Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium: Shows, Tickets and Parking

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is Brisbane’s public planetarium, set inside the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha in Toowong. Walking in is free, and you pay only if you book a Cosmic Skydome show, a film shown across the inside of the dome.

It is a good wet-weather or hot-day outing paired with the gardens, and the free displays suit kids who like space.

Cosmic Skydome shows

The Cosmic Skydome is the planetarium’s theatre. The general show costs $17.50 for an adult, $13.50 for a concession and $11 for a child aged 3 to 14. Groups of 10 or more pay $13.50 per adult and $11 per child, and Companion Card holders get a free companion ticket.

There is also a children’s show, shorter than the general one, at $11 for adults and children alike. Booking is recommended because some sessions sell out, and session times are listed on Brisbane City Council’s planetarium page.

The free Display Zone

You do not need a show ticket to see the Display Zone. It has three exhibits: Earth: Our Blue Oasis, on the sun and how the wider universe affects Earth; a display on Sir Thomas Brisbane, his time as Governor of New South Wales and his astronomy; and Skylore, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders share star knowledge and cultural heritage.

The Galaxy Gift Shop and the Sundial Courtyard outside are also on site.

History and the telescopes

The planetarium opened on 24 May 1978 and is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Scottish astronomer who was Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825 and set up an observatory at Parramatta in 1822 to map the southern skies.

The Cosmic Skydome is a hemispherical theatre 12.5 metres across. The building also holds two permanently mounted telescopes, a Zeiss 15 cm refractor and a larger 25.4 cm Schmidt-Cassegrain.

Outside, a bronze statue honours Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the Russian rocketry pioneer. It makes an easy photo stop on the brick path in front of the building.

Many visitors combine a show with a wander through the gardens, so it pays to plan a half day rather than a quick stop. The free displays take only a short time on their own, while the gardens can fill several hours.

Groups, schools and venue hire

School groups must book ahead, and groups of 10 or more get the cheaper group show prices. If you want to hire the venue for an event, the council has a separate booking enquiry form on its planetarium page.

Opening hours

The planetarium is open 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, and on Mondays during Queensland school holidays. Check the council page before you go, as hours and show times can change.

Planning your visit

• Cost: free entry; shows from $11.
• Combine it with: the gardens, which are open 8 am to 6 pm from September to March and 8 am to 5 pm from April to August, with a cafe open 8:15 am to 4 pm daily.
• Toilets: toilets, including accessible toilets, are throughout the gardens, and the council’s gardens mobility map shows accessible entrances.
• Dogs: only guide and assistance dogs are allowed in the Botanic Gardens.

Getting there and parking

The planetarium is about 5 km from the Brisbane CBD, around 15 minutes by car without traffic. Parking is free in the Botanic Gardens main car park. If it is full, overflow parking is across the road via Ada Street, in marked bays only. Accessible parking is available, and bike racks are at the Visitor Information Centre car park near the ring road entrance.

By bus, Translink route 471 runs from the city to Mt Coot-tha, and Botanic Gardens stop 19 is the closest. The council also lists stop 17 on Mt Coot-tha Road. Check the Translink timetable before you leave, as trips are spaced well apart.

Nearby

• Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha – the gardens around the planetarium, with a cafe and walking trails.
• Mt Coot-tha Lookout – free city views a short drive up the road.
• J C Slaughter Falls – a picnic area and bush walks on the mountain.
• Queensland Museum Kurilpa – another free science-minded stop in the city.
• More in museums and Brisbane.

You might also like

• Museum of Brisbane (Brisbane City)
• Qld Maritime Museum (South Brisbane)
• Brisbane Tramway Museum (Ferny Grove)

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