24 Best Free Things To Do In Brisbane With Kids |

Are you looking for the best free things to do in Brisbane with your kids?

Kids can be expensive, but having fun with them doesn’t need to be. Thankfully, there are plenty of free things to do in Brisbane with kids.

Whether you are looking for something fun to do outdoors, or you want to find someplace free and indoors, there are lots of choices for free things to do in Brisbane.

While the kids and I like to explore outdoors when the weather is nice, that is not always the case in Brisbane. Whether it is too hold or rainy (or those rare days that are too cold), sometimes you just want to be indoors but you do not want to spend a lot (or any) money.

Check out our guide to the best free things to do in Brisbane with kids.

Kids can ride on public transportation in Brisbane for free on the weekends.

Southbank

Do you want to feel like you are on vacation? Head to Southbank!

Located on the south side of the Brisbane River, Southbank has loads of restaurants and a walking path by the river. Plus, there are multiple swimming pools and two playgrounds.

One of the best free things to do in Brisbane with kids is to head to Southbank. This picture shows the purple flowers on the Southbank pathway. — Beautiful walking paths at Southbank

Swim at Southbank

Swimming at the Southbank pools may be the best free thing to do in Brisbane with kids — Beautiful city views from the pool and “beach.”

There are 3 swimming areas: Streets Beach, Boat Pool, and Aquativity.

My kids love them all and never pick just one. There are lockers, bathrooms, and changing areas available near the pools at South Bank.

Plus, you can head over anytime from the early morning til midnight!

Our building has a pool, but we still love going to Southbank for the beach, play area, and giant pools. The kids love playing on the rocks. Even better, there is a beautiful view of the river and city.

Free things to do in Brisbane with kids, head to the pools at Southbank! Kids swimming in the rock pool knows as Aquativity by the Brisbane River wtih parents watching on the steps. — A section of Aquativity in Southbank

Free things to do in Brisbane with kids, kids playing at the splash pad Aquativity at South Bank — Aquativity in Southbank is a fun free thing to do with kids in Brisbane

Play at the Playground

Free things to do in Brisbane with kids, play on the playground at South Bank. — My kids loved talking and listening to each other through these at the playground in Southbank.

Southbank also has 2 playgrounds, Riverside Green and Picnic Island.

Riverside Green is the larger of the two playgrounds and always seems busy.

The playground has a large climbing net that leads to a slide. There is also a hamster wheel that kids can run around in. For smaller kids, there is a boat-shaped smaller playground to play on.

Picnic Island has a smaller playground and is usually less crowded than Riverside Green. It includes a climbing area, large swings (for multiple people), and a slide.

The Picnic Island playground is very close to a stream, and there aren’t any fences. Large fig trees shade the play area and my kids love to climb them.

Plenty of seating is available by both playgrounds and multiple restaurants are nearby.

Southbank Playground slides and climbing areas — The playground at Riverside Green

Visit the Epicurious Garden Cart

epicurious garden south bank, kids getting free produce at the epicurious garden cart — Checking out the plants on the Epicurious Harvest Cart in Southbank

The Epicurious Garden Harvest Cart is open for anyone to collect herbs and produce on Tuesdays to Thursdays from 7 am to 2 pm. It is first-come, first-serve.

If you can’t go to Southbank while the Epicurious Cart is out, it is still worth visiting for those kids who like plants and gardens.

The center of the garden has a pond with fish swimming in it.

Enjoy the Brisbane Sign

brisbane sign at night with lit up buildings in the background — The Brisbane sign at night

The Brisbane Sign is another favorite place to play for my kids. They love to climb up the letters, and I enjoy the view.

There are plenty of restaurants at Southbank and also plenty of places to BBQ or have a picnic. I usually pack a lunch, and we eat near the playground.

While you could spend some money down at South Bank, there are so many things that you can do to make it a free day with kids in Brisbane.

City Hall

Brisbane’s City Hall is located at King George Square in the Brisbane CBD.

Museum of Brisbane

The Museum of Brisbane is inside City Hall, and it offers free entry.

The exhibits change, but we have been a few times, and my kids enjoy it. Sometimes there is an exhibit specifically for kids, though sometimes there is not. Occasionally, an exhibit has a paid entry, though most exhibits at the Museum of Brisbane are free.

Check out their schedule during the school holidays. We attended a storytime/art class during one of the school holidays, and we also attended paid workshops at the Museum of Brisbane during the school holidays.

Find more things for the kids to do during the Brisbane school holidays.

The Clock Tower at City Hall

Free things to do in Brisbane with kids, take a clock tower tour at city hall! This is a picture of the city hall building and the clock tower at Christmas, as there is also a large Christmas tree. — City Hall, Brisbane

The Clock Tower is also inside City Hall. Tours are 15 minutes long and free. My kids enjoyed the tour, and we have taken it twice.

There are other free tours at City Hall as well. Find more free guided tours in Brisbane, including multiple free tours at City Hall.

Museums

Most museums in Brisbane have some free areas and some that are paid. Check the museum’s website to find out which current exhibits are free to enter.

You could even museum hop for a free day with kids in Brisbane, as many of the museums are located near each other.

Queensland Museum

The Queensland Museum– While our favorite exhibit in the Queensland Museum is Sparklab, which costs money, there are free exhibits at the Queensland Museum.

My kids enjoy the Dinosaur Garden and Lost Creature exhibit.

We finally made it up to the 4th floor of the Queensland Museum, which is where the free discovery center is. The entire floor is filled with a gallery of animals that live in 5 different habitats.

QAGOMA

Make a Roo Exhibit at GOMA, a boy making a kangaroo mask

Check out which of the exhibits are free at Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). There are multiple exhibits for children, including a hands-on art area.

Older kids and teens will enjoy looking at the art and sketching it if they choose at both the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art.

QAGOMA, kids looking at artwork at Queensland Art Gallery — Admiring the art at Queensland Art Gallery

Read about current and past exhibits for kids at the Children’s Art Centre at QAGOMA.

Queensland Police Museum

Though it is only open on weekdays and select Sundays, the Queensland Police Museum is always free to enter.

We recently discovered this museum, and it was a lot more fun than we initially thought it would be.

You can do a scavenger hunt (geared towards younger kids) or solve a crime on a tablet. Kids can use a typewriter to write a crime story or pretend to ride on a police motorbike.

Take a mug shot, your fingerprints, and learn about what it takes to solve crimes.

Movies At GOMA

Check the schedule at GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art). Children’s movies are often available, and they are free.

Films range from short films to full-length films and include mainstream movies as well as lesser-known Australian films.

Each film includes the age it is appropriate for, either all ages, 8+, or 15+.

The theatre at GOMA is just like going to the movie theatre, just without the snack bar.

Libraries

Free things to do in Brisbane with kids — The Corner at the State Library of Queensland

Libraries are amazing, and my kids love just sitting down to read a book. Even if you are visiting, you are welcome inside any of the 33 city branches. We often head into a library when it is raining or hot. The library also has many free workshops for kids.

The State Library of Queensland has a children’s area called “the corner.”

If you are a Queensland resident, you can become a member of the State Library of Queensland.

Gardens

Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Brisbane Botanic Gardens is free, and they have a children’s loop and a playground. Plus, it is gigantic. We have been twice so far and have yet to see the whole thing.

There is a planetarium there as well, but the shows have a fee. Sign up early; they do sell out. We found out the hard way.

While there is a charge for the shows at the planetarium, there is a free discovery center inside.

sir thomas brisbane planetarium facts about the moon and the planets are along the walls in the lobby. — Free discovery center at Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

City Botanic Gardens

Brisbane City Gardens Playground — The Playground at Brisbane City Gardens

City Botanic Gardens has a nice playground and a market on Sundays. They also offer free guided walks. City Gardens is more of a park than a garden. If you want to see many different types of plants and flowers, Brisbane Botanic Gardens is for you. City Gardens does have a lot of green space for running around and picnics.

If you are there at night, check out the Fairy Trees. They are worth the trip. You can read about our favorite nighttime activities in Brisbane with kids here.

fairy trees brisbane — Fairy Trees in Brisbane City Gardens

Roma Street Parklands

Roma Street Parklands is another nice park with multiple playgrounds. They often have free events for children during school holidays.

Roma Street Parklands is a beautiful park to walk around as well. There is a rainforest walk and plenty of places to sit down and enjoy a picnic.

Art

We have taken free art classes at Roma Street Parklands and Chermside Shopping Center.

I always check Facebook and individual websites to see what is being offered during school holidays. Many of the local shopping centers have free art classes, so be sure to check out the one that is closest to you.

Bush Walks with Nature Discovery Centers

There are many bushwalks and nature centers near Brisbane. Here are a few of our favorites.

Indiscapes Environmental Centre

Indiscapes discovery centre brisbane, girl looking through a microscope

Indiscapes Environmental Centre has over 3 kilometers of walking trails, though you don’t have to walk them all. We did a shorter walk that was the perfect length for kids.

Indiscapes also has a botanical garden, learning center, and play area.

The play area includes a flying fox (or what we call a zip line).

The learning center was fantastic, with lots of hands-on exhibits, and my kids especially liked looking through the microscopes.

Boondall Wetlands

We visited the Boondall Wetlands and enjoyed them. The shortest round-trip walk is 2 kilometers, which is slightly longer than what my kids are used to, but there is a stop in the middle where they can look out and see fish in the clear water. There are benches there, which makes it a great place to stop for a snack.

Boondall Wetlands also has a discovery center for children with hands-on activities.

Daisy Hill Koala Center

Daisy Hill Koala Center is about 30 minutes outside of Brisbane. They have a great path for kids and an area inside where we could see koalas and learn about them. There are plenty of picnic tables outside and BBQs as well.

Mount Coot-tha also has a walking track.  The views are fantastic!  Mount Gravatt also has walking tracks and a beautiful view of Brisbane City.

Technology

Apple Store Workshops

Apple Store has free workshops for kids and families. Kids can bring their own equipment or borrow some from the Apple Store. Classes range from movie-making to music labs to coding.

Future Rail Experience Center

A kid with a construction hat reading from a screen at Cross River Rail Experience Center which offers free activities for kids in Brisbane — Cross River Rail Experience Center

The Future Rail Experience Centre is open every day except Tuesday and is always free. The Experience Center has stations including Virtual Reality, a touch wall, a maker station, and a theater.

Read more about our day at the Future Rail Experience Centre here.

The Cube at QUT

the cube QUT Brisbane with kids is also free and fun to explore. These kids are looking at an under the sea screen

The Cube at QUT has interactive screens. You can check out what’s there each day here. My kids spent most of their time at the first screen, which was an aquarium. Don’t forget to head upstairs; there is another screen there.

QUT is a college campus near the City Botanic Gardens. We walked through the gardens and played at the playground before heading to the Cube.

There is also a piano by the elevator that takes you to the parking garage. It is free for anyone to play, and my kids won’t turn down a chance to play the piano.

Bike Tracks

Scooter and bike path, boy on a scooter — Scooter and bike path

One thing that I would love to see more of in other cities is the adorable “learn to ride” bike/scooter tracks.

There are also many skate parks around.

Explore An Old Fort

Fort Lytton offers tours, but they weren’t occurring, so we just wandered. There is plenty of space for kids to run around.

Build Something

Head to Bunnings for their free kids’ workshops on the weekends. All the materials are provided, and kids 5+ can build and create based on that week’s theme. Bookings are required.

Playgrounds

My kids love playing on playgrounds, and we always try to add them to our day when we are traveling. Brisbane is home to a ton of amazing playgrounds.

While I like New Farm Park (especially because of the coffee stand), I find that it is crowded and I struggle to keep an eye on my kids. Luckily, they are older and answer when I call them.

We go to the playground at Southbank often, but it is another crowded one.

Another large playground is Rocks Riverside Park. There is a water play area, and it is separated into smaller areas with a fenced-in section for little kids.

There are plenty of more interesting playgrounds nearby that are less crowded; they just aren’t in the center of the city. Some of our favorites include Hercules Street Park, Frew Park, Milton, and Perrin Park.

Okay, I didn’t like Perrin Park because there were so many bats sleeping in the trees, but my kids loved the bikes on the track.

My kids recently spent 5 hours at the Grange Library playground, and it isn’t even that interesting. It has a coffee stand as well. I have always felt that playgrounds should have coffee, and I am happy to see that Brisbane agrees.

Playgrounds are usually one of the best and easiest free things to do with kids, and Brisbane definitely delivers on great playgrounds.

Find out which Brisbane libraries have playgrounds and which library has the best children’s area.

24 Best Free Things To Do In Brisbane With Kids