Holidays in Brisbane City

If you need a break from life in the burbs, but don’t have time for a ‘proper’ holiday, a night or two in Brisbane city makes a perfect family weekend away.

A sky scraper hotel, fluffy white towels, bubble baths and buffet breakfasts are fun for young and old.

Outside the hotel there is plenty to keep the family entertained – parks and gardens, river activities, museums and art galleries, restaurants and shopping – in what was recently named Australia’s ‘hippest’ city.

Family Accommodation in Brisbane City

There are one, two and three bedroom apartments in central Brisbane that can be holiday let to families. Many of these are located around Kangaroo Point, including the Adina Apartment Hotel, which affords spectacular views over the Brisbane River and iconic Story Bridge.

Adina Apartment Hotel offers 24 hour reception, room service, tennis court, pool, spa, sauna, gym, undercover parking and one or two bedroom apartments with kitchen and laundry. There is also a restaurant serving buffet breakfasts and dinner, or you can stroll along the Brisbane Riverwalk to one of the many riverside eateries.

Many of the larger hotels in the CBD also welcome families, including The Sebel on Charlotte Street, which has one and two bedroom apartments available. This hotel has a restaurant onsite serving buffet breakfasts, lunch and dinner (with children’s menu) and room service is available. There is a 24 hour reception, as well as a heated pool, spa and gym.

Family Activities in Brisbane City

Your weekend can be as action-packed or as laid-back as you wish. Here’s a list of ideas to get you started:

• Have a picnic lunch or dinner at South Bank Parklands. If the weather’s warm, take a dip at Streets Beach. Another beautiful green space with a kids’ playground in Brisbane’s CBD can be found at Roma Street Parkland.
• Hire bikes or skates (or take your own) and ride/skate along the kilometers of pathways along the Brisbane River. The West End to South Brisbane and return path features on our Top 5 Must-do Kid Friendly Cycle Paths in Brisbane.
• Check out the exhibitions at GOMA and the Queensland Art Gallery, including the interactive exhibits designed especially for children.
• Play on the new playground equipment at the City Botanic Gardens, and grab a coffee (and babycino!) from the historic Garden Club Café. Next to the gardens is QUT’s Gardens Point Campus – check out The Cube in the Science and Engineering Centre. Little ones will love this giant, interactive, digital display system.
• Take a City Cat ride to New Farm Park or Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Or just cruise up and down the river with the breeze in your face.
• Visit the Maritime Museum, Queensland Museum or the Queensland Science Centre for lots of hands on fun for kids of all ages.
• Older kids can climb the Story Bridge, kayak the Brisbane River or abseil down the cliffs at Kangaroo Point.
• Browse the weekend markets at Southbank or Fortitude Valley.
• Enjoy a family lunch or dinner along Eagle Street Pier at Pony Dining on Sundays with a menu designed with kids in mind.

Brisbane Family Beach Break

If the hustle and bustle of the city is not your thing, take a ferry ride to the paradise of Moreton Island instead, and still be within the Brisbane City Council area. Check out our review of things to do and places to stay with the family on beautiful Moreton Island.

Holidaying in your own city with kids can be a lot of fun, but perhaps the best part is the short car trip… the kids won’t even have time to ask, “Are we there yet?”.

For more family-friendly Holiday Ideas, you might like our more relaxed Family Camp Locations in and around South-East Queensland, or our tips for experiencing the Sunshine Coast with kids.