Brisbane is a Queensland gem, and offers everything that's great about Australia. Pristine beaches. incredible food, and a host of fun things to do with the family - from museums, to wildlife, and attractions for those nature loving families!
It's because of this we're excited to share with you our Brisbane City Guide featuring our "Top 9 Family Attractions", which are really just the tip of the iceberg in what you can find in this beautiful Australian city!
So make sure check out the entire Brisbane City Guide which we've put together just for you, so you know just how to plan your exciting family day out in this Queensland favourite!
Main Photo by Steven Pahel on Unsplash
Photo by Brisbane Local Marketing on Unsplash
In this Brisbane City Guide, we list our top 9 things to do with kids in this vibrant city, as well as some really fun experiences to bring out the child in everyone!
We know budgets are often a factor when travelling with kids, so also in this Brisbane City Guide we share some FREE admission attractions perfect for kids that won't break your bank account!
Getting around Brisbane without a car is really easy, so we list some tips on getting around the city on public transport without any hassle. You'll also find some fun facts about Brisbane which might just surprise you!
If you want to explore a bit further afield for a day, our Brisbane City Guide outlines one of our favourite day trips plus you'll discover some famous faces born right in the city!
So whether this is your first trip saying "Yes, take me to Brisbane" or perhaps you've lived in the city your whole life yet you never took the time to explore and you wonder "What is there is to do near me in Brisbane?", keep reading because we have the top 9 things to do in Brisbane with kids...and so much more!
Photo by Manny Moreno on Unsplash
The recorded history of Brisbane begins in 1799, when explorer Matthew Flinders landed in the area. Prior to this, the region had long been called hom by the aboriginal tribes of the Yugara and Turrbal.
Did you know that Brisbane was initially created as a penal colony for any convicts that were sent from Sydney? It did! However this changed in 1838 when the region proved too good for fishing, timbering, and farming - to name a few.
A now free settlement, in 1859 the then town of Brisbane became a muncipality and went on to become a metropolitan area in 1929.
Named after the Governor of New South Wales between 1773 and 1860 - Sir Thomas Brisbane - Brisbane was also where celebrations occured following the 1901 formation of the Federation of Australia.
Later, Brisbane strugged post World War II yet bounced back to become the amazing city you see today. The city hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982, as well as the World's Fair in 1988.
The city is also due to host the Summer Olympics in 2032!
With so much fascianting history, natural beauty and exciting energy, Brisbane is ready and waiting for families just like yours to enjoy it!
Photo by Tim Patch on Unsplash
From museums to wildlife, parks and adventure, Brisbane has everything you could want (and more!) in a fun family day out for all ages. Your biggest question will be where to begin!
It's no secret that Australia has incredible wildlife, so why not explore places such as the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can come face to face with those adorable Aussie creatures AND help support the species?
Feeling adventurous? Why not take a climb on Story Bridge and enjoy breathtaking views of the city, or perhaps it's a spin on the Wheel of Brisbane that calls you?
Love learning? Head on over to one of the city's many museum, including the Queensland Maritime Museum and the Museum of Brisbane!
With all of those plus planetariums, art galleries, nature and indoor play just some of the other fun things to do with kids in Brisbane, , you'll soon have that family itinerary filling up!
Now kids, which activity will you enjoy first?
Photo by ZACHARY STAINES on Unsplash
Getting around Brisbane without a car is super easy, and actually enjoyable as you get to really delve deep into what makes the city so special!
If you find youreselves without a car, the metropolitan area really does have a great range of options for you, from public transport, to cycling and of course, walking!
The city of Brisbane has an extensive system of buses, trains and ferries which really make their public transportation system stand out.
If you're thinking of utilising the public transportation, just pick up a TransLink Go Card, or if you prefer you can also grab pre-paid paper tickets at stations and fare machines before boarding.
For those cycling enthusiasts, the CityLink Cycleway offers numerous protected bike lanes throughout the heart of the city so you won't have any issues cycling your way in style AND knowing your family is safe. There are a number of shared e-bikes and e-scooters available around the city too.
Another great way to get to the sights and attractions is a river cruise!
River City Cruises offers daily sightseeing cruises along the Brisbane River, and then you have Mirimar Cruises that runs Koala and Brisbane River Cruises which also include a visit to nearby Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (which is one of our Top 9 things to do in Brisbane!)
You can't miss Brisbane's iconic landmark located on South Bank - The Wheel of Brisbane! This exciting attraction rises 60m above ground, and is a great way for a family to have an amazing time (in the safety and comfort of an enclosed air conditioned gondola) AND see breathtaking views of the city below!
You can indulge in one of the best seats in the house if you time your experience during Brisbane’s most iconic events, including fireworks! They also offer school groups and birthday parties. A super fun experience for families in Brisbane!
Photo by Alice Duffield on Unsplash
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an amazing place to visit with the family! What started out nearly 100 years ago with only 2 koalas, has grown into a beautiful home for over 130 of these adorable and iconicly Australian creatures.
Kids can not only come face to face with the beautiful "drop bears", but also a host of other Australian wildlife that we all know and love! Plus they offer a number of photo opportunities and additional wildlife experiences too! Discover what makes the Australian wildlife so special and unique at the world's first and largest koala sanctuary.
Image Credit: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
A visit to the iconic Queensland Maritime Museum will see you visit the LARGEST maritime museum in the whole of Australia - how cool is that!? At the Queensland Maritime Museum (or QMM), the whole family can hear stories of historic vessels, and being so child and family friendly you'll be sure to have a great time no matter what age!
Children especially enjoy spending some time exploring the QMM's BIG exhibits such as the warship Diamantina and the lugger Penguin, plus there is plenty to learn on a number of topics including Queensland's naval history, history of steam power, and even model ships to marvel at - plus so much more!
Image Credit: Queensland Maritime Museum
The Story Bridge is Brisbane’s most iconic structure, and now you can enjoy a unique perspective of it - from the top! The Story Bridge Adventure Climb Experience offers an incredibly different perspective of the city and its surrounds. You can spot the Glass House Mountains in the north, right through to Moreton Bay in the east and even towards the Scenic Rim Mountains in the south. That's not even mentioning the best views of the Brisbane skyline you will see!
As one of only 3 bridge climbs in the world, Story Bridge Adventure Climb offers an original adventure with varying experiences. You can enjoy a Twilight Climb (which is the most popular), Night Climb, Dawn Climb & more!
Image Credit: Story Bridge Adventure Climb
A great historic day out in Brisbane at Fort Lytton Naitonal Park! Fort Lytton is an important historic site that was built back in 1881 and used for the defence of the city until the end of WWII.
This pentagonal fortress is a classic example of a coastal fortress that was once surrounded by a water-filled moat, with concealed behind grassy ramparts that were connected by underground passages. Free admission and guided tours on Sundays! Weekdays require pre-booking.
Image Credit: Queensland Government / Fort Lytton
About an hour north of Brisbane City centre you can find the animal-tastic White Ridge Farm! Here, the whole family can enjoy an interactive day with adorable animals including rabbits, llamas, alpacas, goats and more!
Included in your ticket you can also enjoy putt putt golf perfect for all ages, plus playgrounds too! With hay rides, farm tours and birthday parties, White Ridge Farm is a classic family farm fun experience complete with souvenier shop, cafe & accessible features too!
Image Credit: White Ridge Farm
The fascinating Queensland Museum tells the ever changing story of this beautiful Australian state, offering educational experiences for families in natural history, cultural heritage, science, and human achievement!
You can marvel at the natural collections featuring thousands of incredible specimens, learn the history and cultures of First Nations Queensland Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, World Cultures and Pacific peoples, or ignite those imaginations in hands-on SparkLab!
Image Credit: Queensland Museum
Riverlife Adventure Centre offers tours for four unique adventures perfect for your next family day out! For those over 8 years, why not take to the waters on the kayaks, or scale new heights with the rock climbing? What goes up, must come down - so why not try your hand at abseiling too! You don't need any prior experience, because Riverlife Adventure Centre have a team of experts to help you throughout your day.
For those under 8 years, you can enjoy a tactical and active day during a laser tag session! The sessions are in 30 or 45 minute blocks, and make for an exciting way to use those minds to out smart and out shoot opponents!
Image Credit: Riverlife Adventure Centre
BlackCard Cultural Tours allows children and families to learn all about Aboriginal history, traditions and culture within Brisbane City (also known as Meeanjin!). The whole family can walk the footsteps of the Turrbal people and their ancestors, along with your Aboriginal guide.
Kids can learn all about Aboriginal art within the city, and even learn about ancient knowledge that has been passed down across generations. Also a highlight is witnessing meangful cultural performances. Delve beneath the modern city and uncover a warm, culturally inclusive and truly authentic welcome to the city of Brisbane! BlackCard offer multiple tour options so you can find what's perfect for you.
Image Credit: BlackCard
Did you know that Area 51 is not just the largest indoor family entertainment center in Brisbane, or Queensland - but it's the largest indoor family entertainment center in the whole of Australia! There is SO much for all ages to enjoy, with age appropriate activities for 1 year olds to adults only evenings.
Climbing walls, sports, playgrounds, even yoga, pizza making classes and plenty of inflatable fun that could entertain even the most active kids for hours! A great place to spend the day playing plus birthday parties too!
Image Credit: Area 51
Famous Brisbanites!
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Kingsford Smith was an Australian aviator pioneer, who piloted the first transpacific flight between New Zealand & Australia.
Sydney's major airport is named Kingsford Smith International Airport in his honour.
Image Credit: Public Domain
Darren Hayes
Darren Hayes is an Australian singer songwriter, most notably the frontman of Savage Garden.
Their hits include I Want You and Truly Madly Deeply
Image Credit: Public Domain
5 Fun Brisbane Facts
Impress your friends with you amazing Brisbane knowledge!
- If you love the sun, Brisbane might just be for you! The city enjoys a whopping 283 days of sun on average every year!
- The city prides itself on its nickname: Brissie or Brizzie! Australians do love their slang! You might even find some of the local shops have adopted this nickname too!
- The iconic Lamington was created in Brisbane! It's thought to have been named after Lord Lamington, or his wife.
- Today Queen Street is a shopping mecca, but for 3 years in the 1800s it was actually the location of a convict barracks.
- The largest city hall in the whole of Australia is Brisbane City Hall! You can thank the Clock Tower for this record, as it stands at a huge 92m high!
Free Things To do Brisbane
Roma Street Parkland
Set across 16 hectares, Roma Street Parkland is a beautiful way to spend the day with the family in nature! You can enjoy picnics with the free barbeques at your disposal, there is a host of gardens and lush green space, plus a beautiful rainforest walk!
Don't miss areas such as the Spectacle Garden in Colin Campbell Place - a world-class garden showcasing colourful & unique subtropical foliage plus beautiful flowering plants. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might even see some unique wildlife soaking up the sun!
Image Credit: Roma Street Parkland
Museum of Brisbane
The Museum of Brisbane is a great free admission experience where you can find exhibits that tell stories of the ever evolving city of Brisbane, as well as its histories and contemporary cultures, all located within the iconic Brisbane City Hall.
This family friendly museum celebrates creativity as well as those who changed history, whilst reflecting the city's people and passions, and ever-evolving cultures. It's fun and fascinting place where familes can experience the city’s vibrant culture, and be inspired!
Image Credit: Museum of Brisbane
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha are Queensland's premier subtropical botanic gardens, and are a beautiful way to spend the day with the family! The Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre offers information on the botanic gardens themselves along with its attractions, including what you can discover within this living museum of native and exotic plant collections!
Kids can explore the fragrant garden, as well as the bamboo grove, and arid zone. Always popular with visitors is the Japanese Gardens, as are the waterfalls, tropical dome PLUS the largest collection of Australian native rainforest trees in the entire world!
Image Credit: Brisbane Botanic Gardens / Brisbane City Council
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art are 2 very fascinating galleries located only 150m apart in the Queensland Cultural Centre and allow families to be inspired by art, culture, traditions and imagination. The galleries are collectively known as QAGOMA, and it's here you can discover one of the country's most popular, ambitious and dynamic galleries
The free admission Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) allow kids to experience a host of art in all forms, and also at the GOMA, you'll find the Children's Art Centre that focuses on showcasing interactive artworks for kids and families, and a cinema that celebrates film from around the world!
Image Credit: Queensland Art Gallery
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Reach the stars at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, an amazing and out of this world experience for kids and adults alike! Located within the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, this fascinating planetarium features a host of entertaining and informative shows for kids and adults alike!
Whilst the shows have a charge, the planetarium itself is free admission so kids can enjoy the exhibits and enjoy a amazing educational experience all about the planets, the stars and our Universe! It's out of this world!
Image Credit: Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium / Brisbane City Council
5 of Brisbane's BEST Breakfasts!
Lose yourself in a rainforest 180 million years in the making. It may take two hours to reach Lamington National Park, but the drive is beautiful and the destination rewards travellers with lush rainforests and ancient trees that are worthy of World Heritage-listed status.
Photo by Steven Joel on Unsplash
Lamington National Park was declared in 1915, and today covers w whopping 21,176ha of incredible landscapes and wildlife.
Spend the day exploring the extensive walking tracks that will take you along the McPherson Range, and it's here families can also delve into the area's forests, waterfalls and creeks!
Don't forget to take your camera as you won't want to miss the dramatic view points looking out over the Gold Coast, as well as towards south-east Queensland and even northern New South Wales.
Did you know that Lamington is also part of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area? This heritage area is incredibly important to the environment as it is home to the most extensive areas of subtropical rainforest in the entire WORLD!
For those adventurous and active families, make sure you walk one of best walking track networks in the country. In fact you'll find around 130km of formed tracks! The Green Mountains and Binna Burra sections of the park are perfect for all walk-loving visitors spanning all fitness levels and bushwalking experience.
If you want to make more of a trip to Lamington National Park, you can try camping at O’Reilly’s Campground.
Here’s our top 4 Lamington National Park things to do:
- Walk the Green Mountains and Binna Burra tracks
- Enjoy a picnic
- Wildlife spotting
- Join a Guided tour or talk
We hope you found this content useful! Please share with your friends, and if you have any comments, or want to let us know what we can do to further help you find fun days out with the family, then just email our team at [email protected]!
Let's get the family adventure started!
.jpg){kind=link}
Lisa
Lisa has been a content writer for Family Days Out for nearly 10 years, and a keen travel writer for nearly 20. She loves experiencing the best of a city, discovering the many things to do and immersing herself in the culture, and sharing these experiences with others through her writing.
Leave a comment