Discovery World

In 1978, the Brisbane City Council opened Queensland's first planetarium. The Planetarium is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, a Governor of New South Wales in the 1820s.

Sir Thomas Brisbane established Australia’s first significant observatory and was responsible for the first extensive mapping of the southern sky.

Here you can see fragments of asteroids and spacecraft models, watch shows on various astronomical topics, observe far far away stars with telescopes, and enjoy even more.

The Sciencentre offers hours of interactive, hands-on, minds-on science-based fun. Almost 100 interactive exhibits have been divided into three galleries: Body Zone, Earth Space and Action Stations.

Investigate the human body, understand the events that shape our world and beyond, and explore the marvels of science and technology in everything we do and use. There are no 'visitors' at the Sciencentre - everyone is a 'participant'. Great entertainment for everyone…including the ‘big kids’!

When you arrive at the Queensland Museum, you’ll be welcomed by giant whales hanging above your head and it’s only the beginning of an amazing universe. Here, you can learn about the past, understand the present and prepare for the future. Meet life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Triceratops and discover other animal species that are lost forever.

Learn everything about kangaroos, stare into the eye of a tiger, stand beneath a Great White Shark and admire the colourful collection of interesting insects. The museum entertains, informs and inspires, but also alarm us on our impact and the rapid change of our environment.

Take a voyage of discovery from the days of the early navigators to now. See a large map locating about 200 of the 1500 shipwrecks that lie along the Queensland coast, and discover how the first recorded shipwreck arose from the notorious mutiny on the Bounty. Simply learn and admire skills of the Maritime Industry.

Find out how a flame in a kerosene lamp can be seen by mariners many kilometres away. Marvel at the craftsmen exhibited models of ships from the days of the ancient Egyptians, through Medieval times to the Golden Age of sea travel when elegant liners plied the oceans of the world. Don’t forget to climb aboard and explore the decommissioned Navy frigate.

Ride on Brisbane's preserved trams in a delightful bush land setting and visit the museum where you can admire restored trams and other reminders of Brisbane's tramway era. Admission includes unlimited tram rides and picnic tables are available for a nice and enjoyable day.

Plan a full day of fun at The Workshops Rail Museum, a world-class rail museum in the birthplace of Queensland’s extensive rail system.

'The Workshops', as it is affectionately known, is the site from which the very first train to run in Queensland steamed from here to 'Bigges Camp', now Grandchester, over 140 years ago.

For decades the site was the centre of rail construction, maintenance and technology, also housing thousands of workers over the years.

The Workshops is once again an icon, housing a world class, wholly interactive rail museum, featuring the oldest continually operating railway workshops in Australia.