This article will give you a detailed list of things to do on the Australia Day public holiday in Brisbane with kids.
Things to do on Australia Day with kids 2024
Australia Day in Brisbane is an opportune time for families to come together, embrace the vibrant spirit of the nation, and partake in a myriad of engaging activities. From morning festivities to afternoon adventures, the city offers an array of family-friendly events that encapsulate the essence of Australian culture.
In this Australia Day events guide, we’ll explore exciting and active things to do on Australia Day with kids in Brisbane, ensuring an unforgettable celebration for the whole family. So, grab your sunscreen, put on your thongs, and get ready for a day filled with Aussie flair and active family fun.
In 2024 Australia Day falls on a Friday. Want to make the MOST of all your public holidays this year? Check out our guide to getting more bang for your buck and making the most of your annual leave for family holidays!
Australia Day 2024 Brisbane events for families
Are you looking for the best events to take the kids to for Australia Day 2024? Well look no further than our bonza list of the best you beaut spots to make the most of the public holiday. Our list includes events in Brisbane and the surrounding suburbs.
1. Australia Day Fireworks 2024 | Bribie Island
Get ready to celebrate Australia Day in style on Bribie Island! Join us by the water for an unforgettable evening filled with festivities and free family fun on Friday 26 January from 5pm to 8pm. Cap off the day with a dazzling fireworks display that’ll light up the skies and make this Australia Day an absolute ripper.
2. Music in the Park 2024 | Scarborough
Gather your family and mates for an awesome Australia Day celebration at Scarborough Beach! Join us for a sun-soaked afternoon by the bay on Friday 26 January from 1pm to 6pm, filled with live music and free family fun that’ll make this day an absolute cracker!
Immerse yourself in the perfect Aussie vibe spending Australia Day with your mates. Grab your picnic rug, fold-up chairs, and snag the ideal spot to relax and groove to fantastic Moreton Bay entertainment.
3. Oxley Community Festival 2024 | ClubOxley
The Oxley Community Festival is back on 26th January 2024, from 1.30pm til late to commemorate Australia Day. This year will be bigger and better than ever before! Head along to this family-friendly event for FREE entry and free rides, splash pool, face painting, family games, plus food trucks and fireworks!
4. 50 Metre Australia Day Slip n Slide | Sandstone Point Hotel
From 12 midday take a spin on the 50 metre MEGA slip n slide, enjoy live music, lamington eating games, thong throwing comps, dunk-a-roo and an Aussie lamb BBQ.
5. Australia Day 2024 Crab Races | Brighton Roosters
The Brighton Roosters are hosting a family fun day to celebrate Australia Day from 12pm on Friday 26th January 2024 at Jim Lawrie Oval, Brighton. Families will love the rides, crab races, live music, food trucks and fireworks!
6. Langlands Australia Day Pool Party | Langlands Park Pool
This annual event has now been moved to Sunday 21 January 2024. Head along to the Langlands Park Pool Party from 10:00am for FREE entry, sausage sizzle, giant inflatable obstacle course, pool games, raffle prizes and more to help support the local swimming club, Brisbane Jets.
7. Great Australian Bites | South Bank Parklands
Make the most of your Australia Day celebrations and head to South Bank for this year’s fun and food-filled edition of Great Australian Bites. From 2pm to 7:30pm, the Riverside Green at South Bank Parklands will come alive with pop-up stalls serving up delicious food from popular vendors, while home-grown performers hit the stage for a dynamic program of music and family-friendly fun to keep everyone entertained!
8. Australia Day and Chinese New Year Celebration | Sunnybank
Celebrate Australia Day and Chinese New Year this year at Sunnybank. Supported by the National Australia Day Council, this Australia Day community event at SunPAC (Sunnybank Performing Arts and Cultural Centre) aims to respect and reflect Australia’s history and people, and celebrate our National Australia Day with the celebration of the Chinese New Year among the linguistically diverse cultural communities, particularly the Chinese community. Everyone is welcome!
What else is open on Australia Day for kids around Brisbane?
There are plenty of excellent choices for things to do in Brisbane for Australia Day with kids. For a comprehensive list of swimming pools, beaches, and other awesome school holiday ideas for things to do with kids and places to take them in and around Brisbane
In the list below we have listed specific locations and times of family friendly locations that are open on Australia Day.
- Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane, 10am – 5pm
- Victoria Park, Herston 6am – 10pm
- QUT The Cube, Brisbane, 10am – 4pm
- Sciencentre’s Spark Lab, South Bank 9.30am – 4pm
- Queensland Museum, South Bank 9.30am – 4pm
- Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, South Bank – 10am – 5pm
- State Library of Queensland, South Bank – 10am – 5pm
- Ipswich Art Gallery, Ipswich 10am – 5pm
- The Workshops Rail Museum, Ipswich 9.30am – 4pm
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Fig Tree Pocket 9am – 5pm
- Australia Zoo, Beerwah 9am – 5pm
- Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre – The Gap 9am – 4pm
- DFO – Airport Shopping – Brisbane Airport 10am – 6pm
- Queensland Maritime Museum, South Brisbane – 9.15am – 3.45pm
1. Museum of Brisbane
You may be surprised to learn that the Museum of Brisbane (MoB) is tucked away in Brisbane City Hall. MoB brings our city’s vibrant art, culture and history to life through exhibitions, workshops, tours, and MoB Kids children’s activities. If you haven’t visited you simply must add MoB to your Australia Day plans if heading into the Brisbane CBD.
While you’re visiting you can take in a bird’s-eye view of Brisbane city for Australia Day with kids with a City Hall Clock Tower Tour. You can walk out onto an observation platform to absorb the unique view of Brisbane. Go and explore a small but integral part of Brisbane’s history. They are conveniently located in King George Square, right in the city centre. Bookings are required.
2. Celebrate Australia Day at Victoria Park Bistro
Spend your Australia Day at Victoria Park surrounded by relaxing views of Brisbane’s city skyline and the rolling green hills of the golf course while you enjoy time with family and friends. The Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving their fresh summer menu! Free parking is available on-site for all guests and Victoria Park’s fun 18-hole Putt Putt course and Driving Range will also be open.
Australia Day activities include:
- Live Music
- Giant Games
- Jumping Castle
3. QUT The Cube
The Cube is one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning and display spaces. There are 48 multi-touch screens that span across two storeys. It’s a place offering a wide range of educational and fun activities for kids aged 5 and up! Get your kids engaged in STEM activities in this interactive digital learning experience.
We love QUT and you can find more information here about what’s going on that your kids might like. We’re talking robots, art and coding!
4. Queensland Museum & Sparklab Sciencentre
The Queensland Museum and Sparklab Sciencentre is located in the city on the South Bank of the Brisbane River. It is open for Australia Day and is a great place to teach the children about Queensland’s history and marvel at the interactive displays in both the museum and Sparklab Sciencentre.
Most of the Museum is free but the visiting exhibits usually have an entrance fee. The Sparklab Sciencentre has an admission, but the exhibits inside are free. There is a family-friendly café on the premises which is great for a quick coffee or lunch. It is pram friendly and a place where you can set your own pace. You can receive concessions if you pay a membership fee.
5. GOMA and the Queensland Art Gallery
There’s ALWAYS something fun to see and do at this mecca for parents with kids looking for fun. It’s a great place to spend Australia Day as it’s accessible, air-conditioned and will entertain your little ones as they enjoy getting creative. Even better, you can enjoy the Children’s Art Centre activities for FREE!
You will find QAGOMA in Brisbane’s cultural precinct so it’s easy to combine your visit with some of the other fun things to do in Brisbane on Australia Day such as Queensland Museum!
Find out why we love GOMA here!
6. State Library of Queensland
There’s just so much to do at the library! One option is settling in with a good book or magazine in one of the many air-conditioned spaces on offer. Alternatively, why not venture out onto one of the many deck areas overlooking the river for some privacy and let your boisterous little ones let off some steam. The quality of books is unmatched and there truly is something for all ages at the State Library. Plus it is definitely kid-friendly.
See why we love the State Library here!
7. Ipswich Art Gallery
Fun is just around the corner at the Ipswich Art Gallery! Take your kids to enter a spellbinding world of possibilities in their Children’s Gallery exhibition Worlds of Wonder. Watch as they embark on an adventure of creativity! And to make it better, its FREE!
8. The Workshops Rail Museum
Get colourful this Australia Day with Thomas The Tank Engine! Explore the Colour Tour, with face painting, carnival rides, craft activities and so much more!
Family tickets (2 Adults, 2 Children) – $68
9. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the perfect place to spend Australia Day with your family. It’s great for all ages and is the ideal place to spend an educational, fun afternoon or morning. Go along and see platypus, koalas, Australian birds, dingoes, wombats and much more.
There is plenty of shade and you can take a picnic or enjoy lunch in their cafe.
Read our Lone Pine Koala review here.
10. Australia Zoo
Take a trip to Australia Zoo (to enjoy their Adventure Trail and 6-metre, inflatable water slide!) or the Ginger Factory, visit national parks and go swimming in natural swimming holes – and that’s just the start!
For some unique ideas as to what you can get up to on Australia Day with the kids, check out our overview of all things kid friendly on the Sunny Coast.
Pssst… after cheap Australia Zoo tickets? We know where to find them!
11. Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
At the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre you can explore the best that Brisbane’s backyard has to offer. With a café, swimming hole, a platypus rock pool and outdoor animal enclosures, it’s the perfect place to take the kids!
See why we love the Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre here!
12. DFO – Airport Shopping
Why not take a break and hit the shops? Get some great deals at DFO, with plenty of outlet stores to choose some, we’re sure you’ll find something for you!
13. Maritime Museum
Visit one of Australia’s largest maritime museums and discover historic vessels of all shapes and sizes. It’s a great place for the whole family! Explore their HUGE exhibits like the warship Diamantina and the lugger Penguin.
Family tickets (2 adults, and up to 3 children under 15) – $42-$50
Find out what is open in Brisbane today hereThings to do in Ipswich for Australia Day 2024
As one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia, Ipswich is a thriving mecca for families and the list of ‘things to do’ in Ipswich keeps getting longer and longer. We’ve picked our favourites and made sure that they are open for Australia Day.
Robelle Domain Parklands
The Robelle Domain parklands, in Springfield Central, offer visitors a rainforest walk, waterfalls, water play areas, bike tracks, the country’s first Icon on Galaxy interactive play equipment in an all-abilities playground, and more. The largest park precinct built in Queensland since Brisbane’s Roma Street Parklands, Robelle Domain has an 11 kilometre pathway network for family fun during the day and also at night when the 9-metre high light tower installations give off a spectacular light and sound show (at the time of updating this article, the light and sound shows were down for maintenance).
Across a footbridge is Orion Lagoon – an amazing oasis of interconnected pools of varying depth. There is an amphitheatre with public events held at Robelle Domain, so, this Australia Day bring your own picnic or barbecue treats to cook, or take advantage of the delicious offerings in Robelle Café which is fully licensed and open 7 days.
Ipswich Australia Day Awards
Support the people doing great work in our communities with this Australia Day Awards. Awards include: Citizen of the Year, Cultural Award and Community Group of the Year. The award ceremony takes place on Wednesday 17 January 2024.
Australia Day 2024
Got something fun planned for Australia Day that we’ve missed? Please let us know in the comments! Be sure to check back for updates as more events are announced.
