Rainy Day Ideas in Ipswich – Ipswich Art Gallery

Take a cultural excursion to the Ipswich Art Gallery, where your family can take in the latest exhibitions and gallery displays. The Children’s Gallery here is incredible and always has fun, creative and hands on activities for kids to do that link to the current exhibitions.

Visit an Ipswich Library

Escape the rain and settle down into the warm and cosy confines of an Ipswich library. Not just a place to find your latest read, there are also multiple free workshops and activities for kids to get involved in while there too. Simply check online or call your local library to see what is scheduled on the day you are going.

Visit an Escape Room

The latest craze for kids, teens and adults, escape rooms are the ultimate way to beat the weather for a few hours on a rainy day. With different themed rooms to choose from, work together as a family to solve the clues and unlock the door to escape! Seraphim Escape in Ipswich has no age limit to their rooms, with kids under 14 just needing an adult along to accompany them.

Rainy Day Ideas in Ipswich – Queensland Museum Rail Workshops

For any train enthusiast, Ipswich’s Queensland Museum Rail Workshops is a must-see destination (even when it isn’t raining!). With an array of vintage trains, hands on activities, kids’ play areas, train simulators, and even a railway sciencentre, there is a full day of locomotive love to be had here. Keep an eye out for their model railway of Queensland – the largest of its kind in the world! 

iPlay

For families that would love to have a bit of competitive fun and active adventure, iPlay in north Ipswich will easily chase the rainy day blues away. Play a few rounds of tenpin bowling before hitting the arcade games space.

PCYC

The local PCYC is always a good place to head to on a rainy day, with a variety of different low-price activities and sporting classes available most days. Catering for all ages and abilities, the Ipswich PCYC even offers an under-8’s active program little ones can try out.

Ipswich Civic Centre

Looking for a live show or performance? The Ipswich Civic Centre is the best place to head with the family in the area, with a full schedule of shows booked in throughout the year. Their website has a handy ‘kids’ link too, so you can easily find the shows that are suitable for younger viewers.

Rainy Day Ideas in Ipswich – Queens Park Environmental Education Centre

Queens Park, located right in the heart of Ipswich, is usually a hot destination on a sunny day due to its large children’s playground, adorable nature centre and tranquil Nerima Japanese-style gardens. On a rainy day though, the environmental education centre and neighbouring café offer the perfect and fun learning escape. With hands-on, interactive activities and a delicious menu, you really can’t go wrong. Plus, if the rain subsides you can explore all the other features this wonderful park has to offer.

Go Op Shopping

Oh, there is nothing more entertaining and fun than shopping for bargains and retro finds at the local op shops. Ipswich is home to some of the best, so get the whole family together and see who can find the most exciting vintage throwback. Full of small nick-nacks, clothes, toys, and more, it can be a trip of nostalgia for parents and an exploration for little ones.

Inflatable World

What child doesn’t love a jumping castle? Inflatable World in Ipswich features not one but a whole room of different inflatable obstacles to enjoy. Located at the Ipswich Showgrounds, your kids will be able to jump to their heart’s content at the biggest inflatable playground in Australia!

Rainy Day Ideas in Ipswich – Head to a water park

Well, you are going to get wet anyway and, for some kids, doing so while at a waterpark or splash pad just adds to the fun! Pop some swimmers on the kids, pack the towels into the car, and head to one of the many incredible water play spaces available in Ipswich. What’s the saying? If you can’t beat them, join them!

RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre

For any child who loves plane spotting, the RAAF Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre could offer the perfect rainy day adventure for them. Concentrating on the aviation history of the RAAF’s Amberley base, the centre is filled with fascinating stories and, of course, magnificent planes including Sabre and Mirage fighter jets, a flawless WWII Jeep, Sioux and Iroquois helicopters, and a Caribou airlifter.

Indoor Climbing at Rope Haus

Located in Bundamba on the outskirts of Ipswich, Rope Haus is a new indoor rock climbing centre for families. Billed as being an army-style obstacle course with a twist, the centre has 26 rope elements up to 10 metres in height for kids to scale.

Rainy Day Ideas in Ipswich – Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

Another fun experience for kids at Bundamba is going for a ride on the Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway. Jump aboard one of the carriages built between 1885 and 1950, and chug along the old industrial train line past the picturesque countryside. If you are brave, you can even ride in the Prison Carriage – complete with prisoners (a.k.a. entertaining staff!).

Head to the Movies

It’s an age-old way to spend a rainy day with the kids, but it never gets tired. Grab a hot bucket of buttered popcorn, settle into a comfy chair, and spend the next couple of hours watching whatever latest blockbuster film is screening.

Visit a Child-friendly Café

Ipswich is home to some lovely child-friendle cafés. With kids’ menus, and playgrounds or child-friendly facilities, you can settle in with a warm meal and hot drink while the rain stays delightfully outside.

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Indoor activities in Brisbane

Visit the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre

With three massive levels of indoor discovery to explore, the Queensland Museum is the perfect rainy day escape for families looking for fun, education, and intrigue. With extensive collections and feature exhibitions, kids can marvel at dinosaurs, learn about our history, and delve into the unique ecosystems and wildlife that make up our Queensland state all under one roof. The Sciencentre, which provides plenty of STEM projects, interactive displays, and even live experiments, can also be found here.

Address: Grey Street &, Melbourne St, South Brisbane

Check out your local South Brisbane library.

When it comes to free indoor fun for kids in south Brisbane, you really can’t go past a visit to your local library. Not only are there quiet, warm corners to snuggle down and read a book in, but there are also a wide range of free activities and workshops on offer most days.

Get crafty at the Plaster Fun House

Every kid loves to get a bit messy and a visit to Plaster Fun House in Carina will allow them to get their creative juices flowing with nothing for you to clean up afterwards. That’s a wet weather win in our books!  With hundreds of cute plaster characters to choose from, they can take as long as they like to paint and decorate their chosen masterpiece before taking it home when they are done.

Address: 5/1396 Creek Rd, Carina

Learn about nature at an Environmental Centre

Rainy days are the perfect time to explore one of Brisbane’s many environmental education centres. On the south side, one of our favourites is the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre, the biggest of its kind in Brisbane. Fresh, bright and jam-packed with interactive fun, the centre is spacious enough for kids to roam, and the activities more than enough to help them forget the rainy world outside even exists.

Address: 149 Acacia Road, Karawatha

Settle into a South Brisbane cinema

Even when the sun is beaming down, most Brisbane families love a trip to the cinema. When it is raining outside, though, and a hot bucket of butter popcorn awaits, checking out the latest blockbuster while nestled deep in a cushioned chair is even more tempting. Before you go check out our article on cheap movie tickets so you can save some money. 

Enjoy some retro arcade fun

Arcade games of the past have seen a recent resurgence, with multiple venues dedicated to honouring the trend and lining their walls with both classic and new games. On the south side of Brisbane, your family can stop battling the rain and challenge each other to a game at places like 1UP Arcade at Morningside.

Address: 230 Lytton Rd, Morningside

Climb walls while rock climbing

If your kids are almost climbing the walls with boredom watching the rain come down outside, why not head to your local rock climbing centre and gift them the literal walls to scale? Crank Indoor Rock Climbing at Macgregor is one such place that springs to mind, which has not only rock climbing but also rope climbing, auto belays, and bouldering too.

Address: 537 Kessels Rd, Macgregor

Be inspired at GOMA

One way to get your kids minds off the weather outside is to immerse them in a little bit of culture and creativity. The Gallery of Modern Art in South Brisbane has art installations and exhibitions to capture their imagination, whilst their Children’s Art Centre usually houses fun and hands-on related activities for the kids too.

Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane

See a live performance at QPAC

While you are in South Brisbane, why not look into what family-friendly shows are currently playing at QPAC? The Queensland Performing Arts Centre has a range of performances running all year round and nearly always have something playing that the kids will love.

Address: Cultural Precinct, Corner Grey and Melbourne Street, South Brisbane

Visit a southside kid-friendly café

When the weather sets in there is nothing more welcoming thnn to share a warm meal in a cosy and dry café together. In south Brisbane there are a number of wonderful kid-friendly options, with menus that cater for the whole family and maybe even an indoor play area and games to keep them entertained too.

Be amazed by the Hologram Zoo

It doesn’t have to be raining outside for you to check out the ever-popular Hologram Zoo at Cannon Hill. Even so, it helps that this incredible zoo experience is completely indoors. Step inside and, through unique hologram projections and environments, be transported to other countries where you can meet exotic animals and experience incredible experiences.

Address: Shop 4/1177 Wynnum Rd, Cannon Hill

Try ten pin bowling

Pop on some warm socks and don a pair of trendy bowling shoes – ten-pin bowling with the family is an absolute winner when looking for something fun to do inside. Zone Bowling has numerous southside venues, such as Mt Gravatt, Capalaba, Loganholme and Garden City.  More than just ten pin though, Zone also has laser tag and arcade games to play.

Chill out while ice skating

When you can’t beat them – join them! When it is rainy and cold outside, why not throw on some warm clothes and mittens and head to Ice World in Acacia Ridge. With lessons and helpful assists available, it doesn’t matter if you have ice skated before or not – you will be whizzing around that rink in no time!  Afterwards, you can defrost with a warm hot chocolate from their cafe.

Address: 1179 Beaudesert Rd, Acacia Ridge

Unwind at a southside playcentre

Sometimes, the best way to beat a rainy day with young kids is to bundle the family up, arrange a catch-up with other friends or family with little ones, and head to one of the local play centres. It might be dull and wet outside, but inside places like Rainbow City Playcentre it is warm, inviting, colourful, and full of fun soft-play equipment for toddler and young kids to play on happily.

Address: Rainbow City Playcentre, 15 Lapis St, Underwood

Burn energy at an Indoor Adventure Centre

One of the best ways to keep kids entertained inside when they can’t go out is to take them to one of many indoor adventure centres in Brisbane. On the southside, we are super lucky to have venues like Area 51, which, with over 10,000 square metres of endless fun, leaves no room for feeling cooped up. With play areas for every age and ability, it is like an indoor playground, sports centre, recreation centre and Night Market all rolled into one.

Address: 51 Kingston Rd, Underwood 

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Rainy Day Ideas

Visit a northside library

The local North Brisbane libraries are a great place to start when looking for something to do on a rainy day. Obviously, the fact they are indoors is ideal, but it’s the impressive range of free, fun, and educational activities they have on offer—not to mention the shelves of books to read—that make them the real winner for families. You can expect books (of course) but also toys, computers, and comfy places to sit and let your kids read the day away.

Head into space at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium allows you to gaze at the stars—regardless of whether it is raining outside! The whole family can discover all things space-related from the safety of the indoors as they watch a show in the Cosmic Skydome and visit the Planetarium’s Display Zone to take an astronomical journey from the present-day Solar System to the time of the Big Bang.

Address: Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Mount Coot-Tha

Climb walls at Urban Xtreme

For the ultimate indoor rock climbing experience, Urban Xtreme has a convenient northside location at Hendra. Instead of climbing the walls at home, visitors can head to the only indoor ski, rock climbing, and adventure sports park in Australia and get their adrenalin fix.

Address: 4/370 Nudgee Rd, Hendra

Fly high with indoor skydiving

Image Credit: Pinterest

There is no other rush like the one experienced while skydiving. Luckily, for kids on the northside of Brisbane, iFly at Chermside allows them to try it out safely—all while indoors!

Address: 395 Hamilton Rd, Chermside

Try Go-Kart Racing

Go-karting has never been this fun! Head to Slideways in Eagle Farm, and your kids will not only experience the only two-level indoor go-karting centre in Brisbane with a track surface that allows you to go sideways, but they will also stay dry while doing so!

Address: Slideways, 870 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm

Head to the cinemas

One of the age-old favourite things families can do on a rainy day is head to their local north Brisbane cinema and catch the latest blockbuster movie. Nothing is more exciting for kids (and adults) than a bucket of hot popcorn, a cold drink, and a giant cinema screen. We have an article that will help you get cheap movie tickets. 

Break out of an Escape Room

Numerous escape rooms, like Fox In A Box, are dotted throughout the north side of Brisbane. Get your kids to use their wits and problem-solving skills as for once they have to work as a team to escape both the rain outside and the room inside!

Address: Fox In A Box, Level 1, 150 Edward Street, Brisbane

Fire up at Laserzone

Laserzone at Lawnton on the northside is another great rainy day activity the kids will love. Not only will it provide hours of laser tag fun for the kids, the centre also has bumper cars and a retro video arcade too.

Address: 561 Gympie Rd, Lawnton

Try Ten Pin Bowling

Chase away those rainy days blues and head out to one of the many ten pin bowling centres on the northside of Brisbane. Most places, like Kingpin in Chermside, not only have neon-lit alleys to strike on, but also other activities such as arcades, laser tag, escape rooms, karaoke and table tennis to keep the whole family entertained.

Address: 949 Gympie Rd, Chermside

Go iceskating or rollerskating

A love of cooler weather doesn’t mean you have to get wet. A trip to Ice World at Boondall will give your family the perfect escape from the rainy and humid temps that often precede a summer storm. Whether they have tried ice skating before, kids will love learning to glide over the ice either on their own or with the help of their assistant penguin! If icy floors aren’t your thing, then maybe some rollerskating at Skateaway Albany Creek could be more to your liking! 

Visit a Northside playcentre

For younger kids, a playcentre is always an easy and reliable option when the weather sours and so does their happy demeanour. With soft play areas, ball pits, slides, rides and more, they can be happily kept busy while you relax nearby with a hot drink. For a centre with a little more groove, you might even want to check out Tiddlywinks Dance and Play Cafe, which also incorporates dance discos into its play space.

Jump for Joy at an Indoor Trampoline Park

Indoor trampolining is a popular craze for Brisbane kids, and with centres popping up all over the city and surrounding suburbs, there are plenty of options for families to visit on a rainy day. Flip Out in Strathpine is a northside venue that has trampolines galore, air bags, parkour arenas, running walls, and more. Rain, hail, or shine, there’s a whole world of fun to discover.

Address: Flip Out, 130-134 Gympie Rd, Strathpine

Take a swing at Indoor Putt Putt

Finally, you don’t need 18 holes spread over an extensive outdoor course to have a fun day playing golf. Holey Moley in Chermside is so much more, with inventive putting spaces that kids will adore. Leave the rain outside and be transported into a whole new world—or several worlds, depending on where you place your putts next.

Address: Holey Moley, Cnr Gympie & Hamilton Rds, Level 2, Chermside 

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General Rainy Day Ideas covering the whole of Brisbane

This small museum is full of vibrant, ever-changing exhibitions which each have a story to tell plus there’s also plenty to keep the mini museum goers entertained on your visit.

A Purpose-built Gallery and Vibrant Exhibitions

The Museum of Brisbane was opened in 2003 to replace the existing Brisbane City Gallery, however it had to temporarily move to Ann Street during the three year renovation of City Hall which commenced in 2010.

It reopened in April 2013 in its flashy, new location on the top level offering up clear views of the building’s most recognisable features – the copper dome roof of the auditorium and the historic clock tower. Since reopening, the museum has welcomed well over one million visitors into the purpose-built gallery where tourists and locals are sure to bring home a renewed appreciation of the river city.

This award-winning space is constantly changing with seasonal exhibitions from local emerging and established artists who’ve contributed to the museum’s collection holdings of over 9,000 unique pieces. These can include paintings of gorgeous Brisbane landmarks and colourful indigenous artwork to thought provoking multimedia presentations and humorous ceramic sculptures.

Although the political and cultural references are likely to be lost on the kids, the eclectic mix of items and creativity on display will hopefully spark their little imaginations and engage the senses.

Museum of Brisbane for Kids

The Museum of Brisbane was created with the whole family in mind right down to the smallest of budding artists with the MoB Kids program and BYO Baby tours.

MoB Kids offers a range of free and low cost activities during the school holidays for kids to flex their artistic muscle and let those creative juices flow. These activities are often relevant to the season and current exhibitions which aims to provide a more immersive experience for young visitors.

Don’t worry if your visit doesn’t coincide with the holidays, as the daily Little Artist’s Eye Spy game is also a fantastic way to get the kids involved. These free activity sheets can be found at the reception desk and are suitable for all ages – just remember to ask the friendly staff upon your arrival.

If you’ve got a bub in tow, then you’ll want to time your visit with the BYO Baby tour which runs every Tuesday from 10:30am – 11:00am. This baby friendly tour allows for adults and carers to enjoy the museum at a leisurely pace with plenty of time for feeding, cuddling (and dare we say tantrum) breaks as required. Visit the website to book your tickets as this popular tour does book out in advance.

Accessibility at Museum of Brisbane

The museum is both wheelchair and pram friendly with lift access to the upper floors and wide, open corridors throughout the space.

Accessible toilets are located on the museum floor and are equipped with baby change facilities. There is free, locker storage for bulky items like backpacks and jackets and you can also safely leave your pram at reception if it is not required during your visit.

Other Kid Friendly Attractions in Brisbane City

While visiting the Museum of Brisbane and the Brisbane City Hall, you can join in on a fantastic, guided hall tour or take a trip up the clock tower and be rewarded with some great views of the bustling city below.

Within walking distance, you’ll also find the spectacular Roma Street Parklands which make a perfect picnic backdrop and boasts a couple of very cool, nature inspired playgrounds.

If outdoor fun is on your Brisbane to do list then add South Bank and Kangaroo Point Cliffs to your must visit destinations while a trip to the kid friendly Queensland Museum and GOMA would just about complete your cultural tour of the city.

What We Thought of the Museum of Brisbane

This contemporary museum is a beautifully designed space which does a wonderful job of bringing the story of Brisbane to life. Although its displays are most definitely aimed at an adult audience, there is a few child friendly activities, especially during school holidays, which makes this a welcoming environment for the whole family to enjoy.

Overall it’s a fun, free, interesting and brief pit stop while in Brisbane city that will most likely interest mum, dad, grandparents and the bigger Brisbane Kids.

Award-winning museum in Brisbane

The Museum of Brisbane is highly regarded for its innovation and contemporary international practice and has won a number of major awards during its brief history. The Museum has twice been awarded the top honour at the prestigious Queensland Museum and Gallery Achievement Awards, as well as major National Trust of Queensland Awards.

How to Get to the Museum of Brisbane

The Museum of Brisbane is located on Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane City.

The Museum of Brisbane is open from 10am to 5pm daily. Admission is free.

To find out more about the Museum of Brisbane, including current exhibitions, please visit www.museumofbrisbane.com.au.

More Photos of the Museum of Brisbane

Whether it’s a fun activity sheltered from the weather, something to keep active teens moving, an indoor team-building activity or just a cultural or creative escape, below is our list of all the best indoor activities you can enjoy in Brisbane.

Popular Indoor Activities

Skate Paradise

Cinemas

Not so much an activity but a pretty awesome way to experience some chill time together as a family indoors. Think salt-sprinkled buckets of butter popcorn, sweet-filled candy bags and large cushioned recliners housing all of you favourite people close by – it really is no surprise a day out at the movies is such a popular indoor option for Brisbane families.

Ice Skating

Escape the heat and head to one of Brisbane’s indoor ice-skating rinks. Don’t worry if you have never tried it before, Iceworld at Acacia Ridge and Boondall offer skate school classes for beginners to help get you started.

Indoor Go Karting

Indoor go karting is taken to the next level at Slideways in Eagle Farm. This hugely popular, multi-level indoor go karting venue boasts an impressive 425m track and have a range of karts catering for children 7 years and older. This one will be popular with your kids, regardless of their ages, and promises some serious, fast-paced indoor fun.

Indoor Laser Tag

When it comes to indoor activities in Brisbane which are guaranteed to get your kid’s hearts racing, a game or two of laser tag is hard to beat. Popular because kids love to work in teams and addictive for the heart-pumping fun it provides, even the adults love to get in on this one. Laserzone at Lawnton is just one of our favourites to enjoy a game of laser tag at.

Indoor Putt Putt/Mini Golf

Trying to score a hole in one while avoiding obstacles and having fun never gets boring. With indoor putt putt courses, popping up all over Brisbane there is no reason why you can’t work your way around all of them to see who can get the best score.

Indoor Rock Climbing

If you are climbing the walls with boredom, then why not do that at your local indoor rock climbing centre? Brisbane is home to some amazing venues which cater for people of all ages and abilities, with places like Crank Indoor Rock Climbing offering not just rock climbing but also indoor bouldering and ninja warrior course areas.

Indoor Roller Skating

A retro trend from the past which is still very much adored today, indoor roller skating is an activity the whole family can enjoy together. With general skate sessions, Learn2Skate, club sport, vacation care and even birthday parties on offer, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to skating options to choose from.

Tenpin Bowling

Another popular indoor activity for families is tenpin bowling. Numerous venues around Brisbane offer lanes to strike on, with bright lights, music, food and stylish footwear just a few of the additional highlights you can enjoy while there.

Trampoline Parks

Brisbane’s many indoor trampoline adventure parks, including the ever-popular BOUNCE franchise, are the perfect indoor activity if you have a kids with extra energy to release. With wall to floor trampolines, kids can bound off and onto every surface while you casually relax in one of the cafes that are usually found there too…unless of course you choose to join in too!

Indoor Activities for Younger Kids

miniBOUNCE

Indoor Craft Activities

Craft is an activity almost all children enjoy and a creative indoor activity which caters for younger kids is painting your own plaster or pottery ornaments. Indoor venues like Plaster Fun House and Colour My Pot will allow kids to select a ready-made character or object, paint and decorate it. And the best bit, you get to take it home, leaving all the creative mess behind. That’s a win-win situation for everyone! 

Indoor Playcentres

For Brisbane families with young children, play centres are possibly one of the most popular indoor activities. Bright, colourful and with a variety of different play spaces designed for small children to navigate safely, play centres offer parents the perfect indoor playground for their children to enjoy.

Music Classes

Bop and sing along to some catchy tunes at one of the many baby or toddler music classes in Brisbane. Aside from the well-known fact music classes motivate and enhance children’s cognitive, physical, emotional, social, behavioural and musical development, it is just a whole lot of fun too!

Trampoline Parks

While most indoor trampoline parks cater to the older children, we love miniBOUNCE at Carindale as it is specifically designed for pre-school kids. If you have an adrenalin-hunting child under 6, this is where they will want to be. 

Indoor Activities for Older Kids

Area 51

Arcades

Family fun at places like 1UP Arcade is guaranteed. Featuring an array of arcade games, pinball machines, skill testers and more, arcades provide hours of indoor entertainment for the whole family.

Cooking Classes

A great skill to learn and something most kids love to get involved in is cooking, so why not enrol your kids in one of the many kids cooking classes in Brisbane? You can go to them or even have a talented chef come to your own home to teach the kids to cook. Not only will they learn valuable life skills, you may even get a night off cooking!

Escape Rooms

Escape Rooms hit Brisbane with force a few years ago and have only grown in popularity – especially amongst tweens and teens. Working in small teams to solve puzzles and escape the room before the timer runs out, this indoor activity offers mystery, suspense and some serious problem-solving skills.

Gaming and eSports

With gaming and eSports becoming a preferred pastime for many children, finding an indoor venue which supports their passion while providing a social and community environment is a must. Places like EndGame’s facility at Sumner offer state-of-the-art facilities, knowledgeable staff and a fun atmosphere to boot!

Holographic Experiences

For an indoor experience unlike any other around, Brisbane’s Hologram Zoo features more than 50 holographic animals, including elephants, giraffes, and even a massive 25-meter hologram whale. As the animals are made of laser light, the Hologram Zoo is even able to bring back dinosaurs! 

Indoor Adventure Parks

Urban Xtreme, Area 51, and Revolution Sports Park are just some of the indoor adventure parks in Brisbane which have facilities older kids will get excited about. With trampoline spaces, high ropes courses, ninja warrior areas, basketball courts and even indoor ski slopes, they are the go-to venues for families looking for some indoor fun for their tween or teen.

Indoor Skate Parks

Got an avid skateboarder in the house but the weather outside is not ideal? There are an impressive number of indoor skate parks in Brisbane complete with all the ramps and runs you need under one roof. 

Indoor Skydiving

Want to experience the thrill of skydiving but from the safety on an indoor venue? Then head to iFly, where kids can float through the air in a controlled environment. They will love the adrenalin rush – and you will love avoiding the stress of watching them attempt the real deal.

Virtual Reality

Step outside of reality and into a world of make-believe and imagination. Virtual reality venues are fast becoming the newest craze of indoor fun for older kids and Brisbane’s Zero Latency VR experience is one of the best. With no wires or walls to get in the way of their virtual reality adventures, kids will love the feeling of being fully immersed in their gaming experience.

Indoor Activities for Adults

IMAGE CREDIT: QPAC Facebook page

Axe Throwing

Ever wondered what it would be like to throw an axe with force? Head to an axe throwing venue like Maniax or Lumber Punks where you can find out just what it feels like. Most venues have a fully licensed bar onsite and sell food, making it a unique place to gather for a party or event.

Brewery Tours

Interested in a slice of our state’s history while enjoying a cold beverage with other adult friends? The XXXX brewery tour takes you through the 140+ year history of Queensland’s most iconic brewery, takes approximately 90 minutes and concludes with a guided 3-beer tasting session.

Float Therapy

Looking for an hour or two of complete relaxation? City Cave‘s Float Therapy involves floating in water heated to match your body temperature with a high concentration of Epsom salts. This combination helps your body enter a deep state of relaxation, so your brain can enter a place of rest and repair.

Indoor Golf

For the avid golf pro, indoor golfing is a big hit for indoor activities which adults can enjoy in Brisbane. The Golf Bunker, xGolf and Golfer’s Paradise are such venues, offering state of the art golf course simulators for those wanting to play golf, practice or compete.

Music Venues

Get your groove on and attend an indoor music venue to listen to some tunes or perhaps even dance the night away. Right on the river, Brisbane Jazz Club offers a night out for parents in a picturesque environment. With a restaurant, bar and, some of the best live jazz music around, it’s the perfect indoor activity for adults looking to chill with friends. The Fortitude Music Hall is also an awesome place to check out live bands.

Painting Classes

It’s not only the kids who love to get creative and messy. Brisbane plays host to a number of different ‘Paint and Sip‘ art classes designed specifically for adults. Grab a glass of bubbly in one hand, a paint brush in the other and enjoy an evening with friends painting your next masterpiece.

Performances and Shows

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) in Brisbane offers a year-round schedule of theatre, music, dance, entertainment, and comedy shows. Whilst there are always children shows on rotation too, this also makes for the perfect indoor venue for a night out with friends or your partner.

Indoor Team Building Activities

Crank Indoor Rock Climbing

Cocktail Classes

Whilst coffee may be the go-to office beverage for most, a sweet cocktail after hours is also pretty popular when it comes to Friday afternoon drinks. Places like Brisbane Bartenders can guide your team as they shake, stir, mix and taste their way through a mixology class.

Coffee-Making Classes

Much like cooking classes but with a focus on perfecting the quintessential office beverage, coffee-making classes in Brisbane offer the perfect office team building experience. Barista Basics have a team session where together you will learn to perfect coffee using commercial and domestic machines before vying with other teams to see who can make the best tasting and looking coffees!

Escape Rooms

Not only for teens and tweens, Escape Rooms are an incredible option when it comes to indoor team-building activities. Having small groups work together in a pressure-filled but fun game of problem-solving gives you the opportunity to bond while also navigating how to find solutions as a team.

Indoor Bouldering/Rock Climbing

What better way to work as a team than to scale great heights with the assistance of a colleague or teammate? Working together to overcome each challenge, places like Wall Walkers in Capalaba have team and group bookings for up to 25 people available.

Team Cooking Challenges

There are a lot of different companies who offer an indoor Masterchef team building experience in Brisbane. Team Building Made Easy is one of them, offering not only the Masterchef Challenge experience but also a relaxed group cooking session too. Cooking in groups offers an opportunity for members to work together, delegate roles and work towards creating a culinary masterpiece together.

Free Indoor Activities

Ipswich Children’s Library

Building Tours

Go behind the scenes to discover some of Brisbane’s famous landmarks. The City Hall and its sky-high clock tower make for an interesting historical indoor activity with the kids. Visitors and locals alike are now welcomed into her glorious rooms with free daily tours which take about 45mins to 1 hour.

Libraries

The impressive range of free indoor activities offered at local city council libraries is probably a lot bigger than you realise. With STEM projects, story time, toddler and baby sessions and multiple craft and learning workshops for all ages on offer weekly, your main problem will be finding the time to fit them all in!

Local Discovery and Nature Centres

Many local, national parks and reserves in and around Brisbane house free discovery/nature centres on their premises. Places like the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre and Indigiscapes offer indoor interactive educational experiences centred around environmental and local animal conservation.

Our team at Brisbane Kids love the Daisy Hill Koala Centre. Not only does it provide a sanctuary and refuge for injured koalas on their road to recovery, but their free conservation education centre also offers a wealth of information and interactive fun for visitors.

Museums and Galleries

Stand beside a dinosaur, walk amongst Australia’s native animals and admire the many artworks, antiques and historical monuments which create our country’s cultural backbone. Brisbane’s impressive range of museums and galleries offer visitors a free indoor experience that is both breathtaking and educational all at once. You can find out more about the Museums and Galleries of Brisbane here.

Planetariums

Who doesn’t love looking at the stars? For an amazing indoor activity visit the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium where the majority of displays and activities are free.  Take a tour of Brisbane’s current night sky with one of their astronomers or visit the Planetarium’s Display Zone to take an astronomical journey from the present-day Solar System to the time of the Big Bang.

We guarantee there’s a venue to suit your needs and budget in this list, so, no matter if the day is freezing cold, steaming hot, or soaking wet, you’ll always find a great place indoors for the kids to play.

Indoor Play Centres – Brisbane

Area 51 at Underwood

Area 51 – Area 51 Brisbane in Underwood is Australia’s largest indoor playground occupying a total space of 10,000 square metres of endless fun! It’s a unique combination of indoor playground, sports centre and recreation centre. Read more about Area 51. 

Chipmunks – With venues in Everton Park, Morayfield, Loganholme, Macgregor and Robina, Chipmunks has a location to suit you. Fully air-conditioned and featuring state of the art play equipment, Chipmunks are a popular venue for all ages. With themed party rooms and a café, Chipmunks is a perfect place to party and play all day. www.chipmunks.com.au

Crocs Playcentre – This bright and colourful indoor play centre at North Lakes will see your Brisbane Kids running around climbing, sliding, leaping, and having fun while in a safe and friendly environment. Toddlers can even enjoy a seperate play space away from the bigger kids. https://northlakes.crocsplaycentre.com.au/

The Fun Spaceship – An affordable indoor play centre in Heritage Park with entertaining spaces for children up to 12yrs. The Fun Spaceship caters to indoor play at its best, with a climbing wall, maze structure, giant slide and ball guns. Themed birthday parties will be a huge hit with options including Minecraft and Superheros. The Fun Spaceship offers great value entertainment and is open weekends only, though private bookings can be arranged. www.funspaceship.com.au

The Jungle Adventure Play – Located in Tingalpa, The Jungle Adventure Play occupies a huge indoor space and features different experiences for a range of age groups. A junior zone has been set up for littlies aged under 2 years making this one of Brisbane’s most popular 1 year old birthday party venues. For slightly bigger kids aged under 8 years, they will find plenty of fun with the slides, obstacles and ball battle zone, whilst for the older kids and adults there’s a giant inflatable cushion, high ropes course and more. There’s even a fully licensed cafe. www.thejungletribe.com.au/

Pinwheel Island Kids Cafe & Playground – Pinwheel Island in Macgregor has been designed for kids aged 1 to 7 years to crawl, jump, balance, discover, slide, squeeze, bounce or just run-free. There’s also a cafe for parents. Read more about Pinwheel Island Kids Cafe & Playground.

Rainbow City Indoor Play Centre – Rainbow City in Underwood caters for kids aged 0 to 8 years. It includes colourful soft play mats, jumping castles and big play structures, as well as a cafe serving up healthy and light meals, coffee, cakes and snacks. Read more about Rainbow City Indoor Play Centre.

Indoor Play Centres – Gold Coast

If you are heading to the Gold Coast, you will want to check out our complete list of Gold Coast Indoor Playgrounds, which includes images and brief descriptions of features for each venue. 

Ten Pin Bowling in Brisbane

Aspley 10 Pin Bowl – Strap on your bowling shoes to knock the pins down at Aspley 10 Pin Bowl in Aspley. With a cafe on site and an arcade room to enjoy, it is a great venue for parties and family gatherings. Make sure you check out their family deals, meal deals and group rates. http://aspley10pinbowl.com.au/

Caboolture Bowl and Mini Golf – For something a little different, why not head out to Caboolture and combine your ten-pin bowling with your mini golf. Along with 18 ten pin bowling lanes, you will also find arcade games, mini golf and laser tag. http://caboolturebowl.com/

Kingpin – Get ready to score a strike at Kingpin at Westfield Chermside. Ten pin bowling is just one of the many activities on offer at Kingpin, making it an ideal venue for parties or fun days out. You can also try your hand at laser tag, karaoke, arcade games or even an scape room. https://www.kingpinplay.com/en-au/

Strike Bowling – Situated in the Brisbane CBD in the Wintergarden complex, Strike Bowling offers a unique bowling experience. The lights are dimmed, and the music is cranked up to create a lively party atmosphere while you knock the pins down. Also on offer at Strike is mini golf, laser tag, arcade games and escape rooms. https://www.strikebowling.com.au/

Zone Bowling – Zone Bowling is one of the biggest chains in Australia, with Queensland centres in several Brisbane locations (Capalaba, Garden City, Loganholme, Mt Gravatt & Richlands). Although you may come for the bowling, you can also enjoy laser tag or arcade games too. https://www.zonebowling.com/en-au

Indoor Laser Tag

Laserzone Lawnton

Kingpin Chermside – Located at Westfield Chermside, Kingpin boasts a ‘top-notch’ laser tag arena suitable for up to 24 players, making it perfect for kids birthday parties and other celebrations. www.kingpinplay.com/en-au/

Laserforce – A live action laser game where players can play on their own or as a team, Laserforce in Woolloongabba also caters for birthday parties, special hosted events during holiday periods, and a laserforce league. www.laserforce.com.au

Laserzone Family Entertainment Centre – Lasezone in Lawnton provides an awesome day out for the whole family. Entertainment features include a multi-level laser tag arena, bumper cars, arcade games and a jungle safari laser train. Laserzone can also cater to amazing action-packed, no fuss kids’ parties. Read more about Laserzone Lawnton.

Strike Laser Tag – Located in the Wintergarden complex in Brisbane’s CBD, Strike’s laser tag arena is an awesome indoor activity and just waiting for players to compete against each other and have loads of fun while doing so. www.strikebowling.com.au

Urban Xtreme – When you enter Urban Xtreme in Hendra you will be faced with many play options with laser tag being just one of them. This multi-level arena features the world’s most advanced ‘Helios Laser Tag’ technology and is a fun outing for beginners or those playing in tournaments or laser league. Read more about Urban Xtreme. 

Brisbane Indoor Rock Climbing

Urban Xtreme

Crank Indoor Rock Climbing – Crank, in Macgregor, is a playground for beginners through to advanced climbers, slackliners, spartan trainers, Tough Mudder trainers and ninja warriors. It is also a great venue for birthday parties and corporate events. Crank is massive, with over 250 climbs available. Read more about Crank Indoor Climbing.

Rocksports Indoor Climbing – Rocksports in Fortitude Valley offers people of all ages a venue where they can participate in the exciting sport of Indoor Climbing in a safe and friendly environment. No experience is necessary. Rocksports is a fun, social experience, and a great step into a world of adventure. www.rocksports.com.au

Urban Climb – These safe, fully supervised environments in West End, Milton and Newstead allow kids to do what comes naturally. At these state-of-the-art facilities, visitors will enjoy climbing under the watchful eye and the tuition of qualified instructors. Urban Climb offers birthday parties and climbing squads with programs from 5-18yr olds. www.urbanclimb.com.au

Urban Xtreme – Among the other fun, family-friendly activities on offer at Urban Xtreme in Hendra is the rock climbing wall. Featuring  lead rope, top rope, speed walls and auto-belay, there is something for every rock climber to explore at Urban Xtreme. Read more about Urban Xtreme. 

9 Degrees Bouldering – 9 Degrees at Enogerra has nine levels of difficulty, each depicted by a certain colour, ideal for older children (>16 years), or those with climbing experience. Which route will you be able to conquer? www.9degrees.com.au

Indoor Trampoline Parks

BOUNCE Inc

BOUNCE Inc. – BOUNCE Inc. in Tingalpa, Macgregor, Morayfield, and the Gold Coast provides a massive indoor adrenaline rush for all ages. Imagine more than 50 interconnected trampolines and giant air bags, with slam-dunk arenas, wall-running and dodgeball courts all rolled into one great venue – a blast for the whole family! Read more about BOUNCE Inc.

Flip Out – Flip Out in Strathpine is more than just a trampoline park. It has a main trampoline arena, Olympic trampolines, junior trampolines, under 10s area, foam pits, Slam Time (basketball), running walls, a cafe and more. www.flipout.com.au/strathpine

Just Jump – Just Jump in Redbank is a trampoline park for all ages with an indoor play area featuring jumping castles, rock climbing wall and of course trampolines galore. Just Jump is ONLY open in the school holidays.  www.justjumpqld.com.au

miniBOUNCE Inc. – The littlest of bouncers are not forgotten, with miniBOUNCE Inc. in Carindale. miniBOUNCE is an active adventure-play centre specially designed for pre-school kids. Everything at miniBOUNCE is designed to offer fun, active-play experiences that help develop a positive relationship with physical activity for life. Read more about MiniBOUNCE.

Revolution Sports Park – Revolution Sports Park in North Lakes has a massive jump-space with over 65 interconnected trampolines and an area dedicated for kids. It also features Climb City, a purpose-built climbing space with themed climbing walls, bouldering routes and Ninja Warrior ramps. Read more about Revolution Sports Park.

Urban Xtreme – Urban Xtreme in Hendra is Australia’s only indoor ski, rock climbing and adventure sports park and the home for adventure sports in Queensland! Featuring two trampoline courts, jumpers can bounce at a casual session or perhaps sign up to one of the trampoline gymnastics classes. Read more about Urban Xtreme. 

Skating Venues in Brisbane

Skate Paradise

Skate Paradise – Skate Paradise skating rink, situated in Hillcrest, is a great place for all the family. School holidays are always popular, with discounts available, and the venue is perfect for low-stress birthday parties. Check them out for Artistic Skating, Speed Skating, Roller Derby and Inline Hockey too! Read more about Skate Paradise.

Iceworld – As you enter one of the Iceworld rinks at Boondall or Acacia Ridge, you’ll escape the intense Queensland heat and instantly feel refreshed and revitalized. The music will excite you, the lights will dazzle you, the skating will surprise you and most importantly you’ll be as cool as ice! Read more about Iceworld.

Skateaway – Located in Albany Creek, Skateaway Family Skate Centre offers a great indoor skating venue, with air conditioning, a fun social atmosphere, great music, friends, fun and not to forget the low-impact exercise that roller and inline skating have to offer! They have regular general skating sessions, so there’s heaps of opportunity to get yourself down to Skateaway and learn something new. Read more about Skateaway.

Escape Rooms in Brisbane

Arcadium Adventures – Like stepping into the pages of your favourite story, head to Arcadium on Wickham Terrace in Brisbane CBD for an adventure you’ll always remember! Step through the portals into magical worlds where your team must work together to help find legendary artefacts and unravel the mysteries within. Bring your curiosity, your love of puzzles and your favourite people! www.arcadium.com.au/

Escape Hunt – Located in West End, Escape Hunt offers six game rooms with different adventures of varying difficulty, who will you bring with you to help you escape? www.escapehunt.com/au/brisbane/

Escape Manor – Escape Manor in Brisbane CBD, is an award-winning international escape room, with six challenging rooms to choose from including Cabin 13, The Magicians Secret and the Covenant.  www.escapemanor.com/brisbane

Fox in a Box – Located in the Brisbane CBD, Fox in a Box escape rooms provide an incredibly immersive experience, with amazingly detailed rooms and great puzzles to solve. Fox in a Box can also modify the clues and puzzles in several rooms to make them more suitable for the age of the children and teenagers who are playing, and can create an amazing birthday party escape room experience!  Read more about Fox In A Box.

Puzzled Room Escape – Located at Holland Park West and with two great rooms. www.puzzledroomescape.com.au/

Quest Room – Enter a world of mystery and try to escape never before seen scenarios at Quest Room, located at Spring Hill. www.questroom.com.au/

Red Lock Escape Rooms – Grab your friends and head to Red Lock Escape Rooms at North Lakes, to work together to solve the clues and escape, capping it off with a commemorative photo. You can even hold your next party there! www.redlockescaperooms.com.au

Strathpine Escape – On Brisbane’s north side you’ll find Strathpine Escape in Strathpine, where designated ‘kid’ escape rooms (as well as adult rooms) are set to challenge and entertain guests. Suitable for children 9 – 14 years, the kid escape rooms feature child-friendly puzzles as well as games master in the room to help if you get stuck. www.strathpineescape.com.au

Strike Escape Rooms – Found in the Wintergarden in Brisbane CBD, Strike Escape Rooms offers  several exciting puzzle rooms, with varying degrees of difficulty, to explore and escape from.  www.strikebowling.com.au/escape-rooms

Indoor Golf in Brisbane

Hey Caddy – Located perfectly beside X-Golf, Hey Caddy in North Lakes is an 18-hole mini golf course which will see families putting their way from far out places like Mars to the bustling streets of New York. https://heycaddy.com.au/

Holey Moley – Get ready to swing, putt and have fun at Holey Moley (Chermside, Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City). These unique indoor mini golf courses will see you and the family navigating your way round colourful, quirky and adventurous holes. You can even hold your next party there. https://www.holeymoley.com.au/

Undersea Putt and Play – This 18-hole indoor putt putt course in Redcliffe is fun for the whole family. The cool underwater themed course will see players trying to score the elusive hole in one in a fun environment. A fully licenced bar and redemption arcade is also on site. https://www.underseaputtandplay.com.au/

X-Golf – To practice your golf swing indoors head to X-Golf in North Lakes or Enoggera, where cutting-edge indoor golf simulators are available for players of all ages and skill levels. You can even sign up for lessons or join the x-league. https://www.xgolf.com.au/

Gaming Arcades in Brisbane

1UP Arcade – Family fun at 1UP Arcade in Morningside is guaranteed. 1UP Arcade is touted as Australia’s largest free play retro arcade, meaning you don’t need coins, tokens or credits to keep the family entertained, just pay the single flat-rate fee and get gaming.

Funhouse Family Entertainment Centres – With venues in Brisbane CBD, Sunnybank and Carindale (closed for renovations until late 2023), Funhouse Family Entertainment Centres will have the kids and adults gaming and having fun, with over 100 arcade games on offer. https://funhouse2023.staging.kingkong.net.au/

Kingpin – At Kingpin in Westfield Chermside you will find many fun activities to amuse the family. One of the favourites is the massive gaming arcade featuring everything from dancing games, driving games, riding games and more. Your biggest trouble will be deciding which to play first. https://www.kingpinplay.com/en-au/

Planet Arcade – With arcades at Strathpine and Westfield North Lakes, Planet Arcade has tonnes of games on offer including driving games, pin ball machines, virtual reality and many more. https://www.planetarcades.com.au/

Timezone – Get your game on at Timezone in Indooroopilly or Garden City, where visitors can enjoy an array of classic arcade games. If you are looking for something else perhaps you can enjoy karaoke, VR, laser tag, mini golf or even an escape room. https://www.timezonegames.com/en-au

Other Indoor Venues for Families

Hijinx Hotel

Hijinx Hotel – Hijinx Hotel at Westfield Chermside is made up of ten challenge rooms, where guests must achieve the given objective such as remembering song patterns on a giant piano, solving word scrambles, or throwing a basketball through a hoop.  The rooms are magical, immersive, and a whole lot of fun. Read more about Hijinx Hotel.

Hologram Zoo – Hologram Zoo in Cannon Hill showcases a collection of more than 50 holographic animals, including elephants, giraffes, and even a massive 25-meter hologram whale. Despite not being real, these holographic creatures are incredibly life-like and interactive, with the giraffes even appearing to nibble on leaves from visitors’ hands! Read more about Hologram Zoo.

We have lots of great ideas for making the most of Brisbane with kids in our Fun Activities section. You’ll be surprised by these Secret Brisbane locations and love exploring these 11 Brisbane Heritage Sites to Visit with Kids.

The rise in popularity of vintage arcades

First seen in around the 1930’s, arcade games (coin-operated video or sporting games and pinball machines) quickly became a source of fascination for society’s youth.  As technology and content grew, so did their popularity, and by the 1970s and 1980s, machines playing much-loved games like Pacman, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders and Street Fighter were stationed at nearly every corner store or shopping centre. The traditional arcades at the time, which featured row upon row of the machines, were the local hangout, overflowing with students after school and on the weekends.

Over the years as smartphone technology and at-home gaming systems slowly replaced them, arcade games seemed to become a thing of the past. The machines and venues slowly disappeared.  

Surprisingly, although their graphics have long since been surpassed, recent years has seen a resurgence in the popularity of the old-school arcade machines.  The number of arcades in Brisbane is now steadily growing.  There are now multiple locations and venues that feature arcades within them, as the new generation of gamers grow fond of their vintage style and older gamers chase down their youth with nostalgic glee.

How do modern arcades differ from the past?

Whilst many of the arcades in Brisbane feature original machines and games, many modern features differ from the past.  Most notably, you don’t need coins to operate them anymore.  Some venues, like 1UP, offer an all-day playing entry pass, with all games set to ‘free play’ mode. 

At other arcades, there are tokens you can receive or cards that you put a certain amount of playing credit on.

Another difference is the prizes (this one we love!).  Depending on how well you play your game or if you get any special bonuses while playing, you may be awarded some tickets at the end.  These will roll out from your machine or be added to your game card to be redeemed later at the gift store.  Gifts or treats are worth a certain amount of tickets and players can save them up to get the ultimate prize over time.

Finally, you can expect new games in addition to the old, and the machines now feature games with fancier controls.  Foot pads for dance machines, light up plastic guns for shooting games and even ski pads for downhill skiing!  

Arcades in Brisbane

1UP Arcade

1UP Arcade

1UP Arcade Brisbane is Australia’s largest Retro arcade, with over 200 original machines, and a dedication to arcade preservation and community. With a flat-rate all-day unlimited play entry, you can choose to play unlimited pinball at Brisbane’s biggest pinball venue, or play on hundreds of original arcade games.

Address: 230 Lytton Rd, Morningside
Contact: 0478 620 509

Funhouse

With two locations in Brisbane, Funhouse venues offer more than 100 games and attractions for you to explore in their arcade-style wonderland. Whether you love old-school arcade machines or the latest ticket and video games, they have you covered.  They also host birthday parties which include unlimited gameplay, a private party room, and free tickets to spend of gifts at the end too!

Address: Level 3/91 Queen St, Brisbane City  |  Corner Mains & McCullough Roads, Sunnybank
Contact: (07) 3210 0442 |  (07) 3344 6022

Netherworld

Situated right in the heart of the Valley’s entertainment precinct, Netherworld is a bar, diner and arcade game attraction in Brisbane.  Although they do allow under 18’s with their guardian until 5pm, it is probably a place to enjoy with your friends on a nostalgic night out rather than a family occasion.  With a fully-stocked bar and menu, Netherworld also houses forgotten treasures from the 70’s until present day including 15 pinball machines, 25 arcade machines, classic consoles and countless board games.

Address: 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Contact: 0424 156 667

B. Lucky & Sons

B. Lucky & Sons is another Valley venue that focusses on providing a top notch food, bar and arcade experience.  Although they also have rules about under 18’s and the times they are permitted within the venue (pre 8pm) they do host kids parties that include arcade games, food, drink, a host and even party gifts for the guests and birthday child.

Address: Shop T1/315 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Contact: (07) 3123 4445

Planet Arcades

Planet Arcades is a bright, clean and family-friendly arcade with two Brisbane locations.  They offer over 150 games across its venues, including shooting, driving, pinballs, basketball, Virtual Reality (VR) machines, bowling and more.  They also host kids’ birthday parties.

Address: 295 Gympie Rd, Strathpine  |  Shop E8/1 North Lakes Drive Westfield Shopping Centre, North Lakes
Contact: (07) 3205 6733  |  (07) 3048 3621

Timezone

One of the most popular birthday party venues in Brisbane, Timezone not only houses lasertag, bowling and bumper cars, but a full arcade of games too. Timezone has many arcade games suitable for players of all ages. Whether you’re looking for video games, claw machines or virtual reality experiences, they have it all! 

Address: Kessels Rd, Upper Mount Gravatt
Contact: (07) 3088 9122

Pincadia

Pincadia is a licenced venue with a passion for everything retro from the 80s. They have a large collection of pinballs, arcade machines, board games and card games for their guests to play and enjoy. They cater for the over 18s and families who are looking for somewhere comfortable to be social with like minded people who are also into retro 80s inspired games and 80s music videos.  Children are allowed but must be supervised at all times.

Address: 1/14 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba
Contact: (07) 3162 2522

Pinball Haus

Pinball Haus Arcade boasts over 20 quality pinball games from the Classic 90’s Bally Williams era through to the latest Stern, Amercian Pinball and Jersey Jack machines.  They often celebrate with special occasions like Pinball ‘n’ Pizza night and an Aussie classic Pinball ‘n’ Pie day. The arcade is also available for bookings for private functions, parties and special occasions.  They also sell pinball machines!

Address: 36 Baxter St, Fortitude Valley
Contact: 0403 464 636

If you love a bit of old-school entertainment, you may also be interested in our list Board Game Shops and Cafes in Brisbane.

The Gallery of Modern Art is situated in the same precinct as the Queensland Museum, State Library and Art Gallery. It has a children’s section that generally offers free interactive activities and fun for Brisbane Kids.

Many Brisbane parents will be familiar with the wonderful collection of museums and galleries in South Bank, but do you know about the interactive Children’s Art Centre housed within the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)?

The Gallery Of Modern Art – Children’s Art Centre

Children love to experiment, investigate and create. The Children’s Art Centre at GOMA makes art and gallery spaces available to even the littlest of Brisbane Kids.

The exhibits and activities within the Children’s Art Centre change regularly. Featured artists help design the exhibitions, encouraging interactive involvement in art appreciation and making. The activities ranged from process-style art, experimenting with materials, to product-based art, which focuses on the outcome of a project. Everything is optional, casual and self-paced. The activities involve anyone holding a pencil, even if some help is needed.

The gallery uses wall displays, photography, interactive technology, augmented reality, screens and three-dimensional installations to entice children’s creativity. The lower workspaces are created with little bodies in mind but are still comfortable for adults. The materials on hand encourage children to be art makers and sensory explorers.

Art experiences for children

In addition to the free Children’s Art Centre, GOMA and the Queensland Art Gallery also runs paid guided art experiences for children throughout the year. These include Art Starters for babies aged 4-12 months. Art Play Date for toddlers aged 1-3 years and Art Explorers for children aged 3-5 years.

Accessibility at GOMA

GOMA is a very accessible venue providing various inclusive experiences. Buildings are well-designed for physical accessibility. Contact the gallery to discuss available options if you have a child with special needs.

• Accessible toilets
• Parents room
• Complimentary wheelchair hire is available; this requires booking before visiting.
• Companion cards are recognised.
• Auslan-interpreted guided tours are available for specific exhibits.
• Low sensory experiences are offered for autistic visitors and people with sensory sensitivity.
• Braille and large print guides are available for visitors at specific exhibitions.
• Audio-described tours offer a narrated description of the visual elements of selected artworks for low or no vision visitors.
• Guide dogs and registered assistance dogs are welcome.
• Visitors with a cochlear implant, hearing aid or hearing loss can join a small group tour led by a volunteer guide with an assistive listening device.

What we thought of our trip to the Children’s Art Centre

We were excited to visit the Children’s Art Centre. Viewing and discussing what we saw was great for developing my child’s imagination and questioning skills. Using different materials helps my little Brisbane Kid gain confidence and welcome experiments as part of their learning. We also loved exploring outside, looking at the statues, admiring the city building and watching ferries on the river. It was a great day out!

Is GOMA Child-Friendly?

GOMA generally has activities for free, and the Gallery of Modern Art is well known for devoting space to a children’s section and playing host to some of the largest children’s Art Exhibitions in Australia. 

You will find the children’s gallery downstairs once are in the main entrance of GOMA. There is generally a staff member to greet you or else just ask the friendly people at the clock room which is on the right as you enter through the main doors. 

The Gallery of Modern Art also has regular main exhibitions that can be child-friendly. Their exhibitions often have an entry fee and require more supervision than in the children’s gallery. What that looks like will depend on the activity on offer; some are far more interactive than others. 

Is the Gallery of Modern Art free?

Entry to GOMA and the Children’s Art Centre is free. However, there are feature exhibitions that require payment for admission.

The cost of participating in the guided art appreciation sessions for children is $10 or $7 for members of QAGOMA.

We list the major paid exhibitions on the  Things to Do in Brisbane Calendar.

How do you get to GOMA?

GOMA is located on Stanley Place, South Brisbane. You can get here by car, bus, train, or ferry, and it is only a short walk from Brisbane’s CBD. Parking is available under the cultural precinct for $17 a day.

Are there places to eat around GOMA?

There is the odd cafe and Museum restaurant near GOMA but many people tend to head to nearby South Bank if they are grabbing a bite to eat. The Gallery of Modern Art is also surrounded by lush green lawns and provides the perfect opportunity for an outdoor picnic if you want to save a few dollars.

To discover what is on at the Gallery of Modern Art, head to their website here https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/

Brisbane City Council Libraries

Annerley Library

450 Ipswich Road

Ashgrove Library

87 Amarina Avenue 

Banyo Library

284 St Vincents Road

Bracken Ridge Library

Corner Bracken and Barrett Streets

Brisbane Square Library & Customer Centre

266 George Street

Bulimba Library

Corner Riding Road and Oxford Street 

Carina Library

Corner Mayfield Road and Nyrang Street

Carindale Library

Carindale Regional Shopping Centre Creek Road 

Chermside Library

375 Hamilton Road 

Coopers Plains Library

107 Orange Grove Road

Corinda Library

641 Oxley Road 

Everton Park Library

561 South Pine Road

Fairfield Library

Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre, Fairfield Road 

Garden City Library

Corner Logan and Kessels Road Upper Mt Gravatt 

Grange Library

79 Evelyn Street

Hamilton Library

Corner Racecourse Road and Rossiter Parade 

Holland Park Library

81 Seville Road

Inala Library

Corsair Avenue

Indooroopilly Library

318 Moggill Road 

Mitchelton Library

37 Heliopolis Parade | Look at our review of Mitchelton Library and its neighbouring park here.

Mt Coot-tha Library

Administration Building, Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong 

Mt Gravatt Library

8 Creek Road

Mt Ommaney Library

123 Dandenong Road 

New Farm Library

135 Sydney Street

Nundah Library

1 Bage Street 

Sandgate Library

Seymour Street

Stones Corner Library

280 Logan Road 

Sunnybank Hills Library

Corner Compton and Calam Roads 

Toowong Library

9 Sherwood Road

West End Library

178 Boundary Street

Wynnum Library

Bay Terrace 

Zillmere Library

Corner Jennings Street and Zillmere Road

Before you go, check for opening hours here

Moreton Bay Regional Council Libraries

Albany Creek Library

Ferguson Street

Arana Hills Library

Narellan Park

Beachmere Community Library

Shop 5, Beachmere Plaza, 874-876 Beachmere Road

Bribie Island Library

Cnr First Avenue & Welsby Pde, Bongaree

Burpengary Library

Station Road

Caboolture Library 

4 Hasking Street

Deception Bay Library

Cnr Captain Cook Parade & Bayview Terrace

Donnybrook Community Library

Level 1, 33 King Street, Caboolture

Kallangur Library

1480 Anzac Avenue

Library Express Caboolture Central Library

Ground Floor, 33 King Street

Mobile Library

Cnr Gympie and South Pine Roads, Strathpine

Mount Mee Community Library

Level 4 33 King Street, Caboolture

Narangba Library

Shop 1 A, Narangba Village Shopping Centre, Main Street

Pathways Dispenser

1 The Corso, North Lakes

Pathways Library

1 The Corso, North Lakes

Redcliffe Library

470-476 Oxley Avenue

Strathpine Library

Corner Gympie and South Pine Roads

Toorbul Community

Level 1 33 King Street

Woodford Library

Cnr Archer & Elizabeth Streeta

Before you go, check for opening hours here

Redland City Council Libraries

Cleveland Library

Bloomfield Street, (corner of Middle Street)

Capalaba Library

14 Noeleen Street

Victoria Point Library

7-15 Bunker Road

Mobile Library

The Mobile Library tours around the Redlands, making scheduled visits to various neighbourhoods

Dunwich Library

Ballow Road

Point Lookout Library

East Coast Road

Russell Island Library

22 High Street

Logan City Council Libraries

Beenleigh Library

Crete Street

Greenbank Library

145 – 167 Teviot Road

Jimboomba Library

18 – 22 Honora Street

Logan Central Library

26 Wilbur Street

Logan Hyperdome Library

66 – 70 Mandew Street

Logan North Library

Cnr Sports Drive and Springwood Road

Logan Village Library

Wharf Street

Logan West Library

69 Grand Plaza Drive

Marsden Library

35 Chambers Flat Road

Ipswich City Council Libraries

Ipswich Central Library

Nicholas Street Precinct

Childrens Library

1 Nicholas Street Building, Nicholas Street Precinct

Redbank Plaza Library

284 St Vincents Road

Redbank Plains Library

Moreton Avenue

Rosewood Library

15 Railway Street

Springfield Central Library

Orion Springfield Central, Cnr Main Street and Sirius Drive

Karalee Library Pod

Karalee Shopping Village, 35 / 51 Junction Road, Chuwar

What can people expect to find at their council library?

Most people don’t realise just how many different activities and learning opportunities local council libraries offer their visitors.  No longer simply spaces for borrowing books, council libraries now offer a range of weekly workshops and sessions that cater for all ages – from babies, toddlers and teens all the way up to the oldest of residents.

If you are a new mum, there is no better venue providing free daily indoor fun than your local library.  A great place to meet other parents, library sessions catering for young families include nursery rhyme sing and dance alongs as well as many craft and play workshops.

For the older children there are STEM building workshops, movie nights, bookclubs, homework help and more.

For a comprehensive list of what your local council libraries offer, check out our list of Free Library Activities for Kids.

Board Game Shops In Brisbane

Presents of Mind

Presents of Mind in Paddington has been the go-to board game shop in Brisbane for me for many years.  It has the most beautiful, quaint atmosphere, wonderful service and shelves after shelf after shelf stacked high with a range of classic and unique board games.  Seriously, I can spend ages just wandering around this store looking for my latest buy.  The store prides itself on stocking unique finds and other educational and fun puzzles and games.  Be warned, allow a little bit of time to explore!

Presents of Mind now also have stores at Indooroopilly and Fairfield if that is easier for you to get to.

Shop Location: 285 Given Terrace, Paddington QLD 4064  |  Shop 2/18 Stamford Rd, Indooroopilly QLD 4068  |  Fairfield Gardens, Shop 12/180 Fairfield Rd, Fairfield, 4103

Contact Number: (07) 3367 3711 (Paddington)   |  0490 818 961 (Indooroopilly)   |  0490 818 962  (Fairfield)

Website:  Presents of Mind

Vault Games

Vault Games is an amazing space in Brisbane that is completely dedicated to board games.  With over 400 board games on offer, you can head into their store and either browse and buy one of your choosing or sit down and play any of their games for FREE!  All they ask is if you aren’t there to buy, please buy at least a drink or a small snack to help out with the store’s expenses.  They have an extensive range both in-store and online to choose from.

Shop Location: LG, 62 Queen St, Brisbane City, 4000

Contact Number: (07) 3211 5472

Website:  Vault Games

More Than Meeples

More than Meeples bills itself as a hobby, collectable & online Board Game Shop.  It use to be an online-only store but now has a physical shop based in Fortitude Valley.  They have thousands of board games listed on their website too. If you do head into the valley store, just know that you need to push the buzzer on the door and then someone will come and let you through.

Shop Location:  17c/455 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, 4006

Contact Number:  1300 564 059

Website:  More Than Meeples

Good Games Brisbane

Good Games has a huge franchise of stores around Australia and we have two of their board game shops in Brisbane, one based in Spring Hill and the other in Mt Gravatt.  Both stores have a range of board games that you can purchase in-store but there are also over 7,000 board games listed online that you can purchase and have shipped from their warehouse.  For that reason alone we thought they deserved a mention on this list as you can search through all their online stock and call the stores in Brisbane to see if they have it in stock or if you have any questions about a game.

Shop Location: 74 Little Edward Street Spring Hill, 4000   |  Suite 8, 2012 Logan Rd, Mount Gravatt, 4122

Contact Number:(07) 3832 2230 (Spring Hill)   |  (07) 3219 2356 (Mt Gravatt)

Website:  Good Games

The Dice Spot

The Dice Spot in Wavell Heights is a store home to a couple of hundred board games ready to be purchased.  Although most of their games are more strategy/adult focussed games, they also stock a good variety of family board games.

Shop Location: 270 Rode Rd, Wavell Heights QLD 4012

Contact Number: 0488 555 517

Website:  The Dice Spot

Games World

Games World has dedicated board game shops based in Westfield Carindale and Capalaba Park Shopping Centres.  Although the Capalaba store is the larger of the two, they both stock the same amount of board games and aim to carry all available games at both locations.

Shop Location:  Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre |  Capalaba Park Shopping Centre

Contact Number: (07) 3324 8888  (Carindale)   |  (07) 3390 1972

Website:  Games World

Gametraders

Gametraders can be found near the Westfield Chermside food court (the original one) and think of themselves as board game specialists.  Their board game section (with a couple of hundred board games) can be found near the rear of the store and there is a healthy selection there for any board game enthusiast to explore. If the game is listed on their site, then you should be able to pick it up in-store!

Shop Location: Shop 253 Gympie Road &, Hamilton Rd, 4032

Contact Number:  (07) 3861 5000

Website:  Gametraders

Board Game Cafes In Brisbane

If you want to get out and about with the family once you have purchased your new games, you may want to check out the below board game cafe in Brisbane.  Set up so that you can come in and make the most of your board game experience by playing games with your family and enjoying a bite to eat simultaneously; we would love for more of these in Brisbane!

Vault Games, Brisbane City

Vault Games is the perfect place to kick up your heels and enjoy a board game with your friends. With a library of over 300 board games, plenty of table space, and plenty of snacks, drinks, and even Beer, Cider and Wine, there are plenty of reasons to hang out and play a game.

There are also daily events for you to get involved in, whether gathering with your fellow card game players to beat out your opponents or enjoying a fantastical adventure with a party of new friends and a comprehensive library of in-store paints to get your plastic miniatures battle-ready.

And if you enjoy what you played, you can pick it up from their attached store, boasting a wide range of tabletop hobby products and knowledgeable staff all ready to help you out where they can.

Address: LG 62 Queen St in the heart of the Brisbane CBD on the Queen Street Mall

Opening Hours:  Mon – Sat 10am – 10pm, Sun 10 – 6pm.

Book a table: Table Booking

Website:  Vault Games

Contact Number:  07 3211 5472

Menu Highlights: No cooked food – only snacks, drinks, beer, cider and wine; but you can bring in outside meals if you want!

If you would love to get your littlest ones into your love of board games too but are not sure which would be best for them, check out our list here of board game ideas for toddlers and preschoolers.