If businesses and services are going to be closed any day of the year, chances are it is going to be on Christmas Day. For this reason, many people assume if you want to go out and do something with the family or if you find yourself in desperate need of a particular service it will have to wait another 24 hours before you can do so.
The good news is there are actually quite a few places and services operating on Christmas Day in Brisbane.
Below is a list of places you can visit, activities you can do and services which are open on Christmas Day.
These details are correct at time of publishing, but can be subject to change. To avoid disappointment, please check with individual places before visiting.
Zoos and Sanctuaries
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has been voted one of the Top 10 Zoos in the World by AOL, and is the only theme park/zoo open on Christmas Day in and around Brisbane.
It is the perfect place to visit with international relatives, where you can get up close to koalas, feed kangaroos and do it all in a beautiful, natural setting.
Open 9:00am – 3:00pm Christmas Day 2025
Parks and Rides
If you are in search of a beautiful green space with playgrounds, beaches, cliffs and giant wheels, then look no further than the following Brisbane landmarks – all of which are open on Christmas Day.
- South Bank Parklands
- Wheel of Brisbane – opening at 2pm on Christmas Day in 2025
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs
- Roma Street Parkland
Beaches
Visitors and locals often flock to Queensland beaches on Christmas Day to soak up the sun, splash in the waves and celebrate with loved ones. The good news is patrolled beaches will generally have volunteers on hand to keep beach goers safe on Christmas Day, though hours may vary.
Remember, this is their Christmas Day too, so be safe, be kind and maybe even take a moment to thank them for their service.
Cinemas
Relaxing in the cool air-conditioned cinemas on a scorching hot summer’s day sounds like a pretty ideal way to wind down after the often hectic and loud Christmas morning festivities. The following cinemas will be showing the latest flicks on Christmas Day, though they will probably open later than usual.
- Event Cinemas Chermside, Mt Gravatt and Pacific Fair
- Hoyts Redcliffe, Stafford, Sunnybank and Ipswich
Fast Food
Usually there is an abundance of leftover goodies on Christmas Day, but if you’re craving something other than pudding or ham, you will be able to sneak away to the following fast food outlets.
It is worth noting, there is often a public holiday surcharge and opening hours will vary from store to store, so check before visiting to avoid disappointment.
- Dominos
- Hungry Jacks
- McDonald’s
Restaurants/Cafes
There are many restaurants and cafes which are open on Christmas Day and ready to take on the hard work of preparing a Christmas lunch or dinner. Most of them often include some extra Christmas treats such as visits from Santa, a surprise gift or fun activities.
To see who is open and to book, check out our list of where you can have Christmas lunch in Brisbane this year.
Food and General Supplies
Although the big chains like Woolworths, Coles and Aldi are closed on Christmas Day, many Foodworks, IGA and 7-Eleven stores remain open over the Christmas period so you can get those last minute supplies.
To find out if your local store is open, contact them via the below links.
Additionally, many chain service stations are open on Christmas Day, where you can grab emergency milk, bread, ice and other supplies.
Public Transport
While many of us want to lie on the couch after a massive Christmas lunch, others want to get out and explore or visit family and friends. Lucky for us, public transport will be running on Christmas Day, though services are often reduced to Sunday/Public Holiday timetables.
Don’t forget one-way fares are still just 50 cents, so hop on the train, bus or ferry and get outdoors. You may even like to burn off some of that Christmas pudding at a playground near a train station.
For public transport timetables visit Translink.
After-Hours Medical & Chemists
If you find yourself in need of a medical professional on Christmas Day (and we hope you don’t!), we have a full list of after-hours medical doctors here.
If there’s something you urgently need that only a pharmacy can supply and it’s Christmas Day, take a look at this list of late night chemists in Brisbane (please call ahead to ensure they are open, as regular trading hours may not apply).
Whether it is to explore our great city with visitors, an opportunity to make the most of a holiday, or to duck out and grab some last-minute supplies, hopefully the list above will have you covered for any eventuality this Christmas Day.
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