Discover Museums in Brisbane for Kids

Nurture your child’s imagination and discover one of these museums in Brisbane for kids listed below!

There are museums in Brisbane to suit all interests and age groups, from big museums housing lots of exhibits to smaller specialist Brisbane museums focusing on a particular field. Visiting a museum is a great day out! Take a look at some of our favourite museums in Brisbane and South East Queensland.

Abbey Museum

• Address: 31 The Abbey Place, Caboolture QLD 4510
• Opening hours: Open daily from 10am – 4pm, closed on Sunday and Wednesday
• Phone: (07) 5495 1652

The Abbey Museum in Caboolture is situated in a rural landscape. It’s small but surprisingly well-stocked with artifacts spanning over 500,000 of human history. During school holidays, Abbey Museum offers a range of both paid and free programs and activities for children of all ages. The “Kids Dig It” school holiday programs teach kids the excitement of discovery through exploration, archaeology, and other activities such as mummification, archery, knights training, and games. There are a range of ticketed events for your junior archaeologist, so be sure to check their events list.

Do not miss the Abbey Medieval Festival, a huge weekend of jousting, battles, entertainment, displays, and markets, and hosts other historical reenactment events throughout the year. It is so much fun!

Queensland Museum and SparkLab

• Address: Grey Street & Melbourne Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101
• Opening hours: Open daily from 9:30am – 4pm (Public Holiday Opening Hours)
• Phone: (07) 3153 3000

Entry to Queensland Museum is free. Touring exhibitions do incur a fee though.

You will find the prices for SparkLab below.

The Queensland Museum is one of the best Brisbane museums. It boasts a wide variety of exhibits, hands-on displays, and public programs involving natural history, human achievement, science, and culture. With a variety of activities and educational experiences encouraging families to learn together, there’s sure to be something every member of the family will enjoy. Be transported to the Wellesley Islands region in the Gulf of Carpentaria in their ‘NGURRUWARRA/DERNDERNYIN: Stone Fish Traps of the Wellesley Islands’ exhibition that surveys ancient stories and relationships of Traditional Owner communities. Or take part in hands-on activities while observing the stick insects, snakes, birds, and other creepy crawly specimens in the Discovery Centre. The museum is also home to the Sciencentre SparkLab – a space where adults and kids alike can explore and have their minds blown through the interactive, science-based exhibits filled to the brim with fun and learning!

The current exhibition at Queensland Museum is the Jurassic World by Brickman and runs until 14 July 2024.

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

• Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane QLD 4101
• Opening hours: Open daily from 10am – 5pm
• Phone: (07) 3840 7303

Entry is free (some special events/exhibits do incur an entry fee).

The Gallery of Modern Art displays some of the best artworks from artists around Australia. The gallery aims to inspire young artists in Brisbane by providing them with opportunities to get their hands dirty and get creative! We love a bit of craft, so this is the perfect place to let kids’ imaginations go wild.

There is plenty to see and do around the gallery with new events and displays popping up throughout the year so be sure to keep an eye on our What’s On list here!

You can read our review of GOMA here.

The Workshop Rail Museum

• Address: North St, North Ipswich
• Opening hours: Open daily 9:30am – 4pm
• Phone: 07 3432 5100

The Workshop Rail Museum exhibits some of the best locomotive and industrial machinery at Australia’s oldest heritage railway workshops. Winning the Australian and Queensland Tourism Awards for Heritage and Cultural Tourism, the museum lets you get immersed and involved with hands-on displays and multimedia displaying the history of Queensland’s rail service. Bring the whole family along with mini train rides around the museum and check out demonstrations by an actual blacksmith! The kids even have the chance to run their own railway in the Nipper Playground. Kids can dress up as fire-fighters, police, and other costumes as they manage their mini railway station with a ticket and signal box, coal carts, and tricycles around the tracks. There are also story books, drawing and colouring activities available. You can read our review of the Ipswich Rail Museum here.

Redcliffe Museum

• Address: 75 Anzac Avenue, Redcliffe QLD 4020
• Opening hours:
  • Mon-Tues: closed
  • Wed-Fri: 10am – 4pm
  • Sat-Sun: 10am – 3pm
• Phone: (07) 3480 6700

Entry is free.

The Redcliffe Museum displays the history of the local community and the Redcliffe Peninsula. From the European Settlement to the indigenous culture and maritime history, the museum provides a fascinating insight into the heritage of the region. Take the kids around to explore the settlement and learn about Captain Cook, Matthew Flinders, and the convicts. The museum also provides activities for kids through its collaboration with Gallery and Museum Explorers (G.A.M.E). They provide activities and projects for kids such as museum discovery docks and gallery creation stations which allow kids to get hands-on with sculptures and abstract creations.

Pine Rivers Heritage Museum

• Address: 901/904 Dayboro Road, Whiteside QLD 4503
• Opening hours:
  • Mon-Tues: closed
  • Wed-Sun: 10am – 3pm
• Phone: (07) 5433 2710

Entry is free.

The Pine Rivers Heritage Museum provides an insight into the heritage of the district with themed exhibits and displays. Kids can explore an old classroom, learn how people lived without electricity, and discover the history between the Aboriginals and European Settlers. There is also a theatre, exhibition gallery, and showcase which all play a part in telling the stories of the Pine Rivers Region. The museum also collaborates with the Gallery and Museum Explorers (G.A.M.E) which provide activities and projects for kids. At the Pine Rivers Museum, G.A.M.E provides exhibitions involving books, photographs, and fine art that tell stories and inspire kids to explore these ideas.

In summary

We get it, not a lot of kids will perk up and jump with excitement at an announcement to the museum. But with these museums boasting a wide range of fun activities and exhibitions, we’re positive that the next trip won’t be a dull one. Spend your next day out at one of these iconic museums!