School holidays in Brisbane
Summer 2026/27: Saturday 12 December to Tuesday 26 January
20 spots, costed and mapped.
Six weeks is a long time to fill. These are the spots we'd actually take the kids, from free swims and parks to rainy-day backups and a few big days out.
Every one shows what it costs, how long you'll need and how to get there, including which ones work on a 50c public transport fare.
Hot-day swims are up top, storm-day plans next, then free days out, big days and a few getaways if you want a night or two away.
Quick picks
Beat the heat
FreeStreets Beach + South Bank Parklands
Australia's only inner-city man-made beach, surrounded by gardens and galleries
$Spring Hill Baths
Swim in the oldest surviving swimming baths in the southern hemisphere, built in 1886
FreeEnoggera Reservoir
A swimming beach inside a national park, fifteen minutes from the CBD
FreeRedcliffe + Suttons Beach
A bayside village with a long jetty, calm swimming, and the best fish and chips in Brisbane's north
$Bribie Island
Queensland's most accessible island, drive straight onto pristine beaches and calm bay waters
When the storm rolls in
FreeGallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Australia's largest modern art gallery, free to wander on the riverfront
$1UP Arcade
Australia's largest retro arcade, 200+ free-play machines under one roof
$$Prison Island Brisbane
35 themed challenge cells and a 90-minute team scramble in the Valley
Free days out
FreeRoma Street Parklands
The world's largest subtropical garden in a city centre, hidden on the edge of Brisbane's CBD
FreeNew Farm Park + Powerhouse
Jacaranda-lined riverside parkland and a heritage power station turned arts venue
FreeMt Coot-tha Lookout + Botanic Gardens
Brisbane's highest point with panoramic city-to-coast views and 52 hectares of gardens
FreeKangaroo Point Cliffs at Sunset
Panoramic skyline views as the sun drops behind the city
Big days out
$$Wet'n'Wild Gold Coast
Australia's biggest waterpark, wave pool, speed slides, and lazy river on the Gold Coast
$$Australia Zoo
Steve Irwin's legacy, one of the world's most famous wildlife parks, an hour north of Brisbane
$$Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The world's oldest and largest koala sanctuary, 12km from the CBD
$Tamborine Mountain
Rainforest walks, boutique wineries, and quirky village shops in the Gold Coast hinterland
$North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah)
The world's second-largest sand island, a ferry ride from the city
Holiday getaways
$Cylinder Beach Camping Ground
Beachfront camping on one of Queensland's best-rated beaches
$Gordon Country Camping Ground
4,000-acre family-run camping property on the edge of Main Range National Park
$$Noosa
Coastal walks, koalas, Hastings Street dining, and the Noosa Everglades
Holiday tips
Most inner-city spots here are on routes covered by Queensland's 50c public transport fares.
Check opening hours before you go over Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Book big days out like theme parks and wildlife parks ahead in peak weeks.
Pack water and a hat. Brisbane summer sun is strong even on cloudy days.
Questions people ask
When are the Queensland summer school holidays? +
For Queensland state schools, the 2026/27 summer holidays run from Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027. Private school dates can differ, so check with your school.
What can kids do for free in Brisbane during the school holidays? +
Streets Beach at South Bank, Roma Street Parklands, New Farm Park, Mt Coot-tha and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) are all free. Most are easy to reach on a 50c fare.
Where can kids swim in Brisbane? +
Streets Beach at South Bank is free and patrolled. Spring Hill Baths is a heritage pool with a small entry fee. Enoggera Reservoir and Suttons Beach at Redcliffe are free swimming spots a bit further out.
What can you do with kids in Brisbane on a rainy day? +
GOMA is free and has plenty for kids. Arcades and indoor activities like 1UP and Prison Island are good paid options when a storm rolls in.
Last updated November 2026