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School holiday activities in Brisbane for 2020

Our top picks for things to do during the school holidays in Brisbane to keep your kids busy

Courtney Edwards
Courtney Edwards

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Stephanie Yip
Stephanie Yip

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Children kayaking in Brisbane

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Looking for inspiration to keep your kids happy and occupied during the school holidays? We're here to help. See our top recommendations for outdoor and indoor activities to keep your little ones busy.

If you're thinking of taking that long-awaited day trip, we've picked the top spots worthy of a visit that aren't too far from home.

Outdoor activities in Brisbane for the summer school holidays

Hang out with Australian animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Head to the world's largest koala sanctuary to meet over 100 native Australian animals. Hand-feed kangaroos and watch live shows that will keep your children entertained for hours.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Admission with Brisbane River Cruise
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Admission with Brisbane River Cruise

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Experience an adrenaline rush with a go-karting experience

If you're short on play date ideas, go-karting is a great activity for your kids and their friends to battle it out on the racecourse to see who crosses the finish line first.

See Brisbane from new heights

Kids who have a sense of adventure (and no fear of heights) will love seeing a spectacular bird's-eye view of Brisbane's skyline with the Story Bridge Climb. Make a whole day out of it with an afternoon climb or watch the stars come to life above with a night climb.

Take to the skies

There's no better way to get out and about with your kids than by seeing Brisbane from the best vantage point. Look no further for the older kids who love an experience, perhaps a hot air balloon ride in the early hours of the morning.

Hot Air Ballooning Over Greater Brisbane with Breakfast
Hot Air Ballooning Over Greater Brisbane with Breakfast

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Discover the spooky side of Brisbane

Forget scary bedtime stories. Take your children to Brisbane's haunted spots and hear about the history of the city. A ghost tour is the perfect combination of entertainment and education for school holiday fun.

Explore the great outdoors

Brisbane is home to a variety of outdoor activities that make for great school holiday adventures. Whether you want to make it a family day out or invite your children's friends along for a play date, it's sure to be a hit.

Experience the ultimate adrenaline rush with a flight simulator experience

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be in control of a plane? Jump into the pilot's seat and choose from thousands of airports for your flight simulator adventure.

737-800 Boeing Flight Simulator Experience - 45 Minutes
737-800 Boeing Flight Simulator Experience - 45 Minutes

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60 Minute F-18 Super Hornet Simulator Experience
60 Minute F-18 Super Hornet Simulator Experience

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Zoom around Brisbane City

Looking for a unique way to get your kids outdoors during the school holidays? Make your way around Brisbane City in style with a segway tour. Choose your route and difficulty level for gliding and spinning around the best scenic spots in Brisbane.

Experience the feeling of free-falling at iFLY

A visit to iFLY is the next best thing to free-falling from a plane during a skydiving experience. Indoor skydiving creates the sensation of free-falling by using an upwards airflow in a glass, vertical tunnel that keeps you floating mid-air. If you've got a thrillseeker to entertain, you'll earn major brownie points by taking them to iFLY.

iFLY Brisbane Indoor Skydiving - 2 Flights
iFLY Brisbane Indoor Skydiving - 2 Flights

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iFLY Brisbane Indoor Skydiving - 4 Flights
iFLY Brisbane Indoor Skydiving - 4 Flights

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Get out on the water for a kayaking experience

For a relaxing day out, set your sights on a kayaking experience on Brisbane River. See the city CBD from a different perspective as you paddle through the calm waters on a sunny spring afternoon.

Take a trip to the park

Keeping your kids active during the school holidays helps ensure they're on the go and away from their screens. Planning a play date with your children's friends? A small gathering at a park is a great option. Whether you have a park close by or you want to venture out to find a new favourite, bringing a bike, scooter or skateboard along will keep your kids happy and occupied for hours.

At-home activities in Brisbane for the summer school holidays

Entertain the kids with a craft session

The school holidays is the perfect time to try something new. Take a break from Netflix and set up a space in your house for your kids to delve into a creative project.

Flora and Fauna Earring Making Workshop
Flora and Fauna Earring Making Workshop

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Grab the popcorn and settle in for a movie marathon

If you want to set up a cosy movie night with the family or if your child is a movie buff, streaming services including Disney+, Netflix and BINGE give you bang for your buck, with unlimited shows and movies for your children to pick from. You can even set up parental controls on Netflix or set up a Netflix Kids profile to monitor what shows and movies your children can access.

Set up jigsaw puzzles, board games and card games

Completing jigsaw puzzles, board games and card games keeps your children entertained and their minds active during the school holidays.

Get creative in the kitchen

Kids love hands-on activities. Not only is it fun, they also learn a new skill out of it. Purchasing a children's baking kit is a great place to start if your little ones are cooking for the first time. If your kids have had some cooking experience, there are plenty of kids' cookbooks available so your mini chefs can take the reins in the kitchen.

Play video games

If you have a gamer on your hands, it's likely they'll want to spend some time gaming with their friends during the school holiday break. Whether their console of choice is a Nintendo Switch, Xbox or PlayStation, there are plenty of classic and exciting new games for your kids to get their hands on. Just remember, it's important to take frequent breaks to give your eyes a rest from staring at a screen for long periods of time.

Day trips you can take from Brisbane during the school holidays

If you're looking to explore more of Queensland during the school holidays, check out our guides for family friendly getaways in Queensland and epic Queensland road trips.

Bribie Island

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 40 minutes.

If you're looking for a change of scenery, a day trip to Bribie Island is hard to resist.

Bribie Island Jet Ski Ride - 60 Minutes
Bribie Island Jet Ski Ride - 60 Minutes

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Bribie Island Jet Ski Ride - 90 minutes
Bribie Island Jet Ski Ride - 90 minutes

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Tamborine Mountain

Distance from Brisbane: 1 hour and 10 minutes.

Thrillseekers and nature lovers aren't short on choice when it comes to outdoor activities available at Tamborine Mountain.

Free activities in Brisbane for the summer school holidays

  • Take lunch outside by setting up a teepee in the backyard and having a picnic.
  • Create a cooking class in your own kitchen for the little ones (who doesn't love tacos?).
  • Set up some canvas and paintbrushes outside so the kids' creativity can run wild.
  • Transform the lounge room into a fortress – throw in some snacks and you've got a winner.

Need more ideas? Check out our 50 free activities to keep the kids busy these school holidays.

School holiday events in Brisbane for the summer school holidays

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Frequently asked questions

What should I keep in mind with COVID when going out during the school holidays?

When planning activities over the school holidays, parents and caregivers are reminded to maintain good hygiene practices and social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Are all of Brisbane's attractions open?

Brisbane is back open for business these school holidays. The kids can now enjoy trips to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Museum of Brisbane, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, Boggo Road Gaol, Queensland Maritime Museum, Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre and the Wheel of Brisbane.

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