This guide covers the practical side of three Brisbane museum visits with children: Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Museum of Brisbane and the Queensland Maritime Museum, plus the two tours that start at City Hall. For exhibition detail and Kurilpa’s entry basics, see our Rainy Day Activities for Kids in Brisbane guide, and for the surrounding precinct see A Family Day Out at South Bank. Every fee, hour and tour time below is stated as at 9 November 2026, per each venue’s own page.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa: bags, tickets and closures
At 9 November 2026 the museum lists itself as open daily, apart from Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, when it is closed. On Anzac Day (25 April) it opens from 1:30pm to 5pm.
Some rules shape the visit with children. Smoking, food, drink, luggage and backpacks are not allowed inside. A free cloakroom on Level 2 cannot take large bags, suitcases, prams or scooters. The museum welcomes service dogs and asks visitors to leave all other animals at home.
Tickets for paid experiences are scanned from a mobile device. You can also print the barcoded PDF at home, which lets you bypass the ticket queue on Level 2. SparkLab is timed, and choosing an arrival time reduces waiting. Staff validate the ticket at the Level 1 entry. The museum suggests buying tickets online to avoid queues. At 9 November 2026 the museum recognises the Queensland Government Companion Card, and the companion of a card holder is entitled to free entry.
Crowds and entry points
The museum is usually quieter between 2pm and 4pm on school days, and February is its quietest month. The museum’s accessibility page lists peak visitation times as weekdays from 9:40am to 2pm, Sundays and Queensland school holidays. There are two main entrances, on Level 2 and Level 1, closest to Cultural Centre Busway Station. From October 2026, entry via Level 0 is restricted to pre-arranged school and group bookings.
Getting there
It is a short walk from the CBD over the Victoria Bridge or the Kurilpa Bridge. South Brisbane railway station is also within walking distance. If you drive, the P2 car park costs $20 per entry per day at 9 November 2026, paid by card only. Entry through Stanley Place has a 2-metre height limit.
Babies, sensory needs and mobility
There are Family Rooms on Level 0 and Level 2, and fold-down change tables in the Level 1 toilets and in SparkLab. Noise cancelling headphones and Sensory Kits are available at the Level 2 cloakroom and the SparkLab entry. The museum also publishes a map of high sensory spaces and exhibits. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the cloakroom, subject to availability, and at 9 November 2026 they are free of charge.
Museum of Brisbane: a gallery inside City Hall
Museum of Brisbane is on Level 3 of Brisbane City Hall in King George Square. Visitors enter through the King George Square foyer and take the lifts, as there is no stair access. At 9 November 2026, entry is free and the museum is listed as open 10am to 5pm every day. It closes on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and also on Good Friday, which is 26 March 2027. On ANZAC Day (25 April) it opens from 1:30pm.
Food is prohibited, though sealable water bottles are allowed. A small number of lockers hold bags. The museum is a temperature controlled environment, and it recommends jumpers or blankets for visitors who are sensitive to temperature. Prams can be parked at reception or pushed through the gallery, and at 9 November 2026 single prams can be hired free. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.
For babies, the BYO Baby Tour runs on Mondays from 10:30am to 11:00am for ages 0 to 2, as listed at 9 November 2026. It is free, but each visitor, including babies, needs a ticket. Breastfeeding is welcome, and a change table and nappy bins are in the Level 3 accessible toilet. Touch trolleys are available on request for select exhibitions. Exhibitions and events often include sound works. If the visit has to wait, the museum offers free downloadable activities for all ages.
Related News
Two tours in the same building
At 9 November 2026 the Clock Tower Tour is listed as free, but every group member, including children, needs a booked ticket. It lasts 15 minutes and takes only 7 people. The tour suits all ages, and children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult. It includes 36 steps, and 216 steps to leave if the lift fails. The tower is not air conditioned, it is not accessible for prams, and it is not wheelchair accessible. A guide dog can join, but needs its own booked ticket. Tours depart every 15 minutes, numbers are limited, and bookings open up to two weeks ahead, as listed at 9 November 2026.
The City Hall Tour is longer, at 45 minutes, with up to 20 people, and at 9 November 2026 tickets are listed as free. It includes staircases, yet it is wheelchair accessible. At 9 November 2026 it runs at 10:30am and 11:30am daily, with an extra 1:30pm session from Friday to Sunday.
Queensland Maritime Museum: a ticketed visit
The Queensland Maritime Museum is at the southern end of South Bank Parklands, beside the Goodwill Bridge. At 9 November 2026 it is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 4:15pm. It is closed from 24 to 26 December, on New Year’s Day, Good Friday and ANZAC Day. Admission at 9 November 2026 is $18 for adults and $8 for a child under 15, with a family ticket at $42 to $50. Trains on the Beenleigh and Cleveland lines stop at South Bank Station.
FAQ
Do we need to book to enter Queensland Museum Kurilpa? At 9 November 2026, no booking is needed for general admission, though SparkLab and some exhibitions have an entry fee.
Is Museum of Brisbane free? At 9 November 2026, entry is listed as free.
Can I take a pram up the Clock Tower? No. The Clock Tower is not accessible for prams.
What does the Maritime Museum cost? At 9 November 2026, adults pay $18, a child under 15 pays $8, and a family ticket is $42 to $50.
Is Kurilpa open on public holidays? At 9 November 2026, the museum lists Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day as closed, and Anzac Day as open from 1:30pm. Museum of Brisbane also opens from 1:30pm on ANZAC Day.
