80 Amazing Things to do in Brisbane in Spring with Kids

Spring Bucket List

Brisbane, Australia springtime is one of the best times of the year. It’s warm enough to take a dip in the ocean and cool enough to still enjoy long walks through the Australian bush. This list includes 40 Spring ideas in Brisbane for kids specifically and another 40 unique bucket list ideas for kids in spring wherever they happen to be. We hope you enjoy! 

Spring ideas in Brisbane for Kids

1. Drive up to Mt Tamborine for a bush walk.
   Mt Tamborine Village is the perfect place for morning tea followed by a walk to Cedar Creek Falls.
2. Visit Tropical Fruit World.
   Taste fruits from around the world! The kids will enjoy their mini golf and farm animals.
3. Book a whale-watching day trip.
   This time of year is when all the love happens and you are most likely to see whales!  
4. Go fruit picking for strawberries.
   Pick your own strawberry farms are dotted all over South East Queensland.
5. Marvel at the Bribie Island Butterfly House.
   Volunteer run and quite the special place for kids, the beach isn’t far away.
6. Go plane spotting at Brisbane Airport.
   This is an any-time of year fun activity.
7. Explore the Eumundi Markets.
   Operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays in all weather! 
8. Wander the Hide ’n’ Seek Children’s Trail at the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.
   Pick up a trail map at the visitor centre as you enter and let the kids guide you around.
   
9. Spot koalas in Toohey Forest (protected koala bushland).
   Koalas are harder to spot than you think but well worth the effort! 
10. Enjoy afternoon fish and chips overlooking Moreton Bay.
    Take some bread and your own drinks and make some chip sandwiches for a budget version.
11. Head to Burleigh Hill at dusk to see if you can spot any fireflies.
    We swear this is not an urban myth. More than once, fireflies have been spotted on Burleigh Hill.
12. Explore Springbrook National Park.
    Spend as much time as possible in one of the ancient Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.
    
13. Try dragonfruit (you can PYO in Brisbane too!).
    You really can pick your own dragonfruit in Brisbane but if you prefer to buy it, that is okay too! Most people haven’t tried it so this is your chance! 
14. Take a tour of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.
    For a small fee, you can receive a tour (and support) of one of South East Queensland’s most important wildlife hospitals. Located next to Australia Zoo. 
15. Enjoy a picnic at Mary Cairncross Reserve.
    Visit the education centre for a hands-on experience and finish up with a rainforest walk through one of their lush trails. 
16. While you are there, visit Maleny Bird World.
    An experience quite unlike any other. Rescue birds and huge parrots as far as the eye can see! 
17. Take a day trip to Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm.
    Get the teenagers ready for some Insta-worthy picture taking.
18. Climb Mount Coolum (or pick another Brisbane Mountain).
    This is less mountain climbing and more hiking up a mountain, but the view is worth it! 
19. Watch the Bird Show at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.
    This is a special experience with lots of unusual birds of prey showing their prowess in the background of the Lamington National Park. 
    
20. Visit the Street Library website and find one near you.
    Take a book, borrow a book- a fun and new experience for the kids! 
21. Paint some mini pictures of wattle for Christmas Cards on National Wattle Day (1st September)
    You could do this activity anywhere of course, but it’s made more special in Brisbane because Wattle is in bloom everywhere! 
22. Plant a koala tree for Save the Koala Month (October).
    Many local councils offer a free tree offer to residents. Otherwise, head to your local community nursery where you can usually pick one up for a couple of dollars. 
23. Head off on the Brisbane fairy trail.
    The Brisbane Fairy Trail is a list of Brisbane fairy places we pulled together in one handy list for all fairy lovers. 
24. Watch a movie at Yatala Drive-In.
    Drive-Ins are memorable for kids and much more pleasant in the water months. 
25. Enjoy a CityCat trip to New Farm Park for a picnic.
    With an epic playground and vast green space for a kickabout, arriving in style on a CityCat from another stop will be quite the novelty for the kids. 
26. Spend the afternoon by the river at Howard Smith Wharves.
    With a playground, amazing views and an array of yummy food, this is a fun and fancy way to spend an early evening. 
27. Attend the bird feeding at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
    It is free to attend the lorikeet feeding which takes place outside the sanctuary. The sanctuary is well worth visiting afterwards so you can see all the wonderful work they do with local wildlife. 
28. Plan some Halloween Treats to make for Halloween
    The spookier the better; let the kids Google with you and then have them write the ingredient list ready to go. 
29. Have a picnic at the Mountview Alpaca Farm
    If you haven’t had a picnic with an alpaca have you even lived? You won’t know until you do. Next to a winery and close to many a country bakery 🙂 
30. Enjoy a day at Karawatha Forest Park and explore the Discovery Centre
    This is one of Brisbane’s best Environment Centres with hands-on activities for the kids, regular holiday activities and a nature play playground to enjoy. 
    
31. Pay a visit to the resident koalas at Daisy Hill Koala Centre
    The best way to protect koalas is to teach the next generation all about them and Daisy Hill Koala Centre does this so well! Entry is free. 
32. Teach the kids about bees at the Live Bee Show at The Ginger Factory
    Another “teach the next generation” activity – learning about the importance of bees is the best way to protect them! The Ginger factory has a range of other attractions and a fun train! 
33. Spend a day at Redcliffe Kitefest.
    This annual event is one of the Moreton Bay Region’s best family events over two massive days. With entertainment, activities and lots of kite flying, this is an event you can spend the whole day at. 
34. Head to the Samford Lifestyle Centre as all the baby animals are born (and grab a bite to eat while you are there).
    We love this place for its nursery, gift shop, cafe and farm animal tour which costs just a couple of dollars. Last year, during spring we saw our first baby donkey! 
35. Take part in the Aussie Backyard Bird count (October).
    This is a fun citizen science project for the kids. Sit in the backyard and observe all the birds they see within a set period of time. It’s important work but fun and surprising how many birds there actually are that the kids probably don’t even think about.  
36. Visit the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
    What says spring more than a Carnival all about Flowers? Just a few hours from Brisbane, this annual event is more than just a flower show, with entertainment, activities and lots of things to do! 
37. Watch the sheep dog show at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
    Sheepdogs are incredibly clever and the sheepdog show at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary will give you the chance to see them in action. 
38. Go to Riverfire. 
    It’s fun to watch from vantage points but there is nothing quite like being at Riverfire. It may not be a thing you want to do every year, but it’s fun as a once-off and is always memorable. 
39. Walk to King Island.
    Spring is the perfect time to walk to King Island as the water isn’t too cold and the sun isn’t too hot. Just make sure you pay attention to the tides and head off as the tide goes out so you have plenty of time before it comes back in. 
40. See what is happening for families at the Brisbane Festival and see a show! 
    Experience always trumps things. The Brisbane Festival usually has a number of free shows as well as ticketed events. 

Spring bucket list ideas anywhere

1. Make a Spring Bucket List and tick them off as you go!
2. Teach the kids to make a pavlova.
3. Grab some watercolour pencils and practise drawing spring flowers.
4. Plant a giant sunflower circle.
5. Plan and make a Halloween costume.
6. Donate old winter blankets and towels to a local animal shelter.
7. Buy a living Christmas tree, ready for 1st December.
8. Fly a kite, bonus points for making your own.
9. Sleep under the stars in the backyard.
10. (For teens) Recreate a childhood picture.
11. Plant different seeds in glass jars with cotton wool so you can see them grow.
12. Buy some brightly coloured paper and make some origami flowers for the dinner table.
13. Have the kids write a heartfelt letter for their teachers for UNESCO World Teachers Day (October 5th).
14. Join a local community garden or edible garden.
15. Make a spring song playlist for holiday listening.
16. Create a compost for your spring garden (kids love worm farms!).
17. Go roller-skating.
18. Download a geocaching app and go treasure hunting.
19. Teach the kids to grow some plants in water. 
20. Make some salt-dough flowers.
21. Take the kids to a local farmers’ market.
22. Learn how to tie-dye.
23. Go on a nature walk through your garden, collecting leaves and flowers to press between some books.
24. Introduce the kids to The Sound Of Music.
25. Make some wildflower seed bombs to give as future gifts.
26. Have the kids surprise someone with flowers (bonus if you can pick them from your own garden).
27. Teach the kids to skip stones.
28. Make some homemade sourdough (ask your local community FB groups for a starter).
29. Make a time capsule and include some pressed flowers.
30. Make a birdbath for your backyard birds.
31. Teach little kids to play Go Fish and older kids to play Rascals and Royalty.
32. Have an insect movie marathon (Bee movie, Ants and A Bugs Life).
33. Make your own ice cream and make a dessert bar.
34. Let your kids pick out a cake to learn how to bake.
35. Spend a Sunday going to garage sales with the kids (with a budget).
36. Build a ‘bug hotel’ to encourage insects to your garden.
37. Make a flower crown/daisy chain.
38. Make a scented flower garden (the perfect time of year to plant Jasmine, Lavender and Sweet Azalea).
39. Take some candid photos in the Jacaranda carpets (early to mid-October).

If you are interested in bucket lists you might also like our unique ideas on things to do while kids are kids.