School is out for the summer and that means kids are going to be entertained or they’re going to be bored. Thankfully, there are plenty of family-friendly activities and events popping up, from free to low-cost to some that although a little more pricey will definitely amuse, delight and hold their attention until it’s all over and school is back in session.
1. Blast off to Neighbourhood Earth
Developed in partnership with NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Space and Rocket Center, Neighbourhood Earth has the interactive activities, out-of-this-world cinema experience and collection of super-cool space stuff to entertain both young children, older kids and curious parents throughout the remainder of the school holidays.
From a descent into Jupiter’s great red spot to manning the controls for re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, there’s plenty to capture your imagination at QueensPlaza. The stellar exhibit is on now and children’s tickets are only $17.
However, you can use the code Earth20 for a 20% discount, redeemable for 24 hours on Sunday 1 January.
See Also: Give The Gift Of Good Times And Save On Refunds
2. Throw paint at Brisbane’s first splatter room
Located just 40 minutes south of Brisbane, the paint-filled room is housed inside DIY Invasion, an art workshop hub with a whole lot of offerings. There are a number of art workshops, especially for kids now that the school holidays are in full swing, and include two and four-hour kid art workshops as well as family packages so everyone can get messy with paint.
3. Play Moves at Brisbane Museum
Featuring six interactive experiences, viewers at Play Moves can engage with art through touch and immersion this summer at Brisbane Museum. On now and open daily from 10-5pm, the exhibition is a must for the curious, which children are by far the most curious of us all.
“Play Moves places you at the heart of creative expression and cultural exchange by transforming you from spectator to contributor, inviting you to connect and learn from those around you ” says the Museum of Brisbane’s director, Renai Grace. “It’s a dynamic space that
can be visited multiple times to watch the exhibition change and grow over time.”
4. Enter Imaginaria
Explore the hour-long journey through light, sound and scent that is Imaginaria, which is part game, part gallery, and part adventure. Visitors not only walk through but also interact with what’s going on inside, but how you interact with what’s going on is all up to you.
The experience has proven to be so popular that it’s sticking around until February.
5. Cuddle a rescued deer
Just thirty minutes north of Brisbane, Lyell Deer Sanctuary is a family-run animal rescue service, home to not only deer but also goats, cows, chickens, guinea pigs, peacocks and more. It’s usually open on the weekends, which is great to know and give the kids something to look forward to.
6. Or, picnic with an Alpaca
A little farther away, but after a beautiful drive, the Mountview Alpaca Farm in the Scenic Rim offers up alpaca experiences that are extremely popular because why wouldn’t you want to picnic with an alpaca? Ed Sheeran, Pancake, Snowball, Tim Tam, and Peanut—yes, they have names—are so friendly that you can get up close. The bonus is that they’ve been trained as therapy animals, so they’re really good at peace and relaxation.
7. Go putt putt
The Christmas Putt Putt at Victoria Park sees Santa and his reindeer on full display as well as the gingerbread man, a candy cane garden and more snow-covered Christmas trees than you can count. And, it’s on until January 3. After that, it’s a return to the norm, which is still plenty of fun.
8. Eat pancakes
South Bank is a great place to spend time in the summer, but this summer it’s even greater because Kumokumo has set up a pop-up and we’re all for it (and we reckon kids and parents are as well). Turn up and dig into the signature souffle pancake varieties such as Black Sugar Boba, creme brulee, Biscoffee, a honey and butter number, as well as the Uji Matcha, which is topped with matcha cream and a red bean paste.
9. See the stars at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Super close to the city centre, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt Coot-tha has got entertaining and informative shows for everyone. From Perfect Little Planet where kids can view the solar system through the eyes of an alien family to Cosmic Collision, there’s a lot to see, learn and be amazed by. Best of all, tickets start at only $6.00.
10. Burn energy at Urban Xtreme
Pent up energy needs to be released and that’s exactly what Urban Xtreme is for, especially on the school holidays with all of their special deals, supervised school holiday programs, workshops and sports camps for kids. School holiday activities run Monday to Friday between 9am – 4.30pm, so for those parents that can’t get off work…
Check out everything you need to know about Urban Xtreme here.11. Experience the Magic of Disney
Closing on January 22, ‘Disney: The Magic Of Animation’ features over 500 original artworks, from Steamboat Willie of 1928 to more recent animated delights such as Moana.
12. Do the Monster Jump & Splash
From January 8 to January 22, Sandstone Point Hotel is going to be home to heaps of little bodies doing the monster jump and splash. Or, at least trying to because the obstacle course is no easy thing to finish. However, it is a heap of fun when the sun is out because there are waterslides as well.
Get all the Monster Jump & Splash details here.13. Touch The Cube
Kids love to get their hands on things, reach out and touch the world around them. Well, QUT’s The Cube is the perfect place for them to do just that. As one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning and display spaces, there are 48 multi-touch screens across two storeys in QUT’s Science and Engineering Centre that everybody gets to explore. Although currently closed, The Cube reopens on 10 January.