Things to do with kids in Brisbane over the Christmas school holidays
By Nick Dent
With theme parks and popular holiday beach towns located to the north and south, Brisbane can be a bit of a Christmas ghost town, especially for families.
But it doesn’t have to be. Here are 28 things to do here in Brissie to help pass the holiday period painlessly if you’re staying put. Bookmark this page for ideas over the next couple of months, and good luck to you.
Newmarket Olympic Pool. $2 dips will return this summer.Credit: Brisbane City Council
1. Cool off at a public swimming pool
Brisbane City Council pools are just $2 entry again for everyone from now until the end of February. There are also several spectacular free pools and waterholes around town: namely Streets Beach (South Bank), Orion Lagoon (Springfield Central), Settlement Cove (Redcliffe), Wynnum Wading Pool (Wynnum) and Enoggera Reservoir (Enoggera).
2. Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks
The best vantage points are from Kangaroo Point Cliffs, South Bank Parklands, Wilson’s Outlook Reserve, the Riverwalk, and Victoria Bridge. Venues across the city are putting on parties, with rooftop bars a particularly hot ticket, and public transport running extra services. Tue Dec 31.
3. Speed into Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Sonic, Tails and Knuckles face a powerful and mysterious new adversary, Shadow the Hedgehog (voiced by Keanu Reeves), in the third live action film of the franchise. In cinemas Dec 26.
Run amok in the Heeler home at Bluey’s World.Credit: Bluey's World Brisbane
This interactive attraction opened in November and offers a guided tour through a recreation of the Heeler family home. Meet gnomes, fairies and Unicorse, buy exclusive merch, get a snack from the Golden Crown takeaway, and you can even arrive on a “CityDog” ferry decked out like Bluey or Bingo. 281 Macarthur Avenue, Hamilton, Daily until Sep 14, $49.90-$64.90. Bookings essential.
5. Bah, humbug: A Christmas Carol returns
Not even the Ghost of Christmas Future could have predicted the staying power of this local adaptation of Charles Dickens’ yuletide novella, which returns to QPAC for its seventh record-breaking season. Local legend Eugene Gilfedder stars as always as Ebenezer Scrooge. Playhouse, QPAC, Dec 12-24, $65-$75.
6. See kids’ TV star Andy and his band, the Odd Socks
Famous for Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures, Andy’s Safari Adventures and Andy and the Band, Andy Day is a children’s TV superstar. These all-ages daytime gigs have songs for everyone to sing along to and a positive message to be yourself. Fortitude Music Hall, Wed Jan 22, $48.72-$57.84.
Dr Xand (L) and Dr Chris on stage for their live Operation Ouch tour.
7. Get up close and gross with Operation Ouch Live
TV’s identical twin doctors, Chris and Xand van Tulleken, are experts at getting kids excited about science, medicine, and the human body. Their new stage show, Quest for the Jurassic Fart!, takes audiences back to the age of the dinosaurs. Concert Hall, QPAC, Jan 6-8, $49.90-$69.90.
Archerfield Wetlands District Park.Credit: Brisbane City Council
Opened in October 2024, this impressive new playground takes over the grounds of the former Inala Wastewater Treatment Plant. Built over a massive sandpit, the playground’s centrepoint is a three-storey yellow tube slide that curls around a steel pole. Reused pipes throughout spray water mist to help children cool down. 455 Bowhill Road, Durack. Find more spectacular free playgrounds.
9. Bear up with Paddington in Peru
The Marmalade-loving bear voiced by Ben Whishaw returns for a third outing in which he returns to Peru to visit his Aunt Lucy, bringing the Brown family with him. In cinemas Jan 1.
View a wide range of native Australian animals at Ipswich Nature Centre.Credit: Nick Dent
Want to show the kids some animals but are worried about the cost? The Ipswich Nature Centre has wallabies, kangaroos, dingoes, bats, an emu, farm animals, a wombat, bilbies, a spotted tail quoll, a wedge-tailed eagle, parrots, lorikeets, pigeons, curlews and ducks. It’s wheelchair accessible, and apart from a gold coin donation, it’s free. Goleby Avenue, Queens Park. Tue-Sun 9.30am-4pm (daily in school holidays). Find more zoos in south-east Queensland.
11. See the stars at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
The planetarium is open every day during school holidays except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Be greeted by a replica of Neil Armstrong’s Apollo spacesuit, spacecraft models and real asteroid fragments. Entry is free, but shows in the Cosmic Skydome attract a charge. Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Mount Coot-Tha. Mon-Sun 10am-4pm, free. Closed public holidays.
12. Get lost in the South Bank Christmas Maze
The Christmas maze is one of a number of family-friendly events happening in South Bank in the lead-up to Christmas. Dec 14-21, daily 10am-10pm, free.
Mufasa (voiced by Braelyn Rankins) in Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King.Credit: Disney Enterprises Inc.
13. Rejoin the circle of life with Mufasa: The Lion King
The live-action version of Disney’s tale gets a musical prequel with the story of Simba’s dad. Donald Glover and Beyonce return as Simba and Nala; Elton’s not attached, but songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) shouldn’t be too shabby. In cinemas Dec 19.
14. Spend an evening in The Enchanted Garden
Lights, holograms and lasers have turned the Roma Street Parkland into a dazzling wonderland, with a 1km self-guided and wheelchair-accessible trail. Entry is staggered nightly and bookings are essential. The Celebration Lawn has a bar and food trucks. Roma Street Parkland, Until Dec 21, Mon-Sun from 6.30pm-10pm, $0-$9.
15. Have a holey night (or day) at Christmas Putt Putt
This popular mini-golf course at Victoria Park takes on its yuletide livery again with tinsel, snowpeople and more. Don’t forget to book ahead online. Victoria Golf Course, daily from 6am, until Jan 2, $0-$20. Closed Dec 25.
Museum of Brisbane’s New Light: Young Explorers Tour.Credit: Joe Ruckli
16. Try the Museum of Brisbane Summer School Holidays activities
The MOB is a great place to take kids over the break as there are special workshops and tours planned. Learn how to make your own camera obscura, zine, ‘Macaranga Mate’ or Family Flyer kite, or take a morning tour of the New Light exhibition, including games and activities. Check online to book. Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, King George Square, Brisbane. Daily 10am-5pm. Closed Dec 25-26 & Jan 1.
17. All aboard for a Day Out with Thomas: The Bubble Tour
Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich has plenty of hands-on gadgets for kids of all ages to explore, but the museum also has special Thomas Tank Engine days for five years and under. Meet Thomas and explore bubble-themed performances and activities. North Street, North Ipswich, Dec 27-Jan 26, 9.30am-2.30pm, $0-$21 (family $68). Closed Dec 25-26.
18. Dodge the spray at Wynnum Whale Park
The popular “sprayground” features a pod of spouting whales and a tipping bucket. Next door, the huge tidal pool, built in 1932, is a great place to escape the heat and features a small spiral slide for the kids. 137 Wynnum Esplanade, Wynnum, free.
Uptown is hosting festive Lego workshops.Credit: Uptown Brisbane
19. Uptown Festival Lego Workshops and Play Zone
These 45-minute workshops feature a Lego brick technique lesson and instruction on building a personalised festive decoration to take home. Morning sessions are for kids 6-11 years and afternoons are for 12 years and over. The Festive Lego Play Zone nearby is free, as are the Christmas dioramas in the Queen Street Mall windows. Uptown, Level 2 (outside Daiso), Nov 30-Dec 24, hourly 10am-2pm, $35pp.
20. Roll up to the Circus Fun House
The Pink Flamingo Brisbane’s Circus Fun House returns for the school holidays for Fridays and Saturdays from January. See acrobatics, clowning and comedy, and food and drinks can be ordered to your table. Pink Flamingo Spiegeland, Hamilton, Jan 3-Feb 8, $25-$78 (family tickets available).
Photo ops with Santa are available at South Bank in two daily sessions, 10am-1pm and 2pm-4.30pm. Mrs Claus time is at 2pm-4.30pm. Special ‘Sensory Santa’ sessions are on Dec 18, 19 and 21 from 9am-10am. Flowstate, South Bank Parklands, Dec 14-21.
Jungle Adventure Play North Lakes offers active indoor fun to kids of all ages.Credit: Jungle Adventure Play
22. Get active at Jungle Adventure Play North Lakes
Jungle Adventure Play North Lakes recently opened its doors, inviting kids of all ages to 1000 square metres of fun. Attractions include interactive climbing walls, a high ropes course, ninja courses for juniors and adults, indoor playgrounds, a licensed restaurant and indoor and outdoor café. They also have a Jungle in Tingalpa. 2 McLennan Court, North Lakes. Daily 9am-5pm; prices vary (book online). Closed Dec 25-26 & Jan 1.
Baseball hasn’t been big in Brisbane for a while – The Ballpark would like to change that. Spend a day at Brisbane’s only interactive baseball experience where digital baseball batting cages and a full game simulation can challenge your skills. There’s pool and darts as well. Shop 905.1, Portside Wharf, daily 10am-10pm $35pp. Closed Dec 24-25.
24. Learn to juggle at Flipside Circus Workshops
Workshops range from one to five days for kids aged five years and up. Budding acrobats can try the teeterboard, aerial silks, trapeze and more. Brisbane Circus Centre, 221 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton.
Kawita Vatanajyankur and Pat Pataranutaporn. The Machine Ghost in the Human Shell (from the ‘Cyber Labour’ series), 2024. Credit: Courtesy: The artist and Nova Contemporary / © Kawita Vatanyankur
Every three years the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art put on a huge, free exhibition of new art from our region and much of it is colourful and entertaining for kids. From Kawita Vatanajyankur’s videos where she turns herself into machines, to Zhang Xu Khan’s cute foxes and deer, there is plenty to see and discuss, and there are also kids’ craft activities dotted around the two (air-conditioned!) galleries. Stanley Place, South Bank, daily 10am-5pm, free. Closed Dec 25-26.
26. Watch the South Bank Christmas Parade
Starting at the Piazza and ending at Stanley Street Plaza, a parade of yuletide characters will entertain the crowds at South Bank. Dec 14-22, 6pm, free.
27. Rock out to Li’l Elvis and the Truckstoppers
Based on the 1990s animated series that aired on the ABC, Li’l Elvis follows a multicultural group of kids in outback Australia who form a band and play “didgibilli” rock. Brisbane Powerhouse, Jan 10-18, $49.90-$99.
Stela from the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, part of the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Brisbane.Credit: @ Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
28. Meet the mummies at the Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition
Five sarcophagi, respectfully displayed, are highlights of the Queensland Museum Kurilpa’s blockbuster Discovering Ancient Egypt exhibition. It’s ticketed, but there are free things to see at the museum, including dinosaurs and a show of “secret” items. Corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Bank. Daily 9.30-5pm, $15-$29.90. Closed Dec 25-26.