As the tagline says, “ There is nothing like Australia”, it truly stands for the country. Just like how Europe is famous for its honeymoon travellers, Australia, land filled with fun and frolic is best suitable for a family vacation, especially for kids under the age of 12. Australia has been seeing an increase in the number of tourists steadily in recent times. But people often rave about Sydney or Melbourne. Though the continent seems to be small, the land offers so much for its travellers.

Brisbane in Queensland, South Australia — Image source: Unsplash

The capital of Queensland, Brisbane is one of the most underrated cities in Australia. The city of Brisbane offers a vibrant environment and as gorgeous a riverfront as the view. Sparkly restaurants, the aroma of freshly brewed coffees at cafes, pleasant wine regions and exciting hiking trails. Being a river town, the city has exciting places to visit and have fun at. Especially when you are travelling with kids, you have many places to visit where both you and your kids can have fun.

How to keep your kids happy and occupied in Brisbane

1. Connect with wildlife

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane — Image Source: Unsplash

Australia’s wildlife is very unique. Some of the animals and birds you find here cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Allow your kids to cuddle a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary or let them learn about 90 other native species of Australia living in the sanctuary. Bring your kids on the Koala & River Cruise that starts from Brisbane Culture Center in the morning.

Location: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Open hours: 9 AM – 5 PM on all days

2. Go on a river cruise

Cruises in Brisbane — Image Source: Unsplash

Brisbane has got a waterfront as the city’s view. Leaving here without taking the marvellous cruise is considered to be rude. There are different types of cruises like dinner cruise, lunch cruise, evening cruise etc. These cruises are usually 3 – 4 hours long and are filled with music, dance and fun. Take your kids a spin on the cruise and let them get to know about the historical landmarks of Brisbane and raise their general knowledge.

Location: There are different cruise companies with good ratings, located throughout the city and in the river banks. You can choose any.

Open hours: 9 AM – 7 PM. (Note: Cruise timing differ from one tour operator to another)

3. Take your kids swimming in South Bank

Kid swimming in a waterpark — Image Source: Unsplash

South Bank is Brisbane’s entertainment precinct. Packed with museums, art galleries and kid-friendly attractions, the south bank is a great place to visit with your little ones anytime during the day. The place also has a water park that is completely free of cost for your kids. Looking for some sand to tiptoe your feet, you can head out to Streets beach, a man-made water lagoon, perfect for you and your kids.

Location: South Bank, Brisbane,

Open hours: Beaches can be accessed any part of the day & Aquativity Water Park – 10:30 AM – 7 PM.

4. Museum of history

Get your kids to know all about earth’s history. Take a stroll through the Queensland museum of history which exhibits the state’s culture, dinosaur skeletons, fossils and shells. The museum also has a ScienCentre on the first floor exhibiting a collection of science experiments that are safe to play. The science floor also talks about science, human achievements and ecosystems. Develop your little one’s IQ and keep their minds busy with quizzes and games.

Location: South Brisbane, Queensland

Open hours: The museum is open throughout the week between 9:30 AM – 5 PM except for national holidays.

5. The Wheel of Brisbane

Wheel of Brisbane, one of the things kids enjoy — Image Source: Unsplash

Wheel of Brisbane is an iconic landmark of the city located in the Southbank. It is also called the Channel Seven Wheel of Brisbane and gives you a breathtaking panoramic view of the city for 15 minutes uninterrupted. The gondolas in the wheel can accommodate roughly 6 people at the same time and are air-conditioned for comfort. Take your kids on a ride on the wheel of Brisbane and watch them go speechless.

Location: Tickets are priced between 16AUD to 19 AUD. You can avail a discount on the price if purchased online.

Open hours: The Channel Seven Wheel of Brisbane is open all day long 24/7.

6. Let kids jump on a trampoline

Kids love games more than anything. What is more fun than bouncing on a trampoline? Brisbane has got two amazing indoor trampolines where the kids can jump around the trampoline for at least an hour. Parents and adults can sit back and relax at the in-house cafe. The place has 50 more interconnected with giant airbags as safety and precautionary measures.

Location: Bounce, Inc Tingalpa, Brisbane

Open hours: Bounce is open on all days between 9 AM – 9 PM except Sundays. On Sundays, they are open from 9 AM – 7 PM.

Tips while travelling with kids

Always pack extra clothes. Be it flight travel or sightseeing.
Carry some snacks and comfort food that kids prefer to eat. While visiting other countries, kids may not be able to eat regional food. To make sure they get proper nutrition, carry some in hand.
Try not to book activities early in the mornings as kids get cranky if they don’t get enough sleep.
All attractions have special discounts for kids, ask for it.
Always keep track of what your child does and where he or she is.
Getting the right medicine in the right dosage and composition might get difficult. So make sure to take basic medicines or the important ones if prescribed along with the prescription.
If you are kids are attached to a specific toy and soft toy, bring them along the trip as it helps kids get comfortable.

Planning a vacation with kids can be fun but also hectic at times. From waking them to getting them ready to visit places and putting up with their mood swings and crankiness, it can be a lot to handle. With Pickyourtrail, choose your ideal Australia travel packages available or customize your vacation to Australia and leave the stressing part to us and travel hassle-free.