Escape was there on day one - these are the highlights of the new immersive experience based on the much-loved TV show
Bluey’s World has opened in Brisbane, and my six-year-old son Oliver and I were among the first people in the universe to check it out. Wackadoo! The epic new attraction, which stretches across a whopping 4,000sqm at the custom-built Northshore Pavilion, takes fans on a magical one-hour guided journey through the Heelers’ Queenslander-style home, into their backyard and beyond. These are the things that floated our barky boat the most ...
The fun begins before you even arrive, with two of the city’s famous CityCats converted to ‘CityDogs’ to complement the attraction. You can board the one painted like Bluey or the one painted like her little sister Bingo from Howard Smith Wharves in the city for the 30-minute ride to the Northshore Hamilton ferry terminal.
I’m surprised to find I get a bit choked up when I see the recreated exterior of the Heelers’ home – complete with a white picket fence, purple flowers and two wheelie bins out the front – as we enter the pavilion. After stepping through the front door, we follow the hallway into the living room, before continuing on to a fantastical room inspired by the Cubby episode, the girls’ bedroom, playroom and kitchen.
In the spirit of the show’s ethos to spark creativity and connection, the team behind Bluey’s World wanted the experience to be as interactive as possible. Oliver is beyond thrilled to find the first clue that will help lead us to our ultimate goal – finding Bluey and Bingo – in the living room, excitedly running up to the life-sized gnome who guides us through the attraction in pantomime-like fashion.
It’s a hoot seeing the world’s cheekiest and most annoying hand puppet pop up on top of the wardrobe in the girls’ bedroom – and trust us when we say he’s just as obnoxious for real life as he is in the show. Every good story needs an antagonist, and Unicorse plays the role to perfection as he tries to thwart us from our mission.
The Heeler’s immortalised the game of Keepy Uppy, in which players endeavour to prevent a balloon from touching the ground, in the very first series of the show. We get our competitive juices flowing by joining in the fun with a few red balls awaiting our arrival in the backyard. There’s also a poinciana tree and a couple of stumps peppered with toy nail polish for dads in need of a mani or a pedi.
The Creek is one of my favourite Bluey episodes ever, so I love stepping into the enchanting section of Bluey’s World that features towering trees and an interactive floor that lights up in ripples when you walk on it, with fish, tadpoles and turtles also swimming under-feet, and a potoroo watching from the riverbank nearby.
If you are alert, you will find plenty of hidden ‘Easter eggs’ throughout the attraction. Look inside the oven in the kitchen and you’ll see the famous duck cake from Bingo’s birthday party, while Bandit’s undies have been strategically placed in the dishwasher. And just as there’s a ‘long dog’ to hunt for in every Bluey episode, there’s one concealed in every room at Bluey’s World.
Remember Alfie, the kind-hearted teenager who helps Bandit work out what kind of Moonlight Unicorn toy tantrum-prone cousin Muffin wants for her birthday on his first day on the job? He’s been upgraded to having his own gift shop that inevitably comes at the end of the experience at Bluey’s World, selling everything from plush toys to puzzles.
After finally meeting Bluey and Bingo, kids can burn off their energy at a large, brightly coloured indoor playground inspired by those in the Heelers’ neighbourhood in the show. There’s also a wall with games like Barky Boats, Burger Shop and 4 Dollarbucks in a Row.
Another little nugget we discovered were the fortune cookies in the Golden Crown take-away shop, which doubles as the Bluey’s World food outlet. Each of the slips of paper inside contains a poignant saying from the show – from ‘Just run your own race’ to ‘Don’t forget to check for bum worms’.
Tickets for Bluey’s World are on sale until September 14, 2025. More information: https://ticketek.blueysworld.com.au/
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