As joyful as it is to have the kids around, it can quickly turn exhausting if you can’t find ways to entertain them or run out their seemingly endless battery. But don’t worry, thanks to Brisbane Festival and to all the cool events happening constantly in our city, we have plenty of ideas for you, some of them even free!
Have a magical winter at Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience
Attention all witches, wizards, Muggles and even Squibs! Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience, the immersive woodland trail, inspired by the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts™ films, which invites you to explore the depths of a forest filled with wonder and surprise has extended its sessions until October 5th, so this is your chance to snag a spot!
💲Tickets for adults start at $48, kids start at $34, and group tickets at $31, depending on the session.
📍Sirromet Winery, 850-938 Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton
Take a mind-blowing look at the human body at BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness
BODY WORLDS is a stunning anatomical exhibition that unveils the inner workings of the human body. Through the revolutionary technique of plastination, real bodies are preserved in lifelike detail, showcasing the complexity and wonder of our anatomy. Plus, one of the most fascinating and emotionally resonant themes explored in this edition of BODY WORLDS is the powerful connection between happiness and health. You’ll discover how emotions aren’t just abstract feelings—we physically carry them in our bodies. The exhibition takes you on a journey through the science of joy, revealing how happiness can affect our brain chemistry, boost our immune system, reduce stress hormones, and even improve heart health. Get your tickets here.
💲Tickets start at $20.00
📍91 Queen Street, Brisbane City, 4000
Break into fun at Prison Island
After thrilling crowds in Melbourne, Prison Island, the escape room-meets-arcade, has arrived in Queensland. And trust us, this is not your average immersive experience. It’s bigger, bolder, and bursting with challenges that will test your brains, brawn, and team spirit. If you’ve ever watched The Crystal Maze or Legends of the Hidden Temple and thought, “I could crush that,” then it’s time to prove it. Get your team ready, limber up your puzzle-solving brain, and prepare to enter a purpose-built indoor adventure world like nothing else in the city.
Run around at these playgrounds and water parks
With beautiful nature all around you in Brisbane, it’s easier than you might think to find free ways to keep the younger ones entertained! Lively spots like Rocks Riverside Park have something for everyone, from basketball courts and picnic tables to water play areas, so the whole family can enjoy a sunny day together this summer! See all the parks waiting for you to discover them here!
💲Free!
📍531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Stargaze 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.
💲Free, but charges apply for shows in the Cosmic Skydome
📍Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Mount Coot-Tha
Get drawn into Bluey’s World
Can’t wait to see Bluey on the big screen? Let the one-of-a-kind immersive experience of Bluey’s World, recently named one of the top places in the world, tide you over until then! Based on the hit TV show, the attraction is decked out with a recreation of the iconic Heeler Queenslander home, where you can walk around and interact with life-size sets of Bluey and Bingo’s playroom and bedroom, the family lounge room, as well as the backyard with the poinciana tree in it. Get your tickets for the perfect outing for the whole family!
💲Tickets start at $49.90
📍Northshore Pavilion, 281 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton
Light up at Afterglow
Get ready to be captivated by the dreamscape of flickering flames and dancing shadows that is Afterglow until September 27. Live performances will bring the nocturnal wonderland to life along a 1.4km fire trail lined with world renowned fire artists and animated by a carefully curated ambient soundtrack that’ll spark wonder, reflection, and awe in the whole family.
Book your spots here!
💲 $26-$32 per adult, $20-$26 per child, $88-$112 per family
📍City Botanic Gardens, 147 Alice St, Brisbane CBD
Show off your moves at The People’s Dancefloor
Common People Dance Project is putting on the ultimate immersive dance party! From September 20 until October 6, The People’s Dancefloor Workshops for all ages will see twirling toddlers and grooving grandparents tearing up the dance floor, learning fun and easy-to-follow moves that guarantee a good time for all!
💲Free!
📍Museum of Brisbane, Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide St, Brisbane CBD
Redefine cool with Elements of Freestyle
If your young ones are not that young (ages 12 and up), Elements of Freestyle sets the stage for Dutch ISH Dance Collective to put on an extreme, adrenaline-fuelled dance show from September 24 to 27 that young and not-so-young won’t forget any time soon.
Fusing breakdance, inline skating, skateboarding, freestyle basketball, BMX and freerunning in a breathtaking display of athleticism and artistry, the show will leave your heart pounding and your eyes wide open! Grab your tickets here.
💲$79 per adult, $59 per child
📍Brisbane Powerhouse, Yuggera and Turrbal Country, 119 Lamington St, New Farm
Cuddle at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
If your little one(s) loves animals, a visit to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a must! The lush Sanctuary offers the chance to get up close to koalas, kangaroos and watch platypus, sheepdogs, and birds of prey in action. There are even specialised holiday programs which let kids of all ages learn how to care for some of their adorable critters! Check them out here.
💲$35 to $150, depending on program
📍708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket
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Feel the awe with Skylore — Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale
One of Brisbane Festival’s most anticipated highlights, Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale will illuminate Brisbane’s skyline every evening from September 25 to September 27, with hundreds of drones soaring above the River and lighting it up. This powerful story of Culture, Country, and connection to place, with original composition by Guy Webster will make for a lasting memory no matter your age!
💲Free, with some ticketed options.
Sail on a Sea of Light
Queensland Museum Kurilpa will be home to this immersive exhibition made with young ones in mind from September 20 to October 5, where you can explore artworks by Aboriginal Contemporary Visual Artist Elizabeth Close painted in light across the sea floor, paired with a gentle soundscape, which creates a unique adventure for the whole family.
Get your tickets here!
💲$35 per child, accompanying adult gets in for free, $20 per extra adult
📍Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Corner of Grey and Melbourne St, South Brisbane
Dance to The Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country
From September 25 to October 4, the beloved Bagarra Dance Theatre presents a moving blend of storytelling, shadow puppetry, dance and song aimed at kids of around 4 to 12, but will undoubtedly entertain audiences of all ages. Follow a brother and sister whose Nan promises to tell them a story into an extraordinary dream world where the past speaks through stars, trees, grasses and even the smallest creatures.
Get your tickets here!
💲$35
📍QPAC, Cultural Precinct, Corner Grey and Melbourne St, South Brisbane
Unleash their imagination at the library
If you’ve got young intellectuals on your hands, one of Brisbane’s many wonderful libraries may be the place to be! From picture books to YA, you’ll easily find age-appropriate options for the whole family. Plus, if having a vast number of literary worlds at your fingertips wasn’t enough, local libraries also offer many other fun activities, such as book clubs, reading programs, writing workshops and even trivia. Check out all your local libraries here!
💲Free!