Chermside: Westfield, Kidspace Playground and Aquatic Centre

Chermside is a north Brisbane suburb best known for Westfield Chermside, one of the biggest shopping centres in the country, but it also has a large timber playground, an aquatic centre and a library within a few minutes of it. It is about 11 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, so it works for a half-day or a full day out.

Most people come for the shops, the cinema and the indoor activities, which makes it a good wet-weather option. Add the park and the pool and it also suits a hot Saturday.

Westfield Chermside

Westfield Chermside, on Gympie Road, has 486 stores over four floors, with Myer, David Jones, Big W, Woolworths, Coles, Target and Kmart among the anchors. It opened in 1957 as the Chermside Drive-In Shopping Centre and has been rebuilt in stages since.

It is also an entertainment precinct. There is an Event Cinemas complex, a food court, a gym and a child-minding centre.

Things to do inside

• Kingpin: bowling and laser tag.
• Holey Moley: an indoor mini golf course.
• iFLY: indoor skydiving, in a purpose-built building beside the centre. Check iFLY’s own page for age, weight and price rules before you book.

Opening hours change for public holidays, so check the Westfield Chermside opening hours page before you go.

Kidspace playground at 7th Brigade Park

Beside the shopping centre, 7th Brigade Park has a large free playground known as Kidspace, on the corner of Murphy Road and Newman Road. There is a big timber fort with tunnels, ramps and stairs, climbing ropes, balance beams, cargo nets and monkey bars, plus swings, a see-saw and musical instruments. A bike track with road signs and an older playground with slides, swings and rockers sit alongside.

Sports facilities include a half-court basketball court, a tennis court with a rebound wall, a double-sided bounce wall and a cricket pitch. The play area is shaded, there are toilets with accessible facilities, and parking at both ends of the park is open from 6 am to 9 pm.

Brisbane City Council has planned upgrades for 7th Brigade Park, including an off-road cycling skills area near the Murphy Road car park, so some areas may change.

Chermside Aquatic Centre

The Chermside Aquatic Centre, at 375 Hamilton Road, has a 25 m heated outdoor lap pool, a 16 m heated indoor pool, a kiosk and a water park with a lagoon play area. The water park is open on weekends and school holidays during the summer season, October to April, from 10 am to 5 pm, and its entry is priced separately by the operator.

General entry (not the water park) is $7.25 for an adult and $5.40 for a child aged 2 to 14. Children aged 5 and under must be within arm’s reach of a swimming adult. The on-site car park has limited spaces, with parking on surrounding streets.

Chermside Library and the Historical Precinct

Chermside Library, at 375 Hamilton Road, is open every day, with the longest days Tuesday and Thursday (9 am to 8 pm). It has a parents room, a quiet room, free Wi-Fi and off-street parking, and it is wheelchair accessible. It is closed on public holidays.

For a bit of local history, the Chermside Historical Precinct at 61 Kittyhawk Drive includes a relocated 1900 school building and a 1915 drill hall.

Planning your visit

• How long: 2 to 3 hours for the playground and lunch; a full day if you add the cinema, an indoor activity or the pool.
• Cost: the park is free. Westfield attractions, the cinema and the pool charge separately.
• Best time: mornings for the playground in summer; any time for the indoor options.
• What to bring: a picnic blanket and water for the park, swimmers and a towel for the pool.
• Accessibility: the playground has accessible toilets and the library is wheelchair accessible. Check Westfield’s accessibility page for the centre.

Getting there and parking

By car, Chermside is about 11 km by road from the Brisbane CBD, about 20 minutes without traffic. Westfield Chermside has a very large car park, and parking is paid after a free period. The length of the free period depends on how you register, so check the centre’s parking page and the signs on arrival.

The Chermside bus station is next to Westfield, so buses are the easiest way to come without a car. Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner or call 13 12 30.

Nearby

• Kalinga Park – a dog park, playground and bike paths on the north side.
• Carseldine Markets – farmers and artisan markets to the north.
• Nundah Farmers Markets – a Sunday market a short drive south.
• Brisbane Showgrounds – the Ekka’s home, a bit further south.
• Bowen Hills – on the way to the city.

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