Everything seems to be getting expensive lately, so how can you continue to make fantastic family memories when the budget is so tight? Don’t worry, it IS possible. Brisbane and its surrounds are filled with family-friendly venues and great places to go where you will spend less than $100 per entry for a family of four. Plan well, pack a picnic, and you could save even more! Check out this fabulous list compiled by the Guides that know Brisbane the best.
Top end budget ideas between $50 and $100 per family of four
Sparklab
Perfect for families with kids aged 6-13, Sparklab is the place for anyone who loves to get hands-on with interactive STEM exhibits. Visitors see – and take part in – live experiments, solve challenges, and test their design skills across three different zones.
It’s incredible fun that will blow your minds!
Sparklab is located within Queensland Museum, so extend your stay with lunch in the whale mall and explore what the museum has to offer. Museum entry is free!
Cost: $50 per family of four (2 adults + 2 kids, or 1 adult + 3 kids); additional children from $5.00
Location: Cnr Grey and Melbourne Street, South Bank
Open: Daily 9:30am – 4pm, some dates excluded.
Bookings recommended.
Brisbane Tramway Museum
Tram enthusiasts can get on board and explore a number of historic trams while learning the history of Brisbane’s tramways, from the days of horse-drawn vehicles to the end of the era. You can even take a ride!
Keep an eye out for their regular events to make your day extra special.
Cost: $50 per family, or $20 per adult and $10 per child
Location: 20 Tramway Street, Ferny Grove
Open: Every Sunday 12:30pm – 4pm
Visit Minjerribah Stradbroke Island
It’s the second largest sand island in the world (after our very own Moreton Island) and one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever visit.
Catch the ferry from Cleveland for a relaxed 45-minute crossing, and then hop on the bus to tour what the island has to offer. Your $1 return (per person) bus ticket allows you to hop on and off all day to make sure you get the most out of your visit.
There are stunning beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see, and we highly recommend taking The Gorge Walk, especially during May to September when the humpback whales stay and play during their annual migration. The views are amazing!
Cost: $73 on the ferry, return, for a family of four, plus $1 per person for the bus
Location: The ferry terminal is at Toondah Harbour off Emmett Drive, Cleveland
Bargain family days out under $50
You don’t have to travel too far for a great family day out in Brisbane. Take a look at these amazing venues in Brisbane’s CBD, and only a little bit beyond.
Queensland Maritime Museum
Located at the east end of South Bank Parklands, Queensland Maritime Museum is not like your regular undercover museums. Head out to the dry dock and explore real boat exhibits. There’s the Diamantina warship and the lugger Penguin, plus other boats, exhibits and interactive displays.
Queensland Maritime Museum is ideally located for you to extend your day out at the South Bank Parklands, or to cross the Goodwill Bridge to the Botanic Gardens.
Cost: $42 per family of four (2a + 2k); additional children aged under 15 at $8 each
Location: Cnr Stanley & Sidon Streets, South Brisbane
Open: Weds – Sun, 10am – 4:15pm, some dates excluded.
See Stars at The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
It’s not too far to journey into space at The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. Just head to Mt Coot-tha and look for the spectacular Cosmic Skydome!
The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium showcases our solar system and space exploration, with amazing imagery, interactive displays, and space artefacts. The Cosmic Skydome theatre has a variety of daily shows to see, with many being fun and family friendly.
Entry to The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and its displays is free, but charges apply and bookings are required for some of the special screenings. See what’s on today here.
Cost: Varies per show, but generally around $44 for a family of four.
Location: Mount Coot-tha Road, Mount Coot-tha (within the Botanic Gardens)
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4pm, and on Mondays during school holidays
Enjoy a Blast from the Past at a Historical Village
We might be pushing it back to great-grandparent era here, or even beyond, but a visit to a historical village can be a real eye-opener for today’s tech-hungry kids.
Historical Villages are museum “townships” with old houses, shops, farm buildings and public offices relocated from nearby areas and set up exactly as they would have been in the past. My kids marvel at how small the houses are, the formality of the school rooms with their straight rows and slate writing tablets, the harsh conditions of the public lock-up, and the things on offer at the village stores. Honestly, as parents we love these days out to give our kids a bit of perspective!
Here are some of our favourites to visit:
Caboolture Historical Village
Cost: $50 per family of four, children under 5 free, additional children $10 each)
Location: 280 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture
Open: Daily 9am – 4pm, some blockout dates apply
Samford Museum
Cost: $16 per family of four (children under 5 free, and additional children $2 each)
Location: 21 Station Street, Samford
Open: Wednesday and Sunday 9am – 3pm
Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum
Cost: $42 for a family of four, kids under 5 free
Location: 205 Main Street, Beenleigh
Open: 9am – 3pm Monday to Saturday
Logan Village Museum
This is a smaller museum, with an entry fee that reflects that. Check out what else there is to do around Logan Village if planning a bigger day out.
Cost: $3 per adult, children free
Location: 1-5 River Street, Logan Village
Open: Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 9am – 1pm
Wildlife Centre at Walkabout Creek
The Wildlife Centre at Walkabout Creek is one of the few places locally where visitors can see Queensland’s weird and wonderful wildlife at an absolute bargain price.
There’s a platypus viewing display where you can watch platypus swim and play underwater, estuarine crocodiles, a tree kangaroo, plus all your familiar Aussie favourites. The centre opens at 9am, so be sure to get there early to see all the keeper talks scheduled throughout the day.
Visiting on the weekend? Every Saturday and Sunday at 11am, the Centre hosts a wildlife discovery show where visitors can get even closer to the wildlife and learn more about their lives. This is an additional charge, but it covers your entry to the venue, too. Bookings are strongly recommended for the Wildlife Discovery Show.
Stay a little longer to enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the cafe, and round off your day with a swim or paddle in the nearby Enoggera Reservoir.
Cost: General entry, including keeper talks, is only $22.90 for a family of four. Children under 4 are free, and additional children are $4.25 each. Tip: Splurge on the annual family pass for only $68.70 and you’ll have access all year round! Wildlife Discovery Show plus General Entry tickets are $46.55 for a family of four, with additional children charged at $11.45 each.
Location: 60 Mount Nebo Road, Enogerra Reservoir
Open: 9am – 4pm daily except Christmas Day and Anzac Day
Lyell Deer Sanctuary
Perfect for animal-loving families, Lyell Deer Sanctuary is a haven for red, rusa, fallow and chital deer, all of whom have been rescued from the wild, as well as being home to cattle, goats, chickens, ducks, guinea pigs, cats and guinea fowl. It’s a rescue, not a zoo, so 100% of your small entry fee goes directly to the animals.
Visitors are free to roam the paddocks and with deer food included with your entry ticket, you are pretty much guaranteed an up-close and personal interaction.
There’s a dedicated picnic area and toilets on site, though the toilet is not wheelchair accessible so plan accordingly if you are a wheelchair user.
When you’ve finally had enough of getting your clothes nibbled by the friendly deer and goats, head into Samford Village to browse the Harry Potter themed Store of Requirement and The Owlery Cafe.
Cost: $25 for 2 adults and 2 children, additional children at $3 each
Location: 6 Lyell Court, Mount Samson
Open: Saturdays and Sundays 10am – 4pm
Bribie Island Butterfly House
Bribie Island Butterfly House is a haven for butterflies where visitors can learn about these beautiful creatures in every stage of their lives. Keep your camera handy in case one mistakes you for a flower!
Complete your day exploring the beaches and playgrounds on Bribie Island before heading back across the bridge.
Cost: $34 per family
Location: 206B First Avenue, Bongaree, Bribie Island
Open: Wednesdays and Sundays from 9am – 3pm
Redlands Coast Museum
The Redlands Coast Museum is brimming with displays and artefacts that tell the story of the Redlands Coast. There are rooms set out as they would be long ago, including of residences, the school, a shop and a dental surgery. Kids can explore toys and games of the past, fashion through the ages, farm machinery, cars, and motorbikes, military artefacts, and technology that – I’m sorry! – their parents actually used!
There’s an on-site cafe with a small lunch range that is very reasonably priced, and if you time your visit right, you might even get to see the blacksmith in action.
Cost: $40 per family of four, additional children at $5 each
Location: 60 Smith Street, Cleveland
Open: Monday to Friday 10am – 3:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am – 1pm
Foot Golf AND Mini Golf
You can play both at Mt Gravatt! There are three golf courses to choose from (I say play them all!) plus a games room with table tennis, foosball, and giant lawn games.
Your entry ticket buys you one course, but you can play additional courses for only $5 more per player.
Try your hand at outdoor putt putt or crazy golf, then try your foot at footgolf! Played just like mini golf, but scaled up to soccer ball size, the 9-hole course takes you through challenging obstacles where your feet are the clubs.
Tip: Check out the Mt Gravatt Street Food Market’s calendar, held monthly on a Saturday night, to round off a perfect day.
Cost: For one course,$45 for a family of two adults and up to three children, additional players $5 each. Add another course for $5 per person.
Location: Mt Gravatt Showgrounds, 41 Broadwater Road, Mt Gravatt
Open: Weekdays 9:30am – 8pm, Saturdays 9:30am – 10pm, Sundays 9:30am – 6pm
Chill at your local pool
Streets Beach and Aquativity in South Bank Parklands is the obvious go-to for a free splash around in the city, but your local pools have lots to offer, too! Pack your towels and sunscreen and get set to relax at one of these favourites:
Sandgate Aquatic Centre
Featuring tipping bucket, water cannons, slides and sprinklers
Cost: $22 per family of four, or $15.50 for one adult and two children
Location: 231 Flinders Parade, Sandgate
Open: 5am – 7:30pm weekdays, 6am – 6pm Saturdays, and 8am – 6pm Sundays
Chermside Aquatic Centre
Brisbane’s largest water park with huuuuuge slides.
Cost: A bigger hit on the budget at $72 for a family of four
Location: 375 Hamilton Road, Chermside
Open: 5am – 7pm weekdays, 6:30am – 6pm Saturdays and Sundays
Newmarket Pool
30m double loop water slide and kiddies splash pad with playground.
Cost: $22 for a family of four, or $15.55 for one adult and two kids
Location: 71 Alderson Street, Newmarket
Open: Daily, times vary seasonally
Settlement Cove Lagoon
Right on the Redcliffe waterfront, Settlement Cove Lagoon is a fabulous free family day out. With a large swimming lagoon, shallow areas for little ones, plenty of grassy spots for a picnic and beautiful views across Moreton Bay, it’s easy to spend hours here without spending a cent. Bring your swimmers, sunscreen and a picnic!
Cost: FREE
Location: Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe
Island hop the Southern Moreton Bay Islands
Take what the locals call an “around the world“ trip to Macleay, Karragarra, Russell and Lamb Islands aboard the Translink ferry. At only 50c per trip, it’s an affordable day on the water with opportunity to stop off at the wonderful islands for a bite to eat or to explore.
Cost: 50c per person per boarding
Location: Board the ferry at Banana Street, Redland Bay
And don’t forget Coochiemudlo Island with its calm beaches and pleasant walks.
Cost: 50c per person per boarding
Location: Board the ferry at Masters Avenue, Victoria Point
Free days out for Brisbane families
Explore the Cultural Precinct
When did you last spend a day exploring Brisbane’s Cultural Precinct? Sometimes we forget what’s on our doorstep, and the Cultural Precinct is one of Brisbane’s best locations for a free family day out.
All these amazing venues are conveniently lined up in a row, making it easy to go between them and spend as much time as you like in each one. Each one also has its own cafe, but with the riverbank and South Bank Parklands so close, you can pack a picnic and only spend 50c per person on public transport to get there!
Queensland Museum Kurilpa
Brisbane’s Queensland Museum is an absolute treasure, filled to the brim with displays, dinosaurs, and discovery. Kids love the interactive dinosaur displays and poking around in the many drawers in the Discovery Centre. Curators are always on hand to chat and provide hands-on experiences. It’s genuinely a place to immerse yourself for a whole day.
We can easily spend several hours at Queensland Museum Kuripa, there’s so much to explore.
Entry to the museum and many of the displays is free, but some touring attractions have a cost attached.
Location: Cnr Grey & Melbourne Streets, South Brisbane
Open: Daily 9:30am – 5pm, except Anzac Day, Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art
There are lots of fun and creative experiences for kids at QAGOMA, and the galleries hold regular art and craft activities for kids. Did you know that GOMA also has a movie theatre? Check out what’s on here, as the movies are often family-friendly.
Open: Daily 10am – 5pm
Queensland State Library
It’s not just books! There are many zones within the State Library where kids can play and participate in crafts and activities.
Open: Daily, with varying hours. Click here to see what’s on, when.
Take a walking tour around Brisbane
How much do you really know about our city? One of the best ways to really get to know the history of Brisbane is through the eyes of a friendly and knowledgeable local.
The Brisbane Greeters are passionate volunteers who are keen to share Brisbane’s stories, show you some great spots, and introduce you to our vibrant city. These walking tours last 2-3 hours and there are several to choose from. Best thing is, numbers are capped at 6 people, so it’s just like having your own private guide!
Add your recommendations!
Do you have any other great family day out suggestions to share? Let us know in the comments.
