Visit GOMA Brisbane for a fun family day out! Check back often to see the new exhibitions they have.
GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) or as it’s now officially known QAGOMA in Brisbane’s beautiful South Bank precinct is the perfect destination for families with children of all ages.
If you’re looking for an easily accessible, free, stimulating, and enjoyable place for your family to spend a day you’ve just found it!
Immerse the family in creativity at the Children’s Art Centre or, for older kids, view the best in international film and video at the Australian Cinematheque. There is always plenty to see, do, and experience!
What is GOMA?
GOMA is one of the most dynamic, innovative and exciting cultural and art spaces in Brisbane. Paired with the Queensland Art Gallery (Collectively known as QAGOMA), it is located across two riverside buildings. The galleries present evolving programs of Australian and international exhibitions with a focus on contemporary art from Australia and the Asia Pacific.
Where is GOMA, exactly?
The cultural precinct begins at The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) and then moves north past the Sciencentre, Museum (with its famous Whale Mall), Queensland Art Gallery, State Library of Queensland, and then GOMA at the end. Clear signage will direct you between venues and there are plenty of shaded rest stops if required. Lifts and ramps abound so pram, stroller, and wheelchair users will find their needs well catered for.
How do I get to GOMA?
If travelling by bus, there is a bus station in between the Museum and QPAC called South Bank busway station. Catching the train more your style? Ensure that you disembark at South Brisbane, not South Bank, for the cultural precinct. If you get off at South Bank you’ll have quite a distance to walk which could be an issue with little ones.
There are many secure parking options in the area, including the Cultural Precinct Car Park which has a flat daily rate of $18 per entry, but check your maps prior to driving in – many of the streets are one way and can be confusing for a first-timer. Think smart and book your spot in advance (click here) to ensure you pay a discounted rate. Ticket inspectors regularly patrol the South Bank area so make sure you’re not caught out!
What’s else should I know about?
Planning a big outing, especially when you have got little kids, can be daunting but we’ve got you covered. GOMA is fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams. A cloakroom is available upon entry for bulkier items but staff will permit you to keep your nappy bags and pram with you if you prefer. The GOMA Children’s Art Centre has a pram storage bay so you can have your hands free to join in on the fun. The air-conditioned climate is perfect for baby-wearing without getting hot and sweaty – you’ll most likely find your littlest ones quickly drift off to sleep in the cool, calm environment so you can focus on the exhibits.
There are a number of different bathrooms across different levels. All parent’s rooms are well-equipped with change mats, chairs, and heating facilities. GOMA was designed with families in mind and the enjoyment and comfort of your family is a vital part of the experience.
Plenty of places to eat
GOMA Café Bistro, on the bottom garden level, is the perfect place for families or large groups. A huge outdoor dining area with a beautiful view of the river complements a menu ranging from breakfasts to burgers to brownies. Upstairs in GOMA restaurant, you’ll find a two-hatted dining experience that might be better suited to an adults-only outing.
What’s on at the moment at GOMA?
Find out what is on at GOMA right now by clicking here!
QAGOMA Children’s Art Centre
QAGOMA Children’s Art Centre works with artists to create interactive installations, artist projects and activities for kids and families.
Art Starters is a free program for babies 4– 12 months and their parents and carers. Together kids can explore select works through an engaging walking tour and a multi-sensory interactive play session.
Art Play Date is a self-directed program engaging children aged 1-2 years through movement, song and sensory play, inspired by key artworks.
Art Explorers uses games, music and making activities to engage children aged 3-5 years with art. Children can now engage with the Art Explorers program from home through a series of interactive videos.
Exhibitions
Art Box for Kids: 8 November 2025 – 10 May 2026
This ‘Art Box for Kids’ project invites children to discover the work of Australian artist Lincoln Austin. In their work, Lincoln explores the concept of perception and how each person uniquely views and interacts with the world. They are known for creating sculptural pieces that often produce optical illusions or ripple effects.
As part of ‘Art Box for Kids’, Lincoln’s ‘Al-foil drawing’ activity invites children to create a sculptural drawing using aluminium foil, card, string and glue.
‘Art Box for Kids’ prioritises sustainable exhibition design and the use of recycled or repurposed activity materials where possible.
Vipoo Srivilasa Express Yourself: 11 October 2025 – 13 September 2026
How do you feel on the first day of school? Or when you win a really hard game? What about when someone you love is upset?
Artist Vipoo Srivilasa invites children to explore their emotions through drawing, dancing, and digital activities as part of his Children’s Art Centre exhibition. The project features a reprisal of Vipoo’s 2021 activity ‘Garden of Love’ along with fun new interactives, encouraging visitors to consider the spectrum of human emotion with curiosity and an open mind.
Click here for more information.
Kids Tours Presence and Play: Various dates in 2026
This is a ticketed event designed for families with children, these multi-sensory tours of ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence‘ invite you to explore art through play. Together, you’ll be guided through playful experiences that immerse you in art, spark your imagination and build connection in a relaxed, family-friendly setting.
8:30am – 10am on the following dates:
- Saturday 7 March, 2026
- Saturday 18 April, 2026
- Saturday 16 May, 2026
- Saturday 27 June, 2026
- Saturday 4 July, 2026
Click here for more information.
Roy & Matilda Australian Art Collection: permanent, free entry at Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Galleries
Discover paintings by artists in the Australian Art Collection with Roy and Matilda, two friendly mice who love art galleries and live behind a tiny door in the Queensland Art Gallery. The mice visit artworks and create an adventure in ‘Roy and Matilda: The Mysterious Music ’. Focus artworks can be used in conjunction with the publication to complement before, during, or after-the-visit to support engagement. You can also create your own artwork guide with ‘My Collection’.
Kids Trail – Australian Art Collection: permanent, free entry at Josephine Ulrick & Win Schubert Galleries
From the earliest rock paintings to contemporary works, animals have featured in art for thousands of years. For many artists, animals are subjects that allow them to share ideas and experiences. In this trail activity, you can discover a wild and wonderful menagerie of animals hiding in the Australian Art Collection.
Is there anything else I should know?
GOMA opens daily from 10am – 5pm (closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day). Entry is free but certain exhibitions may sometimes require a special entry fee. GOMA is signed very clearly and staff will be happy to help you if required. For more information, including maps, visit QAGOMA.
Make the most of your day out and see what the rest of South Bank has to offer. Countless food and drink options, beautiful gardens, innovative play options, and the always fun Streets Beach await. Brisbane is so lucky to have the kinds of public facilities that people in other cities could only dream of. So get out there and let your kids experience it all!
If you’re looking for school holiday inspo check out our guide to the BEST school holiday activities in Brisbane here.
Previous QAGOMA Exhibitions for kids
The Castle of Tarragindi: 9 September 2023 – 14 July 2024
In the new Children’s Art Centre, Australian artist Natalya Hughes creates paintings, textiles, sculptures and installations informed by decorative and ornamental traditions. A way in which she does this, is to create immersive interiors that draw on art history. For this project, Natalya invites children to explore the imaginative artform of the ‘grotesque’ through hands-on and multimedia interactives. Grotesque designs are characterised by hybrid forms made up of parts of animals, plants, and other shapes.
Fairy Tales: 2 December 2023 – 28 April 2024
Venture into the woods with ‘Fairy Tales’. Across a magical threshold and beyond the everyday, ‘Fairy Tales’ is this summer’s enchanting exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Brisbane with more than 100 works presented across the entire ground floor from 2 December 2023 until 28 April 2024.
Exclusive to Brisbane, the ‘Fairy Tales’ exhibition explores how fairy tales from across the world have held our fascination for centuries through art and culture by showcasing the way visual storytellers draw on these narratives to entrance, delight and disconcert audiences.
Gods and Monsters | 24 June – 2 October 2023
In collaboration with the Children’s Art Centre, Australian artist Michael Zavros is interested in exploring his Greek-Cypriot heritage through his work. A way in which he does this, is to bring a modern twist to stories from Greek mythology.
