Water play and swimming for kids in Brisbane

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29 places to cool off across the region: water parks, pools, beaches, lakes and swimming spots, nearest first from Brisbane. Choose your suburb at the top to sort from where you are staying.

Everything on the map

Nearest first, from Brisbane

Beaches and islands

Beach illustration
Beach
Eastwood beach
Manly
about 25 min
Nudgee Beach
Beach
Nudgee Beach
1.5 km walk
Mudflats and mangroves on the edge of Moreton Bay; the 1.5 km Nudgee Beach Boardwalk loop reopened in June 2026.
about 25 min
Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach illustration
Beach
Dog off-leash beach
Manly
about 25 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Sand Bar
Wellington Point
about 30 min
Over 30 minutes
from Brisbane
Beach illustration
Beach
Clontarf Beach
Clontarf
about 30 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Woody Point Beach
Woody Point
about 30 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Scotts Point Beach
Woody Point
about 35 min
Beach illustration
Beach
Margate Beach
Margate
about 35 min

Waterfalls, lakes and swimming

Streets Beach
Swimming spot
Streets Beach
South Bank Parklands
Free man-made swimming beach in South Bank Parklands, patrolled by lifeguards seven days a week; no waves or rips.
under 5 min
Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Pool illustration
Pool
Ithaca Pool
Paddington
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
The Valley Pool
Fortitude Valley
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
YMCA Kelvin Grove
Kelvin Grove
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
UQ Sport Aquatic Centre
St Lucia
under 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
The Barry McCart Aquatic Centre
East Brisbane
about 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Langlands Park Memorial Pool
Stones Corner
about 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Newmarket Pool
Alderley
about 5 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Yeronga Park Memorial Swimming Pool
Yeronga
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Colmslie Swimming Pool
Morningside
about 10 min
Pool illustration
Pool
Clem Jones Centre
Carina
about 10 min
Enoggera Reservoir
Swimming spot
Enoggera Reservoir
D'Aguilar National Park (Walkabout Creek)
Swim in the designated area or paddle at Walkabout Creek; open 6am-6pm. Catfish are nesting in the swimming area until 1 January 2027 and may nip if disturbed.
about 15 min
Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wynnum Wading Pool
Swimming spot
Wynnum Wading Pool
Wynnum Wading Pool Park
Tidal pool on the bay beside Wynnum Aqua Park, with Pandanus Beach and the foreshore path next door.
about 20 min
Photo: Kerry Raymond, CC BY 4.0
Lake illustration
Lake
Einbunpin Lagoon
Einbunpin Lagoon Park
Heritage-listed lagoon in central Sandgate, circled by a concrete path. The park has a fenced playground, picnic area and toilets.
about 25 min
Cylinder Beach
Swimming spot
Cylinder Beach
North Stradbroke Island
25 min passenger ferry from Cleveland (Toondah Harbour) to Dunwich, then the island bus or a drive to Point Lookout
Photo: KookieBlinkArmy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake illustration
Lake
Greenwood Lakes
Old sand-mining lakes beside Oxley Creek, now with a boardwalk and viewing platform for watching water birds.
about 30 min
Over 30 minutes
from Brisbane
Orion Lagoon
Swimming spot
Orion Lagoon
Robelle Domain
Free lagoon pools from 0.3 m to 1.5 m deep, with squirting spouts and stepping stones. Summer hours (Sept-April) 5.30am-9pm; children under 13 must be actively supervised.
about 35 min
Photo: JohnnyBflat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Kurwongbah
Lake
Lake Kurwongbah
Kayak, canoe or paddleboard, or fish from the shore (no fishing from boats); popular for picnics.
about 35 min
Photo: Annette Teng, CC BY 3.0
Settlement Cove Lagoon
Swimming spot
Settlement Cove Lagoon
Settlement Cove Park
Free saltwater lagoon (up to 1.8 m) with lifeguards and a shaded kids pool up to 0.3 m; the toddler pool is closed for now.
about 35 min
Photo: Shiftchange, CC0

Big playgrounds

Big playground illustration
Big playground
Riverside Green Playground
South Brisbane
South Bank lawns with barbecues and a water feature beside the playground, next to Streets Beach.
under 5 min
Big playground illustration
Big playground
Aquativity
South Brisbane
Free family water park at South Bank with river-themed water play.
under 5 min
Drive times are estimated from the distance, so treat them as a guide. Tap a card for the full page.
Region boundary: ABS Tourism Regions 2021 (Tourism Research Australia), CC BY 4.0. Outings from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and venues' own listings; nature spots from OpenStreetMap and park services.