Childers
Childers is a small agricultural town with a population of 1,600 in Central Queensland, north of Maryborough and south of Bundaberg. It is a major sugar cane producer.
Get in
Childers is approximately 320 km north of Brisbane on the Bruce Hwy.
Buses pass through Childers, going north and south, and can be hailed, if booked, at the Shell Service Station, at the northern end of the township. Backpacker/travel-based bus services also pass through the area, with many travellers working at local farms.
The closest rail station is approximately 40 km away at Howard.
Get around
There is a taxi vehicle that services most of the area. Fares are relatively cheap, however can get booked out fairly quickly on busy nights in town.
There's no public transport, given the small size of the township. It is an easy ten minute walk to the town centre from most areas of the township, with a walk from the northern tip to the southern tip taking approximately an hour.
See
Childers is classified as a National Trust Town. It is rich in history and many historic colonial buildings still stand in the town centre.
Numerous historical monuments stand within the town centre, paying homage to the Pacific Islander workers who came to Childers in the 19th century to work in the sugar cane fields.
Woodgate Beach, about 40 km out of Childers, is popular with tourists, where kangaroos can be seen in the front yards of houses, casually munching on grass.
Do
The Childers Multicultural festival is held each year on the final weekend of July, an event that attracts thousands of visitors each year to the town. Stalls, performances and displays are held, with a strong focus on other cultures and nationalities.
The Childers Agricultural Show is normally held in late May/early June.
Buy
Shopping outlets are fairly limited, however within the centre of the township, many gift shops and specialty shops offer visitors the chance to purchase locally manufactured products and other supplies.
There is a Woolworths supermarket at the northern end of the township, and smaller supermarkets and convenience stores in the centre.
Eat
There are many places to eat, from low-priced bakeries and cafes to restaurants and ethnic foods.
The only fast food option available is Subway, in the Palace Building in the centre of town.
Surrounding this are several cafes, pubs, bakeries and restaurants, while ethnic foods available include Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese.
Drink
Aside from coffee shops, there are three main pubs in the city centre.
- The Grand Hotel
- The Federal Hotel
- Hotel Childers
The Isis Club, at the southern end of the town centre, offers meals and a family-friendly environment.
Sleep
Options include motels, backbacker hostels, caravan parks and pub accommodation.
Connect
Go next
- Bundaberg to the north
- Gin Gin to the north-west
- Maryborough to the south