School Holiday Activities Brisbane (Hundreds of Ideas)

School holiday activities in Brisbane offer the perfect opportunity for families to spend some time exploring and creating lasting memories. With a diverse range of options, from outdoor adventures to cultural experiences, choosing what to do can be a challenge. Whether you’re a local or visiting from out of town, make the most of your time off and discover the best school holiday activities in Brisbane.

School Holiday Activities Brisbane

All these school holiday activities are on our website- just use the website search function to locate them. Ensure you head to the website and/or social media pages as you plan your visit incase there have been any changes.  

• Take the whole family for a drive up to Mt Coot-tha to check out the view. (pick up a McDonald’s cheap soft-serve cone on the way as a treat!)
• Visit our events calendar for one off events and specific holiday season round ups that happen over the Easter school holidays and Christmas school holidays. 
• Enjoy some mini golf at Victoria Park at Herston or Golf Central at Skygate which is close to the DFO near the airport.
• Head out to a BMX track, skate park or mini-traffic track with bikes, scooters and skateboards. 
• Explore the Abbey Museum and have some lunch at the Sandstone Point Hotel.
• Head to Redcliffe, Wynnum or the Gold Coast for a twilight fish ‘n’ chips on the beach or a picnic.
• Check out any of the play centres in Brisbane for some indoor, air-conditioned fun – this list includes the best trampoline parks. Many indoor play places are reopening with limits and pre-booking so just check their website first before you go. There is also a growing list of rock climbing places on the Brisbane Kids website. 
• Visit one of the 150+ WOW playgrounds on our website. 
• Explore the Karawatha Environment Centre and enjoy a picnic in the bush setting.
• Have you seen the new Harry Potter Shop at Samford yet? It’s incredible, with butterbeer AND the kids can get sorted into their houses! They also offer holiday workshops you can book into now. 
• Go strawberry picking at one of the many strawberry farms around Brisbane.
• Picnic out of town and head past the local bakery for all your yummy supplies and #shoplocal.
• Pack a picnic and head off on a kid friendly hike around Brisbane.
• Work together to make a kite and go and fly it. 
• Play putt putt at one of Brisbane’s best putt putt courses.
• Go to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary for a great day amongst the animals, (make sure you check out their annual passes if you plan to visit again).
• Visit Opal Downunder up towards the Sunshine Coast, kids can fossick for real life gems.
• Walkthrough Burleigh National Park and finish with a picnic on the headland.
• Find a local river or creek with kids and enjoy some waterplay, dam building and creek fun. 
• Book in a ninja session with Urban Xtreme as a great way to offer something different in terms of physical activity. 
• Visit the Museum of Brisbane who often have free school holiday programs and interactive exhibitions on. They are located near the clock tower in Brisbane which is conveniently located above Shingle Inn (did someone say coffee and cake?)
• Head to the Queensland Zoo with the entire family – to see the animals, the Big Pineapple and to have a picnic. Read our review first, they have some extremely unusual animal and animal encounter opportunities including a night zoo holiday event.
• Go to Mount Glorious for a picnic, child-friendly bushwalk and scones with Jam and Cream on the way down. 
• Take a trip to Springbrook for a glowworm tour.
• Enjoy the great opportunity to feed the lorikeets at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. This is an activity you can do with a gold coin donation, and you don’t need to enter the sanctuary to participate. That said, their sanctuary is so wonderful, filled with native and exotic animals and well worth a visit. Our favourite animal there is the Capybara! If you plan to do the high ropes course, just be mindful that it takes several hours and is an experience worth booking ahead of time. It is possible to do both the sanctuary and the high ropes course in the same day but be prepared for a BIG day! 
• Go to the beach- collect shells and build sandcastles for. Take some gloves and a bucket and collect a bucket of trash while you are there. I know it doesn’t seem fun, but it will teach the kids an understanding of how we continue to be blessed with some of the best beaches in the world and the importance of leaving only footprints.
• Enjoy a day at Australia Zoo
• Enjoy a fancy morning tea at one of Brisbane’s best high tea places. 
• Geocaching is a multi-age activity and if you can muster up some trinkets, it is also completely free. Just search for geocaching on our website for the ultimate guide on how to geocache in Brisbane with kids.
• Have an astronaut read a book from space to your kids, preferably after a visit to the Sir Thomas Planetarium, Kingaroy observatory or one of the many astronomy viewing nights at Mt Coot-tha (search for these on our website)?
• Get up close with rescue deer at Lyell Deer Sanctuary. 
• Visit all the mega slide playgrounds in Brisbane. 
• Head to New Farm Park to let the kids climb the trees or Scarborough Beach Park if you are closer. Climbing trees is good for the soul. 
• Have ice cream for lunch- head to any one of the best ice cream shops in Brisbane, as nominated by you!
• Check out your local Bunnings for free holiday activities for kids and the Bunnings Playgrounds.
• Go for a drive up to Mount Tamborine – take in the views – pack a picnic – enjoy the fresh air and if you fancy take the treetop walk or book the kids into some thunderegg seeking at Thunderbird Park.
• Discover Brisbane’s best hot chocolate! 
• Head to one of the many zoos in and around Brisbane> Brisbane Kids offer great deals and discounts here.
• Take the kids to the local farmer markets or second-hand markets.
• Road trip to Maleny and enjoy a visit to The Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World to see some of their incredible bird life
• Go for a bike ride on one of Brisbane’s awesome kid-friendly cycle paths. Better still, if you can, drive with your bikes to somewhere lovely like Redcliffe and go for a ride or a skate if you rollerblade. 
• Head to one of the two butterfly houses in South East Queensland. Find them on our website under “butterfly”.
• Make a family time capsule. 
• Head to the Crystal Castle just outside Byron, it has the biggest Amethyst Cave in the world and plenty of amazing crystal structures to inspire and bring peace to a busy world.
• Climb the Brisbane clock tower located in the middle of the CBD.
• Check out what holiday programs are being run by the State Library of Queensland. 
• Take a road trip to the Crystal Castle in Northern NSW, offering a unique experience for Brisbane families.
•  Go camping or camp in your backyard! We have reviewed lots of different camping spots on the website- go check them out!
• Say hi to the cows at Trevena Glen Farm.
• Head out for a picnic and some family fun at the Cleveland Lighthouse. 
• Book the family into an escape room experience at one of Brisbane’s best escape rooms.
• Visit a local creek like Edward Allison Park for rocks to create pet rocks.
• Tour the city on a CityCat which will take you all the way down the Brisbane river. There are lots of stops, so plan ahead and you can visit places like Queensland Museum along the way. 
• Climb Mount Coolum at sunrise.
• Feed the goats at Naughty little Kids. 
• Head to the Glass House Mountains Lookout for a picnic and pick up fresh fruit and vegetables on the way home. The Landsborough playground reviewed on our website is amazing!
• Use the Brisbane school holidays as an excuse to visit the fairy penguins at SEALIFE Aquarium on the Sunshine Coast.
• You will have an enjoyable experience on a Friday night at the Yatala drive-in, explaining to your kids that this “novelty” was very commonplace “back in your day”.
• Head to the Springbrook for an amazing rainforest walk.
• Book in for a great time for all at Haigslea EWE Nique Hobby Farm in Ipswich.
• While you are at Springbrook, have a picnic at Apple Tree Park, also reviewed on the website.
• Check out Queen Mary Falls on an awesome road trip with the family (reviewed on our website). 
• Make an “our family recipe book.
• Enjoy the fig trees (and playground) of New Farm Park and take a walk along the river.
• Take a road trip to Tropical Fruit World. 
• Enjoy a virtual tour of a world zoo.
• Learn some new skills at one of the many free school holiday council programs. (Just sign up to their newsletters to be notified as these tend to book out quickly) 
• Take a day trip to the Darling Downs Zoo.
• Head out to the Wivenhoe Dam on a day trip. 
• Plan a Summer holiday with a focus on outdoor activities like bushwalking and waterparks.
• Visit Summer Land Camel Farm on the Scenic Rim.
• Visit Slaughter Falls for a bbq and then make the walk up to the summit at Mount Coot-tha. 
• Watch the Harry Potter series. 
• Go to a Theme Park with discounted tickets thanks to our discount theme park tickets page. (Different theme parks are opening at different times with staged openings- check their website and if you are an annual pass holder, check to see if they are extending your passes).
• Visit the Kumbartcho Environmental Centre at Eatons Hill for a play on their fenced playground and a walk through their lush grounds. They also have a native plants nursery onsite and a fairy garden the kids will enjoy. 
• Check out Calamvale District Park for its AMAZING slide and draw bridge.
• One of our favourite outdoor activities is to go bushwalking and try to spot some wild koalas.
• Complete a Laser Tag mission, ride the bumper cars and play the arcade games at Laserzone in Lawnton.
• Treat yourself to a night out at one of the best pubs in Brisbane with a playground.
• Visit one of the children’s exhibitions at the Ipswich Art Gallery. Their exhibitions are always well run, low cost or free and always on our fun school holiday activities list.  
• Discover how to Paintball in Brisbane, a great activity for young people who are almost adults and craving a challenge.
• Walk across to King Island on low tide. 
• Get the kids to practice their drawing skills with some online YouTube tutorials.
• Drive to Canungra and experience Mountview Alpaca Farm during the Queensland school holidays.
• Visit Osprey House for a dip into the importance of protecting the environment and enjoy a picnic in the natural area that surrounds it. 
• Head to Gardner’s Falls (otherwise known as Serenity falls) for a lovely cool walk while being serenaded by whip birds. 
• Have a picnic at Indigiscapes Redlands and visit their environmental education centre, enjoy a short bushwalk and pick up some native plants for the backyard. 
• Visit Capalaba produce to see all their funny animals.
• Pack a picnic and head into Roma Street Parkland.
• Spend the day at the City Botanic Gardens who often have a wide range of programs happening over school holidays. 
• Ask your Brisbane Kid what they want to do. Enjoy them.. because this won’t last forever!

Top 10 free school holiday ideas

If you have been looking for cheap school holiday activities then we can do one better with our top 10 list of free school holidays activities in Brisbane. This was a list recommended to us by Brisbane parents and will give you some ideas on how to make the most of the holidays for free. We have tried to include some local places and further afield. 

1. Visit Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve for some bushwalking, play in the playground and picnic on their lawns
2. Walk through the Boondall Wetlands and see what holiday activities are on at the Environmental Centre.
3. Visit the Kumbartcho Environmental Centre at Eatons Hill for a play on their fenced playground and a walk through their lush grounds. They also have a native plants nursery onsite and a fairy garden the kids will enjoy. 
4. Walk to King Island (at Wellington Point) at low tide.
5. Day trip to Currumbin Creek for a play in the shallow rock pools.
6. Visit Frew Park for a multi-storey playground experience.
7. Walk through the Maiala rainforest at Mount Glorious and marvel at the incredible figs.
8. Head out to Sandgate on the low tide for a picnic on the foreshore and then a walk along the mudflats to look for soldier crabs.
9. Discover your local library where you can borrow everything from DVDs and music to toys and books. 
10. Grab the kids’ bikes and scooters and head to a local mini-traffic track or scooter park. 

School Holiday Ideas for South Bank Parklands

Kids love South Bank Parklands for 17 acres of parkland with lots of green space for family picnics, BBQ’s and games on the lawns.

Summary of things to do at South Bank –

• Play on the two incredible playgrounds (Picnic Island and Riverside Green) that are perfect for kids of all ages. Both have picnic areas nearby.
• Stroll through the Epicurious garden, which is an incredible green space.
• Admire the rainforest garden, which is amazingly lush for an inner-city space.
• Cycle along the water’s edge or hire various equipment from Segways, bicycles and kayaks (find out more on Visit South Bank).
• Sail along the river in a Citycat  (read our guide on how Brisbane CityCats work.
• Enjoy hokey-pokey ice cream at the New Zealand Icecream shop or across the road from South Bank you can indulge in Max Brenner chocolate treats. 

Brisbane Botanic Garden Holiday Activities 

At the base of Mount Cooth-tha sit the immaculate Botanical Gardens. Most of the gardens can be accessed by flat pathways, making them accessible for prams and wheelchairs and there is a cafe on site though many families opt to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some time amongst nature while they eat.

The Sir Thomas Planetarium, which sits next to the gardens is a great place to bridge some conversation around science or space. Check our website to find out when the astronomical viewing nights are and when the International Space Station is headed over Brisbane. These are a great way to extend the learning and enjoyment of a place like the Planetarium. You can see a show while you are there (book in advance online on school holidays) or walk around the planetarium and check out spacesuits and other space-related paraphernalia and information.

• Head to the information desk at the Gardens and ask for a Hide and Seek Trail guide and you and your kids can enjoy a sensory trail experience of identifying sweet-smelling herbs and plants.
• The natural playground is a new feature and will afford a lot of imaginative play from kids who might be more used to plastic-structured playgrounds.
• Head into the dome and marvel at the humidity and the fish in the pool at the top.
• Catch a show on space in the Sir Thomas Planetarium. These are often designed with kids in mind and are both entertaining and quite marvellous in the way they display them.

Queensland Museum and the Sciencentre Holiday Ideas

Queensland Museum at South Bank changes as your kids do; we always suggest going when you feel up to answering and asking lots of questions because this is the best way to make the most of your visit. The museum is free to visit, although sometimes there are paid exhibitions. 

Highlights for kids at Queensland Museum –

• For younger kids, the Playasaurus garden at the bottom of the Museum is a favourite, with regular holiday screen shows, tunnels, dinosaurs and a range of interactive offerings.
• Level 2 is the main foyer- this is where the cafe is and where you can find the museum shop
• Level 3 currently houses the only paid exhibition, Dinosaurs of Patagonia 
• Level 4 is home to the new permanent exhibition, Dinosaurs Unearthed at Queensland Museum featuring Queensland’s famous MuttaburrasaurusThe next floor up is the Discovery Centre, a place for the people. This means it was designed to showcase the Museum’s collection and allow the people/community to come in and check them out. Talk to the staff when you arrive and find out what’s happening; you might even get to hold a stick insect!
• Next to the Discovery Centre, another permanent exhibition at the Museum is the Wild State Gallery, which showcases Queensland’s biodiversity. This kid’s favourite is filled with animals with a range of different habitats to explore. 

The Workshops Rail Museum School Holiday Activities

A little further than Brisbane but worth the drive, check out the train-themed Workshops Rail Museum. Their exhibitions vary so check our website first and while you are down that way, make sure you check our website for some of the Incredible Ipswich playgrounds, find out what the Ipswich Art Gallery has on for kids and visit the free nature centre in at Queens Park.

This article was written by Brisbane local parent Ngaire Stirling.