Brisbane is a popular destination for families as it is one of Australia’s child-friendliest spots. All categories are covered, from arts to theme parks and free outdoor activities; everything is covered with great weather to boot!
There are also plenty of great spots to eat, shop and create wonderful family memories that you and your children will cherish for years to come.
To help you plan your day, we’ve listed some of the best things to do in Brisbane with family below. Read on for all of the hot tips!
Located south of Brisbane, you’ll find fun for the whole family at Meadowbrook Golf Club. This 18-hole mini-golf course suits family members of all ages as it offers a beginner and advanced pin on every hole.
You’ll also enjoy the club’s food truck beer garden, which is particularly fun on Sundays from 12pm – 6pm with live music and a jumping castle. Mini golf runs from Sunday to Thursday, 6am – 9pm, and Friday and Saturday from 6am – 10pm and a Family Pass (2 adults + 2 Children) will cost $49.
Website: https://meadowbrookgolfclub.com.au/minigolf/
Address: Golf Course Drive, Meadowbrook
Visit the largest zipline adventure park in Australia that is made specifically for kids! Set in the Sunshine Coast rainforest next to the iconic Big Pineapple, you’ll find eight acres of treetops complete with high ropes challenges and five massive zipline courses.
Designed for ages 3 to 9, your kids can fly through the rainforest canopy with the first level staying low to the ground, offering a safe space to build confidence.
Each zipline session lasts for two hours, including an induction and training session. The Juniors park is open every Saturday and Sunday, with mid-week sessions added during school holidays.
Website: https://www.treetopchallenge.com.au/sunshine-coast-children-adventure-park
Address: CNR Tamborine Mtn Rd & Cedar Creek Falls Rd, North Tamborine
For a little outdoor thrill, take a short ferry ride from Brisbane CBD to Riverlife Adventure Centre, which offers rock climbing, abseiling, laser tag and kayaking on the Brisbane River (which can also be done at night.
There is plenty of great food on offer, and each session includes a safety briefing. This is a great activity for ages eight years and above, and bookings are essential. Brisbane’s beautiful weather is best enjoyed outdoors on a bike, inline skates or a kayak. We also recommend the aboriginal cultural experiences that are presented by the Uggera Aboriginal Dancers.
Website: https://riverlife.com.au/
Directions: Head to Thornton Street Ferry Terminal, and follow the Riverlife signs
It may require no introduction, but the ultimate family fun day can be had at Dreamworld! The theme park that is full of thrill rides like The Claw, Giant Drop, Gold Coaster, and more also has some new attractions like Sky Voyager and Escape from Madagascar.
You can also check out WhiteWater World for the most epic slides in Australia or visit ABC KIDS World with the little ones. After a day full of adventure, we recommend the SkyPoint Observation Deck, which is free with your Dreamworld pass!
Website: https://www.dreamworld.com.au/
Address: Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera
If you and your kids love adventure activities, you’ll want to check out Urban Xtreme. Perfect for all age and skill levels, you can participate in indoor ski or snowboard sessions, ninja and parkour runs, trampoline and laser tag sessions, and more.
There really is no better place to burn off some energy for the whole family. From birthday parties to special school holiday activities and sessions, there is plenty to do at Urban Xtreme thanks to its ever-changing list of fun activities.
Website: https://www.urban-xtreme.com.au/
Address: 4/370 Nudgee Road, Hendra
Let your kids learn all about the stars and planets via the re-creations of the night sky at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium Cosmic Skydome. There are fragments of asteroids, spacecraft models, and short feature shows that will have all budding astronauts very interested and excited.
Brisbane City Council opened the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium in 1978 in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha. The Cosmic Skydome is a 12.5-metre-diameter projection dome that lets you take a tour of Brisbane’s night sky.
There is also an observatory, Galaxy Gift Shop and Sundial Courtyard, all designed to help you and the family discover more about astronomy.
Address: Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong
Save some dollars with this list of free (and no less-fun) activities in Brisbane for the whole family.
Kids Collective is a range of fun, free activities for kids at South Bank and Roma Street Parklands. The events will not cost a thing, but pre-registration is required.
With a selection of activities for kids aged up to 12 years, you’ll be able to find something for all tastes. Programs are constantly changing, and the website even offers free online activities for those who cannot make it down to the parklands.
Website: https://www.visitbrisbane.com.au/kids-collective?sc_lang=en-au
Address: South Bank & Roma Street Parklands
Built within an art gallery, you’ll find Australia’s only state-of-the-art, purpose-built activity centre. The Children’s Art Centre at GOMA offers two floors of exhibition-related multi-media artistic activities to keep your kids occupied for hours.
Check out Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory, Ghostworld and the Asia Pacific Triennial offerings. The installations and activities are linked to specific artists, and your children will be making everything from dance videos to origami fruit bats.
Some specific touring exhibitions will charge for ticket entry, but the primary section of the Children’s Art Centre is always free.
Website: https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/whats-on/kids
Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Epicurious Garden is a free way to get outdoors and see exotic plants, herbs and more. South Bank’s Epicurious Garden is located in the heart of the South Bank Parklands and is free to visit all year round.
In the garden, you’ll find seasonal, edible plant life so your kids can see what fresh produce looks, feels and smells like. While produce can only be harvested by the garden’s horticulturists to protect its health there will be plenty of samples available to try.
The harvest cart is open from 7am – 2pm Tuesday through Thursday with volunteers on-site from 7am – 11.30am who are ready and willing to answer all of your questions.
Looking for a little quiet time and have a family of keen readers? Head to the State Library of Queensland’s dedicated Kids Corner which is full of reading fun and games.
Your kids can take part in creative hands-on experiences with the digital exhibition, online games, and other reading activities. The library is constantly updating its family activities, but bookings are essential as the spots fill up quickly.
Website: https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/
Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane
Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens offers an educational adventure through the wonderland of a trail just near the planetarium and Japanese gardens. Children are encouraged to look around the trail to discover surprises along the way while playing a game of hide and seek.
There are 17 marked “objects” to find with extra surprises, creatures and plant life. Information boards keep everyone informed as you walk quietly to find all of the trail’s hidden treasures. Picnic at the many shady spots in the exotic rainforest and ensure you’ve seen everything that is on the checklist (there’s a short quiz to do at the end and a colouring-in page for when the kids get home).
The Hide ‘n’ Seek Trail is right on Brisbane’s doorstep, and you can join a free minibus tour of the gardens for an extended view.
Address: Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong
You now have a full list of fun activities with the family in Brisbane; pick your favourite or work your way through the whole thing! If you feel like something outdoorsy, we recommend checking out our ultimate spots for glamping near Brisbane article.
Take a more luxurious spin on traditional camping that is fun for the whole family in some of Australia’s most stunning terrain!
