26 Fun & FREE Things to do in Brisbane For Families

Looking for family-friendly fun that won't cost a cent? Brisbane's got you covered! Dive into 26 awesome and free things to do in Brisbane for families—from river cruises to koala spotting—that promise a weekend of adventure without the hefty price tag.

Families in Brisbane can enjoy a range of free activities, including riding the CityHopper ferry, exploring the Queensland Art Gallery, visiting the Daisy Hill Koala Centre, strolling along the Riverwalk, and plenty more. Enjoy!

What Are Some Free Things to Do in Brisbane For Families?

1. Discover Brisbane on the CityHopper

If there's one thing we know about kids, it's that going anywhere on public transport is often more exciting than the destination itself.

Brisbane's CityHopper is a free inner-city ferry service that runs along the Brisbane River. You can hop on and off the CityHopper at seven stops between North Quay, and Sydney Street in New Farm, meaning the city is your oyster, for free! 

Location: From North Quay to Sydney Street, New Farm

2. Explore Space at The Planetarium

If you want to learn something new and engage your kids in something fascinating, a trip to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium should go straight to the top of your list of free things to do in Brisbane.

There are plenty of exhibits and zones that explore all things space, sure to delight big and little visitors alike! 

Location: Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong

3. Soak up Some Culture at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art

The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is a fabulous outing when you're looking for free things to do in Brisbane with the kids in tow. 

Visit the Children’s Art Centre to experience exhibitions and activities created in collaboration with artists, or take part in one of their programs designed especially for children under six years of age.

Location: Stanley Pl, South Brisbane 

4. Spot Some Koalas

'Cause who doesn't love a bit of wildlife spotting?

Ensconced amongst gorgeous eucalyptus trees and featuring a large outdoor koala enclosure and many interactive displays, the Daisy Hill Koala Centre is a unique place to learn about koalas and their conservation.

Location: 253 Daisy Hill Rd, Daisy Hill

5. Visit Brisbane's Giant Edible Garden

South Bank’s stunning Epicurious Garden is a must-see for locals and visitors alike, plus, it's free!

Located in the heart of the South Bank Parklands, the Epicurious Garden is a productive garden of seasonal, edible plant life, including fruits, vegetables and herbs.

A trip to Epicurious Garden is all about discovery, as visitors are invited to explore the garden’s exquisite plant life and see what fresh produce looks, feels and smells like! Oh, and did we mention it's free? 

Location: Formal Gardens, Clem Jones Promenade near South Bank 3 Ferry Terminal

6. Wander Along the Riverwalk

A real must-do in Brisbane, the renowned Brisbane Riverwalk is an ultra-scenic way to experience the city.

Walk it, run it, ride it (or let's face it, with kids, probably do a combination of all three), it's one of the best free things to do in Brisbane! 

Location: starts at Howard Smith Wharves and finishes at Riverview Court in New Farm

7. Get up Close With Nature at Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre

 

The Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre is just a short drive from Brisbane's city centre, where you can encounter native animals, enjoy a walk or bike ride, and splash about in the water at the ultimate one-stop nature-play zone.

Location: 60 Mount Nebo Rd, Enoggera Reservoir

8. Hit the Beach

Beaches are a no-brainer on our list of the best free things to do in Brisbane and for a good reason!

A trip to one of the city's best beaches ticks all the boxes for us: it gets us outside, the kids can run wild, and it doesn't cost a cent. Sign us up!

Location: throughout Brisbane and beyond.

9.  Ignite Your Imagination at Queensland Museum

 

The beloved Queensland Museum is bursting with fun, family-friendly and free ways to engage the kids. As well as an ever-evolving selection of exhibitions, there's also the ultra-popular SparkLab, an interactive science, technology, engineering and maths space for six to 13-year-olds that promises to seriously ignite their imaginations!

Check out more kid-friendly museums in Brisbane.

Location: Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank

10. Learn About the Environment at Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre

Brisbane's Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre is located in Karawatha Forest Park and is home to Queensland's first nature play space.

The centre aims to educate visitors about the significance of the natural area, including the local frog population. It's also free to visit, so you better hop to it!

Location: 149 Acacia Road, Karawatha

11. Go on the Brisbane City Centre Heritage Trail

If you've got kids who are interested in history and like to blow off some steam by getting their step counts up, we've got the activity for you!

Take a tour through the city’s past in its many heritage buildings and historical sites with this specially curated Heritage Place Trail. 

Location: Brisbane City

12. Walk Along the Southbank Arbour

Take a walk through the award-winning South Bank Grand Arbour, a kilometre-long arbour located in the South Bank Parklands.

The greening structure functions as a pedestrian walkway and is a lovely (free!) way to while away a morning or afternoon in Brisbane.

Location: South Bank Parklands, Brisbane

13. See the Sunrise at Mt Coot-tha

The perfect way to start the day, witnessing sunrise at Mt Coot-tha is up there when it comes to the best free things in Brisbane.

If your kids aren't early risers (lucky you!), you can do the opposite and see the sunset at Mt Coot-tha or other picturesque sunsets in Brisbane.

Location: Mt Coot-tha, Brisbane

14. Go Under the Sea at This Cool Seaside Museum

Bribie Island is a great place to visit with kids, and there's even an educational element that's a top pick for free things to do in Brisbane.

Along with being a breathtaking spot outdoors, Bribie Island's Seaside Museum celebrates the rich and fascinating history of the beautiful island.

Location: 1 S Esplanade, Bongaree

15. Explore Local Farmers' Markets 

The Brisbane region is home to plenty of farmland, and there's no better way to celebrate the local area and the hard work of farmers than to check out some of the city's farmers' markets.

We love Brisbane City Markets on Wednesdays, the famous Jan Powers Powerhouse Markets on Saturday mornings, plus more Saturday markets in Brisbane. 

Location: throughout Brisbane

16. Go for a Free Splash

When it's hot (which, let's face it, is most of the time in Brisbane!), there's no better way to cool down than by being near a large body of water.

Brisbanites are incredibly lucky to have so many free water parks to suit a range of ages, stages and needs. The next time you're searching for free things to do in Brisbane, we suggest checking out the many free water parks at your disposal.  

Location: throughout Brisbane

17. Chase Some Waterfalls

Really immerse the family in nature with a trip to one of these gorgeous waterfalls near Brisbane.

Pack a lunch, swimmers and let the beauty of the environment do the rest! 

Location: Brisbane and its surrounds

18. Go Back in Time at Old Petrie Town

Old Petrie Town is a charming restored historic village spread across 48 acres of parklands with heritage buildings.

With weekly markets, museums and restored buildings to explore, the kids will love exploring Old Petrie Town.

Location: 901 Dayboro Rd, Whiteside

19. Immerse Yourself in the Outdoors at Roma Street Parkland

The gorgeous Roma Street Parkland offers a whopping 16 hectares of stunning designer gardens, sprawling lawns and parklands.

Much loved by garden enthusiasts for its awe-inspiring horticulture and families for its barbecues and playgrounds, Roma Street Parklands offers some of the best free things to do in Brisbane. 

Location: 1 Parkland Blvd, Brisbane City

20.  Get Your Skates on

Skate parks are a fantastic outlet for kids to burn energy and enjoy spending time in the great outdoors. We've rounded up a list of the best skate parks in Brisbane. Family-friendly, fun and free! Triple whammy. 

Location: throughout Brisbane

21. Have Some Free Fun at the State Library

The State Library of Queensland is home to The Corner, a free creative space, especially for children under eight and their families.

With free rhyme time, story time and baby play sessions at The Corner, visiting the State Library of Queensland is one of our favourite things to do with kids! 

Location: Cultural Precinct, Stanley Pl, South Brisbane

22. See What's on at the Brisbane Powerhouse

Queensland's home of art and culture is also home to a smorgasbord of free things to do! Brisbane Powerhouse hosts an ever-evolving roster of events that's well worth checking out.

With 1250 performances and events each year, there's sure to be something that takes your fancy!

Location: Yagara Country, 119 Lamington St, New Farm

23. Go for a Play at Brisbane's Best Playgrounds

It's no secret that we love a playground (what parent doesn't?!), and Brisbane is positively bursting with the latest and greatest playgrounds for every age and stage.

Easily one of the best free things to do with the kids, a trip to a playground just never gets old.

Location: throughout Brisbane

24. Stroll Along Shorncliffe Pier

Soak up the delights of Shorncliffe Pier for a fun, free thing to do in Brisbane!

The foreshore is home to a number of artworks and sculptures as well as a kids' adventure playground that's perfect for burning off plenty of energy.

Location: Park Parade, Shorncliffe

25. Go Hiking

With stunning national parks, incredible scenery and nearly year-round glorious weather, Brisbane is home to some seriously epic family-friendly hikes that will get the whole family out in nature, soaking up the beauty of the region. 

Location: throughout Brisbane

26. Get out of Town for the Day

While Brisbane has plenty of awesome free things to do in the suburbs, sometimes getting further afield is just what the doctor ordered.

Luckily, there are some seriously memorable destinations around Brisbane that are just perfect for your next family day trip!

Location: Brisbane and its surrounds

Check out More of Brisbane...

Brisbane's Best Laser Tag
Mini Golf in Brisbane
The Best Sushi Trains

 

Have you signed up to our newsletter? Join ellaslist to get the best family and kid-friendly events, venues, classes and things to do NEAR YOU!