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The Best Rainy Day Activities in Brisbane
Brisbane is known for its blissful sunny days throughout the year, but rainy days are still inevitable especially in the summer months from December to February.
Although you can generally expect some rain showers between October to April, that doesn’t mean we can’t have any more fun! In fact, there’s so many interesting things to see and do!
Just grab your umbrella and raincoat and get ready for these fun, fascinating, adrenaline-pumping, and enchanting rainy day activities that you can do in Brisbane!
Gaze at the Stars at Mt. Coot-tha
Website: https://www.facebook.com/BrisbanePlanetarium/
Address: Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong QLD 4066
Contact Details: [email protected] / +61 7 3403 8888
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 4pm
Who says you can’t go stargazing when it’s raining? Well, you can head on to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mt. Coot-tha to gaze at the stars rain or shine!
You can find the Planetarium in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt. Coot-tha where you’ll see a Cosmic Skydome and enjoy astronomical shows!
Their public shows usually feature the full-dome where you can experience an immersive presentation and a tour of Brisbane’s night sky!
You can also find an observatory, a Sundial Courtyard, and the Galaxy Gift Shop for souvenirs!
And good news is, entrance to the Planetarium is free but fees apply for shows at the Cosmic Skydome.
Check out the schedule of their star-studded shows here!
Pro tip: If you wanna catch a show at the Cosmic Skydome, it’s best to book online beforehand as bookings fill up fast! And be sure to arrive on time as shows begin as scheduled and you won’t be allowed entry once the doors close.
If you’re planning to go on a weekend, it would be better to take public transport since free on-site parking slots are limited.
Go Kart Racing
Website: https://gokartingbrisbane.com.au/
Address: 870 Kingsford Smith Drive, Eagle Farm QLD 4009
Contact Details: (07) 3868 2225
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 12pm – 8pm; Friday, 12pm – 9pm; Saturday, 9am – 9pm; Sunday, 9am – 8pm
If you want to experience some adrenaline rush even when the sky’s gloomy, go and get your heart pumping with some racing action at Brisbane’s indoor go-kart track!
You can go to Slideways Go Karting Brisbane, which is a multi-level indoor track where you can zoom through a 425-meter loop as you fire up the pedal in a Sodi racing kart!
These are European state-of-the-art kart racing machines that you’d be steering through a unique track surface that lets you drift and go Slideways!
We love that the whole family can join the adrenaline pumping action as well since they also have track sessions for kids with their Cadet and Intermediate karts!
The price of the go-kart sessions start from $72 for 20 minutes. If you want to be a track regular, we suggest getting the 100-minute Megapass for $250 good for five 20-minute sessions and valid for three years.
Pro tip:
- Before heading to the track, it’s best to book online or call them first to secure a slot!
- Remember to wear proper attire for go-karting! It’s a must to wear closed shoes and to avoid wearing loose items such as hoodies and scarves.
- If you want to see actual racing action and meet other racers, join their track nights every Tuesdays and Wednesdays!
Fly at an Indoor Skydiving Spot
Website: https://www.iflyworld.com.au/locations/ifly-brisbane/
Address: 395 Hamilton Road, Chermside, QLD, 4032
Contact Details: 1300 435 928
Operating Hours: Monday & Tuesday, 2pm – 10pm; Wednesday – Friday, 12pm – 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 8am – 10pm
Gray skies? It’s alright! It won’t stop you from taking flight!
Whatever the weather, you can soar high and believe you can fly at an indoor skydiving facility!
You should check out iFLY if you’re interested in taking flying lessons and it’s great that you can take the whole family! Indoor skydiving is open to all ages and abilities and you can even rent out the place for birthday parties or corporate events!
It’s great that you’ll also feel safe with professional instructors who will guide you through the whole experience! And of course, there’s an orientation before every session and total flight time will last for over an hour.
For first-time fliers, the price starts from $89.95 which includes two flights. If you also want to get a video of your flight, the rate starts from $129.95 and includes four flights!
What’s more, you can even choose a virtual reality flight experience! This will let you feel the thrill of an actual skydive through a simulation from a virtual plane and then descend down to a landscape of your choice!
Pro tip:
- Fill out the waiver online before heading to your flight session for a faster and easier process
- Wear a comfortable attire and avoid any loose jewelry or clothing items
- Wearing lace-up sneakers is best
- Make sure you get there at least 45 minutes before your flight!
Reach New Heights and Unleash Your Inner Ninja
Website: https://www.crankclimbing.com.au/
Address: 537 Kessels Rd, Macgregor QLD 4109
Contact details: 0490401296
Operating hours: Monday – Thursday, 10am – 9:30pm; Friday, 12pm – 9:30pm; Saturday, 10am – 8pm; Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Do you want to reach great heights and get a workout in at the same time? Then you should try indoor rock climbing!
It’s the perfect sport to try if you want a challenge and test your strength! We think it’s also quite fulfilling once you get the hang of it and once you’ve reached the top!
Head on to Crank Climbing which offers a variety of climbing activities that aren’t typically offered at other climbing gyms. You can try top rope climbing, lead climbing, bouldering, parkour, and Ninja Warrior.
Yes, you read that right! They have their own parkour park and Ninja Warrior training course!
It’s a great place to get fit while having fun and it’s open to all ages and skill levels! So if it’s your first time, don’t worry, as there are classes you can take if you wanna learn the basics and techniques!
Their casual entry rates start from $32 and if you want to make it a regular thing, we recommend signing up for membership which starts from $112.
For first timers, the casual entry fee will give you access to the gym for two weeks where you can join different classes as well.
Pro tip:
Since the first-timer rate will give you access to the gym for two weeks, make sure to maximize it! Try and head to the gym at least three times a week for the duration of your trial period.
You can go and choose an activity that you like for the day and even join classes like Crank Climbing Enduro, Crank Technique, Ninja Fit, and Yoga!
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
Website: https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/queensland-museum
https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/
https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/
Address: Queensland Museum – Grey St. & Melbourne St., South Brisbane QLD 4101
QAGOMA – Stanley Pl, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Museum of Brisbane – Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide St, QLD 4000
Contact details: See website for contact details
Operating hours: Monday – Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Within Brisbane’s center, there are a lot of museums and art galleries that you can visit for free! These are all indoors, so they’re ideal spots to spend the day when the weather’s a bit gloomy.
You can visit the Queensland Museum, which is a great place to take the kids and explore the city’s art scene at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art.
The Museum of Brisbane is located inside the City Hall, which is hard to miss because of its iconic clock tower that stands over 300 feet!
What’s more, you can take a tour inside the clock tower for free and enjoy a panoramic view of the city!
Pro tip:
- If you want to avoid the crowds, visit the museums or galleries on a weekday and arrive early!
- You can book a tour guide for free! Just check the website for tour schedules and you can book prior to your visit or upon arrival.
Paint Away the Blues
Website: https://www.fridas.com.au/our-studios/paddington
Address: 219 – 233 Given Terrace, Paddington QLD 4064
Contact details: [email protected] / 0466 786 610
Operating hours: Thursday & Friday, 6:30pm – 9pm; Saturday, 9am – 12pm, 2pm – 4:30pm, 6:30pm – 9pm; Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm
Channel your inner artist by joining an art class! It’s a great activity to paint the weather blues away and you might even pick it up as a new hobby!
You can try Frida’s Sip n Paint which is a painting studio located in Paddington. They offer a variety of painting classes for all levels, so absolute beginners are definitely welcome!
You don’t have to bring anything as all materials are provided such as canvases, brushes, and paint, while the classes are typically two hours long.
Of course, the studio’s theme or aesthetic is inspired by Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and it’s exciting that you’ll also get to paint pieces inspired by the iconic artist.
Their painting classes include sessions for kids, adults, Paint Your Pet, Paint Your Mate, botanical, and more. They also provide welcome bubbles upon arrival.
We love that you can even book them for special events such as birthdays, corporate events, an outing with friends, or a bridal shower! You can choose from their themed sessions that they regularly update on their website.
Pro tip:
- Book your session in advance through their website as classes tend to fill up fast. Also, sessions start on time, so make sure you arrive early!
- Bring a friend to the session! This activity is another fun way to bond with a friend or a group of friends and you even get to take home a memorable souvenir that you created yourself!
- Remember to wear clothes that you won’t mind splattering paint on! You’ll be given aprons for the painting session but you still might get some paint on your clothes at some point.
- You can bring your own beverages and snacks to the session and they’ll provide the glassware. But you also have the option to order one of their platters.
Play with Clay in a Pottery Workshop
Website: https://www.mitraceramichouse.com/
Address: 17 Browning Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101
Contact details: [email protected] / 0424 463 582
Operating hours: Check website for schedule
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at pottery? You should book a session (or six) at Mitra Ceramic House where you can learn the art of pottery and create your own homeware, decorative piece, or a special gift!
We love that they offer several classes. This includes Wheel Throwing for beginners priced at $80 where you’ll learn how to work the pottery wheel and create a simple piece.
You can try a one-off class first to see if it’s something that you’d want to take on further. And if you think you want to delve deeper into the craft, then you should try their Beginners Throwing Course, which has a total of six sessions for $420.
It’s great that they also offer other workshops that focus on making specific pieces. You can make a dinnerware set, a ceramic plant pot, a mug and tray set, learn ancient Cypriot pottery, and more!
The art of pottery has been around for thousands of years, so it’s truly a fascinating hobby to start, as well as a cool activity to do with friends and family!
Pro tip:
- Only a maximum of four people are accommodated in each class, so this is a great opportunity to invite friends and family to try something new!
- Wear something comfortable which you won’t mind getting some clay on.
- Bring a towel and/or apron.
Light Up the Night with a Concert by Candlelight
Website: https://feverup.com/en/brisbane/candlelight
Address: Venues vary per show
Contact details: https://www.facebook.com/feverup/
Operating hours: See website for show schedule
Now here’s a one-of-a-kind musical experience – if you wish to relax while listening to beautiful music, then a candlelight concert is the perfect show to see and experience!
Imagine attending a show on a rainy day and just letting the warmth in to satiate your senses!
Candlelight concerts are a new and unique way to experience classical music. We love that you get to focus on the music itself while the gentle glow from the candles take you to a romantic and enchanting evening!
These concerts are held in different venues which typically include historical buildings and intimate theaters. You can catch shows at places like the Brisbane City Hall, St. John’s Cathedral, and the Tivoli Theater.
What’s more, the candlelight concerts don’t just feature classical music as you can also catch some contemporary favorites! This includes music from Queen, Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Coldplay, anime soundtracks, and more!
Concert tickets start from $35.
Pro tip:
For each venue, seating will be different and there are sections that will be more expensive than others. Make sure to arrive early to get the best seat in your section as it’s going to be on a first come, first served basis.
