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Things to Do with Kids in Brisbane 2026

Family activities in Brisbane: explore Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Australia Zoo, South Bank and school holiday activities. Complete kids guide.

By Brisbane Daily · Published 2 July 2026

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Brisbane Family Activities 2026, Overview

Brisbane and South East Queensland offer world-class family experiences, from the famous Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin's legacy) and Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to South Bank's free Streets Beach and the Gold Coast's theme parks within 60 minutes. Here's a guide to the best family activities and things to do with kids in Brisbane.

Zoos and Wildlife Near Brisbane

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane. The world's first and largest koala sanctuary. Hold a koala (iconic experience), hand-feed kangaroos and wallabies, see platypuses, wombats, Tasmanian devils. 30 minutes from the CBD by CityCat ferry (beautiful river trip) or car. koala.net
Australia Zoo, Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah (Sunshine Coast, 1 hour north). Steve Irwin's famous zoo. Enormous range of Australian and exotic wildlife including crocodiles (the Crocoseum live shows), tigers, cheetahs, wombats, koalas and more. A full-day family destination. australiazoo.com.au
Alma Park Zoo, Alma Road, Dakabin (40km north of Brisbane). Smaller, family-owned zoo. Giraffes, lions, chimpanzees. Good for younger children.

South Bank and City Attractions

South Bank Streets Beach, Grey Street, South Bank. A stunning free artificial beach and lagoon in the heart of Brisbane, open year-round. Lifeguards on patrol. Surrounded by restaurants, playgrounds and the Cultural Precinct (QAGOMA art gallery, Queensland Museum).
Queensland Museum, Grey Street, South Bank. Free entry. Dinosaur skeletons, natural history, space exploration and Queensland cultural history. Excellent for children. The SparkLab interactive gallery has science experiments.

Theme Parks (Gold Coast, 1 hour south)

Dreamworld, Dreamworld Parkway, Coomera. Australia's largest theme park. Big rides and DreamWorks movie character zones. dreamworld.com.au
Warner Bros. Movie World, Pacific Motorway, Oxenford. DC superheroes, parade, rides and entertainment. movieworld.com.au
Sea World, Seaworld Drive, Main Beach. Marine animal shows, rides and attractions. seaworld.com.au

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