Visiting Gold Coast or Brisbane in Australia and don’t know what to do? Check out this post to get some great ideas for things to do in the area, including walks, drives, gardens, lookouts and beaches. They are all free and a great way to entertain kids, especially if the weather is not warm enough to swim or raining.
1 – Wellington Point
I recommend driving to Wellington Point, when it is low tide you can walk out on the sand bars to King Island. I would recommend taking thongs or shoes because when I walked out there it was hard to walk barefoot with brittle/rocky sand. I would also take a change of clothes and towels.
This is a great way to entertain kids because it is free, and its an easy walk out to the island, you don’t have to walk all the way out to the island and just make sand castles in the sand. There are toilets and a playground that surround a 90 year old Moreton Bay fig tree. There is a cafe if you want to get food and drink, also there is a patrolled swimming area in summer. It’s a great place to fish with boat access and kayak. There is trailer parking with launching ramp for small open aluminium boats.
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Wellington Point
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The photos below are at low tide.
The photos below are of the walk on the sand bar out to King Island.
These photos are taken on King Island and the walk over to the island.
I went back to Wellington Point when the tide was out, to compare the two. It’s a very popular spot on the weekend and when its a nice sunny day. Both days that I went there it was perfect weather for taking photos.
The pictures below are at high tide.
In the photo below behind the tree is King Island in the background.
These photos are of Wellington Point jetty. The jetty is on the right hand side of the car park.
2 – Wynnum
On a nice sunny day, go for a drive to Wynnum. There is a nice wide footpath that goes along the coast. During summer check out the Wynnum Wading Pool, where they let sea water into the wading pool, its only open during summer and is free. There is also a park that has a nautical theme for kids next to the wading pool, there is also a waterpark, with toilets and BBQ facilities.
The foreshore is the perfect place to go for a run, walk, or bike ride as it is 6km long, it starts at Wynnum Mangrove Boardwalk and finishes at Manly Boat Harbour and Marina.
On Sundays there is a Manly Creative Market that has gardening, clothing, jewellery, food and drink stalls.
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Wynnum.
I walked along the footpath that is right next to the water. This is what the views look like in the photos above and below. It was a nice sunny winters day. There is a concrete jetty that you can walk out on.
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3 – Cleveland Point
On my drive I went to Wynnum first because it was the furthest away, then Wellington Point, Cleveland Point and then Victoria Point.
Cleveland Point is surrounded by water with a lighthouse nautical theme playground with a small shipwrecked boat, swings, a climbing structure that looks like an egg, there is an area with sand with a giant turtle for kids to play on.
There is a nice wide concrete path that goes around the outside of the park right next to the water, with undercover areas to sit and have electric BBQ, there are benches along the walk to sit on and enjoy the views while eating your fish and chips, ice cream. There are drinking taps, toilets, boat ramp and a big car park.
The Lighthouse Restaurant is located right on the point with dine in and takeaway options.
Cleveland Point is a great place for anyone because it caters to everyone and is free, prams and wheelchairs accessible, its a great place to take the kids on the weekend.
The photo below is directions from Wynnum to Cleveland Point.
The photos below are taken in winter at the end of July start of August 2022. The day I was there it was low tide with perfect blue skies.
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4 – Victoria Point
Drive to Victoria Point and check out the wharf and ferry that can take you out to many of the islands in the area, plus there are some nice parks to explore.
The photo below is directions from Cleveland Point to Victoria Point.
There is a ferry and Amity Trader barge services that operate from the jetty on Masters Avenue that gives you access to the Coochiemudlo Island. Its a great place to take photos at sunset.
Victoria Point is the perfect spot for swimming, walking and cycling with enough parks and esplanades for plenty of people. The best spot to swim is Thompson’s Beach, it is also perfect for paddle-boarding. On a hot day it is a very popular spot for swimming. There is a boat ramp for those wanting to access Moreton Bay.
You are spoilt for choice for parks with Bayside W.H. Yeo Park which is at the end of Thompson Esplanade is great for kids.
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5 – Walk or Drive up to Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve
A drive up to Mt Gravatt Outlook Reserve is a must. It has a nice clear view of Brisbane city, with toilets, a cafe for food and drink, a playground for kids. It is free and is perfect for anyone with easy walking access up at the top for prams and wheelchairs. There are lots of places to sit around the outside of the car park to have a picnic.
The photo below is of directions from Brisbane to Mount Gravatt.
I parked at the lower car park and walked up to the top of the mountain. The photos below are of the track which is really rocky, steep and uneven, Be careful walking down from the lookout because it is easy to slip on the rocks, it is better to walk slowly going up and down and to stop regularly for breaks.
The pictures below are at the top of Mt Gravatt with a cafe, toilets, playground.
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6 – Mt Coot-Tha lookout
A drive up to Mt Coot-Tha lookout is only 15 minutes from Brisbane CBD and is free with amazing views overlooking Brisbane. It’s a great spot to take a photo with the city in the background during the day or at night time when the city is lit up. There is a gift shop, toilets, restaurant and cafe for food and drink. It’s a great place to take the kids.
I was lucky the day that I went because there weren’t many people there, it usually is very popular and can get quite crowded.
There is no wheelchair or pram access to the top viewing platform because there a lots of steps. There is no playground to keep the kids entertained.
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Mt Coot-Tha lookout.
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7 – Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Drive to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-Tha, it’s free.
I drove up to Mount Coot-Tha lookout first and then on the way back I stopped in at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens which is at the bottom of Mount Coot-Tha.
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-Tha was founded in 1970 and its grand opening was in 1976 with a 56 hectare garden to walk around. From September to March which is summer the gardens are open from 8am to 6pm. From April to August which is winter the gardens are open from 8am to 5pm. The gardens are free to visit. To protect the gardens and native wildlife dogs are not permitted at any time, the only exception is assistance and guide dogs.
There is the Botanic Gardens Cafe that does breakfast and lunch. Opening hours are from 8:30am to 4pm Monday to Sunday. The kitchen is only open from 8:30am to 2:30pm everyday.
All the gardens are close to the front for easy access, there are Cactus, Tropical Dome, Japanese Garden, Kids playground with wide footpath for easy access for prams and wheelchairs around the gardens.
The gardens are divided into ecosystems and plant types and have there own designated zones, you are basically walking around the world in one big area.
- Start at the Bromeliad and Cacti House with incredible natural creations
- Check out the Tropical Display Dome that houses plants that love a hot and humid temperature
- Stroll through the Fern House for a quick stop and try and spot the tiny fish in the trickling stream
- Walk through and over bridges in the beautiful and serene Japanese Garden
- Explore the Tropical Rainforest to join the Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail.
- Grab a takeaway coffee and food from the cafe and have a picnic by the lagoon.
- Stop in at Kitchen in the Garden and enjoy the amazing smells, kids can see seasonable vegetables and herbs that can be grown at home.
- Before going home let the kids play on the playground.
Kids will love The Hide ‘n’ Seek Children’s Trail that is a scavenger hunt which is numbered, they will love walking through the exotic rainforest to discover hidden treasures like a croc in the creek and a musical giant fern leaf.
The kids playground is located beyond the Ross McKinnon Lagoon but next to the Queensland Conservation Collection. The playground has climbing frames, slides, swings, steeping stones that is nature themed
The map below is of where the gardens are located, they are really close to Brisbane.
The photos below are of the lagoon. The day I went to the gardens was a nice sunny winters day which was perfect for taking photos. The clouds make the photos better by adding interest to the sky.
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Keep an eye out for lizards sun bathing and cherry blossom tree, camilla trees were flowering, I went in late winter which was the end of July.
The photos below are of the waterfall that runs down the hill, pictures of the lagoon and the footpath access.
The photos below are of the Cacti and Bromeliad House, Tropical Dome. The photo above shows there is room for kids to run around on the lawn.
All the photos below are of gardens that are close to the front entrance.
The photos below are of the Cacti house.
8 – Springfield Lakes
Take a drive to Springfield Lakes which is a suburb in the City of Ipswich, It’s only 33 minutes from Brisbane. There is a playground for kids and toilets. I walked around the whole lake in around 45 minutes, its a nice and easy flat walk.
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Springfield Lakes.
The photos below are at Spring Park Lake which is just around the corner from Springfield Lakes. This lake is smaller and doesn’t take long to walk around. It is right in the centre of the township. There is a playground for preschoolers that is fully fenced and toilets, and a couple of outdoor fitness equipment to use. There are shops right across the road to get food and drink and then have a picnic on the grass, or sit at one of the BBQ tables that are on the hill, or sit under the pavilion down at the waterfront.
The walk is only 1.5km around the lake and is easy and flat, it is perfect for prams, wheelchairs, scooters and bikes. The footpath follows the lake right around. There is no set starting point, so you can start where ever you want, finding a car park is easy
The playground features swings, climbing structure with wheels, some rocking animals, a replica row boat, ladders and slides, with a woodchip floor.
There is another playground on the other side of the bridge in the far corner of the lake that is another fenced play area that is more challenging with a climbing web.
It is a good park for beginners to learn how to ride a bike not matter how young or old you are.
9 – Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens
Drive to Tamborine Mountain Botanic Gardens on Tamborine Mountain which is west of Queensland Gold Coast in the hinterland.
The gardens are on 11 hectares of land with a wide variety of gardens from Magnolias, Roses, Orchids, Bromeliads, rhododendrons, Camellias and Native plants. You will see the results of 30 years of devoted work from the volunteers as you walk along the easy walks, there are also some steep walks up hills that are not suitable for those with walking limitations.
The gardens are open every day of the year from dawn to dusk and is free. The facilities at the gardens are toilets plus a disabled toilet, in the open area there are picnic seats, there are NO BBQ provisions, take your own food for a picnic in the gardens, dogs are NOT allowed. There are tables and chairs under covered pavilion area for larger groups, No bikes or ball games are allowed plus there is a small bus parking space.
Plants that have been propagated at the Gardens are available for sale on Wednesday and Thursday
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Mt Tamborine Botanic Gardens
10 – Tamborine Mountain lookout
Have a look at Robert Sowter Park lookout which is on Main Western Rd, Tamborine Mountain. It has a car park with great view with easy access for anyone
The photo below is directions from Brisbane to Robert Sowter Park lookout.
Packing suggestions for 10 Things To Do Around Brisbane & Gold Coast Australia
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That’s the end of the this list, but if you are interested in walking and waterfalls then check out my other post
If you have any other suggestions on places to visit please leave comments below the post.
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