First look: Bluey's World in Brisbane, Australia, is 'doggone' fun for kids
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
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.
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
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.
At the very end of the experience, there's a gift shop, dining venue and playground.
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.
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