A Dayboro day trip might be just the ticket for you if you are feeling like your kids could warrant a taste of country life. The country town charm of Dayboro, and the variety of family-friendly activities it offers makes it the perfect day trip destination from Brisbane.
We’ve asked the locals for their top picks for family-friendly places to eat and play in their beautiful town. Dayboro may be small in size, but there’s a welcoming community waiting and plenty of family fun to be had.
Places to Eat in Dayboro
There are a number of family-friendly dining options in Dayboro including the historic Crown Hotel. The pub has a bistro which includes a children’s menu and a pleasant verandah to sit on, underneath a sprawling fig tree.
Most of the eating establishments in Dayboro have outdoor seating to allow a bit more freedom for little people.
Places to eat include Terah’s Restaurant and Mill Creek Cafe and Rendezvous Café, a local favourite as it combines yummy food and coffee with a delightful bookshop that the kids will love to browse.
Not far from the township of Dayboro is the Ocean View Estate Winery and Vineyard. This picturesque location welcomes families with a kids menu in their restaurant, babycinos available in the terrace café, and gourmet picnic hampers to enjoy on their lawn. There’s plenty of wide open spaces for little ones to stretch their legs – read our review here.
Places to play in Dayboro
Pack a picnic, or better still, buy some fresh bread from the Dayboro Bakery (and maybe one of their famous cream buns or pineapple pies!) and some gourmet sausages from the “famous sausage man” at Dayboro butchery. There are so many flavours to choose from… Pork and wild plum? Or chicken and spinach perhaps? Then head to one of the following spots to cook your sausage sizzle!
Dayboro is located in the foothills of Mount Mee, and so there are a number of lovely picnic spots and bushwalking tracks if you follow the mountain road that leads out of the township.
Closer to town, there are some more picturesque picnic spots, including Henry Bradley Park or Tullamore Park, which also features a kids’ bike trail.
Roderick A. Cruice Park in Dayboro is great for kids of all ages as it features a skate park, basketball court and permanent table tennis table (bring some bats and balls). There is also playground equipment including swings and a climbing frame over a sand base. Picnic tables and a BBQ complete your outing to this terrific park.
Stroll along the quaint main street of Dayboro and call into Hay Cottage to browse their gorgeous handmade goodies including children’s toys and clothes. Visit the Dayboro Art Gallery and view the works of local artists. Step back in time and post a letter or card – just like we did before the advent of email and instant messaging – at the Dayboro Post Office. Check out the shop fit out at Dirty Harry’s Barber Saloon, and call in for a hair cut.
Take the kids treasure hunting at the Dayboro Shed which is overflowing with antiques and collectors items.
For those that are thinking of moving to Dayboro, family education is covered with the Dayboro Rascals Playgroup, the Dayboro Community Kindergarten and Dayboro State School.
Other reasons for Dayboro Day Trips
Dayboro holds two stand out events each year – Dayboro Day, including the Dayboro Antique and Collectables Fair (last Sunday of May), and the Dayboro Show (held annually in July). Dayboro Day has so much to see and do, including performances by local entertainers, the famous pineapple pie eating competition, and the Kids Passport to Fun, which involves collecting stamps from around the venue to earn a prize. The Dayboro Show is spread over two days and includes everything you would expect from a country show – wood-chopping, horse events, rides, horticulture, cooking (and eating)! The Dayboro Markets, held on the first Sunday of every month, makes for a lovely morning out for families.
Drop into the Dayboro Information Centre, run by volunteers of the Dayboro District Historical Society, to find out more about the history of the area and things to do with kids. You can also find more information on Dayboro events and local businesses at www.dayboro.com or check the local weather forecast at www.dayboroweather.com.
If you loved Dayboro, you may also like to visit nearby Samford – a bustling country village with so much on offer for the whole family.
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