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Jump, Spray, Laugh All Day at Wynnum Whale Park
Summer days can be brutally warm, and nothing can make you feel refreshed like a dip in the beach or nearby pool.
Recently, we’ve discovered Wynnum Whale Park—a seaside cooling spot for families around Brisbane, where kids can play with a pod of water-sprouting whales without having to dive into the deep blue ocean.
With plenty of space to cool off, play, and relax, it’s the perfect spot for both kids and parents to beat the heat together.
So pack your towels because this guide takes you straight to Wynnum Whale Park.
Overview of the Wynnum Whale Park
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Address: 137 Wynnum Esplanade, Wynnum, QLD 4178, Australia
Contact Details: (07) 3403 8888
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Entry Fee: Free Admission
Whale Park Wynnum is one of the most popular family destinations in Brisbane, boasting lush greenery, a water-play area, and a nearby wading pool. Several essential amenities make it a perfect spot for families to unwind over the weekend.
For families planning to picnic, this aqua park features ample BBQ facilities and picnic areas. You can grill beef burgers and your favorite cuts of meat to share in a vibrant picnic area.
Moreover, its stunning beachfront location provides direct access to the beach area, making it ideal for a leisurely walk on the sand or a refreshing dip in the water. There are also nearby restaurants, ideal for lunch-outs by the beach.
However, this area can get busy on weekends and holidays, especially during summer breaks.
How to Get to Wynnum Whale Park
By Car: From Brisbane CBD, the park is a 30-minute drive via the Gateway Motorway. You simply need to follow Wynnum Road east until you reach the esplanade.
By Bus: Brisbane City Council buses connect Wynnum with surrounding suburbs and the CBD. The closest stops are along Bay Terrace and Wynnum Esplanade, both of which are a short walk to the park.
By Train: If you’re taking a train, the Wynnum Whale Park is around 30 minutes away via State Route 23. From the station, it’s a 10–15 minute walk to Wynnum Whale Park along Bay Terrace and down to the Esplanade.
What to See and Do in Wynnum Whale Park
Beat the heat at the Spray Zone
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This Water Park features a Spray Zone with a splash tower, an overhead tipping bucket, water spray features, and directional jets that will cool you off on a hot summer day.
There’s also a large tipping bucket that pours every time it gets filled with water.
Recently, they added rectangular steel structures with a water wheel, which didn’t resemble anything. It was more of a modern abstract structure, where cool water continuously flows out.
Explore the nautical-themed playground
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Sitting alongside the splashing whales is a nautical-themed playground that comes along with swings, a play shop, climbing nets, spinners, and bouncers. There’s also a slide that propels you directly to the sand.
The kids enjoyed the climbing nets. It wasn’t too high, allowing children of all ages to climb along. The bouncing platforms were also a delight to play with.
The playground is located near a gigantic tree, so during late mornings, most of the ground is shaded by the tree. There are also wooden platforms where kids can sit and rest if they get tired playing.
Where to Go near Wynnum Whale Park
Pandanus Beach
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Distance from Wynnum Whale Park: 50 meters
Operating Hours: Monday and Sunday: Open 24 hours
During clear, cold mornings, the sunrise in Pandanus is nothing less than spectacular. The surrounding area turns golden as the sun rises, making it a perfect spot for morning runs or a stroll by the beach.
After a short stroll away from Wynnum Whale Park, we found ourselves at Pandanus Beach. With clean white sands, shallow waters, and the Wynnum Jetty nearby, this is the perfect strolling place when you get bored at the whale park.
The beach is named after the Pandanus trees lining the foreshore. The sandy shore is also the perfect area for laying towels and beach blankets, and building sandcastles.
Wynnum Jetty
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Distance from Wynnum Whale Park: 120 meters
Operating Hours: Monday and Sunday: Open 24 hours
Near the Pandanu Beach, and located just 120 meters away from the Wynnum Whale Park, the Wynnum Jetty stands as one of the main landmarks in the Wynnum Beach area.
The Wynnum Jetty was built over 80 years ago, but its solid stone foundation has kept the entire structure sturdy to this day. The Jetty’s fenced walkway extends 400 meters to the sea, offering a stunning view of Moreton Bay.
Many people take a run on the Jetty early in the morning, but this area is also a popular spot for fishing among locals. We saw people catching Bream, Whiting, and Flathead, among the most popular catches.
Wynnum Wading Pool
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Distance from Wynnum Whale Park: 210 meters
Operating Hours: Monday and Sunday: Open 24 hours
Located alongside the Wynnum Whale Park and behind Pandanus Beach, this public pool attraction offers a safer playing space compared to the ocean itself.
The entire oval-shaped pool is filled with natural seawater. They actually trap the seawater during high tide by closing the valves along the seawall.
The kids enjoyed the mini pool slide as they repeatedly climbed and slid into the water. You can also do a few laps in the pool, since its size is over two and a half times bigger than an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
However, the pool isn’t that deep, measuring 0.75 meters deep at the center.
Where to Eat and Drink near Wynnum Whale Park
Pelicans Nest Cafe
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Website: https://pelicansnestcafe.com.au/
Address: 143 Wynnum Esplanade, Wynnum, QLD 4178, Australia
Contact Details: (07) 3396 3777
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Pricing: $
Offering a great spot for casual seafood with a view is Pelicans Nest Café. It’s situated along Wynnum Esplanade. It’s a family-friendly location that offers a relaxed dining experience with plenty of seafood options to choose from.
We decided to sit outdoors to enjoy the majestic Moreton Bay, and shared a platter of their Fisherman’s Basket. It included freshly caught cod, calamari rings, prawn cutlets, seafood sticks and bites, and the most succulent potato scallops.
Fig Restaurant & Bar
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Website: https://www.waterloobayhotel.com.au/fig/
Address: Waterloo Bay Hotel, 75 Berrima St, Wynnum QLD 4178, Australia
Contact Details: (07) 3893 2344
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Pricing: $
If you’re looking for an upscale, modern restaurant, the Fig Restaurant & Bar at Waterloo Bay Hotel might be the perfect dining spot for you. It has an outdoor beer garden, so we decided to grab a seat there to enjoy the gorgeous daylight.
In terms of food, this restaurant showcases both modern Australian and global favourites, featuring mouth-watering dishes including gourmet pizzas made in-house, burgers, and mains from authentic pasta dishes to melt-in-your-mouth steaks.
We wanted to try their seafood items, so we ordered the prawn pizza. It has delicious chili and garlic prawns, with parmesan, pickled chili, and moew—every bite was absolutely divine.
Hajime Japanese Restaurant
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Address: 66 Bay Terrace, Wynnum, QLD 4178, Australia
Contact Details: 0432 857 887
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday- 11:30 AM- 2:30 PM; 5:00 PM- 8:30 PM
Pricing: $
Located on the corner in Wynnum’s town center, Hajime boasts an intimate, modern, al fresco dining that will transport diners to the city of Tokyo.
This Japanese restaurant offers authentic Japanese dishes. These include sizzling chargrilled teriyaki chicken, Japanese staples such as gyozas and okonomiyaki, tempura platters, and all your favourite sushi rolls.
We started with the prawn tempura, which had a light batter and was perfectly crisp. The sushi sashimi set was also loaded with freshness, with precisely cut salmon, tuna, and kingfish, with nigiri sushi (salmon, scallops, and ebi).
Visitor Tips and Reminders
| Pro Tip: Bring swimwear, towels, and a change of clothes for kids enjoying the water play area. Moreover, we recommend wearing hats, sunscreen, and light clothing. The Esplanade gets sunny. Keep an eye on children in the splash zone. Although there’s a rubber matting, the floor is still wet and can cause slipping if kids run too fast. There are shaded areas and benches available, but they fill up quickly. We recommend bringing a picnic mat or a small umbrella for extra cover. If you’re going out on a hot sunny day, make sure to bring bottled water to keep yourself and the kids hydrated. There are various nearby attractions. Combine your visit with a stop at Pandanus Beach (a small sandy beach for wading) or a walk to Wynnum Jetty. Reminder to keep the park clean. Use the bins provided to keep the park neat and enjoyable for everyone. |
