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School holiday activities in Brisbane for 2021

Here are our top picks for things to do during the school holidays in Brisbane to keep your kids busy.

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Courtney Edwards

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Stephanie Yip
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Looking for inspiration to keep your kids happy and occupied during the spring 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 also picked the top spots worthy of a visit that aren't too far from home.

Outdoor activities in Brisbane for the spring school holidays

Hang out with Australian animals

Meet native animals, hand-feed kangaroos and watch live shows that will keep your kids entertained for hours.

Australia Zoo Admission with Transfers from Brisbane
Australia Zoo Admission with Transfers from Brisbane

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Half Day Animal Tour at Trevena Glen Farm
Half Day Animal Tour at Trevena Glen Farm

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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 racing track to see who finishes first.

Kids Go Kart Racing Experience - 4 Sessions
Kids Go Kart Racing Experience - 4 Sessions

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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 of it with an afternoon climb or watch the stars come to life above with a night climb.

Register for a sports camp

School holiday camps are great fun for kids and come in handy for families with working parents. The kids will be making new friends and staying active while also giving you peace of mind that they are being supervised by professionals.

Active Fun Activities for Kids School Holiday Workshop
Active Fun Activities for Kids School Holiday Workshop

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Try abseiling at Kangaroo Point

Looking for a new way to explore Brisbane? Add abseiling down 20-metre high cliffs overlooking Brisbane and Brisbane River to the list of things to do during the school holidays.

Sunset Abseiling at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Sunset Abseiling at the Kangaroo Point Cliffs

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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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Spot majestic sea creatures

Take the kids out for a day on the water where they'll learn about marine life, enjoy the sunshine and spot whales along the way.

Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch and Window Seating
Brisbane Whale Watching Cruise with Lunch and Window Seating

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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.

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.

At-home activities in Brisbane for the spring 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 home 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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Get creative in the kitchen

Kids love hands-on activities. Not only are they fun, they can also learn a new skill.

Help them express their creativity

Artistic expression can come in many forms, from learning how to draw a comic book to learning all new circus tricks. It's important to let your kids explore creative pursuits during their time off from school.

Learn to develop robots

As artificial intelligence and things like drones become more and more a part of our everyday lives, learning how to repair and maintain robots is going to become a more important skill to have. These holiday programs offer a fun way to get started.

Treat them to a unique online experience

Looking for a school holiday activity that's private and can be done from home or something you haven't done before? Check out these unique experiences.

Kids storybook reading and 40-minute hula hoop lesson
Kids storybook reading and 40-minute hula hoop lesson

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Learn the basics of coding

The Scratch visual programming language tool makes learning the basic principles of coding fun. These short programs will give your child the skills they need to start tinkering with their own projects.

Learn coding through Minecraft

Even the nicest code interface isn't going to be enough to excite all children about code. But if you present them the opportunity to learn and play Minecraft you're sure to win them over.

Learn to code with Python

Coding can be a fun activity and a useful skill to have. These school holiday programs run for a few days and will teach your kids all the basics they need to know for using the programming language called Python.

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.

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. Find out what restrictions currently apply in Brisbane before you head out for your family adventure.

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.

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.

When are the 2021/22 school holidays in Brisbane?

TermDates
Term 1 school holidays2 April - 18 April 2021
Term 2 school holidays26 June - 11 July 2021
Term 3 school holidays18 September - 4 October 2021
Term 4 school holidays11 December - 23 January 2021/22

Free activities in Brisbane for the spring school holidays

  • Head out to your local playground.
  • Set up a teepee in the backyard and have a picnic lunch.
  • Create a cooking class in your own kitchen for the little ones.
  • Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day at Daisy Hill Koala Reserve.
  • Transform the lounge room into a fortress – throw in some snacks and you've got a winner.
  • Be a tourist in your own city at Queensland Museum and Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
  • Organise the kids with some canvas and paintbrushes outside so their creativity can run wild.

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

School holiday events in Brisbane in September 2021

  • RSPCA Wacol School Holiday Program. 20 - 30 September. Hang out with puppies and kittens at the RSPCA, learn about animals and help out with volunteer activities during the school holidays.
  • Brickman® Wonders of the World. 18 June 2021 - 04 October 2021. Ideal for kids who love LEGO, explore world famous sites like the Great Wall of China to the Empire State Building created by LEGO Masters Australia judge, Ryan "Brickman" McNaught.
  • Brisbane City Council Activities. Takes place on multiple days throughout the school holidays. From craft making sessions to book club, Brisbane City Council has tons of free events to get involved in. See the council website for more information.
  • SparkLab. Takes place on multiple days throughout the school holidays. Located at Queensland Museum, this interactive space filled with science, technology, engineering and maths activities offers an abundance of educational entertainment for the school holidays.

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Frequently asked questions

What should I keep in mind with COVID-19 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 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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