School Holiday Activities Brisbane

1. Queensland Museum

How lucky are we to have the state Museum right on our doorstep?! Plus, most of the exhibits are completely free to see! With a mix of permanent and changing exhibits, kids can learn more about Queensland’s history and lots of cool discoveries including dinosaur fossils, live science experiments and the Disney: The Magic of Animation display. Be sure to check out their website for current school holiday programs and activities.

2. South Bank

Located on the banks of the Brisbane River, South Bank encompasses 17 acres of parklands, walking trails, picnic spots, open galleries, sculpture art, live music and more! Pack a picnic lunch, head down to the river bank and make a day of it. While there, head over to the Epicurious Garden – a giant edible garden filled with exotic flowers and herbs. You can even collect FREE fruits & vegetables from The Harvest Cart, available from 7am-2pm Tues-Thurs.

3. City Centre Heritage Trail

Starting off at the Regent Theatre, follow the City Centre Heritage Trail and discover the 26 historical stops that make up the city we know and love today including the Brisbane Arcade, St. Stephen’s Chapel and the old convict barracks.

4. Daisy Hill Koala Reserve

Daisy Hill Koala Centre is an information centre about koalas with eucalyptus trees, observation decks, interactive displays and of course, koalas! The centre is located within Daisy Hill Conservation Park, a short 25km drive from Brisbane and admission is free.

5. Catch a ferry

Brisbane City Council's CityHopper is a free inner-city ferry service on the Brisbane River. You can hop on and off the CityHopper at seven stops between North Quay and Sydney Street, New Farm. The service runs every 30 minutes between 5.30am and midnight, Sunday to Thursday, with services operating later Friday and Saturday nights.

6. Swimming at Streets Beach

With the warmer summer school holiday temperatures, the kids will love a day at the beach! Instead of heading to the coast, why not stay a bit closer to home by visiting Streets Beach? This inner-city beach is the perfect spot for kids to swim, play in the sand and enjoy the various water fountains with the spectacular Brisbane city skyline in the background!

7. Borrow a book from a street library

Did you know that there are 150 community street libraries dotted in and around the city? Created by local residents, you can find a ‘library’ offering all types of books to borrow, read and either put back once you’re done or exchange for another book! And better yet, it’s free! Find your local street library here.

8. Bike or walk the Brisbane Riverwalk

Dust off the bikes, grab the helmets and cycle (or walk!) Brisbane’s Riverwalk – a water highway for pedestrians and cyclists jutting out along the most scenic tract of Brisbane river between New Farm to the Howard St Wharves and onto the Brisbane CBD. The 870-metre-long floating boardwalk is an easy ride or walk, and is also pram-friendly.

9. Visit Old Petrie Town

Take a trip back to the Gold Rush era in this pre-1930s town! Old Petrie Town is a restored historic village spread across 48 acres of parklands featuring an old schoolhouse, general store, cottages, chapels and the original train station. Kids will also love the old-fashioned lolly shop!

10. Visit old gold mines

One of the earliest bushwalking spots near Brisbane, Bellbird Grove, also houses an old gold mine along with the added attraction of open fields and tree-studded picnic and barbecue spots. For the old mine Golden Boulder Circuit, park at the Brushbox Picnic Area about halfway along the road in or walk back to the start sign from the main picnic area. The 1.8km, 1-hour walk meanders through the old gold mine where you can still see open mine shafts, shanty mine huts and gold mining paraphernalia.

1. Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is located on the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in the suburb of Mount Coot-tha. General admission to the Planetarium is FREE, however, a small cost will apply to certain exhibits such as the Cosmic Skydome shows.

2. Kids cooking classes

Got a budding Masterchef at home? Then why not enrol them in a school holiday cooking workshop? There are plenty of kids cooking classes in Brisbane. Come and Cook specialise in cooking with kids and teens in their purpose-built kitchen space located in The Gap, Brisbane. Over the holidays, check out their one-off, weekend cooking events with fun and varied themes.

3. UnderSea Putt & Play mini golf

Undersea Putt & Play is a boutique family experience unlike any other! Their all-ages entertainment hub boasts an 18-hole underwater-themed mini golf course and arcade for all-day fun! Mini golf and arcade combo packages can be purchased at discounted rates online.

4. Children’s Art Centre

Australia's only state-of-the-art, purpose-built activity centre within an art gallery features everything from Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory to Ghostworld and the quirky interactive Asia Pacific Triennial offerings. All installations and activities are created by selected artists, featuring anything from making a dance video, an alien friend, a shadow puppet or an origami fruit bat to experiencing an earthquake in a ghost town!

5. Funhouse Brisbane

FunHouse have arcade games for the whole family to enjoy. The amusement centre offers an indoor kids playground, bumper cars, party rooms and more. Kids can win games and redeem their coupons for awesome prices including novelty items, XBox’s, TV’s and Apple products.

6. Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

All aboard! The Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway is Brisbane’s original and nearest heritage railway where families can ride a real-life steam train as well as learn about local history in their onsite exhibition featuring old photographs, artefacts, memorabilia and mining displays.

1. Plaster Fun House

Plaster Fun House is Brisbane's only entertainment venue where you can paint your own plaster piece and take it home immediately! There is no entry charge, you simply select your plaster piece you wish to paint and bring it to the counter where they will give you paints, a water pot, aprons, brushes, glaze and glitter. Prices start from $5 through to around $30 for larger items.

2. iFLY Indoor Skydiving

Situated at Westfield Chermside just 10km north of the Brisbane CBD, you can soar like a bird in the first generation 8 12ft (3.65m) diameter iFLY wind tunnel to be built in Brisbane. iFLY is perfect for kids aged 3+ and is a safe, fun and overall awesome experience!

3. Fox in a Box Escape Rooms

Fox in a Box is Brisbane's best escape room company. The immersive escape rooms allow kids and families to work together by solving clues, puzzles and problems. There are kid/teen escape rooms available including Prison Break, Prison Break Head to Head, and The Bunker.

4. The Wheel

The iconic ferris wheel on the South Bank skyline provides 360-degree views of Brisbane within the fully-enclosed gondola. Riding on The Wheel is always a treat, and is a great school holiday activity for families.

5. Brisbane Botanic Gardens

The Brisbane Botanic Gardens sits at the foot of Brisbane’s tallest mountain, Mount Coot-tha and has everything to keep kids entertained; from The City Botanic Gardens Playground to natural play spaces, hide-n-seek trails, and lots of sensory play activities within the heart of a magical exotic rainforest.

6. Life: Be In It. FunWorks

Life Be In It Funworks in Brisbane features games and activities for kids of all ages and abilities. There’s a ninja ropes course, mini Olympics courses, adventure and survivor games as well as giant fun balls and parachutes.

7. SparkLab

Ignite your child’s imagination with a visit to SparkLab – an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) space catered for 6-13 year olds! Featuring 40 interactive exhibits across three fun-filled zones, kids can take a deep dive into the wonder of science as they play with exhibits, test their brains and imaginations as well as learn about how science works.

Strike Bowling and laser tag

Strike is Australia’s best bowling and entertainment venue! With 12 bowling lanes, laser tag arena, private karaoke rooms and exciting escape rooms, Strike Wintergarden is the ultimate place for school holiday fun!

2. Home movie night

Stuck at home? Why not try an old-fashioned home movie night?! Bring the cinema to your living room by setting up a pillow fort, choosing your kids favourite movies and dimming down the lights! Create the full movie experience by popping your own popcorn and making your own choc tops to snack on during the movie.

3. Virtual museum tour

Too rainy and dreary to go to an actual museum? Then why not explore some of the best museums with virtual museum tours for kids! There are plenty of virtual museum tours online to choose from; from the National Museum of Natural History to NASA and even the Eiffel Tower!

4. Virtual theme park

With thanks to the internet and the latest technology, kids can ride their favourite theme park rides without having to queue! From virtual Disney rides to virtual reality rides including DC Superheroes Drop of Doom and Tron at Shanghai Disneyland, the kids will have loads of fun from the comfort of their own home!

5. Slideways Go Karting

Slideways indoor track is 425m in length and two storeys high. Yes that's right, a 2 level Go Kart Track! The whole family can enjoy Slideways, with kids as young as 7 (Who pass our age & height restrictions) being able to drive a Go Kart for themselves!

6. Urban XTreme

Urban XTreme is Brisbane’s #1 home for indoor adventure sports including indoor rockclimbing, ski and ninja courses! The indoor centre is huge and packed full of activities including indoor trampolines, an adventure park, laser tag, dodgeball, indoor snowboarding and skiing and 10.5 metre climbing walls.

1. Brisbane Easter Egg Hunt

Plan yourself an egg-cellent weekend at Victoria Park for the Easter Long Weekend, with plenty of fun for chocolate lovers of all ages! Brisbane’s annual Easter Egg Hunt Extravaganza features the essential easter egg hunt along with plenty of easter activities including a wonderful selection of activities for families including a petting zoo, face painting and live music. On Easter Sunday The Easter Bunny is set to visit and will be roving every hour with their basket of goodies.

2. Easter Sunday lunch on the River

Enjoy a leisurely Easter lunch paddle-steaming down the river on one of the iconic paddle wheelers with the family. You can also hire a picnic boat from GoBoat Electric Boat Hire and enjoy your own Easter lunch with views of the beautiful Brisbane River and city skyline.

3. The Chocolate Factory Experience

What’s Easter without chocolate?! Excite the kids with a chocolate experience to rival Willy Wonka’s at Brisbane’s The Chocolate Factory Experience – but without the dizzying sugar rush! Here, you can take photos in chocolate-themed rooms including a Gingerbread Land, Cupcake World and Marshmallow Falls. Guests will have chances in each room to earn ingredients through immersive games, while also being able to stop for multiple photo opportunities with their friends and families. The experience concludes with a large free-roam area with a giant cupcake trampoline, a ball pit, and more immersive sweet-related games.

4. Candyland Putt Putt

Each Easter, Victoria Park Putt Putt transforms into an enchanted Candyland with giant donuts, cupcakes and fairy floss trees! Make your way around the fun and colourful course with easter-related decorations and displays and once you’ve finished, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

5. Easter in the City

Every Easter, Brisbane CBD boasts a range of easter-related activities and displays for the whole family. This past Easter 2022, the city put on a bunch of free Easter activities including Dora’s Dance Party, live shows and music, easter egg hunts and visits from the Easter Bunny.

1. Lighting of the Brisbane Christmas Tree

Head to King George Square from 6:30pm on Friday November 25th 2022 for the official lighting of the Brisbane Christmas tree! Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will turn on the 22m-high Christmas tree’s twinkling lights accompanied by special Christmas musical performances to get you in the festive mood. The Brisbane Christmas Tree will be on display from 25 November to 8 January.

2. The Lott by Golden Casket City Hall Lights

Be touched by the spirit of Christmas this year as City Hall becomes immersed in a vibrant visual lighting and audio display. The display will run every 15 minutes from the 9th of December to the 24th of December.

3. Christmas in the Queen Street Mall

Enjoy the magic of Christmas in Queen Street Mall with Christmas on Queen, featuring daily pop-up performances and roaming entertainment throughout the mall. Don’t miss the roving festive fun from 9-24 December.

4. Myer Christmas windows

The annual Myer Christmas window display is always a family favourite. This year Myer celebrates 67 years of Christmas magic, with the enchanting window display alongside Myer Santaland featuring a fun, interactive Christmas-themed playground, locomotive train, letters to Santa and a photo opportunity with Santa himself!

5. The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parkland

Running 25 November – 21 December, the family-friendly lighting trail combines over 8000 square metres of custom-made lighting, audio, special effects and sculptures to deliver a world-class digital art experience in the heart of Brisbane. The installation’s self-guided narrative will take families around 30 minutes to complete, with entry available every 15 minutes from 6:30 pm.

6. The South Bank Christmas Show

The South Bank Christmas Show will combine live music, singing, dancing, circus and Santa for the whole family! Tickets can be purchased online via Oztix, with any remaining tickets available from the Piazza box office outside prior to each show.

7. Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols

The Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols is Brisbane's premier annual Christmas event and returns in 2022 to spread joy to the world with a dazzling evening of high kicks, high notes and hijinks. With Christmas carols from well-known screen and stage performers, the whole family can get into the spirit of Christmas as they sing along to all their favourites with a few seasonal surprises in store.

8. Christmas boat parade

Experience a Christmas lights display like no other when Brisbane’s inaugural Christmas Boat Parade takes to the Brisbane River this festive season. The iconic river lights up as a glittering cavalcade of boats parade down the river at Northshore Brisbane on 18 December. Enjoy the thrill of entertainment on the water and onshore with roving performance artists, live music, carols, markets, photo opportunities and more!

1. The Cube

The Cube is a must visit for young science fans! One of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces, The Cube consists of 48 multi-touch screens soaring across two storeys within the QUT’s Science & Engineering Centre. It’s here that kids can participate in explorative, inspired experiences in what is part science lab, part digital engagement hub.

2. BMX/skate parks

Got a an extreme sports fan? Fortunately, Brisbane is home to some of the best skate parks where kids can let loose and test their skateboarding or BMXing skills or simply watch the pros do it! Bracken Ridge Skate Plaza is considered a ‘must skate’ if you live in the Brisbane area. Covering over 1,000 square metres, the park is covered in fresh smooth concrete that runs almost 100 metres from end to end and features ledges, ramps, rails, bowls, gaps and more. It is also right next door to the Bracken Ridge BMX Track.

3. Riverside Green Playground

Inspired by Neverland, the Riverside Green playground is a state of the art play area that has been designed to cater for a wide range of ages as well as abilities. The playground features all the favourites including swings, slides, climbing nets and a giant hamster wheel. There are also new picnic tables and barbecues, and the lush grassed area and view of the Brisbane River makes this the perfect spot to bring the family for a fun day out.