Kids and Families in Brisbane

Planning a day with children

Most of Brisbane’s family attractions are close to a flat 50 cent ride, and several cost nothing. Prices below are in Australian dollars from official and operator listings, so check them close to your date. Strong sun is the main hazard for children here: hats and sunscreen go on early, and summer afternoons often bring storms, so keep an indoor fallback.

Free places to start

  • Streets Beach and Aquativity, South Bank Parklands. The lagoon is lifeguarded and the neighbouring water play park is free. Hours vary by season and closures can come at short notice, so look at the Visit South Bank notices . Children should swim here and never in the Brisbane River, where bull sharks are recorded far upstream.
  • Roma Street Parkland, 1 Parkland Boulevard. Open around the clock and free. The Children’s Garden playgrounds are not fenced, so stay close to little ones.
  • Daisy Hill Koala Centre, Daisy Hill Conservation Park. Entry is free, 10:00 to 16:00 daily, with closures on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It shows koalas only.
  • Queensland Museum Kurilpa. General entry is free.

SparkLab at the museum is a hands-on science space for ages 6 to 13. Prices effective from February 2025 were adult $16.50, child (5 to 15) $13.50 and family $49, so look at the museum’s SparkLab page for current fares. The building opens 9:30 to 17:00 and SparkLab sessions start on the half hour from 9:30 to 15:00.

Xpress Fun Train, Roma Street Parkland. The Parkland Explorer train runs on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 and costs $6 per person.

Queensland Maritime Museum, South Bank. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:15. An older listing showed about $18 for adults and about $8 for children, so confirm at the door. Touring the warship HMAS Diamantina means cramped spaces and ladders, which can be hard for toddlers.

Animals

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary charges $63 for an adult day pass, and the child price needs a check on the sanctuary’s ticket page. Koala holds ended on 1 July 2024, though children can hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies and watch koalas from the paths. See lonepinekoalasanctuary.com .

Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, The Gap, takes adults at $17.30 and concession holders at $13.80, with a same-day wildlife centre. Rangers present a Wildlife Discovery Show on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00. The Queensland Parks page also covers the reservoir, where kayak hire has a minimum age of 5 and the buoyed swim area is not patrolled.

Getting around with a family

Buses, trams, City trains and CityCats are a flat 50 cents per journey, and the CityHopper ferry is free, so a river ride works as an activity in itself. Airtrain to the airport is the one rail service priced separately.

For a guided option, see Brisbane family tours on GetYourGuide .

Read more: Day trips from Brisbane and the Brisbane guide .