Set in the leafy exotic rainforest of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, the Hide ’n’ Seek Children’s Trail leads kids on an exciting and engaging adventure of discovery to uncover the secrets hidden in the forest!
This is a fantastic free activity for kids, that can be largely self-led, giving them the chance to learn more about their natural environment in a fun and interactive way.
Getting to the Children’s Trail
Catch a bus, ride a bike, or drive to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at the base of Mt Coot-tha, where you will find free parking and free entry to the gardens. Make your first stop the Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre located near the cafe and main carpark. From here you can collect the Children’s Trail map, seek further information on the trails, facilities and picnic areas in the Mt Coot-tha precinct and make a quick toilet stop.
Encourage your kids to follow the signs to the start of the trail. You will likely pass attractions such as thespot some birds, bees, bats and maybe even a crocodile! Heading off the trail you can also check out the Tropical Display Dome, Fern House and Japanese Garden along the way, (which are also definitely worth exploring) and are also are a great reason why so many families choose to spend an entire day in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha.
Your kids will love trying to follow the colourful map to navigate the forest paths. The brochure gives them a checklist of things to spot along the trail, as well as amazing facts and information about each feature so they can learn all about what they find. Engaging questions are posed about the different features of the setting to encourage children to think about their surroundings.
Upon completing the trail, kids can answer the multiple-choice questionnaire to test their knowledge. There is even a lovely colouring-in page for kids to complete at home.
Along the trail
The Children’s Trail takes kids through the exotic rainforest as they try to spot numbered markers to observe and find out about the fascinating features of the forest, including plants, trees and curious creatures. The trail gets kids engaging with the natural surroundings and taking in everything from the fungi on the forest floor to the leaves and wildlife of the high forest canopy. Your kids will love discovering all the secrets of this special setting and will soon be racing ahead of you to spot the next marker on the trail!
The trail itself criss-crosses over and around waterways which means kids will get to travel over a couple of bridges as they explore the path which is a lot of fun, but younger kids might need closer supervision.
Flora
Learn about all the plants and trees of the rainforest, from fungi to ferns, palms and gum trees to a spiky floss silk tree. Walk through forests of tall bamboo and play a tune on the brilliant king fern xylophone. There are lots of weird and wonderful things to see and learn about, from exotic plants to our own unique eucalypts. Some other ideas to extend this experience include:
- Focuses on different senses. What can they see, hear and feel?
- Explore the canopy from what they can see below their feet to what they can see above their heads.
Fauna
Live stingless bees, and (thankfully not live) giant bugs can be found along the children’s trail! Spot the croc in the creek and try to find the musical bats hanging from a tree. And make sure you check the fallen log to see what’s hiding inside! There’s also a chance to spot wildlife here too – ibis, scrub turkeys, water dragons, and curlews are frequently spotted, and there’s a chance you might see turtles in the gardens or even cross paths with a snake.
More surprises
With other creatures and extra surprises along the way too, kids will have to keep their eyes peeled to uncover all the secrets of this magical forest wonderland. We especially love the funky interactive metal cray (see if you can spot him!).
Fun at the gardens
With lots more things to do with kids at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, pack a picnic, sunscreen, hats and water bottles and enjoy a full day of FREE family fun! There’s also a great cafe here if you want a treat or to grab a bite if you end up staying longer than expected.
This is a great destination for young and old and would make an ideal place to meet with extended family, or a day out for kids to explore with a grandparent.
You can find maps and brochures at the gardens or download them online here and here, and set off on an adventure.
You can read our full review of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha to find out more about what to see and do to make your visit a great day out for the whole family.
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