Sensory Santa Locations Across Brisbane & Beyond 2024

Everything you need to know about places offering Sensory Santa photos 2024 Brisbane!

Parents and children delight in the magic of Christmas, and a visit to Santa is a time-honoured tradition that many families enjoy, but visits to Santa usually involve bright lights, jangly music, and noisy crowds. If your child has special sensory needs this sensory overload can be very distressing, but a visit to a Sensory Santa (also known as Sensitive Santa and Caring Santa) means you can get that special family Santa photo after all.

What is Sensory Santa?

Sensory/Sensitive Santas are a wonderfully inclusive idea for children with sensory challenges who might struggle with the usual noisy Christmas crowds. Visits to Sensory Santas occur before the shopping centre is open, or at less busy times, and the whole experience is patient, relaxed, and understanding. Your child’s visit to this special Santa will be:

• Quiet – no crowds and no music
• Calm – no bright spotlights or waiting in lines
• Accessible – plenty of room for wheelchairs
• Accommodating – Autism Assistance dogs are welcome in some places
• Understanding – Sensory Santa and his photographer can work with your child’s needs and have a Santa sack full of photographic strategies to get a perfect photo.

Where can we see a Sensory/Sensitive Santa in Brisbane?

Sensory Santas will be visiting these shopping centres on the dates shown below, but be sure to book quickly. When updating this article, I noticed that there are very limited sessions and in some cases, they had already sold out!

Sensitive Santa photos at David Jones Queens Plaza | Brisbane CBD

Join David Jones this Christmas for a premium Santa photo experience with their magical Christmas sets and real-life Santas at Queens Plaza Brisbane. All bookings will receive their photo in a custom-designed David Jones frame and each child will receive a special gift from Santa himself. They also offer “Pawtraits” for your furry family members through pet photography.

Book your visit to Santa at David Jones here.

Sensory Santa photos Brisbane Northside 2024

Here is a list of locations to get sensory Santa photos on the north side of Brisbane.

Morayfield Shopping Centre

Visit Santa in his magical woodland home at Moryafield Shopping Centre. Online bookings are essential, and sessions are booked out quickly. Sensitive Santa Sessions are limited and are available for families of children with support needs. Noise and light are reduced in Santa’s woodland area. Sessions are available before trade on a Saturday and Sunday when Centre traffic is minimised. If you’d like to meet Santa without a photo, walk-ins are accepted, but only if there are no photo bookings at that time.

• When: Saturday 16 November – Tuesday 24 December
• Where: The Atrium near Prouds

Bookings are essential.

Strathpine Centre

Visit Santa for a calm and sensory-friendly photo at Strathpine Centre with dimmed lights and the sound off. Bookings are essential and places are limited! 

• When: Sunday 24 November, Sunday 1 December, Sunday 8 December
• Where: Find Santa at Centre Court near The Coffee Club

Head to the website to book.

Indooroopilly Shopping Centre

Indooroopilly Shopping Centre understands that every child’s needs are different, so the option to be photographed with Santa without the bright lights, crowds and loud sounds is available if you wish. Book in for one of their Sensitive Santa Photos. Limited time slots are available.

• When: Saturday 9 November – Tuesday 24 December (Sensitive Santa sessions are booked out for 2024)
• Where: Santa World, Level 1 (near Coles)

Bookings are essential

Brookside Shopping Centre | Mitchelton

Brookside is again proud to offer our Sensory Santa sessions. These sessions provide a safe and friendly opportunity for children with sensory needs to meet Santa in a low-stress and quiet environment and capture that special moment.

• When: Thursday 14 November – Tuesday 24 December (9am – 10am each Saturday and Sunday)
• Where: Santa’s Sleigh (outside Target)

Click here to book now.

Westfield North Lakes | North Lakes

The Sensitive Santa experience at Westfield North Lakes allows families to have a photo taken in a relaxed environment, tailored to children with sensory challenges. These calm and comfortable photography sessions are run before stores open, when the centre is quieter, to create a relaxed and sensory-friendly Santa experience. All children who visit Santa will receive a Christmas headband to take home.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist. 
• Where: Centre Court

Book your Santa photos here now.

Westfield Chermside | Chermside

Families can capture a photo with Sensitive Santa at Westfield Chermside in a tailored and relaxed environment, specifically designed for children with sensory challenges. These tranquil and comfortable photography sessions take place before store opening hours, ensuring a calm and sensory-friendly Santa experience in the quieter ambiance of the centre.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist.
• Where: Centre Court

Bookings are essential

Peninsula Fair Santa Photos | Redcliffe

The man in the red suit has arrived and he has free gifts for everyone who visits! Plus, spend $30 or more at any specialty store to receive a free Santa photo! Valid until Friday 20 December 2024. Must present a receipt to redeem. Terms and conditions apply.

• When: Wednesday December 11, 5pm – 6pm
• Where: Outside Kmart

Click here to book your Sensitive Santa session.

Sensory Santa photos Brisbane Southside 2024

Here is a list of locations to get sensory Santa photos on the south side of Brisbane.

Myer Carindale | Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre

Meet Santa and his Elves and get your Christmas photos taken! Book your personal 1-on-1 experience for you and your family. Meet Santa and his Elves, and get your 2024 Christmas photos taken! 

• When: Tuesday 10 December, 8.20am
• Where: Myer Carindale, Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre

Click here for more information on how to get your Myer Santa photos here.

Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre | Carindale

The Sensitive Santa experience at Westfield Carindale allows families to have a photo taken in a relaxed environment, tailored to children with sensory challenges. These calm and comfortable photography sessions are run before stores open, when the centre is quieter, to create a relaxed and sensory-friendly Santa experience.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist.
• Where: Ground Level near Cafe Siena

Bookings are essential.

Westfield Garden City | Upper Mt Gravatt

The Sensitive Santa experience at Westfield Garden City allows families to have a photo taken in a relaxed environment, tailored to children with sensory challenges. These calm and comfortable photography sessions are run before stores open, when the centre is quieter, to create a relaxed and sensory-friendly Santa experience.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist.
• Where: Level 1, opposite H&M

Click here to find out more details.

Sunnybank Hills Shoppingtown

The sleigh will be back again! This year expect to find reindeer, larger-than-life presents, mistletoe and lots of Christmas Trees! You will find Santa outside Kmart.

• When: Saturday 7 and Saturday 14 December, 9am – 10am
• Where: Santa Set, Level 4 outside Kmart

Click here to book your session now.

Hyperdome Shopping Centre | Loganholme

Hyperdome Shopping Centre is creating a low-stress, sensory-friendly environment that can be enjoyed by all, without the crowds, queues and noise. Children can meet Santa within his magical Enchanted Forest before the Centre opens, with plenty of time to chat and run through their Christmas wish lists in a calm and comfortable environment.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist.
• Where: Centre Court, near TK Maxx

Find out more here.

Sensory Santa east of Brisbane 2024

Here are the details of where you can visit Santa in the eastern suburbs of Brisbane including the Redlands.

Victoria Point Shopping Centre

Santa has combed his beard and pressed his jolly red suit and is ready to have you all visit him for photos at the Victoria Point Shopping Centre. As the time of updating this article, the only times available are:

• When: 11 Wednesday December, 8.20am, 8.30am, 8.40am, 8.50am
• Where: Located near Priceline Pharmacy

Bookings are required.

Sensory Santa photos west of Brisbane 2024

If you live in Ipswich, you can book a time slot for a Sensory Santa visit at these two locations.

Orion Springfield Central

Everyone’s favourite jolly man in red is back for your family Santa photo experience! Capture your Christmas moment in Santa’s Cottage from Monday 7 November! Choose a session that suits you. They are offering various experiences for the whole family.

• When: Time slots for their Sensitive Santa slots are now booked out for 2024. Contact the Centre to find out if there is a waitlist.
• Where: Santa’s Cottage – Town Walk

Find out more here.

Riverlink Shopping Centre | Ipswich 

 The Christmas season is here and bookings for Santa photos are now open. Sensory Santa Photos are once again on at Riverlink Shopping Centre.

• When: Saturday 23 November and Saturday 30 December
• Where: East Mall

Click here for more information.

Bookings really are essential!

Visits to Sensory Santa are by appointment only so you can be assured that any waiting time will be minimal. Appointments fill up very fast – we recommend you book early to avoid disappointment. Please ensure you book through the links we have provided above to secure your booking asap. 

What else is on for Christmas in Brisbane 2024?

If you’re wondering what other events are on for Christmas in Brisbane read our article here.

You may also like to do a self-guided tour of local Christmas lights using our maps for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, or Ipswich.