At a glance
- Santa Photos
- Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, near Bonds Outlet and Ally Fashion; packages start at $24.95
- Meet Santa for Brekky
- Saturday 14 November, 8am to 10am, in the Food Court
- Sensory Santa
- Sundays 22 and 29 November; bookings essential
- Pet Santa
- Mondays and Tuesdays from 23 November to 15 December, evenings; bookings essential
- Gift wrapping
- 12 to 24 December, in the store next to Best & Less, by donation to the local Salvation Army
- Where
- Townsville Shopping Centre, 310-330 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale
- Who it’s for
- Families with children, anyone with a pet, and anyone who wants their Christmas gifts wrapped
- What to do now
- Book Sensory Santa and Pet Santa early, because places are limited, and check the dates before you go
- Last checked
- Thursday 29 October 2026, against the centre’s What’s On and visitor pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Christmas trading hours, the price of each photo package beyond the starting price, and the Sensory Santa start time (the centre’s pages disagree)
- Help
- Townsville Shopping Centre 07 4779 6033
Santa Photos at Townsville Shopping Centre run from Saturday 14 November to Thursday 24 December 2026, with packages starting at $24.95, and the centre has also set dates for Pet Santa, Sensory Santa, a Food Court breakfast with Santa and a donation-based gift wrapping service. Pet Santa and Sensory Santa need a booking, and the centre says places are limited.
This guide collects the dates from the centre’s own pages in one place. It was checked on Thursday 29 October 2026, and it points out the one place where the centre’s pages give different times.
When can I get a Santa photo?
The centre’s Santa Photos page lists the sessions from 14 November to 24 December. You will find Santa near Bonds Outlet and Ally Fashion. Children receive a free branded Christmas Activities Book while stocks last, and the centre invites families to book a session.
| Dates | Days | Times |
|---|---|---|
| 14 November to 2 December | Saturday 14 November | 10am to 2pm |
| Sunday 15 November | 11am to 2pm | |
| Monday to Wednesday, Friday to Sunday | 10am to 2pm | |
| Thursdays | 10am to 6pm | |
| 3 to 10 December | Monday to Wednesday and Friday | 10am to 2pm |
| Thursday 3 and 10 December | 10am to 7pm | |
| Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December | 9am to 4pm | |
| 11 to 18 December | Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December | 9am to 5pm |
| Sunday 13 December | 9am to 5pm | |
| Monday 14 to Wednesday 16 December | 9am to 6pm | |
| Thursday 17 December | 9am to 7pm | |
| Friday 18 December | 9am to 6pm | |
| 19 to 24 December | Saturday 19 December | 8am to 6pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 9am to 6pm | |
| Monday 21 to Wednesday 23 December | 8am to 7pm | |
| Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December | 8am to 5pm |
The schedule above is copied from the centre’s page. For 14 November to 2 December it lists the opening weekend separately and then gives one window for Monday to Wednesday and Friday to Sunday, and a longer one for Thursdays.
What is Meet Santa for Brekky?
It is a one-morning event on Saturday 14 November, from 8am to 10am in the Food Court, which is the same day Santa Photos start. According to the centre’s Meet Santa for Brekky page, you buy breakfast from any Food Court store, sit down, and Santa stays in the Food Court through the morning to hear Christmas lists. The centre says there will be surprise giveaways during the morning. The page does not say whether you need a booking for this one.
What is Sensory Santa, and when is it?
Sensory Santa sessions are a calmer way to meet Santa. The centre’s Sensory Santa page says they take place before most stores open, with dimmed lighting and reduced noise, and that bookings are essential because places are limited.
| Date | Time on the Sensory Santa page | Time on the Santa Photos page |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 22 November 2026 | 8am to 10am | 9am to 10am |
| Sunday 29 November 2026 | 8am to 10am | 9am to 10am |
The two pages disagree on the start time. The Sensory Santa page says sessions take place from 8am, before most stores open; the Santa Photos page lists 9am to 10am. Contact the centre on 07 4779 6033 to confirm the start time. Santa is near Bonds Outlet and Ally Fashion for these sessions.
How does Pet Santa work?
Pet Santa, also called Paws with Claus on the main schedule, runs on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 23 November to 15 December. The centre’s Pet Santa page says bookings are essential and sessions are limited.
| Week | Days | Times |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday 23 and Tuesday 24 November | 5.30pm to 8.30pm |
| 2 | Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December | 5.30pm to 8.30pm |
| 3 | Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 December | 5.30pm to 8.30pm |
| 4 | Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 December | 6.30pm to 9.30pm |
The centre sets these conditions for pets:
- Domestic dogs, cats and birds are covered. For any other animal, contact the centre for approval before you book.
- Pets must be on a leash or in a secure carrier and supervised at all times.
- You are responsible for your pet during the visit, and accidents must be cleaned up promptly.
- Pets can only be in the centre for their booked photography session. They cannot arrive early or stay after it.
For arrival, park in the Ground Level car park off Alfred Street and wait at the entrance near The Lucky Charm and Suncorp Bank. Santa’s Helpers meet you there and take you to the Santa Set when it is your turn.
Can I get gifts wrapped, and does it cost anything?
Gift wrapping runs from 12 to 24 December in the store next to Best & Less. You make a donation for each present you want wrapped, and the centre says every cent goes to the local Salvation Army. The centre’s gift wrapping page lists these times.
| Date | Times |
|---|---|
| Saturday 12 December | 9am to 3pm |
| Sunday 13 December | 10am to 3pm |
| Monday 14, Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 December | 9am to 5pm |
| Thursday 17 December | 9am to 7pm |
| Friday 18 December | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday 19 December | 9am to 4pm |
| Sunday 20 December | 10am to 3pm |
| Monday 21, Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 December | 9am to 5pm |
| Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve) | 9am to 4pm |
The centre notes that wrapping continues until 4pm on Christmas Eve for last-minute presents. The page does not say how large a donation is expected.
How do I get there, and where do I park?
The centre’s location and parking page gives the address as 310-330 Ross River Road, Aitkenvale. It says there are over 2,000 free car parks and 800 undercover spaces, with accessibility parking near the centre entrances and Parents with Prams parking close to all entrances.
| Option | What the centre says |
|---|---|
| Alfred Street car park | Undercover, height limit 2.1m; ground level is where Pet Santa guests are told to park |
| Nathan Street car park | Undercover, height limit 2.3m |
| Quick Park | 119 spaces with a 90 minute limit, in the ground level Alfred Street car park |
| Bus | Two interchanges, on Elizabeth Street and Ross River Road; timetables on the Translink website and app |
| Taxi | Ranks at the Alfred Street entrance near Woolworths and the Elizabeth Street entrance near Big W and the Food Court; 138 234 |
| Bike | Four bike racks, on Elizabeth Street near Wara Sushi, on Ross River Road, on Alfred Street and near the ground level Alfred Street car park |
The pages do not say whether the 90 minute Quick Park limit applies during the evening Pet Santa sessions. Normal trading hours are Monday to Wednesday and Friday 9am to 5:30pm, Thursday 9am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm; the centre has not yet published Christmas trading hours on the pages checked.
Is a new shop opening before Santa arrives?
General Pants Co opened at the centre, and its announcement says the opening celebrations run from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 November. It promises free donuts, giveaways and first access to its latest summer drop. The store is next to the LEGO Certified Store. The page does not give hours for the celebrations.
What is still not confirmed?
- Christmas trading hours for the centre.
- The price of each Santa photo package beyond “from $24.95”.
- The Sensory Santa start time: 8am on one page and 9am on another.
- Whether Meet Santa for Brekky needs a booking.
- Whether the Quick Park limit applies during evening Pet Santa sessions.
The centre’s What’s On page lists the current details; check it again the week before you go.
Sources
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Santa Photos (checked 29 October 2026)
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Meet Santa for Brekky
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Sensory Santa
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Pet Santa
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Gift wrapping
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Location and parking
- Townsville Shopping Centre: Trading hours
- Townsville Shopping Centre: General Pants Co is OPEN
Featured image: Townsville Shopping Centre at dusk, photographed in April 2015 (photo: Kbrown1982 / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Townsville Shopping Centre, its owner or its retailers, the Salvation Army, Translink or the City of Townsville. Event details can change; check the centre’s What’s On page before you go.