The whole thing is really well done, offering an immersive experience through all the major parts of the movie.

The entry ticket is only $15 for adults and $5 for school-age kids. We highly recommend visiting if you’re looking for things to do in Maryborough with kids (and it’s great for adults too)!

Queens Park

If you want to see the most incredible fig tree ever, then Queen’s Park, Maryborough, should be on your itinerary. Sure, the park has a small playground, but we didn’t really even look at it with a tree like this to explore!

It’s so beautiful for the kids to weave in and out of the tree, play with the giant instruments, climb the tree, and let their imaginations run wild.

Queens Park is lovely to explore. It boasts a picturesque riverfront location with little rolling hills, pretty garden features, and more trees to climb. We were there close to dusk and saw a few wedding parties getting their photos taken here.

Queens Park also has an ANZAC memorial walk, complete with audio (no headset required). The waterfront features World War II cannons, and war statues line the path.

If you visit on Thursday mornings or the last Sunday morning of the month, you’ll get the chance to ride on a miniature steam train around the park.

Queen’s Park is just along the road from The Story Bank, so you can easily walk between the two. Don’t miss it if you’re wondering what to do with a morning or afternoon in Maryborough!

Things to do in Maryborough | In Conclusion

Maryborough is definitely worth a stop on your travels through Central Queensland. It’s the birthplace of the author of the world-famous Mary Poppins books, with an interactive museum dedicated to sharing the magic from the books. Combining your visit with a stroll through nearby Queens Park makes for an unforgettable morning or afternoon in the town.

Traveling in the area? Then check out these incredible things to do in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Childers, and Woodgate with kids. If you love hiking, discover the best hikes near Bundaberg here.