The Best Things to Do with Kids in Brisbane...

Most kids can’t wait for their next opportunity to wear themselves out while exploring the world around them. Lucky for parents, Brisbane has a wide range of activities that will keep children entertained, no matter what their age, interests or attention spans – or how deep mum or dad’s pockets may be. From central museums that will expand children’s minds and help them to develop critical thinking skills, to green spaces where they can run wild and connect with Mother Nature, there’s something for every kid to enjoy. Here are the best Brisbane activities for kids.

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Spend the day at South Bank Parklands

Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark

South Bank Parklands, Downtown Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Hugging the south bank of the Brisbane River, South Bank Parklands encompasses 17ha (42 acres) of lush parklands housing several kids’ playgrounds and aqua spaces including Streets Beach, Australia’s only inner-city, man-made beach. Patrolled by lifeguards year round it’s perfect for families keen to cool off during Brisbane’s hot summers. Pack a picnic or feed the family at one of South Bank’s many restaurants. Not far from Streets Beach, kids can also discover exotic plants and fragrant herbs and learn about inner-city gardening at South Bank’s tranquil Epicurious Garden.

Marvel at dinosaur bones at the Queensland Museum

Museum

Part of the collection of arts institutions known as Queensland Cultural Centre, just north of South Bank, the free Queensland Museum invites kids to learn about Australia’s native flora and fauna, get up close to dinosaur bones and even take part in interactive displays and experiments at the SparkLab science centre, which forms part of the museum. Children’s activities and interactions feature throughout the museum’s five floors of exhibitions, with plenty of other kids’ events scheduled on the calendar.

Make dinnertime fun at Eat Street Northshore

Market, Asian

A bustling Asian-style night market by Hamilton Wharf, Eat Street Northshore makes dinnertime a blast for kids of all ages. Open on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4pm, and on Sundays from noon until 8pm, the market boasts 180 dining and entertainment shipping containers to choose from, with plenty of exotic dishes from around the world to tempt even the fussiest of eaters. Don’t forget to bring some cash, as entry is 3 Australian dollars (£1.66) and some stalls don’t accept cards.

Get back to nature at Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Park

Australia, Queensland, Brisbane, Central business, District, CBD, City Botanic Gardens, skyline, skyscrapers, buildings, trees, student students educa

Pack a picnic lunch and let your kids run wild at Brisbane’s premier botanic gardens at the base of Mt Coo-tha. Among its incredible array of plants and attractions is the Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail set in the heart of the shady Exotic Rainforest, with a map for kids to follow to ensure they spot all the surprises and amazing plant facts. Kids will also love getting steamy in the Tropical Display Dome, and smelling the flowers in the Fragrant Garden. Brisbane City Council’s Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is located in the gardens, with a good handful of shows designed especially for kids. Entry is free, but you’ll need to book show tickets.

Get creative at the Ipswich Art Gallery

Art Gallery

The first art gallery in Australia to create a permanent, dedicated gallery space for children, Ipswich Art Gallery was founded on the principle that learning starts with interactive play. The gallery’s rolling exhibitions and activities for children involve exploring interactive spaces and getting hands-on by creating art or testing their problem-solving skills on kid-friendly building projects such as constructing a ball run. If you have any Thomas the Tank Engine fans in tow, stop by the multi-award-winning Workshops Rail Museum while you’re in Ipswich.

Learn about native wildlife at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Zoo

Female keeper holding koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane,Queensland,Australia

Watch koalas doze in gumtrees, hand feed kangaroos and eyeball an endangered cassowary at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, a wildlife refuge tucked up alongside the Brisbane River in Fig Tree Pocket, southwest of the city centre. Time your visit right to catch keeper talks held throughout the day, or simply enjoy exploring the Aussie wildlife and barnyard animal enclosures at your family’s pace. While it’s possible to pay extra to cuddle a koala, the sanctuary offers a valuable opportunity for parents to teach kids about the value of admiring wildlife from a distance.

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

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Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.