Seven Brisbane Activities That Are Fun for Both Kidults and Their Actual Children
Because playtime is a thing to take seriously.
In partnership with
Some see the arrival of children in their lives as the time they transition into maturity. This is not the article for those people.
Climbing trees, indoor snowboarding, horseback riding, giggling every time Uranus is mentioned — these are some of our favourite things to do (and the kids don't mind either).
With that in mind, there's no reason why the next family fun day shouldn't be to someplace that delights your entire multigenerational crew — mums, dads and sprogs included. We've teamed up with Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove, to help you find those excursions in Brisbane. From treetop swings to cafe petting zoos, these are the destinations where you'll come together to make memories, make Instagram Stories, make a fool of yourself (in a good way) — and all while making your kids' day.
INDOOR SKI LESSONS AT URBAN XTREME ADVENTURE PARK
Urban Xtreme is the new kid on the block, having opened in November 2017. With snowboarding programs for adults and little shredders, they have the whole family covered. Kids from four years old can learn to hit the (artificial) slopes with all of their gear included in the admission price. The best part about it? This is a perfect (and cost-effective) trial run if you are planning a trip to the real slopes this winter — minus the little runny noses from the ice winds.
4/370 Nudgee Road, Hendra
THE PLANETARIUM AT MT COOT-THA
This is for everyone still holding onto their dreams of going to space camp. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on Mt Coot-tha runs informative, interactive shows suitable for both adults and their offspring. Learn the solar system through the eyes of aliens or enjoy the atmosphere (in all senses of the word) during one of the night sky tours. Opened in 1978, the Planetarium is much like parents themselves: an oldie but a goodie.
Mount Coot-tha Road, Toowong
TREETOP CHALLENGE MT TAMBOURINE
Adventure? Check. Largest guided zipline in Australia? Check. Fun day for both adults and kidlets? Check. Now all you need to pack is an extra pair of underwear for yourself, since you'll be travelling along seven huge ziplines, 60 metres high, at 70 kilometres per hour. Don't say we didn't warn you! The nearest TreeTop Challenge is located at the gorgeous Mt Tambourine, just an hour's drive south from Brisbane. Your tykes need to be at least seven years old for the adventure course and meet the minimum weight requirement if they want to try ziplining.
Cedar Creek Falls Road and Tamborine Mountain Road, Gold Coast
SLICKERS HORSEBACK RIDING
Only 40 minutes from the CBD, Slickers Horse Riding is much more than your average pony ride at the fun fair. Start off with a basic lesson then join the experienced crew in one of the 3,500-acre property's trail rides. Want to soak in the serenity? Opt for a farm stay or camp-out riding excursion. You'll build up your bush cred in no time.
116 Dunlop Lane, Kurwongbah
PLASTER FUN HOUSE BELMONT
Remember spending your Sundays immersed in an epic craft project for school that was due the next day? Well, Plaster Fun House is kind of like that, but with no deadlines — just pure unadulterated craft goodness, and the magic three little words that bring tears of joy to every parent: no cleaning up. Simply select your plaster from their extensive range, enjoy free use of the paints provided, and when you've finished your masterpiece, they will spray it with sealing gloss to preserve your art for you to take home and Instagram away.
5/1396 Creek Road, Carina
SAND DUNE TOBOGGAN STRADBROKE ISLAND
If you're up for a jam- (and sand-) packed day trip, take the 30-minute barge over to Stradbroke Island for sandboarding, Queensland style. You and the ankle-biters can start off with the smaller slopes while you perfect your technique, then move onto the more advanced sand dunes. Take your 4WD for a drive on the beach before cooling off with a gelato at Point Lookout's Oceanic Gelati before making the trip back home to the mainland.
34 Dickson Way, North Stradbroke Island
ICEWORLD ACACIA RIDGE
You missed out as a kid, now's your chance to don your glitter leotard, slick your hair back into a bun, strap on some blades and live out your figure-skating fantasies. Quite the Brissie institution, Iceworld Acacia Ridge hosts a "cheap skate" night every Tuesday. Eleven bucks will get you a sesh on the ice complete with skate hire. Keep this place front of mind for any hot day when the air-con's on the fritz, too.
1179 Beaudesert Road, Acacia Ridge
Drive your family on adventures in and outside of town in the Holden Equinox, the SUV for parents with nothing to prove. Find out more on the Holden website.