Family Days Out in Brisbane

October 30, 2026

Family days out in Brisbane

Brisbane has plenty of free or low-cost things for children, and most of them sit within a short ride of each other. All prices are in Australian dollars and come from the operators’ pages at the time of writing, so check before you go.

Free water play at South Bank

Streets Beach is a free, lifeguarded lagoon beach in South Bank Parklands, and the Aquativity water play park next to it is also free. The lagoon can close at short notice, and hours change with the season, so read the Visit South Bank notices on the day. Do not let children swim in the Brisbane River, because bull sharks are recorded far upstream. Streets Beach is the place for swimming.

SparkLab at Queensland Museum

General entry to Queensland Museum Kurilpa is free. SparkLab, the hands-on science zone, is a separate ticket: adult $16.50, child aged 5 to 15 $13.50 and family $49, based on prices effective from February 2025, so confirm 2026 figures. It is recommended for ages 6 to 13. The building opens 9:30 to 17:00, with SparkLab sessions on the half hour from 9:30 to 15:00. See the museum’s SparkLab page .

Animals

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has an adult day pass at $63, and its child price is not confirmed, so look it up before you go. Koala holding ended there on 1 July 2024, but children can still hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies and see koalas from the paths. Details are on the sanctuary’s site .

For a free option, Daisy Hill Koala Centre in Daisy Hill Conservation Park is open 10:00 to 16:00 daily and closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It shows koalas only.

Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre at The Gap charges adults $17.30 and concession $13.80, includes the same-day wildlife centre and has a ranger-led Wildlife Discovery Show on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00.

Parks and a train ride

Roma Street Parkland at 1 Parkland Boulevard is free and open 24 hours. The Children’s Garden playgrounds are unfenced, so keep an eye on small children near the paths. The Xpress Fun Train, also called the Parkland Explorer, runs on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00 at $6 per person.

A rainy-day museum

Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank is open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 16:15. An older listing gave adult entry at about $18 and a child at about $8, so hedge those figures. Touring the warship HMAS Diamantina involves cramped spaces and ladders, which may not suit very small children.

Getting about with children

TransLink buses, City trains, trams, CityCats and ferries cost a flat 50 cents per journey, and the CityHopper ferry is free. A CityCat ride is a cheap treat in itself. Pack hats, sunscreen and water, because UV is extreme most of the year, and head indoors when summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon.

For a guided family day, browse Brisbane family tours on Viator .