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Our List of Unusual Things to do in Brisbane with Kids

Are looking for something different to do with your kids because, quite frankly you are running out of ideas?

We reckon this list of ideas of unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids will have you scratching your head and wondering ‘what the actual …..?’ because we will just about lay money on that fact that no family has done ALL of these unique days out!

Here is our list of unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids (with 2 bonus entries for adults only at the bottom!)

Climb Spider Hill

Chermside Hills Reserves

Yes! There is a place in Brisbane called Spider Hill and we bet you’ve not only never heard of it, but you definitely haven’t done it. It’s actually on Brisbane’s northside, Chermside to be exact. It’s a little known (and quite an easy) bush walk that is part of the Chermside Hills Reserve. This unusual walk will take you up high and give you a great view of the city in one direction and Moreton Bay in the other. Want to find out exactly where it is and why you should do it – find all the details here.

Paint a traffic signal box

Artforce is a community art project that enables local artists to paint their original works on traffic signal boxes around Brisbane suburbs.

Artforce provides residents of all ages and artistic backgrounds an opportunity to design and paint an artwork on a traffic signal box to create a ‘drive through gallery’. Anyone can apply to do this. Families, professionals or novices, school students, kids and older people. To apply you must contact Urban Smart Projects. Find out all about it here.

Want to encourage your little artist? We love this art set – you can find it by clicking here

 80-Piece Deluxe Art Set – In a compact, portable case – Christmas present idea?

Explore 4 public art trails

Did you know that Brisbane has four public art walking trails focusing on different themes?

World Expo ’88 Public Art Trail – 30th Anniversary

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of World Expo ’88, Council has extended the self-guided World Expo ’88 Public Art Trail to include additional Expo associated artworks and artifacts.

Art and the River Public Art Trail

Enjoy a 2.4 kilometre walk or ride that meanders along the river’s edge on the Kangaroo Point boardwalk. The walk begins at the Maritime Museum, South Bank and ends at the Thornton Street ferry terminal, after taking a detour to the top of the cliffs at Kangaroo Point Park.

Contemporary Art and Architecture Public Art Trail

Take a walk through the city and admire the significant contributions made by private developers to Brisbane’s art collection.

Cultural Heritage Public Art Trail

Commencing at King George Square and finishing at St Stephen’s Cathedral, this trail offers a mix of historic, heritage-listed and contemporary artworks and monuments, each contributing to Brisbane’s story.

Find out more about the trails, including trail maps and images of each artwork here.

Find fairies & fairy doors

You can find fairies and fairy doors all around Brisbane… if you know where to look!

Fairy trails, parks and playgrounds

Bunya Crossing Reserve Swimming Hole - Brisbane - Fairy Trail

From Kumbartcho Sanctuary to Dorrington Park to Tamborine Mountain, we’ve found all the local places where you and your kids can find fairies. How many have you done? Find them all here.

There is always a reason to have a fairy costume – we love, love love this one – click here

Fairy doors in Brighton/Sandgate

We do believe in fairies! We do believe in fairies! Ok, ok – we admit to being a little fairy obsessed! So, when we got wind of a series of fairy doors popping up in Brighton/Sandgate foreshore we just had to open an official investigation. Have you found them too? They are growing in numbers and you can see our location map here so you can take your kids out to find fairies on Brisbane’s northside.

Cuddle a cat at a local cat café

Here’s a unique experience for kids that are a little bit older….

The Cat Cuddle Café

Located in Red Hill is Australia’s first Cat Café run by a rescue. Established by Pussies Galore Rescue, they have created a wonderful space for cat lovers to enjoy the company of up to 15 beautiful rescue cats. With all the feline cuteness anyone could handle, they also offer guests a chance to cuddle with and potentially adopt felines in need of a good home. Children must be over the age of 7 to enjoy a cat cuddle. Find your next cat cuddle here.

Lucky Cat Café

Located in Annerley the Lucky Cat Café worked closely with Brisbane Valley Cat Rescue (BVCR) & Kitten Kapers Rescue to find kitties with personalities that suit the stressful environment of a cat cafe. They have all been dumped, surrendered, abandoned or stray, and have now found their fur-ever home at Lucky Cat Cafe and they couldn’t be happier!

At the Lucky Cat Café you can book a ‘cat experience’, a ‘yoga with cats’ class and even craft activities with the cats!! Unfortunately children under 8 are not permitted in the cat area. Find out all the details and how to book here.

Bayside Radio Control Car Club track for kids

This amazing free track is located bayside in Wynnum, opposite Network Drive, off Wynnum Road. You will find it in the same facility as the BMX club and model train park. It also has a little steam engine next to it that you can ride around on one Sunday per month. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

  If you need a radio controlled car for your little one – check out the range here.

Find concrete crabs

Beach front near Baldwin street Redcliffe concrete art crabs - featured image

All over Redcliffe, Queensland there are little drawings of crabs etched into the concrete with a number beside them. But where are they all? Who put them there? Why are they there? And what does it all mean? Find out where they are and organise a different kind of treasure hunt right here.

Find hidden animals on the Great Wall of Manly

Do you know about the hidden animals on the Great Wall of Manly? Apparently, a talented worker, who helped build the wall was able to add interesting figures on the face of the wall. The man was said to be Leopold Sticher and he reportedly created 10 or 12 different figures on the wall.

These figures include kangaroos, emus, boomerangs, and human heads, one of which is apparently a likeness of the District Engineer in charge of works. Next time you pass by the heritage-listed wall, don’t forget to look for Leopold’s handiwork. Find out more about the wall here.

Go Geocaching

unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. There are 2,381,091 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide.’ Don’t let the ‘GPS enabled devices’ stress you out. In our case, all that meant was smartphones which you use to find the GZ (Ground Zero)! Find out more here.

Play Foot Golf

unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids

Foot Golf is a combination of Soccer and Golf. The skill of Soccer combined with the skill, rules and etiquette of Golf. Located in Mt Gravatt, Foot Golf is played for the most part without the supervision of a referee, however children under the age of 12 can only play if accompanied by an adult. Want to find out more about Foot Golf? Click here.

Be a plane spotter

things to do near brisbane airport

It’s easy to have your own Fantasy Island ‘boss… da plane, da plane…’ moment spotting planes at Brisbane Airport. Did you know 217,436 planes on average take off and land at Brisbane Airport, guaranteeing excellent spotting all year round? It’s a thing… and there is a web page for you to find out where to take the kids to get the best view! FOR REAL! Check it out here.

Go on a gondola ride

unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids

Located on Bribie Island, you can take the kids on a gondola cruise for leisure, pleasure or a special occasion! Relax and appreciate the beautiful panorama of the Glasshouse Mountains, Bribie Island’s Pumicestone Passage (Marine Park) and Pacific Harbour canals. Enjoy a morning, lunchtime, evening or even a romantic sunset experience (without the kids!) A truly unique experience with or without kids – find out more here.

*Bonus ideas for adults only!

Lumber Punks Axe Throwing

unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids

Strictly for over 18’s, this unusual thing to do in Brisbane had to be included as a incredibly ‘WTA* is going on here!?’

They claim to be Queensland’s ‘premier indoor axe throwing venue’ with locations in both the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Axe throwing is a sport in which the competitor throws an axe at a target, attempting to hit the bulls eye as near as possible. The sport of axe throwing is synonymous with Lumberjack competitions. Today it is a sport that is played around the world, From the USA , Canada, England, Ireland and finally here in Australia….. we will leave you to click on the link if you want to learn more (we take no responsibility if you or your partner decides to book this weird AS activity!!)

The Smash Pit

Another weird (but possibly wonderful?) thing for 18+ year olds is ‘The Smash Pit.’

In today’s world we deal with stuff we can’t control and we can’t just go around smashing stuff out there in the real world when it makes us frustrated.  So the people at The Smash Pit made a place where it is acceptable to get a bit loose and relieve some stress. Apparently it’s called ‘Destruction Therapy’.

They state that their mission at The Smash Pit is for you to leave relaxed, happy and exhilarated. If this sounds like your weird and wonderful jam – click here for more information!

So, there is our list – how many have you done from the whacky, unique, weird and unusual things to do in Brisbane with kids? If you are looking for even more things that you may not have ever done before – check out our article Never Have I Ever…

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Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

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