Winter school holidays: Brisbane families find indoor escapes, outdoor adventures as rain eases

Brisbane parents staring down the last week of the winter school holidays have options. With rain forecast to clear mid-week, the city’s museums, libraries and parks are ready for families looking for cheap or free activities.

The State Library of Queensland plays host this week to free drop-in craft sessions for primary-school-aged children. Kids can make their own zines and storybooks using recycled materials. Sessions run Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 2pm, at the library’s kuril dhagun centre in South Bank. No bookings are needed.

The Queensland Museum, a five-minute walk along the Brisbane River, has extended its Discover Dinosaurs exhibition until the end of July. Tickets cost $29 for adults and $19 for children, with family passes available for $88. The museum also offers a free permanent galleries space covering everything from megafauna to the state’s Indigenous history.

Outdoor options for the brave

After several days of drizzle, the Bureau of Meteorology expects Brisbane to see sunny spells from Wednesday onwards. That makes the city’s network of riverside walkways and parklands more appealing. The Kangaroo Point Cliffs offer a free climbing wall for anyone with a harness and a head for heights. The City Botanic Gardens, near the Queensland University of Technology, have wide lawns and a playground popular with toddlers.

South Bank Parklands, including the artificial beach and the wheel, will be busy but manageable mid-week. Street parking near the parklands costs $2.50 an hour. Or families can take the CityCat ferry from any of the 24 stops along the river. A single adult fare costs $3.70 with a go card, and children under five ride free.

Brisbane City Council runs free guided nature walks at the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens on Thursday and Friday mornings. The 90-minute tours leave from the visitor centre at 9am. The council also sponsors the Active Kids Holiday Program, which includes free sports coaching for children aged 6 to 14 at parks across the city. Spots are limited and pre-registration is required online.

Budget-friendly indoor culture

The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in South Bank has its usual free permanent collection on display. The gallery’s Children’s Art Centre runs hands-on workshops most afternoons. Parents can bring their own snacks to avoid the on-site café prices.

Brisbane City Council libraries across the city, from Chermside to Carindale, host story time sessions every weekday morning. The sessions are free for children aged two to five. Some branches also offer coding workshops and board game afternoons for older kids during the holidays.

The price of a family day out in Brisbane has risen faster than the overall inflation rate over the past three years, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, but families can still make a day of it on a budget. Pack a picnic, use public transport and stick with free venues.

For the last full weekend of the school holidays, July 25 and 26, the Brisbane Racing Club at Eagle Farm hosts a family fun day with a jumping castle, face painting and a petting zoo. Admission is $10 for adults and free for children under 12.

Whatever the weather this week, there’s enough on offer to keep kids entertained without breaking the household budget.