The City:
Things to do with kids
Travelling into The City is an exciting and memorable way to spend a day together as a family and Brisbane City has plenty to offer. From hands-on activities for young children to free live gigs and a thrifty clothing market that will even keep tricky teenagers entertained. We’ve rounded up 18 things you can do in Brisbane City with kids, tweens, teens and those who never grew up.
01. Relax in the City Botanic Gardens
As Brisbane's oldest park, the City Botanic Gardens is the go-to spot in the heart of The City for many. It’s the perfect spot to bring the kids for a picnic or to run around and play. Picture ancient trees, rainforest glades and exotic species as well as bike tracks, walking paths and playgrounds. Don’t forget to stop by on Sundays between 8am and 3pm for the weekly Riverside at the Gardens Market where you can treat yourself and your little ones to live music, breakfast and artisan gifts.
02. Head to the Museum of Brisbane
There is always something new, fun and cool happening at the Museum of Brisbane. Let your children's imaginations run wild with the MoB Kids Activities including Clock Tower Tours, Little Artist’s Eye Spy, Storytime, and a BYO Baby Tour. As an extra bonus, school holidays are always sorted with special activities scheduled to coincide with current exhibitions.
03. Tee-off for putt-putt fun
Let your family's competitive side loose and see who can putt their way to victory at Australia's craziest and coolest mini-golf course. Holey Moley Wintergarden has a nine-hole putt-putt course and a karaoke room inside the Wintergarden precinct.
04. Check out City Sounds
Have you got a music lover in the family? Then you’ll love City Sounds. Every week, Australia’s largest free live music program presents local and touring bands and artists onto the stages in Queen Street Mall, Post Office Square, and other locations around The City. Expect everything from alternative and folk, to jazz and electro.
05. Rediscover The City with a Brisbane Greeter
Have you ever noticed the brass animals above your head as you walk along Adelaide Street? It’s amazing how many fun facts and city secrets the Greeters know. Book a free walking tour with a Brisbane Greeter and have them show you and your family a side of The City you may have never noticed. You can book a general tour or request a specific topic such as street art, architecture, or war history to suit your family’s interests.
Brisbane City Markets, Reddacliff Place
6. Eat your way through the Brisbane City Markets
The country comes to The City when some of Brisbane’s best farmers markets pop up across the week. On a Wednesday you can find the markets on Reddacliff Place from 8am to 6pm, and 8am to 2pm on Thursdays at Cathedral Square. Take the kids along to the Brisbane City Markets to meet farmers and producers, buy fresh produce and pasta, taste cheese and jams and find fresh meat and seafood to take home. Arrive hungry for the hand-picked food stalls, where you’ll find everything from fresh juices to falafel pita wraps to indulge in for lunch.
7. Find new threads at the Suitcase Rummage
Everything old is new again at Suitcase Rummage. Twice a month, this market sells vintage clothing, artwork, books, jewellery, shoes, records, handmade goods and more in Reddacliff Place. Each stallholder brings along a couple of suitcases with goods to sell for you to bargain, swap and haggle for a good time and a great deal.
08. Discover Brisbane’s history
Step out of the classroom and learn about Brisbane’s fascinating history up close including the role the city played in the Second World War at the MacArthur Museum Brisbane. Located in the Heritage-listed MacArthur Chambers, step behind the front lines to hear stories about the war.
Built by convicts between 1828 and 1829, the historical Commissariat Store Museum is known to be Queensland’s oldest habitable building. With rotating exhibitions and permanent rooms that explore the colonial period of our history, tell your kids to keep an eye out for the famous “convict finger”.
09. Cruise the river on a CityCat
Feel the wind in your hair as you explore Brisbane from its iconic river on a CityCat. Using this fun and explorative public transport system, you can travel from The University of Queensland at St. Lucia, downstream to Northshore and Bulimba, passing landmarks including New Farm Riverwalk, the Story Bridge and South Bank as you go. Keep an eye out, because if you’re lucky, you may get the chance to ride one of Brisbane’s exclusive Bluey CityDog’s!
10. Take the kids to the theatre
Keep the little ones out of mischief by taking them to a show at QUT Gardens Theatre. This theatre supports independent artists, producers and theatre companies by bringing quality touring productions from around Australia to Brisbane audiences.
11. Check out The Cube at QUT
Explore one of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces for free at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The Cube gives the public a chance to play “citizen scientist” with its 48 multi-touch screens stacked two storeys high. It shows scientific work from QUT’s Science and Engineering research in an inspiring, and interactive way, projecting real-world scenes and collecting data.
Brisbane Square Library, Brisbane City
12. Level up your game nights
Bowling, laser tag, escape rooms, arcade games and karaoke – you can do them all in The City. Strike Wintergarden is home to 12 bowling lanes, a laser tag arena, pool tables, private karaoke rooms and three escape rooms. While the kids are entertained for hours, parents are well looked after too with a bar for snacks and treats.
13. High tea for all ages
The City has many tea rooms ready to welcome young customers for a fancy afternoon tea. Located inside Brisbane City Hall, the original Shingle Inn has antique wooden panelling and does a Teddy Bear High Tea for those under 12. On the top level of the historic Brisbane Arcade, Room With Roses is a specialty tea house with featherlight scones plus high teas, sandwiches, cakes and more. This is the perfect opportunity for your little ones to pop on that special outfit and enjoy an afternoon in The City.
14. Visit the Brisbane Square Library
The multi-storey Brisbane Square Library is a bookworm’s dream. Find a cool, air-conditioned oasis with awesome river views, spaces to hide and hang out with a book and great events happening year-round. Keep an eye out for toddler playtime and storytelling sessions, craft activities for primary-aged kids, hands-on robot tech workshops, animated movie screenings and more.
15. Catch a movie on the big screen
Who doesn’t love watching a new release on the big screen? Watch family-friendly films at Event Cinemas on the top level of Uptown or the chic independent Elizabeth Picture Theatre. Whether it’s school holiday family flicks for kids or big blockbusters for teens, movies are a great excuse to get out of the house, treat yourself to a tub of popcorn and spend time together.
Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City
16. Dine out with the family
Keep little tummies happy with family-friendly dining. The City has a smorgasbord of flavours and venues from 24/7 pancakes at the Pancake Manor to delicious pizza and pasta at Vapiano. Don't forget to keep space for a sweet treat afterwards from favourites such as Gelatissimo on Albert and Queen Street.
17. Shop till you drop at Queen Street Mall
From the latest looks and toys for kids to cool streetwear and tech for teens, there are shops throughout The City bursting with products and specials guaranteed to delight and entertain. There are big department stores for all budgets, great Australian boutiques such as Seed Heritage, Country Road and Cotton On Kids and big international brands including Zara and H&M. And of course, something fun for all ages can be found at MindGames, Toys R Us and EB Games.
18. Try a family escape room
For a unique indoor adventure, Fox in a Box Brisbane Escape Rooms will delight, challenge and entertain the whole family. With six themed escape rooms on site, your family will have one hour to solve the puzzles as a team. Each room can accommodate up to six players and the escape rooms are perfectly suited for kids of all ages with children under seven playing for free.
