Things to do in Brisbane this winter with kids: Where to eat, stay and play
Queensland is synonymous with summer. Endless beach days, sand between your toes, and the smell of sunscreen.
This makes it easy to overlook the Sunshine State when you're searching for a family-friendly winter holiday destination.
But if you're looking to shake off the woollies with the kids, Brisbane might be your perfect winter playground. Here's just a few things to do in Brisbane.
READ MORE: The best places in Australia to take a holiday with your pet
Brisbane is an ideal holiday spot in winter. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Is winter a good time to visit Brisbane with kids?
Crisp, blue-sky days and cool, clear nights make Brisbane the perfect winter destination.
The average temperature in Brisbane during winter is a glorious 22C during the day and a mild 11C at night.
The winter sun shines reliably and there's usually very little rain - perfect weather for exploring.
My family last visited Brisbane in late April - just as the weather began to turn. Here are my preschooler-approved recommendations for where to eat, stay and play.
Family-friendly things to do in Brisbane during winter?
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is nestled in Fig Tree Pocket, just 12km out of the Brisbane CBD and accessible by car, bus or river cruise.
Brisbane is truly lucky to have something so special tucked in so close to the city.
The best fed kangaroos in Queensland. Rebecca Masters
The sanctuary is home to koalas, kangaroos, and all kinds of mammals, birds and reptiles.
This is a low-stress outing the whole family will enjoy. I recommend setting aside most of the day to really make the most of it. You can bring your own food or eat at one of the cafes on site.
The koala close-up experiences are really special, especially if you have young kids. The sanctuary is open seven days a week and kids under three get free admission.
Bluey's World
My family is lucky to have visited Bluey's World twice now and I can tell you it doesn't get any less magical. (You can read all about our incredible first experience here.)
The Bluey's World Immersive Experience at Northshore Hamilton involves a guided adventure through the Heeler house, complete with characters and intricately designed sets, filled with lights, sounds and games.
Waiting for our Bluey's World experience. One day I'll get a photo where we're all looking at the camera. This wasn't that day. Rebecca Masters
After the experience, there's a themed cafe and playground as well as a gift shop.
Off-peak (weekday) tickets are $49.90 per ticket, weekends and other peak times are $64.90. Babies under two are free.
Victoria Park Putt Putt
Brisbane's Victoria Park has golf facilities, a driving range, putt putt, wedding and events spaces, and a family-friendly restaurant all in one beautiful green space just two kilometres from the CBD.
After a busy morning at Bluey's World, this was a perfect spot to unwind with lunch and a round of putt putt.
The meals are generous, the views are stunning and putt putt is reliable, low-key fun.
My kids are 3 and 5 so we didn't get too hung up on the score card but it was a relaxed and amusing way to spend the afternoon.
MiniBOUNCE
If your kids are preschool-aged, miniBOUNCE is a fantastic option for letting out some energy.
The adventure-play centre is a padded playground with trampolines and a giant ball pit, especially designed for kids 6 and under.
I was able to drink my coffee hot and uninterrupted, so that's probably all you need to know.
There's several locations across South East Queensland but we visited the brand new one in the Nicholas St Precinct in Ipswich.
Big smiles at miniBOUNCE. Rebecca Masters
General Public
Right next door to miniBOUNCE Ipswich is General Public.
With ten-pin bowling, arcade games, and pool tables, this one is for the slightly older kids and kids at heart.
The menu has something for everyone with burgers, pizzas, salads and snacks.
Adults will get a kick out of the kids menu. We ordered one 'I don't care' (fish and chips) and one 'I don't want that' (cheeseburger).
Area 51
Area 51 is a galactic-themed indoor play centre for kids with four locations across South East Queensland.
Kick off the shoes, slip on some grip socks and jump around with the kids across trampolines, giant slides, and ninja courses.
There are different play areas for different ages to keep all cosmic explorers safe.
Not all locations are the same and some are designed for kids under 12 so check the website for details before you go.
Area 51 indoor playground. Area 51
Devon Pixies
Devon Pixies is an adorable tea house in Logan's historic Kingston Butter Factory Precinct.
We stopped in here on our way home and enjoyed a traditional high tea.
Think freshly baked scones, finger sandwiches, pastries and cakes, and a range of premium loose-leaf teas.
They cater for everyone. Mine was necessarily gluten-free (I'm coeliac) while the kids' were delighted to find fairy bread and cookies among the cute offerings on their high tea stand.
Tiny little fairy bread triangles were a delight on the kids' high tea stand. Rebecca Masters
Where to stay in Brisbane with kids
The Westin Brisbane
We were guests of five-star CBD hotel The Westin, conveniently located in the middle of the city near Central Station.
Admittedly, a luxury hotel isn't somewhere I would have considered staying with young children but we had a faultless two-night visit. The staff even set up a teepee in the lounge room of our suite.
The teepee was a very cute touch. Rebecca Masters
The hotel restaurant, Settimo, considered one of Brisbane's best Italian restaurants, is themed on the Amalfi Coast and owned by award-winning Italian-Australian chef Guy Grossi.
The venue is warm and relaxed and the staff are intuitive, finding me and the kids a quiet table where we wouldn't bother other diners.
The kids feasted on marinated olives, salumi and veal meatballs, while I savoured the Scialatielli All'amalfitana - pasta (gluten-free available) with local seafood, colatura and tomatoes with a glass of pinot grigio.
The olives went down very well with my two. Rebecca Masters
The food at Settimo was absolutely delicious. Both mum and preschoolers approved. Rebecca Masters
Each morning the restaurant is transformed into a heaving buffet - which was perfect for filling up hangry kids and getting some caffeine into mum, before we headed out into the city.
For a more low-key dining option, we also ate a few blocks away at Comuna Cantina, which serves Latin-inspired street food.
The kids had chicken quesadillas and grilled corn on the cob with shaved ricotta while I tucked into a trio of soft tacos filled with hangar steak and pickled onion, adobo prawn and guacomole and pulled pork with sliced green apple.
Comuna Cantina is a fantastic choice for a casual meal in the CBD. Rebecca Masters
The bustling Brisbane CBD was an eye-opening experience for my kids, who are accustomed to a far slower pace in their coastal hometown.
While they marvelled at the busy streets, full of bikes, cars, and buses, after a couple of days we were ready to slow down, and grateful to be headed out to the Greater Brisbane regions of Ipswich and Logan.
These admittedly weren't on my travel radar but they really rounded out our trip well - and I'll definitely recommend finding time to get out of the city as part of your visit.
Urban Getaway
While in Ipswich we stayed in a renovated cottage hosted by Urban Getaway
Urban Getaway has a suite of properties across Brisbane, Ipswich and Bargara with everything from cosy studios to expansive eight-bedroom retreats.
Our four-bedroom, two bathroom cottage in West Ipswich was freshly renovated, and in a perfect location to explore the CBD, just minutes from Riverlink Shopping Centre, Ipswich Showgrounds, Workshops Rail Museum and Queens Park.
Our adorable cottage by Urban Getaway would be a great choice for anyone looking to explore Ipswich - and could accommodate up to eight people. Rebecca Masters
Just a 10-minute drive away is the Brothers Leagues Club which has a stellar bistro with a great menu, daily specials and friendly, helpful staff.
I enjoyed a perfectly cooked rib fillet and a glass of wine while the kids scoffed their spaghetti as fast as possible to get back to the playground.
We barely dipped our toes into Ipswich and Logan and would have loved to check out the rail museum, Twigley Farm, the Daisy Hill Koala Centre, and the FGS Chung Tian Temple at Priestdale.
There's always next time...
The writer and her family were guests of Tourism and Events Queensland.
