On the weekends and school holidays, it can be nice to extend the bedtimes of Brisbane Kids and head out for some evening fun. It needn’t be expensive or a long trip but memories are made by the different and the unusual.
There are so many things to do in Brisbane even at night when kids should be sleeping. Before you read this list, you might want to check out the Brisbane Kids calendar which will list any one-off night festivals and other popular Brisbane evening events near you.
Bowling
Bowling is a fun family activity and most bowling alleys even have bumpers they can put up to ensure even the youngest children can knock down some pins. Setting your Brisbane Kid up for this kind of success almost guarantees a tantrum-free outing while you sit back with a coffee. For older kids check local bowling alleys for disco nights where bowling alleys will be alight with disco lights while pumping out disco tunes.
We talk more here about bowling in Brisbane.
Mt Coot-tha lookout
Head up to Mt Coot-tha with some takeaway and eat it on the hill while you watch the sunset. If you can plan ahead, you might also like to go on a Saturday night when the Brisbane Astronomical Society is there with their telescopes and you can have the chance to look through a scope and check out the spectacular planets that surround us. (We list them on the Brisbane Kids calendar)
Skating (Roller or Ice)
Skating might feel out of your comfort zone but it is a whole lot of fun for the entire family and ensures some memory-making bonding time. There are roller skating rinks dotted throughout Brisbane and Iceworld at Boondall and Acacia Ridge. You can generally hire skates at each venue and most offer refreshments and hot meals.
South Bank and Hot Chocolate
There are a huge range of dessert places in Brisbane from traditional gelato stores to places that specialise in chocolate or creative ice cream and dessert concoctions. Heading out for a sweet treat after an early dinner is one of those rare activities that will be remembered by your kids for years to come.
You can find places for late night treats in our dessert places in Brisbane resource.
Go to a local tavern with a playground
The Everton Park Hotel playground
Local taverns and pubs are impressively family-friendly these days with the majority of them featuring kids zones that boast everything from playgrounds to games rooms. Entries typically bypass the public bar and instead you can expect a restaurant facade and a limited private bar area with the public bar generally via another entrance.
They frequently have kids eat free nights and kids meals come with colouring-in activities. Better still, in our experience, they serve food quickly or serve kids’ meals first. Some of our favourites include the Mango Hill with an inside playground, the Albany Creek with its outdoor and indoor play area, The Everton Park with a massive fenced playground and the Pineapple Hotel which features an impressive kids area.
Fishing
What better time to go fishing than the evening, even better if it is a full moon. Rug everyone up, fill a thermos with soup or hot milo and head out to one of the many fishing places in Brisbane. Now while we can’t guarantee you will catch any fish, we can assure you it will be a whole lot of fun.
Movies
Movie options abound in Brisbane for families. Event Cinemas offer their cinema discounts under Cinebuzz, Hawthorne Cinemas are known for their affordable tickets and Stafford cinemas offer recliner chairs in all their theatres. If you would prefer a drive-in then you are in luck because Yatala and the Tivoli play popular new release movies every weekend! Community groups and schools also often hold outdoor movie nights which we will list on the Brisbane Kids Calendar as they come up.
Seaside Picnic
Regardless of the time of year, coastal communities still light up the foreshore so why not pick up some fish and chips and head down and listen to the waves and have some quality family conversation. We recommend Redcliffe, Shorncliffe, Sandgate, Manly and Cleveland. If you use the search function on the Brisbane Kids website you can also often locate playgrounds along the foreshore so the kids can have a play while you wait for your dinner.
Night markets
Night markets are on the increase in Brisbane and while they are frequent during the Summer and close to Christmas, there are some markets that operate at night all year round. One of our favourites is Eat Street at Northshore which open every weekend of the year. The range of food is incredible and they often have live entertainment. The biggest tip we have for you is to get there as it opens so you can get a table and get food for your family without having to line up for too long.
Laserzone
With laser games, arcade games and bumper cars Laserzone Family Entertainment Centre at Lawnton is open late every night but Sunday (closed Mondays). Their laser games are played indoors over multiple levels and are a great fun evening activity for active kids.
Playtime Chermside
Playtime Chermside, (located within Westfield), is open until atleast 11pm every single night. With over 100 arcade games, this place is jam-packed with classic games and the latest in arcade technology. This is probably the most expensive experience but you can pad it out with games like air hockey which can involve the whole family.
We value your input and encourage you to email us with any ideas you might have at info@brisbanekids.com.au
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