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First look: Bluey's World in Brisbane, Australia, is 'doggone' fun for kids

Nov. 14, 2024
9 min read
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Fans of the Aussie cartoon "Bluey" now have a new way to experience the hit animated children’s show at Bluey’s World in Brisbane, Australia. It’s certainly a journey for those living in the U.S. (or anyone who's not already in Australia), but if you plan to visit Brisbane with young kids, this interactive experience should be at the top of your list.

Bluey’s World opened to visitors Nov. 7, but I had the opportunity to visit Bluey’s World during its official “blue carpet” launch event on Nov. 12. I admit that I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did ... and no one had as much fun as the kids.

Here’s what you need to know about Bluey’s World in Brisbane.

Bluey's World tickets

ASHLEY ONADELE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

There are three ticket categories at Bluey’s World: peak, off-peak and sensory. Peak and sensory tickets cost 64.90 Australian dollars ($42), while off-peak tickets are AU$49.90 ($32).

Each visitor age 2 and older is required to have a ticket, and there is no discount for children. A ticketed adult must accompany all attendees younger than 18.

Attendees who require assistance can add a "companion ticket" for a companion or support person for no additional fee. Proper ID must be presented at the entrance to receive this complimentary entry into Bluey’s World.

Getting to Bluey's World

If you're traveling to Brisbane from the U.S., you have a variety of airline options to choose from. Options include every major U.S. airline and Australia’s Virgin Australia and Qantas.

Related: The best airline loyalty programs for families

We flew nonstop from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Brisbane Airport (BNE) on United Airlines. The flight time was about 14 hours.

Bluey’s World is technically outside of Brisbane in Hamilton, Queensland. It is less than a 20-minute drive from where we stayed at The Calile Hotel and less than 15 minutes from BNE. As part of our trip, we took a scenic Bluey-themed CityDog that was about 20 minutes along the Brisbane River.

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Related: United’s inaugural touches down in Brisbane, Australia — here’s what it was like in Polaris business class

The attraction is actually inside an event center and is fairly unassuming when you first arrive (either by boat or car). There is a large Bluey’s World sign outside of the building as well as an information kiosk, but you won’t see much of the installation until you walk inside.

Attractions at Bluey's World

ASHLEY ONADELE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

There are no rides at Bluey’s World, but you can have plenty of fun with the 70-minute guided experience through Bluey’s home, backyard and popular episodes. You’ll see life-size versions of the family’s living room, the girls’ rooms, the kitchen, the family room and the backyard.

The experience begins when a fairy who’s shocked anyone can see them comes out to greet attendees. They then suggest that everyone follow them inside the house to find Bluey and Bingo, the two main characters of the show. They first take you into the family’s living room where the fairy and the children magically bring a gnome to life.

It’s nonstop energy and movement from here.

The gnome is tricked into freezing Bluey and Bingo and, together with the kids, has to figure out how to find and then unfreeze them. They pass through a fort, the kitchen and playroom, a dance party and more on the hunt to find Bluey and Bingo.

There were no more than 15 children and their parents in each group.

Near the end, there’s a room where the kids are encouraged to lie down — a very nice touch after all the energy they expel. There, the kids listen to the voice of Bluey’s mom tell them how to pick themselves up when they’re sad or frustrated.

In this case, they may be feeling a bit upset about not finding Bluey yet, but not to fear. Eventually, they do find Bluey and Bingo, and the gnome figures out how to unfreeze them for a photo.

Bluey's World.
ASHLEY ONADELE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

At the very end of the experience, there's a gift shop, dining venue and playground.

ASHLEY ONADELE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

Accessibility

Sensory sessions are held every third Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. The Bluey’s World experience can be quite stimulating, and these sensory sessions offer reduced capacity and stimuli. At the information booth outside, there are resources such as over-ear protectors to reduce noise and hidden disability lanyards.

Wheelchair ramps were available outside and inside of the experience, and there were no stairs to climb. The venue is wheelchair-accessible throughout, and visitors can borrow wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis.

Leashed or harnessed service animals are welcome at Bluey's World; proof of their status may be required for entry. Caregivers or a support person may accompany any ticketed guest for no additional fee with the proper identification.

Dining

The only dining venue at Bluey’s World in Brisbane is Golden Crown Takeaway. It's at the end of the experience in between the gift shop and playground.

Food options include Vegemite sandwiches, pizza and fish-and-chips. Salads are affectionately called “Green Stuff” on the menu, and there are plenty of sweet treats like gelato pops, cookies and cupcakes also available. There are a variety of sodas from Australian drink company Mischief Brew as well as water, flavored milk and coffee.

By the time we finished the experience and bought a few souvenirs, the most recent round of hot food was gone. We waited less than 10 minutes for more pizzas and fish-and-chips and ate them near the playground. A staff member handed out the gelato pops behind the ice cream counter, but the hot items and sweet treats — like cupcakes and cookies — were self-serve.

Overall, the food was what you might expect at a theme park. As I told my friend when she asked me how the food was, it’s not Disneyland. Brisbane has so many amazing places to eat, and if the timing works out, I’d highly recommend eating before or after your trip to Bluey’s World.

Tips for visiting Bluey’s World

  • The most convenient way to get to Bluey’s World is by Uber or taxi. Parking is free at the venue.
  • The CityCat (renamed CityDog for the Bluey’s World grand opening) is another transportation option that lets you see the city’s sights from the water. You can also arrive by bus, on foot or by bike.
  • You will receive a timed ticket for entry. It is advised that you arrive at the time listed on your ticket, and you will be admitted within 30 minutes.
  • Make sure your child has shoes and clothes that they can comfortably run around in.
  • One gnome guides you throughout the entire experience, but at some point, you’ll converge with another group. Keep an eye on your gnome, as you will eventually return to your original group for the final bit.
  • You can stay up to two hours, including your time in the experience.
  • There was stroller parking available outside of the venue near the information kiosk.
  • Bluey’s World Brisbane will be open until Sept. 14, 2025.

Bottom line

Bluey’s World was nonstop fun from the moment the fairies came to guide us into Bluey’s home. The hands-on experience kept my two kids entertained the entire time, so my husband and I were in the background, just enjoying the show. Giving the kids a chance to rest from all of the excitement before finally meeting Bluey and Bingo at the end was a nice touch.

I can’t say that I recommend traveling all the way to Brisbane for this one attraction. However, my family and I are glad that we went and would go again in a heartbeat.

If you’re in Brisbane or somewhere else that has a Bluey’s World installation, it’s worth a visit — especially if you don’t want to do an all-day theme park like Disney or Universal.

Related reading:

Featured image by ASHLEY ONADELE FOR THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.
  • Annual Fee

    $325
  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.