Mt Coot-tha has a whole day in it. Drive up to the lookout for a view across the city to the bay, or walk up the mostly paved track from J.C. Slaughter Falls. At the bottom, the Botanic Gardens are free, and the Planetarium inside has a shorter show for little ones.

Out at Enoggera, families swim and paddle at the reservoir, and there's a wildlife show at Walkabout Creek on weekend mornings. Until the new year, native catfish are guarding nests in the swimming area, so keep clear of them. On Sunday afternoons, kids can ride old trams at the Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove, as long as it isn't raining.

By the bay, Shorncliffe Pier is good for fishing, with a big playground and calm water below the cliffs. The Boondall Wetlands have bike tracks through the mangroves. On a hot day, Iceworld at Boondall has skating every day.