Brisbane with Kids: 15 Top Things to Do

Author Karen Hastings has explored Brisbane with her two kids on multiple trips from her home on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Straddling the Brisbane River, the sunny capital of Queensland offers an exciting array of things to do for kids of all ages. Best of all, many of the activities are free.

A prime one-stop destination for a family day out in Brisbane is South Bank, on the banks of the Brisbane River. The cultural precinct here is home to the excellent ScienCentre, Queensland Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, and Gallery of Modern Art, with fun exhibits for children and plenty of hands-on activities. Kids can even ride the Wheel of Brisbane here for spectacular views over the city.

Thanks to Brisbane's year-round sunshine and mild subtropical climate, outdoor adventures abound, from kayaking and stand up paddleboarding on the Brisbane River and biking along the waterfront to picnics in one of Brisbane's many lush gardens and parks. You can even take a day trip to beautiful Moreton Island.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the perfect place to get up close to some of Australia's most lovable creatures. And if you're looking for educational experiences, your kids can learn all about one of the oldest cultures on the planet through dance and theatrical performances.

Find more fun family adventures with our list of the top things to do in Brisbane with kids.

1. Cuddle a Koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Has your child ever wanted to cuddle a koala? Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary offers this unforgettable experience, as well as other rewarding animal encounters. About 20 minutes from the city center, Lone Pine is the largest koala sanctuary in the world, with more than 130 of these cute marsupials clinging to the trees in natural settings.

For an extra fee, you can score a one-on-one koala cuddle or hold a snake or a bird of prey, such as an owl or eagle — all with a special photo opportunity. You can even book a platypus encounter. Kids also love hand-feeding the kangaroos, holding baby chickens and guinea pigs in the barnyard, and feeding the wild lorikeets.

More than 90 other species of native Australian wildlife also live at the park, including emus, wallabies, and dingoes, and live shows round out the attractions.

A fun way to arrive here with the kids is aboard the Miramar on a Koala and River Cruise, which leaves from Brisbane's Cultural Centre Pontoon every morning. You can also catch a bus from the city center.

Address: 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland

2. Cruise along the Brisbane River

Sightseeing with kids is fun when you're cruising down the Brisbane River. Snaking through the suburbs and coiling around the CBD, the river hosts several family-friendly cruises. Hop aboard to discover a unique perspective of Brisbane's top tourist attractions and natural features.

A popular option is the 90-minute Brisbane River Sightseeing Cruise. Along the way, you can see landmarks such as Kangaroo Point Cliffs, the Story Bridge, historic buildings, soaring high-rises, and even colonies of fruit bats clustered in the riverbank mangroves.

One of the most popular cruises for kids is the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Cruise. This 5.5-hour cruise departs from Southbank and includes informative narration and entry to the sanctuary.

If you prefer a self-guided tour with a little more flexibility, you can also ride a CityCat and download an audio tour with information on all the sights. A free option is the CityHopper ferry service. These ferries travel along the Brisbane River, stopping at top spots like South Bank 3 and the Maritime Museum. For a more historical feel, kids might also enjoy a cruise up the river on an old paddle wheeler.

3. Ignite Your Imagination at the Sparklab, ScienCentre

Level one of the Queensland Museum in South Bank hosts the SparkLab, ScienCentre, a fun collection of interactive exhibits that keep busy brains buzzing. If you're looking for indoor activities around Brisbane, this should be top on your list.

Children can spend hours here, learning about their body by taking their vital statistics; engaging in activities related to weight, space, time, sound, and energy; figuring out puzzles; and discovering how things work at the action stations.

Bring your camera for fun photos of the kids in the optical illusions corner. Many of the activities are aimed at older children, but little ones will find plenty to keep them busy as well.

You can purchase tickets to the museum on the second floor of the Queensland Museum.

Address: Corner of Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank, South Brisbane, Queensland

4. Hang Out at South Bank

Packed with kid-friendly attractions, South Bank is Brisbane's riverside entertainment precinct. This is a true family favorite. Not only is South Bank home to most of Brisbane's top museums and art galleries, it's also a great place to visit on a hot day or when your little ones need to burn off steam.

When the temperature soars, families make a beeline to the free children's Aquativity water park. It's one of the most popular things to do with kids on a hot day. They can splash in the fountains and play on features themed around the Brisbane River. Looking for some beach action? Head to the man-made lagoon at Streets Beach, where kids can paddle, and mom and dad can bask on the white-sand beach.

For a little dry fun, budding chefs and foodies can sample some fresh-picked fruits, vegetables, and herbs at the Epicurious Garden. And after your little one is hooked on the flavors at this vibrant, edible garden, you can buy some fresh produce to take home with you at the harvest cart on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Better still, take the goodies to Picnic Island Playground. Here, you can relax on the rolling lawns while the kids run wild, soar on the swings, and clamber up the climbing structures.

Wriggly kids also love South Bank's Riverside Green Playground, with slides, a skywalk, and other fun play features.

5. Hunt for Treasure at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha

Take the kids on a treasure hunt at Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha. Water dragons, birds, and native bees are just some of the critters kids might discover along the Hide 'n' Seek Children's Trail in the Exotic Rainforest.

These 128-acre gardens, a few kilometers from the CBD, are a wonderland for budding botanists. Come here to explore beautiful lily ponds, a bonsai house, Japanese gardens, and rustling groves of bamboo. You can also see a fern house, tropical rainforest, Aboriginal plant trail, and plenty of prickly cactus, and kids will love the scented garden.

Pick up the handouts at the entrance for activities to keep the kids entertained while you explore the gardens. Free guided walking tours and minibus tours are available, but everything is well sign posted, so you can take a self-guided tour and identify different species along the way.

After exploring the gardens, relax with a picnic on the sprawling lawn while the kids run wild on the playground. Admission to the botanic gardens is free.

Address: Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland

6. Take a Day Trip to Moreton Island

How about an island adventure for you and the kids? From Brisbane, you can hop on a ferry and bask on the idyllic white-sand beaches of beautiful Moreton Island in just over an hour. This is one of the best family day trips from Brisbane.

Your kids will never be bored here — and neither will you. Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in the world, with a range of exciting adventures both on land and in the sea. Snorkel around the shallow-water Tangalooma wrecks, book a whale-watching cruise, go fishing, paddle around on a sea kayak, or slide down giant sand dunes.

An easy way for a family to get the most out of a visit here is on a Day Cruise to Tangalooma Island Resort. This full-day excursion includes a choice of activities, from a wildlife-spotting cruise to sand tobogganing, snorkeling, and an ATV Quad Bike Tour. In your spare time, you can relax at the resort by the pool.

7. Run Wild at Roma Street Parkland

Want to get the kids' wiggles out? Head to the playgrounds in Roma Street Parkland. Kids can ride the swings, clamber up walls, and zoom down the slides under the shade of towering fig trees.

Replete with water features and winding paths, this picturesque 39-acre city park is the perfect place for a picnic. It also hosts one of the country's finest contemporary display gardens, with vibrant color-themed flower beds and mass plantings of subtropical species such as palms and bamboo. Kids also love the herb and vegetable garden.

Free guided walks are another fun way to learn about the park's history and horticulture. Tell the kids to keep an eye out for water dragons, friendly lizards that dart among the lush foliage.

Address: 1 Parkland Blvd, Brisbane, Queensland

Official site: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/whats-brisbane/events-council-venues/parks-gardens-events/roma-street-parkland-events

8. Ride the Wheel of Brisbane

Kids and adults alike can enjoy spectacular views of the city from the Wheel of Brisbane. Climb aboard this top family friendly attraction in South Bank and peer down at the city from 60 meters in the air. Opened in 2008, this giant wheel takes you on a 10- to 12-minute ride with 360-degree views across the city skyline and the Brisbane River.

Guided narration tells you about the sights far below. Thanks to the fully enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas, even small children can admire the views without being too scared by the heights.

For a fun start to a family night out in Brisbane, you can ride the wheel after dark, when the lights of Brisbane glitter far below.

Address: Cultural Forecourt, The Parklands, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland

9. Discover Dinosaur Skeletons at the Queensland Museum

Dinosaur skeletons, giant squid, fossils, shells, and live stick insects: kids can get up close to these and more at the Queensland Museum in South Bank. The museum unveils the history of Queensland, with exhibits on the state's culture, ecosystems, science, and human achievement. Interactive activities keep little hands busy.

Other favorite exhibits include Lost Creatures, with giant marine reptiles and megafauna; the Discovery Centre; and exhibits on Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Best of all, the permanent exhibitions are free.

Don't miss the ScienCentre on the first floor.

Address: Corner of Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Bank, South Brisbane, Queensland

10. Stargaze at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is a fun place to visit for up-and-coming astronomers and curious kids of all ages. You'll find it on the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha.

The planetarium displays fascinating exhibits. Highlights include a life-size replica of Neil Armstrong's Apollo spacesuit, images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and interactive exhibits of the Milky Way and the moon, among others.

The Cosmic Skydome screens excellent shows on a projection dome measuring 12.5 meters in diameter. Topics include cosmic collisions, moons, and black holes. The presentations usually finish with a guided tour of the Brisbane night sky by an experienced astronomer.

Admission to the planetarium is free, but you need to purchase a ticket for the planetarium shows.

Address: Mount Coot-Tha, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland

11. Create a Masterpiece at QAGOMA Children's Art Centre

Wondering what to do with the little Picassos in your family? At the Children's Art Center in QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art) in South Bank, they can see world-class art and use it as inspiration to create their own masterpieces in an activity center here.

Multi-media activities supervised by experienced artists are themed around the current exhibits, such as Japanese gardens, sculpture, and hat designing.

Artists of all ages can join in the fun activities. These can include everything from creating dance videos to making origami animals and shadow puppets.

Wondering what to do with toddlers in Brisbane? Toddler Tuesday entertains little ones with storytelling and creative games and activities. Even babies from four to twelve months can develop artistic appreciation with Art Starters play sessions.

The activities change every eight weeks, and entry is free.

Address: GOMA Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Queensland

12. Spirits of the Red Sand Experience

Kids will be captivated by the Spirits of the Red Sand Experience. Not only is this superb Indigenous experience entertaining, it's also educational. Through storytelling and dance performances, kids learn about the oldest culture on the planet.

Enhancing these evocative performances is that many of the performers actually experienced some of the events.

You can choose from day or night visits. During the day, you and the kids will enjoy a traditional 1.5-hour Welcome to Country ceremony, with Dreamtime stories and cultural activities. Listen to the thrumming of a didgeridoo; sample some Aussie bush tucker (food); and take part in traditional customs, like boomerang painting.

The Evening Experience is just as evocative. Watch a dance and theatrical performance portraying the culture clash between the Indigenous people and the British, told through the eyes of Aboriginal families. Afterwards, feast on a delicious three-course meal made with Indigenous ingredients.

Address: 205 Main Street, Beenleigh, Queensland

13. Curl up with a Storybook at The Corner

Peek through the glass walls of The Corner, and you'll see happy children working on puzzles, dressing up, playing with puppets, and reading books. This much-loved reading and activity nook lies tucked next to the café at the State Library of Queensland in South Bank.

Brisbane parents and visitors head here to keep their little ones busy — especially on rainy days. It's one of the most popular things to do with toddlers in Brisbane.

This sunken, glass-walled space is jam-packed with books, puzzles, art and craft materials, and dress-ups. The activity themes change every few months and have included everything from Where the Wild Things Are to Outer Space.

Free performances take place here during school holidays, featuring local musicians and actors. The Corner is for kids under eight years. Children must be supervised at all times, but friendly staff are on hand to help and tidy up.

Address: Cultural Precinct, Stanley Place, South Bank, South Brisbane, Queensland

14. Get Outside with Riverlife Adventure Centre

If you're looking for active adventures to keep older kids entertained, the Riverlife Adventure Centre is the ideal Brisbane city destination. Daytime adventures include guided kayak tours on the Brisbane River, stand up paddleboarding, and rock climbing and abseiling at the Kangaroo Point cliffs.

You can also rent scooters, roller blades, and bikes and enjoy a scenic ride on the inner city bikeway. Kids need to be at least eight years old, except for the Segway adventures and nighttime activities, which require a minimum age of 12 years.

You'll find Riverlife Adventure Centre at Kangaroo Point on the Brisbane River in the heart of the city.

Address: Naval Stores, Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, Queensland

15. Bounce on a Trampoline

Kids need to burn energy every day, and one of the best ways to do this is bouncing on a trampoline. Brisbane has two indoor trampoline centers where kids can jump and bounce for hour-long sessions while parents relax in the on-site cafe (or bounce alongside the kids).

About 12 kilometers from the CBD, Bounce, Inc. has more than 50 interconnected trampolines with giant airbags. Add wall-running areas and dodgeball courts to the mix, and you have a rainy day wonderland for wiggly kids aged three and older.

Map of Brisbane with Kids: Top Things to Do

Where to Stay in Brisbane for Sightseeing

Luxury Hotels:

• Perfect for families, Alcyone Hotel Residences at Portside Wharf offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with fully equipped kitchens; a pool; and easy access to restaurants, shops, and the ferry terminal.
• A 10-minute walk from Roma Street Parkland, the boutique The Johnson - Art Series accommodates families in bright, contemporary apartments with colorful abstract art, open-plan layouts, and fully equipped kitchens. An outdoor pool and rental bikes add to the child-friendly amenities.
• Right in the heart of the city, The Westin Brisbane is another top luxury choice.

Mid-Range Hotels:

• For a mid-range, family-friendly stay, you can't beat Meriton Suites Herschel Street, Brisbane. The multi-bedroom apartments are a short walk from South Bank and come with gourmet kitchens, internal laundry facilities, and beautiful views. Kids can splash around in the heated indoor lap pool, and you are right near the Roma Street transit hub.
• A short drive from the CBD, The Milton Brisbane also offers one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchens and laundry facilities, as well as access to an outdoor pool and barbecues.
• The Point Brisbane Hotel scores top points for its convenient location on Kangaroo Point, a free ferry ride from South Bank.

Budget Hotels:

• In a great location with city and river views, Park Regis North Quay Hotel accommodates families in bright, modern apartments a short walk to South Bank.
• If you don't mind motel-style accommodations, the Lancaster Court Motel features sparkling clean rooms with friendly hosts.

Brisbane, Australia - Climate Chart

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

The Best of Brisbane: Looking for other fun things to do in Brisbane? Check out our article on the top tourist attractions in Brisbane, from climbing the Story Bridge to shopping at the Queen Street Mall.

You'll find plenty of rewarding places to visit on day trips from Brisbane as well. See the crocs at Australia Zoo, snorkel around the shallow-water wrecks on Moreton Bay Island, and hike the trails in Springbrook National Park.