Finding things to do with the kids during the school holidays is always tricky so we thought we would help you with a Brisbane Kids collection of the best school holiday activities on Brisbane Northside.
These activities happen all year round, so you can ensure this resource is always current! We have tried to mix as many outdoor and indoor ideas as possible, keeping the cost affordable for families.
School Holiday Activities Brisbane Northside
White Ridge Farm
Guests can hand-feed animals, enjoy a tractor ride, head into the petting enclosure or have fun in the play area. If you are lucky enough, you will also get to see newly hatched chicks or playful piglets. The farm is generally open Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays 9am to 3pm though this can vary depending on the weather but you can check their school holiday dates and times on their website. White Ridge Farm Review
The Store of Requirement
The Store of Requirement, located in Samford on Brisbane’s Northside is a store with a vision centred around Harry Potter and the wonderful world of Hogwarts. Kids can be sorted into their house with an actual sorting hat and browse the Harry Potter paraphernalia and Harry Potter-themed adorned shop- they even serve Butterbeer! The shop is located next to the popular Flying Nun Cafe and is metres from a John Scott Playground. The Store of Requirement Reviewed
Walkabout Creek
There is a lot to like about Walkabout Creek and it is much more than a wildlife centre. Sitting on the edge of the Enoggera Reservoir, you can either choose to visit the nature centre, hire some kayaks or even make use of the mountain bike track. Pack a picnic and enjoy the bushwalks that take you around Enoggera Creek with circuits suitable for the smallest Brisbane Kids. Walkabout Creek Review
Free shopping centre events in North Brisbane
Shopping Centres across Brisbane are always generously providing free activities throughout most school holidays. Ranging from slime workshops to holiday shows, you can almost guarantee any local major shopping centre has something fun happening for kids. You will appreciate our massive (regularly updated) free things to do in the Brisbane school holidays
The best North Brisbane Playgrounds
In no particular order, our favourite playgrounds in Brisbane have been selected because they offer massive play spaces for families, often with multi-age elements and most importantly toilets!
To read a detailed review of any of these playgrounds head to our North Brisbane Playground Directory
- Lower Moora Par, Shorncliffe
- The Mil, Petrie
- Hidden World, Fitzgibbon
- Kidspace, Chermside
- Frew Park, Milton
- Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine
- Kalinga Park, Clayfield
Bracken Ridge BMX track
Bracken Ridge BMX track is set on a 5,700 square meter parcel of land, there is 640 meters of track for the kids to test at this awesome setup! It sits beside a popular Brisbane skatepark making this the perfect day out for parents of kids of many ages! Like the skatepark, it is free to enter the BMX track! Bracken Ridge BMX Track
Bowling
You would be surprised how much fun bowling is for the whole family. This is a family activity that everyone will enjoy and is suitable to school-age and above.
If the kids are small, they can use a special ramp that allows them to bowl without having to bowl with their arms. We love Kingpin Chermside because they offer bumpers that go up and down with each player’s turn. If you go online, you will often find deals directly from their website or check out all the major coupon sites like Groupon etc. Best bowling places in Brisbane
Fairy Trails
Fairys have made themselves busy across Brisbane with various interesting fairy trails. From the fairy garden at Kumbartcha (Eatons Hill), to the Gollum Tree at Scarborough, the fairy trail heads off into the Sunshine Coast Hinterland (if you want to drive that far). Fairy Trails in Brisbane
Osprey House
There aren’t many places you can go in Brisbane to see wild Osprey nesting so make the most of this rare offering and make a detour to Osprey House and Environment Centre. Together with the nesting osprey, there is a hands-on environment centre and picnic tables so you can make a morning out of it. Osprey House review.
Northside Brisbane Markets
The Northside of Brisbane is home to some of Brisbane’s best markets. Some of our favourites in no particular order are below. We have just made note of what to expect at these markets and what days they are on. If you click on the links you can read our reviews.
- Carseldine Markets (Saturdays) produce and products
- Redcliffe Jetty Markets (Sundays) produce and products
- Bite Markets (Fridays and Saturdays) food markets: head here for dinner
High Tea
A high tea outing is a perfect opportunity to talk about manners like eating with one’s mouth closed and not whacking one’s sibling while sitting at the table. Kids love finger sandwiches and bite-sized morsels of cake goodness. There are dozens of high tea places across Brisbane so put on your best gear and head out like fancy people! High Tea Places in Brisbane
Brisbane City Holiday Activities
If you are happy to venture into the city, there are a range of popular locations and activities for families. We are pretty sure most locals will be familiar with these but nonetheless we will note our favourites below.
- South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach. Enjoy their amazing playgrounds in the cooler months.
- The Queensland Museum Kurilpa (free to enter) and the Sciencentre (ticketed entry)
- The Corner at the State Library seems to always have a range of child-friendly activities
- A clock tower tour (free) in the Brisbane CBD is right next door to the Brisbane Museum (not to be confused with the Queensland Museum). The Brisbane Museum hosts a range of activities for kids, many free.
- The Sir Thomas Planetarium holds shows within their skydome (ticketed) while the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens next door often offer a range of free kids’ activities.
- Book the kids into some abseiling at Kangaroo Point with Riverlife.
- The Maritime Museum is the perfect outing for kids interested in boats and aquatic adventures.
- Roma Street Parklands have an amazing playground for kids in addition to hectares of gorgeous gardens and walks for little legs.
- Take a Citycat ride (ticketed) and enjoy the expanse of the Brisbane River. You could even book a cruise that takes you directly to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
If you want to dig even further into the Brisbane Kids Website then here are some resources to help you on your adventures
The Brisbane Kids Events Calendar
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