17 all-new things to do in Brisbane with kids

Fuel their imagination while keeping everyone entertained with the best things to do in Brisbane with kids.

No matter their age, travelling with kids is no easy feat. While the idea of exploring new surroundings is whimsical and idyllic, the reality is that kids need to be constantly entertained otherwise they’ll sink right into their devices. Luckily, Brisbane is full of wondrous activities to inspire miniature minds. From educational and cultural enlightenment to action-packed escapades, there are plenty of memorable things to do in Brisbane with kids. Allow us to shine a light…

1. Let them stay up late at Eat Street Northshore

Fostering a family of fussy eaters? Eat Street Northshore will sort everyone out. Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the entertainment precinct is filled with more than 70 vendors cooking up internationally inspired bites.

Plus, there’s a games arcade, live music, roving performances and lolly shops to shoot them straight to Cloud Nine.

Address: 221D MacArthur Avenue, Northshore Brisbane, Hamilton

2. Scale the Story Bridge

You don’t need nerves of steel to climb the staggering Story Bridge. The monumental structure looming over the Brisbane River is so safe and secure that you and the kids can be attached via a harness to climb it (as long as they’re over the age of six).

Thanks to Story Bridge Adventure Climb, you and your tribe will navigate the south-eastern cantilever of the bridge and if it’s a clear day, you’ll see beyond the city’s soaring buildings to the Glass House Mountains and Moreton Bay. The famed Brown Snake, meanwhile, will glimmer at you from 80 metres below.

Address: 170 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

3. Make cuddly new friends at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Youngsters can help protect threatened Australian species by sponsoring a koala, dingo or wombat at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

The Fig Tree Pocket property has been instrumental in the conservation of native wildlife since it was established in 1927 as a refuge for sick, injured and orphaned koalas. Today, it’s grown to protect and nurture other endangered species whose numbers have also been severely depleted over the years.

Address: 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket

4. Spark creativity at the Queensland Museum Kurilpa’s SparkLab

Get their hands dirty while firing up their imaginations at SparkLab in the Queensland Museum Kurilpa. An innovative learning space for children aged six to 13, the melting pot of all things science, technology, engineering and maths is a non-stop eye-opener.

Watch them gasp as they catch live experiments and demonstrations at the Science Bar or stand back and let them figure out puzzling solutions in the Maker Space.

Address: Level 1, Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Grey Street and Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

5. Be inspired by a performance at Brisbane Powerhouse

No matter when you visit, there’s always some magical happening inside Brisbane Powerhouse.

Offering a year-round program of events spanning music, comedy, dance, film, visual arts, circus, theatre and more, there’s a kid-friendly and fabulous show for everyone. Plus, New Farm Park, one of the Brisbane locations that have inspired the kids’ TV series Bluey, is right next door.

Address: 119 Lamington Street, New Farm

6. Soar through the sky on board the Wheel of Brisbane

The Wheel of Brisbane has become a fixture on the landscape in the Queensland capital. Rising 60 metres off the ground, the white wheel of steel and glass sits right next to Brisbane River and adjacent to South Bank.

Despite being a slow journey to nowhere, doing a giant loop of the sky is a thrill for young and old. You’ll see the roads that spaghetti around the CBD, the curves of Mt Coot-tha in the distance and ferry boats leaving feathered trails down the river.

Address: Russell Street, South Brisbane

7. Get their brains racing at The Cube, QUT

The Cube at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a hands-on hot spot with one of the largest digital interactive learning and display spaces on the planet. Laid out over two expansive floors in QUT’s Science and Engineering Centre, The Cube makes science fun for everyone thanks to interactive exhibits such as Code-A-Bot where you get to program a robot. It’s a wonderful space, committed to inspiring the next generation of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) leaders to thrive. Perhaps your child will be one of them.

Address: 2 George Street, Brisbane City

8. Hop on the CityCat to see the Brisbane River

Keep them entertained for a little while at least (don’t forget snacks) as you head from one side of Brisbane River to the other. With stops right along the stretch, the CityCat is uber-convenient and good to rest little legs before continuing your day of exploring. Run by Brisbane City Council as a free-of-charge initiative, it’s the ideal spot to look out for birds of prey, too.

Address: Multiple ferry stops include Howard Smith Wharves, South Bank, New Farm Park and West End.

9. Find perspective at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Turn their attention to the sky a show inside the Cosmic Skydome at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, located in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha.

Just five kilometres from the city’s centre, it’s a haven for learning, showcasing all the most fascinating elements of the solar system. Make the most out of your visit with a tour alongside an astronomer who can point out every planet and constellation worth marvelling at.

Address: Mount Coot-Tha Road, Mount Coot-Tha

10. Unleash mini speed demons at Slideways Go Karting

Put their pedals to the metals, safely, with a spin at Slideways Go Karting. Located just ten minutes from Brisbane’s CBD, kids over the age of seven are invited to channel their inner Michael Schumacher (or Hot Wheels’ racer) to tackle a two-level, 425-metre indoor track. A popular activity to seize if the weather Gods aren’t playing nice, the venue is suitable to experienced racers and total novices.

Address: 870 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm

11. Release creativity at the State Library of Queensland’s Corner

Smack bang in the middle of South Bank’s cultural precinct is a sure-fire way to kill some kid time. The State Library of Queensland is home to The Corner, a brilliant kids’ zone complete with a revolving program of hands-on activities and learning experiences. Plus, once they’re done filling their cups, there’s a world of books to leaf through on their way out.

Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane

12. Combine lunch and playtime at Victoria Park Bistro

Mini cheeseburgers, crumbed chicken and battered fish and chips are the perfect fuel ahead of a game of putt-putt golf at Victoria Park Bistro, one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in Brisbane. Nab a table on the wraparound balconies that overlook the golf course and Victoria Parklands, just two kilometres from the city centre. The eatery also has a kids’ games area that includes a repurposed farm tractor, rowboat and giant cubby house. Get there on a weekend to spy a weekly jumping castle, too.

Address: 283 Herston Road, Herston

13. Embark on a Brisbane Greeters tour

There’s no better way to get to know a city, and tire out ankle biters, than by exploring it on foot. Tours run by Brisbane Greeters, an initiative from Brisbane City Council, offers visitors the opportunity to learn things about the city not even locals would know. Plus, kids are guaranteed to be zonked after it so it’s a lovely excuse to gain a little peace and quiet. 

Address: Various locations across the city, so check out the website for options.

14. Foster their love of art at Queensland Art Gallery

The Kids Trail, staged throughout the Queensland Art Gallery, one of the city’s best museums, invites children to discover all the animals hiding within the venue’s Australian Art Collection.

It’s an interactive experience that beckons little visitors to stickybeak a range of works and examine each piece closely to better engage with it.

Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane

15. Fuel them with comfort food from Brooklyn Depot

If you don’t want to risk getting tomato sauce on the iPad, head to Brooklyn Depot at South Bank, where kid’s meals arrive with colouring in materials to keep them entertained. There are chicken nuggets, plain hot dogs and mac ‘n’ cheese for little ones to delight in.

Address: 172 Grey Street, South Brisbane

16. Cool them down at Streets Beach

Sand and waves in the heart of the city? Sign them up. Streets Beach is a man-made sanctuary in South Bank, complete with a lifeguard-patrolled beach, a lagoon-style swimming zone and a sandy beach to frolic along.

It’s packing come summer time so get there early to secure a spot, especially if you want to park right near the adjacent playground and ice cream retailers.

Address: Stanley Street Plaza, South Brisbane

17. Grab epic fish and chips at One Fish Two Fish

With three dishes on the kids’ menu — the ‘I Don’t Know’ (crumbed fish fingers), ‘I’m Not Hungry’ (crumbed calamari) and the ‘I Don’t Want That’ (mini pork sausages) — lunch is sorted in their language.

Whatever your children choose at One Fish Two Fish, let them pick at it as you throw back oysters, inhale Moreton Bay bug tagliatelle and fill up on all grown-up and ridiculously refined fish and chips.

Address: 708 Main Street, Kangaroo Point

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