Your first day in Brisbane with kids
This is a first day in Brisbane with kids, mostly free. It starts at Queensland Museum at South Bank, which is 0.8 km from the centre and has both a free Dinosaur Garden and free general entry. The Recreation Precinct Playground at UQ St Lucia is 2.8 km out, and Mt Coot-tha Lookout, Brisbane's highest point, is 6.7 km out. The only extra cost is SparkLab, a ticketed science space at the museum.
Do the museum in the morning, then head out for the playground and finish at the lookout. The museum is open daily 9:30am to 5pm, and the lookout is open 24 hours, so the plan works any day. Pack hats and water for the playground and lookout. Check each listing for current prices and any playground hours.
Every stop is a listing on Funtivities, checked against the place's own website. Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Prices and hours can change, so check the listing before you go.
The day at a glance
- Morning: Queensland Museum - Dinosaur Garden
- Late morning: Queensland Museum Kurilpa
- Afternoon: Recreation Precinct Playground
- Late afternoon: Mt Coot-tha Lookout
Morning
Dinosaurs at Queensland Museum
Queensland Museum - Dinosaur Garden, South Brisbane · Museums & Science Centres · Ages 2-16 · Free · 4.6 stars (10235 reviews)
A free, enclosed garden with life-size T. rex and Triceratops replicas at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in South Brisbane, open daily from 9:30am. It is 0.8 km from the centre. The listing gives ages 2 to 16, so most kids can see the life-size replicas.
Tip: Open daily 9:30am to 5pm.
Prices, hours and map for Queensland Museum - Dinosaur Garden
Late morning
Inside Queensland Museum Kurilpa
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, South Brisbane · Museum · Ages 3-12 · Free · 4.6 stars (9822 reviews)
The state museum at South Bank has free general entry and is open daily 9:30am to 5pm. SparkLab, its science space, costs extra: $13.50 per child for older kids and $5 for ages 3 to 4, with a family ticket at $50. It is a good indoor stop if the sun gets strong.
Tip: Check the listing for SparkLab age limits and session times.
Afternoon
Zipline at the UQ playground
Recreation Precinct Playground, Saint Lucia · Playgrounds & Parks · Ages 2-14 · Free · 4.8 stars (96 reviews)
A free, all-abilities playground with a 40 m zipline, a sensory dome and a sandpit on Sir William MacGregor Drive at UQ St Lucia, 2.8 km from the centre. The listing gives ages 2 to 14, so it gives energetic kids a good run after the museum.
Tip: Free; check the listing for opening times and parking.
Late afternoon
Finish at Mt Coot-tha Lookout
Mt Coot-tha Lookout, Mount Coot-tha · Nature & Outdoors · Ages 0-17 · Free · 4.7 stars (15237 reviews)
A free lookout at Brisbane's highest point, open 24 hours, with city and bay views, a cafe, free parking and walking tracks up from the bush below. It is 6.7 km from the centre. It is a calm way to end the day, with a cafe if anyone needs a snack.
Tip: Free parking; walking tracks lead up from the bush below.
Where to eat
The Glen Hotel. The Glen Hotel at Eight Mile Plains has kids eat free on Wednesday nights from 5.30pm and at Sunday breakfast, with one free kids' meal per adult main. It is 14.6 km from the centre and has an enclosed kids' playground, so check the listing for conditions.
Kids Eat Free deals change. See every current deal in Brisbane.
Before you go
- Queensland Museum Kurilpa and the Dinosaur Garden are both open daily 9:30am to 5pm.
- General entry to Queensland Museum is free; SparkLab costs extra.
- Mt Coot-tha Lookout is free and open 24 hours, with free parking.
- The Recreation Precinct Playground is free and listed for ages 2 to 14.
- All four stops are open every day, so the plan works any day.
Questions parents ask
What can you do in Brisbane with kids in one day?
Start with the free Dinosaur Garden and general entry at Queensland Museum Kurilpa in South Brisbane, then take kids to the Recreation Precinct Playground at UQ St Lucia, and end at Mt Coot-tha Lookout. All four are free apart from the museum's SparkLab.
Is Queensland Museum free for kids?
General entry to Queensland Museum Kurilpa at South Bank is free, and so is the Dinosaur Garden. SparkLab, the science space, is extra: $13.50 per child for older kids and $5 for ages 3 to 4. The museum is open daily 9:30am to 5pm. Check the listing for details.
Is Mt Coot-tha Lookout free?
Yes. Mt Coot-tha Lookout is free, open 24 hours, and has free parking. It is Brisbane's highest point, with city and bay views, a cafe and walking tracks up from the bush below. It is 6.7 km from the city centre, so allow time to get there.
More days in Brisbane with kids
- A rainy day in Brisbane with kids - Indoor stops close together, so a wet day still works.
- A beach day in Brisbane with kids - Patrolled beaches, calm water and what is near the sand.
- A free day out in Brisbane with kids - A full day where every stop has free entry.
- Brisbane with toddlers and under-5s - Short distances, space to run and places built for under-5s.
- Brisbane with teenagers - Things teenagers choose for themselves, not just tolerate.
- Visiting Brisbane with kids: all guides