Things to do on Australia Day in Brisbane with Kids

Australia Day can be a great opportunity for families to gather and celebrate what they love about the country – and luckily for Brisbane, QLD families, there are plenty of entertaining activities to choose from.

You and your children can enjoy a variety of interactive exhibits in the city’s museums, or embark on a natural escape to the nearby parklands – including the Mt Cootha Forest, Stradbroke Island, and D’Aguilar National Park.

Whether you’re keen for a relaxing family BBQ or an adventure fuelled day, there’s an experience to suit everyone in Brisbane City. If you’re on the look-out for some entertaining activities for Australia Day in Brisbane, here’s a list of the best things to do with the whole family.

Australia Day Victoria Park

Children enjoying the extensive mini golf terrain, only at Victoria Park

Let the good times roll this January 26 public holiday at Victoria Park! Gather the fam for a fun-filled day surrounded by stunning views of Brisbane’s city skyline and beautiful gardens. Enjoy a round of Putt Putt at their 18-hole course or swing for the city at the all-weather Driving Range. Why not make a day of it and try their Bistro’s seasonal menu with refreshing cocktails, delicious mains, woodfired pizzas and kid’s meals.

Website: Victoria Park

South Bank Parklands

australia day with kids brisbane — Families enjoying their evening at Southbank Parklands

With a wide variety of entertaining attractions on offer, the South Bank Parklands can be the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and celebrate Australia Day in Brisbane. Families can gather to enjoy a picnic, with plenty of seating options scattered throughout the parklands – ranging from open fields to patches of grass overlooking the city’s skyline. Plus, the kids can enjoy Streets Beach, the playground, gardens, and heaps more.

Address: Stanley Street Plaza, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101

Website: Southbank Parklands

The Cube, QUT Brisbane

The Cube of QUT Brisbane is a large digital learning space for both parents and kids to enjoy, packed to the brim with interactive exhibits. With a collection of activities and attractions to explore, consisting of 48 touch screens, it’s the perfect spot to entertain the kids on Australia Day. The best part? Entry is free of charge. For more information or to plan your visit, head over to the Cube website.

Address: 2 George St, Brisbane City QLD 4000

Website: The Cube

Ipswich Art Gallery

Also holding a blend of unique attractions for both parents and children to enjoy is the Ipswich Art Gallery, located about 45 minutes from Brisbane City. It’s the perfect Australia Day venture for families, with plenty of interactive exhibits dedicated to kids. Head over to the Ipswich Art Gallery website to check opening hours for Australia Day 2024 or to plan your visit.

Address: D’Arcy Doyle Place, Ipswich, Queensland, 4305

Website: Ipswich Art Gallery

Gallery of Modern Art

The Gallery Of Modern Art has plenty of unique elements for parents and children to explore on Australia Day. Regular events are held throughout the year specifically for kids, including storytelling and fun activities. The best part? Entry into the Gallery of Modern Art is free of charge. See the Gallery of Modern Art website for possible updates regarding 2024 Australia Day opening hours.

Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101

Website: GOMA

Queensland Maritime Museum

The Queensland Maritime Museum is packed with plenty of interesting exhibits for children to explore and admire. This includes marine engines, lighthouses, nautical equipment, ship models, and heaps more.

Regular events are also held throughout the year for kids to enjoy, whether it’s school holiday programs or nautical activities. Prices for adult and child admission start from $18 and $8 respectively. For more information on operating hours for 2024 Australia Day, head to the Queensland Maritime Museum website.

Address: 412 Stanley St, South Brisbane QLD 4101

Website: Queensland Maritime Museum

Aussie World

What better place to celebrate Australia Day than with a visit to Aussie World? The park is located towards the Sunshine Coast (about 1.5 hours from the city) and contains a blend of activities for both parents and children to enjoy. There are more than 30 exciting rides to choose from, including the Plunge, Speed Stars, Bombora Bounce, Ballroom Blitz, and Leak’n Logs, just to name a few. Ticket prices start from $46, while kids under 3 years are free.

Address: 1 Downunder Drive, Palmview QLD 4553

Website: Click here

Australia Day Redcliffe

Another popular suburb in Brisbane to celebrate Australia Day in 2024 is Suttons Beach, with live music and spectacular fireworks for families to enjoy. For the kids, lamington eating competitions were also hosted. Otherwise, there are plenty of nearby beaches for families to gather, enjoy a BBQ, and play some cricket.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

What better way to spend Australia Day than with the Australian native koala? The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the perfect spot for families to admire a collection of Aussie creatures great and small, including kangaroos, dingos, wombats, cassowaries, crocodiles, turtles, bats, and heaps more. Prices start from $54 for adults and $39 for kids. See the website for more information.

Address: 708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket QLD 4069

Website: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Samford Museum

Another popular educational experience for parents and children to enjoy on Australia Day is the Samford Museum, offering an insight into the lives of early settlers. Visitors can see the Blacksmith, admire accurate displays, and heaps more. For 2024 Australia Day, the Samford Museum has plenty of activities to look forward to, including vintage vehicles, children’s activities, music, and more. See the website for possible updates or announcements of a 2024 Australia Day celebration.

Address: 21 Station St, Samford Village QLD 4520

Website: Samford Museum

Queensland Museum

With a vast range of activities and exhibits on offer, the Queensland Museum has a little something for every member of the family to enjoy on Australia Day. Plenty of different exhibits are held throughout the year, with school holiday programs also typically on offer.

General admission is free of charge. See the website for updates on exhibits as Australia Day draws closer.

Address: Grey St & Melbourne Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101

Website: Queensland Museum

Brisbane River Cruise

Australia Day Brisbane — Spend your Australia Day at a River Cruise

On Australia Day, admire Brisbane’s spectacular cityscape from the river with an entertaining lunch or dinner cruise. The Kookaburra Showboat Cruises serve up a delicious buffet for both parents and children to enjoy, including hot dishes, salad, dessert, and more. Live entertainment and competitions are also available. For more information on the showboat cruises or to book for Australia Day, head to the Kookaburra Showboat Cruise website.

Address: Eagle Street Pier, 1 Eagle Street, Brisbane City QLD 4000

Website: Brisbane River Cruise

Australia Day, Bribie Island

Bribie Island is another popular spot for families to gather and celebrate Australia Day, with the 2020 festivities offering plenty of activities for both parents and children to enjoy. Located in Brennan Park, the event included live music, games in the garden, and a spectacular fireworks finale to polish off the day. Plus, what Australia Day celebration would it be without beach games?

Families could look forward to cricket, sack races, volleyball, and more. Aside from these festivities, there are plenty other exciting points of interest to enjoy in Bribie Island, including the Bribie Island National Park, Bulcock Street, and Woorim Beach.

Caboolture Historical Village

Australia Day 2024 at the Caboolture Historical Village has plenty of elements for families to look forward to. This included toad races, animals, live music, and delicious food – what more could you want? Entry costs were $18 per person, while kids under 16 years were $10. See the Caboolture Historical Village for possible updates or announcements of a 2024 Australia Day celebration.

Address: 280 Beerburrum Rd, Caboolture QLD 4510

Website: Caboolture Historical Village

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo can be an extremely entertaining Australia Day venture for the entire family, with a large assortment of creatures to admire. This includes camels, dingoes, cheetahs, goats, kangaroos, koalas, lemurs, wombats, parrots, cranes, crocodiles, pythons, turtles, and rhinos, just to name a few.

Plus, parents and children can look forward to up-close animals encounters with lemurs, meerkats, tiger cubs, red pandas, cheetahs, dingoes, and more. Ticket prices start from $169, if you use our discount code here*. For more information or to plan your visit, see the Australia Zoo website.

Our friends at Families Magazine have a handy tip on how to get FREE Australia Zoo tickets!

Address: 1638 Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah QLD 4519

Website: Australia Zoo

Australia Day, Redland Bay

For those looking for a relaxing spot to celebrate Australia Day, Redland Bay may be worth considering. Not only is the area home to a wide assortment of picnic and BBQ areas to choose from, but there’s also plenty of entertaining hikes and beaches – such as the Bayview Conservation Park. With the variety on offer, there’s an experience to satisfy every member of the family.

Australia Day Stradbroke Island

Stradbroke Island is a tropical paradise on Brisbane’s doorstep, with plenty of scenic spots for families to sit back and enjoy Australia Day. There are plenty of pristine beaches to admire, including Homes Beach, Frenchman’s Beach, and Cylinder Beach – or head inland and enjoy the tea tree infused water of Brown Lake.

Otherwise, admire it all from above with a hike on the North Gorge Boardwalk, guiding visitors over the rocky cliffs and above the powerful waves. Whether you’re hoping for a relaxing or an adventure fuelled Australia Day, Stradbroke Island has it all.

Australia Day, Lawnton

Don’t have a pool to cool off on Australia Day? The Lawnton Aquatic Centre has you covered. In 2018, the centre hosted a free pool party for families to enjoy, including plenty of rides, activities, movies, and live music for both parents and kids to enjoy.

Delicious snacks were also available for those needing to refuel from all the excitement. Keep an eye out for possible updates or announcements of a 2024 Free Pool Party at the Lawnton Aquatic Centre on Australia Day.

Address: Gympie Rd &, Lawnton Pocket Rd, Lawnton QLD 4501

Website: See Lawnton here

Mt Cootha

Families on the hunt for a natural escape on Australia Day can venture to the beloved Mt Cootha Forest on Brisbane’s doorstep. Families can choose between a variety of hiking trails, winding visitors amongst the dense eucalyptus forest and to the peak.

From here, families can soak in unique and amazing views over Brisbane’s towering city and surrounding suburbs. Restaurants and souvenir stores are also available at the top. If you’d like to enjoy the view without the hike, parking is available at the summit.

Address: 1012 Sir Samuel Griffith Dr, Mount Coot-Tha QLD 4066

D’Aguilar National Park

Another popular natural playground on Brisbane’s edge is the D’Aguilar National Park, home to plenty of natural escapes for families to choose between. The park stretches over 36,000 hectares and is home to lush forestry, towering lookouts, plenty of picnic areas, swimming holes, bike riding trails, camping spots, and heaps more. For more information or park alerts on D’Aguilar National Park, head to the website.

Address: 57 Mount Nebo Road, The Gap QLD 4061

Website: D’Aguilar National Park

Park Scarborough

At the gorgeous Park Scarborough on this year’s Australia Day, you and your family can enjoy the lovely atmosphere. Live music will be playing some good old tunes, allowing for an easy-going, Aussie time. There’ll be plenty of kids activities to keep your little ones busy while you can sit back and enjoy the marvelous array of food trucks on hire.

Get Out With Kids tip: we recommend bringing a picnic blanket, or even some fold out chairs to sit on, lay back, and relax on this public holiday.

Website: Park Scarborough

Oxley Community Festival

Come on down to the Oxley Bowls Club Pool Party, where you and your family can celebrate Australia Day this year. Entry and rides are free, with a super lucky raffle ready for you to enter. Your kids can splash around in the pool, cooling off after a long summer day, while you and your mates catch up at the open bar. Not only will you have a fantastic day here, but a memorable night too, thanks to the gorgeous firework display.

Address: 24A Englefield Rd, Oxley QLD

Website: Oxley Community Festival

Kangaroo Point Cliffs

At the top of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs is an assortment of picnic areas overlooking the colourful cityscape of Brisbane, making it the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and celebrate Australia Day. Bring along some food, gather some friends, and watch the sunset over the city. Plus, if you’re eager to eventually move your celebrations towards the city, South Bank is only 5 minutes away.

Address: 29 River Terrace, Kangaroo Point QLD 4169

Host A BBQ

Is there anything more traditional than a classic Australia Day BBQ? Gather the family and friends, enjoy a swim in the pool, listen to the radio, and throw some snags on the BBQ. It’s a simple activity that everyone can easily appreciate.