What to do Winter school holidays Brisbane

Queensland Museum Brisbane Insectarium
Enter a world of discovery filled with colour and pattern
Gold coin donation entry
28 June-9 July

Kids Big Day Out
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Cootha
Sunday 4th July 1oam-2pm
Free event
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander games
Stilt walkers
Bat care Brisbane
Puppet show
Wildlife presentations
Story telling and much more

Wizards and Witches Express
The Workshops railway museum Ipswich
Until July 18th
www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au

Spooky Science Day
Workshops Railway Museum Ipswich
July 8th

School Holiday Fun at Roma Street Parklands
28th June-2 July 10am-2pm
Free activities if you show your Translink ticket or gocard
or Gold Coin Donation
Facepainting
Jumping castle
Barnyard Babes
Workshops
www.romastreetparkland.com

Strathpine Park

Things to do: Bring your bikes, watch the ducks on the ponds,bring a ball to kick around, visit the site of the Normanby distillery, a great playground for the kids,climb the lookout, room to run!

Getting There: Catch a train to Strathpine Station and cross the road at the lights.

Don't Forget: Hats, suncreen

Check Out: The paths keep going along past Westfield shopping centre

Other Options: Visit Westfield Foodcourt for lunch.
Visit Lei Park at Lawnton

More Info:
Bike path maps
http://www.prsc.qld.gov.au/c/prsc?a=da&did=1132528&pid=1095923458&sid=
http://www.petercampbellrealty.com/NowandThen/NormanbyDistillery.htm
http://www.maxlink.com.au/pinerivers/PARK/pineriv.htm

Rocky Horror Picture Show With Live Floor show

Something different, 18+ event

Cards for Sorrow are a Brisbane group who host showings of RHPS with a live floorshow, at The Globe in the Valley, the same cinema RHPS screened at during the 70's.
Tickets are $15 and bookings are recommended 0733975847

Audience participation is encouraged (but no mess), sometimes prizes are given out for the best costume too.



More Information:
http://www.kristianfletcher.com/
http://www.myspace.com/rockyhorrorbrisbane

Woodford

Woodford is a lovely small country town to visit.

Things to Do:
Ride the Durundur Railway
Visit the Storeybrook Herb Cottage
In Dec-Jan the Woodford Folk Festival is on (free buses from Caboolture Train Station)

Getting There:
Brisbane Buslines runs a bus from Caboolture
http://www.brisbanebuslines.com.au/timetables/country/default.asp

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and a hat

Check Out:
Elvis Parsley at Grapeland in the main street.
The Woodford Lions Country Markets are on the 3rd Sunday.

Warning:
The train line only operates on the 1st and 3rd Sundays

Other Options:
Storeybrook Cottage has a B&B.

More Information:
http://www.angrms.org.au/index.html
http://www.storeybrook.com.au/train.html
http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/

Ipswich

Ipswich has enough things to do to keep you busy for a few days or a few visits!

Things to Do:
Visit the Railway Workshops
Visit Queens Park and the Nature Centre
Visit Global Arts Centre at the Ipswich Art Gallery
Bushwalks at Denmark Hill Conservation Park
Follow the Ipswich Heritage Trail
Enjoy the new Riverwalk area and visit this area at night to see the creature light show

Getting There:
Catch a train to Ipswich

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and Hats
Queens Park has a kiosk, BBQ facilities and a lookout

Check Out:
The old Railway Bridge remnants behind the shopping centre on the edge of the river.

Other Options:
Catch a train further on to Rosewood
Visit the grave of Dan Kelly in the Ipswich Cemetery

More Information:
http://www.ipswichartgallery.qld.gov.au/
http://www.ipswichcentral.com.au/river/
http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/
http://www.heritagetrails.qld.gov.au/attractions/ipswich2.html
http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/about_ipswich/parks_reserves_precincts/parks_search/index.php?id=75
http://www.ironoutlaw.com/html/writings_hall.html

Toombul Kalinga Park

Another great playground, away from traffic with public toilets and lots of different playground equipment.

Things to Do:
Bring a picnic
Bring your bikes,scooters etc and use the bikepaths nearby

Getting There:
Catch a train to Toombul Station

Don't Forget:
Water, hats and sunscreen

Check Out:
The old Mine of the Northern side of the creek

Other Options:
Follow the pathways and cross over Shaw Rd to see the wildlife in the wetlands.

More Information:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/activeandhealthy/families/kidsparks/

Brisbane CBD

There are many things you can do within the CBD of Brisbane.

Things to Do:
Visit the new Central Library which has a great children's section
Roma Street Parklands has lovely flowers and a great playground
Visit the Museum of Brisbane
Go up in the tower of the Town Hall
Visit Brisbane's oldest building The Windmill
Climb Jacob's Ladder
Look at the Plaques for the Brisbane Literary Trail in Albert st
CBD parks- Anzac Square,Post Office Square, Brisbane Square,King George Square,Victoria Square.

Getting There:
Catch a Train,bus or a citycat to the City

Don't Forget:
Hats and sunscreen

Check Out:
The Cathedrals of Brisbane are beautiful!
Brisbane Arcade off Queen st is an amazing old style arcade

Other Options:
Visit Southbank
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens
The Commissariat Museum

More Information:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:961969855:pc=PC_1236
http://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/
http://www.romastreetparkland.qld.gov.au/
http://pandora.nla.gov.au/nph-arch/O1999-Jan-8/http://brisbane-stories.powerup.com.au/lit_trail/lit_trail_core/lit_trail_frames.htm
http://www.queenslandhistory.org.au/

Toombul Bike Criterium

Toombul has a big bicycle criterium behind the shopping centre.

Getting There:
Take your bike on the train to Toombul

Don't Forget:
Helmet, water and sunscreen

Check Out:
The Historic Cemetery next to the Criterium

Warning:
If serious bike racers are using the track, please be careful!

Other Options:
If you follow the path past the Criterium, it joins the Kedron Brook "Jim Soorley" Bikeway which you can follow all the way to Nudgee.


More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/activeandhealthy/recreation/cycling/destinations/
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/heritage/index.cgi?place=600271&back=1

Shorncliffe

Shorncliffe Foreshore has just had renovations done. There's a great park near the Jetty and rock pools to play in along the shore.

Things to Do:
Look at the boats in the Marina, play in the park, look for sealife in the rockpools.

Getting There:
Take a Shorncliffe train from Northgate.

Don't Forget:
Sunscreen and a Hat

Check Out:
The View from the top of the cliffs

Other Options: Keep walking along the foreshore to Sandgate where you can visit the lagoons.

More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/shorncliffe/history/

Pioneer Park Landsborough

This park is the best playground I've ever seen, we spent over 7 hours here and still had to drag the kids out!
An All Abilities playground with something for everyone.

Things to Do:
This playground has everything, you won't need to go anywhere else! BBQ,toilets, fully fenced,water bubbler, access for wheelchairs, shade sails, gazebos, seats, sand play,flying fox, swings and much more.

Getting There:
It's a 10 minute walk from Landsborough train station, we walked it with 9 kids and even the 2 and 4 year olds walked it easily. From the station turn left into Caloundra street and the park is on the right about 700 metres up the road.
There are only a few trains on weekends to Landsborough. 8.51am and 10.41am from Caboolture on Saturdays.

Getting Back:
Trains leave Landsborough at 3.28pm and 6.13pm on Saturdays.

Don't forget:
Sunscreen,hats, and Insect repellant.

Check Out:
The Mad Hatters Tea room on the way to the park.

Warning:
The traffic is very busy on both roads on either side of the park and on the weekend of the 15th March there was one pool gate missing on the Western side of the park. Hopefully it will be replaced quickly.

Other Options:
Head back to the station a little early and there is another park on the western side of the station with a train to climb on, this park is small but fun and is also fenced.

More Information:
http://www.disability.qld.gov.au/community/all-abilities-playground/pioneer-park.html

Rosewood

Rosewood has a great kids park!
It's near the corner of the Rosewood-Laidley rd and John Street.

Things to do:
The Rosewood Rail Museum is only open Sundays
http://www.arhs-qld.org.au/
http://qldrailheritage.com/sq/rrm.htm

Getting There:
Catch a Rosewood train from Ipswich

Don't Forget:
Hat and Sunscreen

Check Out:
The Alpaca Farm you can see from Karrabin train station

More Information:
http://www.travelmate.com.au/Places/Places.asp?TownName=Rosewood_%5C_QLD

Kidspace at Chermside

One of the best playgrounds we have ever been to.

Things to do:
Bring your bikes, scooters,roller blades, plenty of paths nearby.
Bring a picnic

Getting There:
We walk from Geebung or Virginia train stations but you could catch a bus
Use Translinks journey planner to find the bus route which suits you
http://www.transinfo.com.au/

Don't Forget :
Hat,sunscreen, water. Chermside shopping centre is nearby for shopping or food.

Check Out:
The Mountains to Mangroves corridor info signs http://www.mountainstomangroves.org/

Other Options:
Chermside Splash Park is just up the road! http://www.splash.com.au/

More Info:
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/living/suburbs/chermside/png/
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/kidspace/index.cfm

Boondall Wetlands

Boondall wetlands has great bikepaths, an environmental centre,boardwalks, birdhides and an Aboriginal art trail.

Things to Do:
Ride your bike or walk the pathways, some pathways are walking only, there are bikeracks in the picnic area to chain your bike to.

Getting there:
Catch a train to Boondall station and follow the pathway through the Entertainment centre and under the highway.

Don't forget :
Sunscreen,Insect Repellant, water and a hat

Other Options:
You could ride on from Boondall wetlands to the Kedron Brook bikeway, but be prepared for a long ride. Or you could ride back the other way to Shorncliffe instead.

More Information: http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/seeanddo/river/boondall_sandgate.htm
http://www.mountainstomangroves.org/01_cms/details.asp?ID=126

Gold Coast Oceanway

Walk along the Gold Coast, visit some of Qld's best beaches, playgrounds and you could even walk to Seaworld like we did.
Things to do- Along the walk you can see into the Sheraton Mirage Resort, there's a monument in cable park which recognizes the incredible achievement of laying the telegraph cable that first connected Australia to North America in the 1920s, also visit Macintosh island playground and see Bigfoot sleeping in his cave! Of course you can take your swimmers and try out the beaches!

Getting There:
Train to Robina and then a 750 Seaworld bus and get off where ever you would like to start your walk.

Don't Forget:
Hat,sunscreen and water!

Check Out
- Bigfoot at Macintosh Island
- The Suspension Bridge (sadly it was closed when we were there)
- The Mirage Resort
- The Great Playground near the historic Southport SLSC

Other Options
Visit Seaworld or the Q1 Observation deck or Marina Mirage Shopping Centre.
There are some great parks around the GC http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=5930

More Information:
http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=5622
http://www.federationwalk.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q1_(building)

Southbank

Southbank is always a great family day out, there's always something on, something new to see, even just sitting along the riverbank watching the boats go by is a great way to spend a few hours.

Things to do there:
Swim at the man made beach
The Science centre (entry fee)
Museum (gold coin donation)
Art Gallery (Gold coin donation)
Gallery of Modern Art
State Library (Has an excellent children's section and also an Official Bookcrossing Zone)
Playgrounds
At the Northern end past GOMA there is a lovely new picnic area.

Getting there:
Catch a City Cat across from North Quay
Catch a train to South Brisbane or Southbank stations
walk- over the Goodwill pedestrian bridge or Victoria Bridge
Catch a bus to the Cultural Centre stop

Don't Forget :
Hat, sunscreen and water. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants to choose from. If you plan to go to the Mangroves in the Botanic Gardens you might need some insect repellant.

Check out:
-the Nepalese Pagoda a reminder of Expo 88
- The original Victoria Bridge pylons
- The Markets

Other Options:
- Walk along to the Maritime Museum (entry fee)
- Kangaroo Point cliffs walk (a great walk along the river under the cliffs where you can see people abseiling,a lookout, lots of places to stop for a rest, there's also RiverLife http://www.ourbrisbane.com/visitors/seeanddo/river/riverlife.htm where you can hire Rollerblades or Kayaks for a faster journey!)
- Walk over the Goodwill bridge and along to the City Botanic gardens, another nice walk along the riverbank. (visit the Kangaroo statue near the cafe) Walk through the Mangrove Boardwalk
- Walk past the picnic area at the far Northern end of Southbank and you can keep walking all the way to the West End Ferry stop, past the rowing clubs and a historic gas tower.

More Information-
http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stories/s1767541.htm
http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/home
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/
http://www.southbank.qm.qld.gov.au/sciencentre/
http://www.qag.qld.gov.au/
http://www.qpac.com.au/home/

Mt Cootha Lookout and Bushwalk

Mt Cootha is a great place for a family day out, there is a cafe and a restaurant at the lookout. Both are quite expensive but very nice, clean and the view from the Restaurant is worth the cost!
There are some information boards and toilets.
Down the trails there are BBQ areas and more toilets.

Getting there:
Bus 471 from Stop 7 in Ann st Brisbane, runs regularly on weekdays , there are only 4 services on Saturdays and Sundays.


Getting Back:
Same bus back or you could walk like we do! We have walked back to the ferry terminal at Regatta and another time we walked back to Roma St. Walking back down means you aren't stuck to the bus times and you can take a detour via the Cemetary and have a wander through the historic graves.

Don't Forget:
Hats,sunscreen and plenty of water if you take the bushwalk option.
It's not likely that you would get lost but best to print a map http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/media/parks_and_forests/parks/bfp_mtcootha.pdf just in case.


Warning:
The Powerful owl trail is VERY steep and not recommended for small children or unfit people. Some trails get muddy or covered with water in wet season.

Other Options:
There is also the Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens to visit on the way down

More Information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Coot-tha,_Queensland