The school holidays are upon us! I can still recall, with no small sense of nostalgia, the way they’d drag on forever. Day would roll into day without end, and, wrapped in a blanket of naïve endeavour, I’d play from till dusk until the start of school—as far off as a distant land by sea. These school holidays, Brisbane offers up a plethora of goings on, sure to delight the most energetic ankle-biters.
Queensland Gallery of Modern Art
South Brisbane
Entry to the Children’s Art Centre at GOMA is absolutely free, and well worth a visit! For the adventurous, the curious, and the budding creative, there are a host of projects, activities, and interactive installations. The grounds are delightful, there are gift shops and cafes aplenty, and many opportunities to bask in all the trappings of cultural wonderment and contemporary expression they have to offer. Check out what’s on at GOMA these school holidays!
The Queensland Museum
South Brisbane
Having spent a large portion of my childhood being told to stop climbing the dinosaurs, the Queensland Museum comes with my highest recommendation. It is a vast and glorious place, a testament to curiosity, and a melting pot of latent interests, sleeping dreams, and seeds of inspiration.
Days could be spent wandering its rooms and corridors, for no matter what your interests in particular, the Museum has it all. There are hands-on exhibits, ever changing productions, and most of it is free to the public! What better way to kick off the school holidays than with a trip through time, where any notion, imagining, or interest can be satisfied.
Iceworld
Acacia Ridge and Boondall
Despite what one may think, Brisbane is comfortably home to two huge ice-skating rinks—at Boondall and Acacia Ridge. They are called Iceworld, and, true to their name, they’ve got ice—and plenty of it.
There’s a coffee shop, treats, food and drinks, free skate hire, and all the skating you could want. There’s nothing more graceful than coasting across the ice like a hockey puck just as there’s nothing less graceful than falling over—but that’s half the fun.
If you’d like to know more about Iceworld, just check up online and see what they’ve got to offer. A school holiday must!
Curiocity Brisbane
From June 24 till July 10, Curiocity Brisbane offers a positive galaxy of ideas—a celebration of art, science, technology, and humanity. All across the South Bank Parklands, the Botanic Gardens, and the CBD, Curiocity seeks to teach and nurture in a deeply thought-provoking way, addressing a plethora of issues through a series of installations and artworks.
There are workshops, conversations, tours, interactive pieces, and plenty more, as artists from across the country come together for the benefit of all. If this sounds like your kind of jam, or something you’d like the kids to see, now is the time.
SparkLab at the Sciencentre
South Brisbane
Nothing beats the exhilarating thrill of a trip to the Sciencentre. One facet of childhood I found invaluable is that zenith of excitement in the face of the new and the incredible. The counterintuitive nature of our universe, the elegance of so many explanations, and the way the most complex effects can be so simply illustrated is what makes the Sciencentre truly special.
Located on level one of the Queensland Museum, SparkLab at the Sciencentre is an interactive space for children six to 13. This cerebral playground cannot be understated in its excellence. An absolute riot for people of all ages, check out the opening times and new exhibits!
Shows for Kids at QPAC
South Brisbane
There’s a lot on at QPAC! Queensland’s premier performing arts location offers a wide variety of children’s and children-friendly shows, particularly during school holidays. Check out what’s on these winter holidays!
Brisbane Arts Theatre
Petrie Terrace
The Brisbane Arts Theatre produces some of the best theatre around, and regularly hosts productions for children—this winter, they’ve got Shrek the Musical, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Judith Prior’s What’s New Pussycat! Check out the Brisbane Arts Theatre for more details about these upcoming shows!
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Mt Coot-tha
If there’s nothing more innately fascinating than our universe; then there’s no place more suited to the budding mind than the Planetarium. A choice combination of education and fun, it offers a series of shows tailored for different ages, frequently projected onto the Cosmic Skydome (which sounds pretty far out, you must admit!) The Planetarium also hosts a tonne of holiday activities for kids, and is situated inside the Botanical Gardens, another prize destination for some holiday relaxation.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha
Mt Coot-tha
The timeless, bushland setting of the Botanic Gardens is truly something to behold—a terrific place for walks, picnics, and adventures. Featuring a range of areas, picturesque, informative, and beautiful, the Gardens have delighted Brisbane residents for generations. And for the kids? The Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha offer a Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail in the exotic rainforest available here!
La Boite Theatre School Holiday Drama Program
Kelvin Grove
La Boite Theatre offers a Drama Program for the school holidays, made especially for students aged 13 to 17. Participants are given a chance to learn from professional actors and dramatists, meet other young people with a mutual interest in the Dramatic Arts, and come together to create and to perform. Drama can be instrumental in developing self-confidence, fostering social aptitude, and determining self-expression. Get to it!
Abbey Museum
Caboolture
The Abbey Museum is dedicated to the study, preservation, and proliferation of world history—and it’s a treasure. From the neolithic peoples of prehistory, to the classical ages of Egypt, Greece, and Rome, to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Museum takes people of all ages on a journey through the past. They offer a wide range of historical education programs, activities, and tours—in particular, their annual Mediaeval Festival on the weekend of July 9 and 10!
The Powerhouse
New Farm
The imposing, historic Brisbane Powerhouse hosts a wonderful range of cultural, artistic, and entertainment events throughout the year. These winter holidays, they’ve got some wonderful stuff for children including The Creation Stories and Playtime with Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra, so have a look!
