If you have a Brisbane Kid who dreams of becoming a pilot, or a bigger ‘kid’ who loves everything aviation, then a trip to the Queensland Air Museum should be on your ‘must visit’ list.
Less than an 1.5 hourโs drive from Brisbane, and located near the Caloundra Aerodrome, the Queensland Air Museum is open to the public seven days a week and welcomes visitors from 10am to 4pm daily.
Brief History of the Queensland Air Museum
Queensland Air Museum started in 1974, when a group of aviation enthusiasts decided to put their money where their mouth was and begin preserving Australiaโs aviation heritage. First on their acquisition list was a Canberra bomber.
At the time, they didn’t actually have a permanent base. Over the years the museum has moved several times, before settling into its current home at 7 Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra West, which boasts two, jam-packed hangars of aircraft engines, equipment, artefacts, photographs and books, as well as numerous open-air displays.
From such humble beginnings, the museum has grown to lofty heights and is now Australia’s largest display of aviation history, with more than 80 historic aircraft and a range of aviation related displays, including engines and vehicles.
What Can You See at the Queensland Air Museum
There is plenty to see at the Queensland Air Museum, with both inside, outside and undercover exhibits.
Some of the collection’s most significant and popular displays are a F-111 fighter jet, a Mirage Jet, and Australiaโs first Douglasย DC-3, which is a fixed-wing propeller-driven airliner which made air travel popular with the public in the 30โs and 40โs.
Other highlights include a DHC-4 Caribou which served in the Vietnam War, and a Beechcraft Starship, which is an unusual looking twin-turboprop six- to eight-passenger pressurised business aircraft.
Despite there being plenty to see, there is also something to hear. At the back exit of hangar one (the hanger where the entrance is) you can listen to live aviation traffic from Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Caloundra. Itโs actually fascinating to get an insight into the language used, where the planes are off to, and how they navigate landing and taking off.
Add-On Experiences
If you are wanting to enhance your visit to the Queensland Museum there are a few experiences which can be booked for an additional price.
Boeing 737-800 Flight Simulator Experience
Take the pilots seat in a simulator which is a reconstruction of a full sized 737-800 cockpit. Hear the engines roar, get 200-degree views of the runway and take to the skies before reaching cruising altitude. Will you be able to successfully take off and land?
Little or no previous flight experience is required, with the experience lasting for 60 minutes (including briefings).
The Ultimate F-111 Experience
Strap into the pilotโs seat for the ultimate F-111 experience. Learn all about this iconic aircraft before planning your route, attack profile and what weapons you will use for specific targets.
Itโs important to note this three-hour experience does have age restrictions and specific clothing requirements.
Special Events
The Queensland Air Museum holds several special events during the year, all of which are very popular. So, keep an eye on their socials to keep abreast of whatโs coming up.
Previous events have included open cockpit weekends, general open days, commemoration events, and special days celebrating particular aircraft like warbirds, helicopters and fast jets.
Planning Your Visit to the Queensland Air Museum
Tickets to the museum can be pre-purchased online or bought at the front desk upon arrival. Individual, children and family tickets are available, as are gift vouchers, and annual passes for those who would like to visit more than once. Group bookings/tours and venue hire can also be arranged by contacting the museum.
Exhibits are both indoors, outdoors (uncovered) and under the shelter of a large hangar, so plan accordingly in regard to clothing and protection from the elements.
There are several off-street parking spaces near the entrance of the museum with additional street parking surrounding the museum.
While we think this museum is a great inter-generational activity, it is perhaps best suited to children who are in primary school and older. If you were to bring toddlers and small children, you would need to closely supervise them to ensure their safety.
Accessibility at Queensland Air Museum
The Queensland Air Museum is considered largely accessible. The main hangars have concrete floors and enough space to manoeuvre a wheelchair or pram, though due to the nature of the displays, visitors should always be mindful of low hanging obstructions.
While many of the displays can be viewed from the ground, some displays have portable stairs for closer access. Care should be taken at all times when moving about the site, especially close to the planes and if you are lucky enough to venture inside a plane.
Accessible toilets are available, as is baby change facilities.
Queensland Air Museum Features
- Indoor and outdoor displays
- Gift shop
- Small selection of drinks and snacks for purchase
- Accessible toilets and baby change facilities
- Picnic tables and undercover tables/seating
- On and off-street parking
While You Are in the Area
After you have finished at the museum (or before) take a wander across the road to the Caloundra Aerodrome, where you can get a great view of the runway, see the planes and helicopters that use the aerodrome and if you are lucky enough, witness aircraft landing and taking off.
A visit to Caloundra isnโt complete without a trip to one of the many beaches the grace the coastline of the Sunshine Coast. One of our faves is Bulcock Beach, known for its calm waters, a picturesque coastal walk, and of course the fun Happy Valley Playground.
Want more playground fun? Take a drive to nearby Aura, where you can find plenty of themed playgrounds, including the Whale Park and the Dino Park.
What We Thought of the Queensland Air Museum
Our family thoroughly enjoyed our two-hour visit to the Queensland Air Museum, a place we had been wanting to visit for quite some time. The knowledge of the volunteers, and the personal stories many of them shared, was a real highlight for us.
The older family members, who are plane enthusiasts, loved reading the stats about each display and trying to guess the model and type of each plane on display.
Miss 11 was a little less enthusiastic about our visit, but enjoyed some of the activities in the kidsโ corner, and pretending to fly the gyrocopter, which you can actually sit in.
I personally enjoyed chatting to the volunteers, hearing about why they are passionate about aviation and how they came to volunteer at the Museum.
How to Get Here
You can find the Queensland Air Museum at 7 Pathfinder Drive, Caloundra West, right opposite the ย Caloundra Aerodrome. There is on and off-street parking at the front of the museum and in the surrounding streets.
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