39 Things to do In and Around Brisbane with Kids Who Love Science
Do your kids love science as much as ours? Are you looking for something to do with your science-loving kids near Brisbane?
There are so many activities for kids who love science in and around Brisbane.
Brisbane has multiple gardens, a science museum, a planetarium, and lots of free discovery centers nearby.
Read on for some of our favorite science-related places to visit with kids in and around Brisbane.
Gem Mining Near Brisbane
Have little geologists?
Head to Thunderbird Park at Tamborine Mountain.
Kids can go gem mining, and they also have rock fossicking for all ages. Read our family’s review of gem mining and rock fossicking at Thunderbird Park.
Tamborine Mountain is about an hour south of Brisbane and one of our favorite places to go when we want to get out of the city for a day.
Class Bento offers classes for kids and adults. There is an option for “gem making” on Tamborine Mountain.
In Windsor, about 15 minutes outside of Brisbane’s CBD, you can find the Brisbane Opal Museum.
You can take a self-guided tour of the museum and learn about the history of opal mining.
About an hour north of Brisbane is Opals Down Under, a large opal shop that offers Scratch Patch Gem Fossicking.
You can pay for your child to receive a container that they get to fill with the gems they find. Any gem that fits in their container can be taken home.
Paradise Country on the Gold Coast has 2 different types of gem mining for kids.
Located about an hour south of Brisbane, Paradise County has options for guests to stay the night in tents or glamping tents, or to visit during the day.
While there are plenty of activities for kids at Paradise County, there are 2 options for gem mining.
The first option is to pan for gold, gems, and fossils. The second option is opal mining in a cave.
Read more about Paradise County and gem mining with kids near Brisbane.
Free Nature Centres near Brisbane
There are so many fantastic walking trails in and around Brisbane, and many of them are connected to Nature Discovery Centres.
These nature discovery centres are free and the perfect place to spend some time during a family day out.
We try to walk first and end in the Discovery Centre, but it does not always work out that way.
The walks that are near discovery centres are generally flat and easy.
Here are some of our favorites.
- Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre
- Indiscapes Environmental Centre
- Boondall Wetlands
- Brisbane Koala Bushlands
- Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
- Daisy Hill Koala Center
Learn more about these 6 easy bushwalks with discovery centres for kids near Brisbane.
Brisbane’s Science Museum: SparkLab at Queensland Museum
SparkLab is a permanent exhibit at the Queensland Museum. While parts of the Queensland Museum are free, SparkLab charges a fee to enter.
SparkLab is a hands-on science museum geared to children ages 6-13. We started going when my youngest was 5. He enjoyed Sparklab and had more than enough to do.
Each session at SparkLab includes science experiments if the children are interested. There is also a maker space with a dedicated project.
Staff members walk around and ask kids science-related questions, and help them figure out how different activities work.
There are a few free areas of Queensland Museum to check out before or after your visit to SparkLab, like the dinosaur exhibit.
Be sure to check out what other exhibits are on during your visit.
Dinosaurs at Queensland Museum
See the dinosaurs for free at the Queensland Museum! There are 2 areas to see the dinosaurs.
On the bottom floor, there is an interactive area with large dinosaurs called the Dinosaur Garden. We usually stop there after Sparklab.
Inside, there is the Lost Creatures exhibit on level 2.
The Cube at QUT
Head to the Queensland University of Technology and visit The Cube for free.
We like to walk to The Cube after a visit to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and playground, as it is hard (or expensive) to park at the university.
The Cube has 48 interactive screens. The themes change, so check out their schedule to see what will be on during your visit.
Science Centre at Workshop Train Museum
About 45 minutes outside of Brisbane is the Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich.
An annual pass to Sparklab/Workshops Rail Museum will get you into the other museum for free.
While we chose to visit the train museum to see trains (and to see the Thomas the Train exhibit they have over some school holidays), we were happily surprised to see that there is a permanent science exhibit.
There is an area for children with hands-on science exhibits called the Science Centre, which has over 20 interactive stations.
Check out their special exhibits during the school holidays. So far this year, Thomas the Train has been twice, for summer and winter break. Fall break was circus-themed. Spring break has a science theme with a show of experiments daily.
For children 2-6, there is a program called Little Nippers. The theme for Little Nippers changes but usually deals with science, such as gardening and animals. Little Nippers is free with paid entry into the museum or free for members.
Find out more about Workshops Rail Museum in Ipswich.
Ipswich Children’s Art Gallery
While you are in Ipswich, check out what exhibit is currently on at the Ipswich Children’s Art Gallery.
The Children’s Gallery is usually free, though sometimes there is a ticketed exhibit.
We have visited the Children’s Gallery a few times. Our first visit was to the exhibit On the Move. Our kids enjoyed it so much that we went back to that same exhibit.
We went to check out their newest exhibit, Light Play for Kids. At first glance, it did not seem as great as On the Move, but that is just because it isn’t as photographic. The exhibit itself was fantastic for children. There are various light sources set up with items for the children to move around and discover how different items cast shadows and light. One of the favorites is a large container of kinetic sand.
Since then, we have been back to the Ipswich Children’s Art Gallery a few times. While the Ipswich Children’s Art Gallery isn’t a science museum, they definitely focus on science when planning the exhibits.
Ipswich is a great day trip from Brisbane for science-loving kids. There is so much to do in Ipswich.
Find out more about the current exhibit plus past exhibits at the Ipswich Children's Art Gallery.
Where to See Nature in Ipswich
While we have been to Ipswich a few times, we have yet to have time to explore. Obviously, we need to make time because there is a lot to see in Ipswich.
All Types of Animals near Brisbane
- Daisy Hill Koala Center: You can see koalas at the center, and maybe on a nature walk as well. We did not see any in the wild, but we did enjoy our walk. There are plenty of picnic tables and lots of space for kids to run around.
- Australia Zoo has Australian animals as well as African and Asian animals. Australia Zoo has the largest variety of animals near Brisbane.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has much more than koalas. However, there were more koalas there than we had seen anywhere else. We saw our first platypus at Lone Pine. I recommend Lone Pine as the best place in Brisbane to see native Australian animals with kids. It is not large and overwhelming, plus there are plenty of Australian animals there.
- Summerland Camels offers camel rides and farm tours.
- Naughty Kids Goat Farm offers a tour of their farm. Everyone who wants is able to feed baby goats, milk a goat, and sample goat milk products.
- The Llama Farm in Ipswich has farm tours, Llama guided walks (where you lead the llama), and during school holidays, they offer a class for “Little Llama Farmers.”
- Glow Worms at Tamborine Mountain
- Ipswich Nature Centre is just an optional gold coin donation and offers an affordable way for families to view animals near Brisbane.
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary on the Gold Coast is another great place to see Australian wildlife near Brisbane.
- Wildlife HQ on the Sunshine Coast has a few varieties of Australian animals, plus animals from other continents. Seasonally, Wildlife HQ hosts a Night Zoo where visitors can see the nocturnal animals after dark.
Can't decide which is the best place to see Australian animals near Brisbane? Hopefully this guide will help you decide which place is the best for your family.
Boat Rides
Boat rides are great for multi-generational adventures. While my kids aren’t especially thrilled with boat rides themselves, they love seeing anything science-related, especially wildlife.
Of course, you can go on a boat ride in Brisbane, as there are plenty on the river, but for the best sightseeing boat tours, we prefer to head out for a day trip.
Head to the Noosa Everglades for a beautiful day trip. The tour includes a boat ride, time to hike, and an optional kayaking trip.
Whale watching can be enjoyed up and down the Queensland coast.
We went on Adventure Rafting, which is a small boat that leaves from Mooloolaba. Adventure Rafting is a small family-owned business that offers 1.5 and 2-hour tours.
My family took a 2-hour tour, which went long as we did not see any whales for the first 1.5 hours. In the end, we saw a few whales, including a baby. We got to see a whale breach a few times, which was amazing.
Look under the sea while snorkeling at Moreton Island. This was my kids’ very first snorkeling trip, and they were thrilled to see all of the coral and creatures under the water.
Gardens
There are so many beautiful gardens in and around Brisbane. Sticking close to home, here are the gardens we love in Brisbane.
- We usually visit Roma Street Parklands for their playground, but even just walking through the park is beautiful. Spring is the best time to visit, as they have gorgeous flowers blooming. Don’t forget to check out their free events during the school holidays.
- Mount Coot-tha Botanical Gardens has a children’s trail and scavenger hunt. We have been to the gardens multiple times and still haven’t seen it all.
- City Botanic Gardens is another one we visit regularly for its playground. It is a nice garden to walk through on the way to The Cube at QUT. At night, check out the fairy lights on the trees.
- Head down to South Bank for their Epicurious Garden. My kids like to wander through the edible garden and check out the fish in the pond. They have a cart where you can take their offerings home with you. The cart is open Tuesday-Thursday, starting at 7 am and ending when the cart is empty. We took home herbs and plants from the Epicurious Cart.
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Located at the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens is the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
The planetarium has shows specifically for kids and other shows that are appropriate for kids over 6.
Book your ticket early, we learned the hard way that shows sell out.
Before or after your show, there is a free science museum located outside of the theatre.
World Science Festival
Check and see when the World Science Festival is on in Brisbane.
The Science Festival has workshops and shows geared toward children at many different locations.
Brisbane is for Science Lovers Wrap-Up
As you can see, there are plenty of opportunities in and around Brisbane for kids who love science.
We have been lucky enough to fill our weekends and school holidays exploring new science-related activities near Brisbane.
With plenty of options for gem mining, options for seeing animals on land and in water, and even a planetarium, Brisbane offers many fun activities for science lovers of all ages.
Have you been somewhere that is not on our list? Let us know! We are always looking for fun new places to take our science-loving kids near Brisbane.
You May Also Like
- Which Brisbane Library Branch has the Best Children’s Area?
- The Best of Brisbane for FREE with Kids
- Fun Things to Do in Brisbane with Kids
- Daring Things to Do in Brisbane with Adventurous Kids
- Story Bridge Adventure Climb with Kids
- Kid-Friendly Escape Rooms in Brisbane
- The Best Indoor Fun with Kids in Brisbane
Pin for Later!
