20 things to do on Anzac Day in Brisbane

Two-Up
The coin-based gambling game can be legally played in Queensland on Anzac Day. If you’re keen to experience this aspect of Australian culture, head to pubs including the Prince Consort in the Valley, the Regatta in Toowong, the Glen at Eight Mile Plains, the Boundary in West End, Riverbar and Kitchen in the city, or Howard Smith Wharves. As always, if gambling is a problem for you, do something else.

KIDS & FAMILIES

Jurassic World by Brickman
Ryan “Brickman” McNaught re-imagines Jurassic World in an exhibition of large-scale dinosaurs, props, scenes and activities made from more than 6 million Lego bricks. Kids can build their own Lego dino-ramas, and when they’re done you can also take them to see the free Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibition downstairs featuring Queensland’s own prehistoric monsters.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, Anzac Day 1.30-5pm, $19.90-$29.90. Buy tickets.

Victoria Park Putt Putt
Victoria Park’s mini-golf course twists, turns, goes over bridges and features unique challenges. Kids and adults alike can pass a happy hour here any time from 6am, but book ahead. Also try the mini golf at St Lucia (from 10am), Golf Central Airport (from 1pm), Mount Gravatt (from 1pm) and Meadowbrook (from 6am).
309 Herston Road, Herston, Anzac Day 6am-10pm, $14-$20. Buy tickets.

Hit the trampolines at Bounce Inc
Kids can indulge their love of trampolines at these five indoor venues across town and the Gold Coast. Expect some 3000 square metres of interconnected trampolines, adventure features, padding and airbags. Parents don’t have to buy a ticket and can wander about the place to supervise.
Tingalpa, Morayfield, Carindale (Mini-Bounce), Macgregor and Burleigh Waters, from 1pm, $16-$21.50. Buy tickets.

Kingdom of Kindness
A new exhibition for families by artist Abdul Abdullah is a world of friendly rock characters. The space features tic-tac-toe game boards, a mirrored wall of reflection, activity stations where families can get creative making kindness cards, and a rock-climbing wall.
Children’s Gallery, Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery, Surfers Paradise, Anzac Day 1.30-4pm, free.

GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

Anzac Legacy Gallery at Queensland Museum
Salvaged by Queensland troops in 1919, the tank Mephisto is the only surviving example of a German A7V Sturmpanzerwagen in the world. See it at the Queensland Museum alongside objects of war and personal items belonging to those on the front line in World War I.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, 1.30-5pm, free.

Seen on the Screen at Brisbane Motor Museum
The museum’s current show features hot rods such as the silver 1976 Datsun 260z used in Netflix series Boys Swallows Universe, a red 1966 Sunbeam Tiger made famous by spy sitcom Get Smart! and a replica of Doctor Who’s vintage jalopy Bessie.
Brisbane Motor Museum, 959 Nudgee Road, Banyo, 8am-3pm, $12.50-$25. Buy tickets.

Italian Renaissance Alive at HOTA
The makers of Van Gogh Alive present a multisensory experience featuring projections of works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, Veronese and more, with an operatic score featuring music by Puccini and Verdi. If a holiday to Rome and Florence is off the table, then a day trip to Surfers Paradise might be the next best thing.
Home of the Arts (HOTA) Gallery, Surfers Paradise, until Aug 4, Anzac Day 1-4pm, $0-$39. Buy tickets.

Fairy Tales at GoMA
Adults and kids alike will be spellbound by GoMA’s exclusive exhibition of art, movie costumes and installations based on folklore. See work by Del Kathryn Barton, Gustave Dore, Anish Kapoor, Yayoi Kusama, Ron Mueck, Tracey Moffatt and more, and costumes from Jim Henson’s Labyrinth. The show ends Sunday so be quick.
GoMA, until Apr 28, Anzac Day 12-5pm, $0-$28. Buy tickets.

mudunama kundana wandaraba jarribirri Judy Watson at QAG
Four decades of beautiful work by this great Queensland artist are comprehensively surveyed in this free show whose title translates as “tomorrow the tree grows stronger”.
Queensland Art Gallery, until Aug 11, Anzac Day 12-5pm, free.

SHOWS & MOVIES

Alien
In space, no one can hear you scream – but in the Dendy Coorparoo? We’ll see. The most chilling and poetic of sci-fi horror films is so good, they’re still making sequels 45 years later – if you’ve never seen the original (and best) on the big screen, or ever, here is your chance.
Dendy Coorparoo, 6.30pm, $15-$19.50. Buy tickets.

Beauty and the Beast
This lavish, four-star theatrical extravaganza combines technological stage magic with finely tuned vocal and dancing prowess, not to mention 300 costumes. Disney’s classic stage musical is a beast of a show, and it’s hard not to fall in love with it.
Lyric Theatre, QPAC, 1.30pm & 6.30pm, $80-$250. Buy tickets.

Adam Kay: This Is Going to Hurt
The former doctor became a superstar on the publication of his grimly funny book This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, outlining the poor treatment of junior doctors in the UK and a range of traumatic medical experiences.
Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Apr 25 6.30pm & 8.30pm, Apr 26 6pm, $69.90. Buy tickets.

The Teacher’s Lounge
This powerful new German film concerns an idealistic teacher (Leonie Benesch) dealing with a theft scandal at a progressive high school. Nominated for the Best International Film Oscar, it opens here on Anzac Day.
Palace Cinemas & Dendy Cinemas, from April 25, various prices.

OUTDOORS

Story Bridge Adventure Climb
The bridge opened back in 1940 and climbing it is both a fascinating history lesson and an exhilarating adventure with amazing views. There’s perhaps no better way to appreciate how far Brisbane has come as a city than to admire its skyline, its river and its suburbs from the tippy-top and yes, they’re running on Anzac Day.
170 Main St, Kangaroo Point, $144.95-$169.95. Buy tickets.

Anzac Day Races
Eagle Farm Racecourse has bars, restaurants and a day’s worth of racing action on April 25. From the Public Lawn you have direct access to the fence line to view the top steeds jockeying for position.
Eagle Farm Racecourse, 10.30am, $7.50-$20 (free for pensioners and under 17).

Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha
Nature is good for your mental health, and these gardens are free to enter. Highlights include cacti, the Bonsai House, Tropical Dome, bamboo grove, lagoon and Japanese Garden. At 1pm on Anzac Day there’ll be an Anzac-themed concert by BSB Swing at the bandstand lawn. Bring a picnic rug and basket and enjoy big-band hits ranging from Louis Armstrong to the Andrew Sisters.
52 Mount Coot-tha Rd, Mount Coot-tha, 8am-5pm, free.