The Ten Best Kidult Activities in Brisbane

Perhaps Peter Pan was onto something. The famous literary character didn't want to grow up — and, once you've become an adult, it's hard not to agree with him. Alas, flying through the air and cavorting with pirates isn't a reality for anyone, well, real, but it's easy to pretend otherwise. Brisbane boasts a hefty array of activities that'll unleash your inner kidult, bouncing around, taking a few boozy swings and playing giant board games included.

HIT A FEW BALLS AT HOLEY MOLEY

Brisbane's mini-golf bar sure happened upon one hell of an appropriate name. Just try not to exclaim "Holey moley!" several times while you're there. It's impossible, unless you're a big ol' boring grown-up. You heard us. Putting your way around a former church — and through courses that glow in the dark, are filled with creepy clowns, take a swing at Twister and feature a nine-iron throne the entire Stark and Lannister clans would be envious of — will incite that reaction. Cap it all off with a drink at the Caddyshack Bar, where Long Island Iced Tees and Happy Gilmoreo cocktails await.

MASH BUTTONS AT NETHERWORLD

It's a simple idea, but a good one. Whenever you come across an arcade or pinball game in a bar, lumped into a corner somewhere, it's always popular — so why not fill an entire pub full of them? Turning a space that has housed plenty of seedy watering holes into a gaming mecca, Netherworld doesn't just want you to pump tokens into machines, with video game consoles and board games on offer too. If you're after the same retro fun without the booze, head to Morningside's 1Up instead.

TAKE MARIO KART INTO REAL LIFE AT SLIDEWAYS

Think Mario Kart's Rainbow Road is hard? It is — but, so is sliding around a real-life multi-coloured space at Slideways. Don't worry, it's also fun as well, courtesy of a 425-metre, two-level indoor track, complete with a bridge, tunnel and loop of the carpark. It's the best kind of car-related activity Eagle Farm has to offer. No, getting stuck in traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive doesn't count.

JUMP AROUND AT SKYZONE

Is there anything as simplistically enjoyable as jumping up and down? There's a reason countless musicians instruct you to do so. Skyzone at Macgregor will help you bounce until your heart's content — on huge trampolines, between huge trampolines, off of walls, into pits of foam, while shooting hoops and while dodging balls. And when you're done hopping around, you can also take in a game of laser tag in a massive three-storey arena. Indoor rock climbing is also in the works, making Skyzone a one-stop kidulting bonanza.

GET ZAPPY AT LASERFORCE

Speaking of running around wielding flashing pretend weapons, Laserforce is a Brisbane mainstay. Most folks would have ventured to the Woolloongabba centre as a kid — if you didn't hold a birthday party there, you went to someone else's. Still running after 29 years (yep, that'll make you feel old), it still offers all of the fun you knew and loved, plus a few new attractions. Walk through a glowing portal into the time vortex, pretend you're in an action movie as you crawl under laser beams, or just run, hide and blast away.

GET YOUR SKATES ON AT STAFFORD SKATE CENTRE

Another place that time seems to have forgotten, but you shouldn't. Stepping inside Stafford Skate Centre will make you feel like you've gone back to the '80s; if the decor doesn't do the trick, then the soundtrack will. But, that's all okay. Rolling onto the rink, clutching the wall trying not to fall over or imagining that you're in Whip It are all timeless activities. If you'd prefer to bust out your best Blades of Glory impression, you can get icy instead at Iceworld at Acacia Ridge and Boondall.

PAINT AND SIP WINE AT CORK AND CHROMA

Lurking inside all of us is an artist waiting to emerge and smash out a masterpiece worthy of GOMA. For some of us, however, that creative side needs a bit of encouragement. That's where painting with a glass of Pinot in your hand comes in, with Cork and Chroma taking an activity you mightn't have dabbled in since high school and adding alcohol to the mix. You bring the bottle, they'll provide all of the necessary art supplies. Themed evenings include everything from pineapples, surf shacks and Brisbane itself to Frida Kahlo, Vincent van Gogh and Ziggy Stardust.

GET SLEUTHING AT ESCAPE HUNT

Six rooms. Three games. Only one way to work your way through each — or is there? Puzzling over mysteries and plotting your escape from a locked space is what's on offer at the aptly named Escape Hunt. Can you discover who killed a jockey, find explosives at Government House or locate stolen jewellery? Of course you can! Round up your best pals and find out (and, likely learn plenty about your friends' problem-solving skills, too). In a nice touch, each of the experiences is Brisbane-themed.

GET SOME BOARD GAME ACTION

Good news, fans of rolling dice, moving counters and shuffling cards — if that's your idea of a kidulting great time, this is the town for it. As well as the aforementioned Netherworld, Brisbane has plenty of places just waiting to make your board game-playing dreams come true. Here's five to start with, and Paddington also has a dedicated space, Club Sosay. Or, head to Woolly Mammoth to not only get your giant-size jenga on.

Riverlife, Kevin O'Matta.

HIT THE WATER AT RIVERLIFE

You can't miss the massive body of water snaking its way through Brisbane, and nor should you. Sure, the powers that be keep building bridges and tunnels to bypass it, however, thanks to Kangaroo Point's Riverlife, it's a great place for some splashy fun. In fact, with the city lacking in water parks since Amazons was torn down back in 2001, it's one of the only places offering something other than just taking a dip. Hire a kayak for an evening paddle, or give standup paddleboarding a try, all with killer views of the CBD.