As any parent will be able to tell you, finding ways to keep your little ones occupied can be a lengthy task. Thankfully though, Brisbane and its surrounds are home to all manner of activities and experiences that even the toughest little critics will love – and here are some of the best.
1. Dopamine Land
Explore Dopamine Land, an immersive journey set across 10 distinctively themed rooms. The experience uses all four senses to create a space of fun and playfulness. Traverse through a luminous forest, inhaling the fragrance of fresh pine needles, or venture into a ball pit with retro disco tunes. Secure your spot here!
Price: $21 – 28 per person.
📍Uptown, 91 Queen St, Brisbane CBD
2. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq
Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq doubles as both a circus-themed arcade and bar – in other words, it’s perfect for kids, teens and adults, with more than enough activities for an enjoyable time.
The dazzling Bowen Hills space features plenty of old-school arcade games such as Mario Kart, Hungry Hungry Hippo and Connect 4 Hoops, as well as ten-pin bowling lanes, karaoke, virtual reality experiences, party rooms and more.
Price: $30 for arcade games, $12 for bowling.
📍3/30 King Street, Bowen Hills
3. Micro Museum
If there’s one thing kids — and some adults — have a hard time with, it’s “Do not touch” signs at museums. This will not be a problem at Museum of Brisbane’s brand-new Micro Museum, which is now open, just ahead of the school holidays! It’ll be a permanent addition to MoB, offering year-round immersive and interactive entertainment as well as special activities.
Mini curators will be allowed to select, arrange and present their own collections from a huge range of vintage treasures inspired by the upcoming Precious exhibition at MoB, which will feature collector’s pieces relating to Brisbane or Brisbanites.
Price: Free!
📍Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide St, Brisbane CBD
4. 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.
Price: $35 to $150, depending on program
📍708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket
SEE MORE: Get Your Cuteness Fix With This Adorable Koala Live Cam
5. Croc Express to Australia Zoo from Brisbane HB7
For the more daring little ones, you can dive into the wild at Australia Zoo, and witness the iconic Wildlife Warriors show for some croc-snapping action and get up close with all kinds of exotic animals! And once you’ve had enough zoo action you can cool off at The Laughing Frog Water Park and keep the fun going. Hunt down your tickets on Fever!
Price: $105 per child, $155 per adult
📍Pick-up and drop-off at Sebel Hotel Brisbane, Corner Albert and Charlotte St, Brisbane CBD
6. Kids Cooking Classes
If you’ve got a culinary enthusiast at home, you can enrol them in cooking classes here in Brisbane. Karen Browne at Come and Cook offers classes for kids and teens, where they develop hands-on skills in a fun and friendly environment.
The classes take place in Come and Cook’s purpose-built kitchen at The Gap. Book a spot here.
Price: from $72 per class.
📍11 Grenoble Street, The Gap
7. Chocolate Elements
Chocolate Elements, the beloved South Bank chocolatier, regularly hosts chocolate-making classes so you can learn how to make and decorate your own sweet treats! And although they’re almost too cute too eat, we guarantee you won’t be able to resist your creations. Check them out here.
📍Ground Floor, 99 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane
SEE MORE: Our Guide To The Hopping Good Easter Treats And Events In Brisbane
8. BrickResales
If you’re looking for somewhere to take your LEGO-loving kids on a rainy day over the holidays, be sure to check out BrickResales, which is home to Brisbane’s first and largest showroom of pre-loved LEGO.
Little builders can dig through the many tubs of pre-loved and brand-new LEGO, and also look at some awesome LEGO displays.
Price: free!
📍Building 1B/836 Boundary Road, Coopers Plains
9. Candlelight concerts
Who says kids can’t discover legendary music from a young age? At Candlelight, everyone (8 years or older) is welcome to take a seat and hear some of the greatest songs and classical compositions of all time reimagined by skilled musicians at spectacular venues, such as St. John’s Cathedral. And with a variety of programmes to choose from, such as Taylor’s pop hits and magical film soundtracks, there’s something for everyone, young and old. Get in the spirit and book your tickets for the Halloween edition here!
Price: from about $28
10. Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s beautiful flora comes alive as the stars come out thanks to Astra Lumina, its newest immersive installation. This luminous adventure will immerse you in the magic of light and projection with a moving soundscape, set against the enchanting backdrop of Australian bushland.
Read all about it and get your tickets here.
📍28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
11. Area 51
They’ve got the energy for it, so why not let the kids run around at Area 51, a space of this world? High ropes, trampolines, mega slides, and more, it is every kid’s dream in this alien-themed play centre. But don’t worry, it’s not just for kids! There’s an Alien Bar for parents to relax while they keep an eye on the youngsters and every so often they also host Adults Only Night. Go back to childhood and book all tickets here.
Price: from $15.
📍51 Kingston Road, Underwood, Brisbane
12. Bray Farm Park
If you’ve signed up for the waitlist for the much-anticipated Harry Potter™: A Forbidden Forest Experience but your little ones can’t wait to have a magical time, this spellbinding park might just be enough to keep them entertained in the meantime.
Price: Free!
📍Bray Farm Park, Rivermint St, Griffin
Other Magical Places And Events In Brisbane To Get Your Harry Potter Fix
13. Flipside Circus
Soar through the skies or learn how to juggle, with classes from 18 months to 101 years old, Flipside Circus will turn the whole family into acrobats — at least for the day! Introduce your kids to skills like tumbling and aerials, and find whatever suits them best through a free trial.
Price: free trial!
📍Brisbane Circus Centre at Northshore, 221 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton
14. 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 during the holidays! See all the parks waiting for you to discover them here!
Price: free!
📍531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Rd, Seventeen Mile Rocks
15. Bluey’s World
Recently named one of the top places in the world, the much-anticipated immersive experience Bluey’s World is a must-visit. 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!
Price: $49.90
📍Northshore Pavilion, 281 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton
16. Libraries
It’s never too early to turn your kids into bookworms! 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!
Price: Free!
17. Hijinx Hotel
Hijinx Hotel is an immersive entertainment space comprising of challenge rooms, making it a perfect activity in Brisbane for kids.
Each of the eccentric and wild escape rooms is designed for a physical or mental challenge, plenty of games to test your skills. The rooms are designed for both kids and adults too. Find out their secrets here.
Price: from $20.
📍Various locations
18. Victoria Park Putt Putt
A colourful, whimsical world awaits at Victoria Park’s 18-hole mini golf course, which will take you on a pastel-hued journey of fun competition. Create memories as sweet as cotton candy and all the seasonal Easter goodies until May 5.
Price: $14 to $20
📍Victoria Park, 309 Herston Rd, Herston
SEE MORE: The Most Whimsically Fun Mini Golf Courses In Brisbane
19. DIY Invasion
Embrace the messiness of life and de-stress all at once at Splatter and Splash Room. Housed inside DIY Invasion, an art workshop hub just 40 minutes south of Brisbane, this colourful space allows you to choose your own background tunes so you can hurl paint bombs at your loved ones to the perfect soundtrack and revel in the chaos. Get the fun started here!
Price: from $40.
📍Shop 4/2 Christensen Rd, Stapylton
20. Lyell Deer Sanctuary
Tucked away in a serene hideaway just thirty minutes north of Brisbane, Lyell Deer Sanctuary is the perfect spot to get up close and personal with adorable rescue deer of all sorts, from red and rusa to fallow deer.
The sanctuary, usually open to the public on weekends, is a family-run animal rescue service, home to not only deer but also goats, cows, chickens, guinea pigs, peacocks and more.
Price: from $3.
📍6 Lyell Court, Mount Samson
21. Gold Coast Aqua Park Oxenford
Tire out your little balls of energy with a 100-minute session at Gold Coast Aqua Park at Oxenford. After jumping, climbing, and sliding their way through inflatable obstacles, bedtime should be no problem! Enjoy the thrill with them without worries, as lifejackets are provided for safety — although comfortable swimming ability is required. Start the holidays off with a splash by getting your tickets here!
Price: $35 per person
📍34 Maudsland Rd, Oxenford
22. Mountview Alpaca Farm
Located just an hour north/south/west of Brisbane at O’Reilly’s Canungra Valley Vineyards, Mountview Alpaca Farm is home to herd of alpacas so friendly that you can get up close and personal to them.
As for the encounters, you can choose between 15, 30, or 60 minutes of quality time with an alpaca of choice. You’ll take a stroll around the farm with your new furry friend, feeding them along the way. Get your tickets here.
Price: from $24.
📍852 Lamington National Park Rd, Canungra
23. Dinosaurs Unearthed
If you’re looking for something free and fun to do with the kids, Queensland Museum has a permanent gallery dedicated to dinosaurs.
Learn more about prehistoric times through geological treasures, cutting-edge paleo technology and ground-breaking research from the museum’s scientists.
You’ll also get to discover Queensland’s own dinosaurs, giant marine reptiles, supersized megafauna, and more.
Price: free!
📍Queensland Museum, Corner of Grey and, Melbourne St, South Brisbane
24. Local Markets
Brissy has so many cool markets to choose from including Redacliffe Markets every Wednesday — featuring a new expansion into Queen Street Mall — Cathedral Square Markets on Thursdays, Carseldine Markets on Saturdays, as well as Milton Markets and Nundah Markets on Sundays. With stalls upon stalls of unique handmade goodies and mouth-watering eats, there’s enough to keep the whole family entertained!
25. Dig IT
Dig IT, Australia’s first ever mini-excavator park at Tamborine Mountain is hosting an egg-scavating from April 5 to April 21! Trade in you Easter basket for buckets, hard hats, and high-vis vests for an egg hunt adventure like no other. Little ones can dig, drive, demolish, and discover hidden Easter surprises in an outdoor setting for holiday fun that’s out of the ordinary!
Dig it? Get your tickets here!
Price: $65 for 2 hours
📍Thunderbird Park, Corner Cedar Creek Falls Rd, Tamborine Mountain