Brisbane

Brisbane city is centred upon the Brisbane River making the ferry journey up and down the river a must for visitors. Look out for the free CityHopper. One of our favourite places in Brisbane is South Bank, it features a parkland along the river. The Mount Coot-tha scenic lookout is the best vantage point to overlook the city.

 

Things We Can Suggest

South Bank is a fantastic spot to visit as there is so much to do. There are beautiful man-made pools that make you feel as if you are at the beach. Little kids have no problems as they are able to wade in the shallow water section. Beside the pools is a playground that has play equipment for both little and bigger kids. The whole area is surrounded by cafes, BBQs and grassy spots to sit. Just beware of the Ibis’s and pigeons that will steal your food. Following the boardwalk along the river you will come across a small rainforest walk. The big wheel is also situated here if you want a magnificent view over the Brisbane River. Take a snap with the colourful ‘Brisbane’ sign. From here you are in walking distance to the museum, library, GOMA and the Queen Street Mall.

 

 

The museum changes its prime focus regularly and the theme is shown in a magnificent sculpture near the front of the building. There is a dinosaur area down the bottom of the museum with seating for packed lunches or just an area where children can run around a bit. The museum is free entry except for the featured exhibit.

 

 

Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is located along Southbank in the cultural precinct. When visiting the area we frequently visit GOMA with the kids as it is very family friendly and continually changes up the displays. The kids are always engaged and walk out proudly with their creations. We have stuck colourful stickers all over a white room, watched ourselves swim on a big screen with sea life, immersed ourselves in a fairy floss display and danced with friendly beasts. It is free entry and the staff are wonderful at helping you navigate around. While you are in the area you can also stop in at the State library of Queensland which also puts on crafts for the kids.

 

Mount Coo-tha and the Botanical gardens is an enjoyable outing with the family. Pack a blanket and head early to watch the sunrise over Brisbane City. Grab a coffee while you read up on the history of the area. Afterwards head to the botanical gardens to take a walk while admiring the surroundings. There is also a café here, beware water dragons will join you for a bite to eat.

 

 

The Maritime Museum  may not be everyone’s cup but if you have an hour or so to spare it is worth a look. Especially for the younger ones the kids loved going through the WW2 frigate HMAS Diamantina. Just about the whole ship is accessible. Maddi was absolutely fascinated as I was describing what each section of the ship was. While Ronin just thought climbing up and down stairs and the wheel house was awesome.  Maddi says “I want that one” pointing to ‘Ella’s Pink Lady’, Jessica Watsons yacht who made her fame as the youngest person to solo sail the world.  There is also the gallery which is full of maritime paraphernalia. This is nice way to end the tour as you are not climbing up and down ladders and through hatches with kids. Adults are $16 and Children are $7.

 

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary we enjoyed this place as it allowed our kids to get close to the animals. You will see all sorts of Australian wildlife and farm animals. One thing for travellers to note though is that there is another Sanctuary not far away on the Gold Coast as well (Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary). I would rate the Gold Coast one a bit better for older kids as they have Segway tours and a tree top challenge activity which I had a ball on and would definitely do again.

 

 

Visit the Powerhouse to peruse the local talent. Exhibits in the Powerhouse are always changing so check what is on before you go. My favourite exhibition is the ‘World press Photo Exhibition’ which is held annually. If you are in the area for that definitely make sure you take a look. After the kids have contained themselves through the exhibits, let them blow off some steam in the nearby playground. I was very impressed with the earthy feel of the equipment. You could also take a walk to nearby café 63 which is a very kid friendly place. If you are kid free enjoy a drink afterwards on the Powerhouse deck overlooking the river.

 

 

Catch a Ferry with the kids; this is an experience in itself and a great way to see the city. Take a trip to Southbank, New Farm (Brunswick Street) or to Eagle Street Pier (markets are held Sunday 7am-3pm). You could also get a City Hopper (which is free) to take a short trip across the river.

 

Food

Eat, Street, Markets are a must do for foodie lovers. Take a ferry or drive (there is plenty of free parking). There was a $2.50 entry for Adults. I instantly felt hyped up from the atmosphere; the entertainment included live bands, magic shows and other solo performers. Don’t expect cheap eats, but the range of food will blow you away. They cover food from every part of the globe.  

 

Sushi is my tip for Brisbane cheap eats; and it can be found easily everywhere in the city. Grab a roll from a sushi stand while shopping or sit and dine in a restaurant. We found a sushi train restaurant  where every plate was $3. The kids found it a great novelty to eat from the train using chop sticks, and the adults were impressed with the chef’s selection.

 

Our Accommodation

Samford Scout Grounds – Bookings can be made online and the caretaker comes around every morning to collect fees. It cost us $16.50 for a powered site, with running water and showers per night. The caretaker was really friendly and enjoyed a daily chat. It was a dog friendly spot with plenty of space to roam. There was a small playground across the road for the kids. You will need to check if the Scouts have booked the area as it is unavailable to the public at this time. It is a 20 to 30min drive to the city. Samford was a friendly place with everything you need.

 

Tully Memorial Park – is a free camp about  45 mins from the City. It has a 3 night limit. Dogs are allowed on leads. There are toilet facilities but I found that because they were beside a park a lot of people driving by used them and they were not cared for. There was a cute little home stall down the road that sold jam, chutney and eggs!

Tips

• Park in the street where possible but be sure to check the times as sometimes it may turn into a bike lane etc. If that fails our experience would be to park at the cultural centre parking. They have a $16 flat rate for the day and you could catch city hoppers or ferry’s where needed.
• If you are planning on a lengthy stay in the area it might be worthwhile investing in a GoCard. It costs $10 which is refundable and makes your trips cheaper and hassle free.