The weekend is almost here, and if you’re a Brisbane family staring down two unstructured days with restless kids. We absolutely feel the panic that you are in right now . Westfield Chermside is one of Queensland’s biggest shopping centres, but the area around it has quietly grown into one of the best hubs for family fun in the entire city.Â
We get it that you were chasing the best chermside kids activities that will help them burn off some serious energy, or you may be simply looking to make a weekend memory that sticks. This guide that you have found has you covered. We have the thrilling high-tech arenas with quieter outdoor options. Here’s everything worth doing near Westfield Chermside this weekend , rain or shine.
Why Chermside Has Become Brisbane's Go-To Family Weekend Destination?
Chermside was known to be primarily as a shopping destination. These days, it’s evolved into something much more exciting for families. The suburb sits in Brisbane’s north, making it easily accessible from suburbs like Aspley, Kedron, Stafford, and Nundah.Â
Its transformation into a genuine leisure hub means that a trip to the area no longer has to begin and end with retail therapy. You can now fill an entire day, or a full weekend, without driving more than a kilometre from the Westfield car park.
The rise of experience-based entertainment has been the driving force behind this shift. Parents across Brisbane have started trading passive screen time for active, participatory experiences, and Chermside has answered that call in a big way.
EKPE Activate Games: The Best Indoor Activity Near Westfield Chermside
If there’s one place near Westfield Chermside that earns a spot at the very top of any family itinerary, it’s EKPE Activate Games. Located at Level 1, 744 Gympie Rd, just minutes from the shopping centre, EKPE is Queensland’s first Activate Games Sport Arena, and it’s genuinely unlike anything else in Brisbane.
What Is EKPE Activate Games?
EKPE is an interactive sports arena where physical activity and cutting-edge technology come together. Our venue features six high-tech challenge rooms that are equipped with over 500 different games that respond directly to your movements. You get to dodge lasers and hit light-up targets, race against the clock, and compete with friends and family. All this in an immersive environment that makes you forget you’re exercising. We are the kind of place where a 7-year-old and a 70-year-old can genuinely compete on the same level, because the games scale in difficulty for every age and ability.
As one of the most talked-about indoor activities Brisbane has to offer, EKPE works brilliantly rain or shine, which, if you’ve spent any time in a Queensland summer, you’ll appreciate more than most. We are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with last bookings at 7:00 PM.
The Games You'll Play
The game rooms at EKPE each offer a completely different style of challenge. Here’s a quick look at what’s waiting for you:
| Super Grid | Jump between light-up floor panels in a race against the clock | All ages, high energy |
| Laser Maze | Navigate through moving laser beams without triggering them | Kids, teens and Young Adults |
| Devil’s Eyes | React to flashing targets before they disappear | Competitive families |
| Hyper Hoops | High-intensity basketball challenge with light-up hoops | Sports lovers |
Each room runs its own rotation of 500+ games, so no two visits feel the same. It’s the kind of experience that genuinely warrants coming back and most families do.
Why is EKPE the Top Pick for Indoor Activities Near Me?
When Brisbane parents search for indoor activities near me on a rainy Saturday morning, EKPE consistently comes out on top and that too for good reason. It doesn’t require any special skills, there’s no passive sitting around waiting for a turn, and it works for groups of any size.Â
Speaking of birthdays , EKPE is widely considered one of the best kids’ birthday party venues in Brisbane. Six challenge rooms, 500+ games, catering options, and a venue that does the entertainment for you. No decorations to set up, no mess to clean, just two hours of pure, joyful chaos. Teens love the high-intensity competition. Younger kids love the lights and movement. Adults end up competitive in ways they didn’t expect.
More Things to Do Near Westfield Chermside This Weekend
EKPE is the headline act, but the Chermside precinct has more to offer if you’re planning a full day out. Here’s a snapshot of other options worth adding to your itinerary:
Kedron Brook Bikeway & Parklands
Just a short drive from Westfield, the Kedron Brook Parklands offer a genuinely lovely outdoor option for families who want some fresh air before (or after) their indoor adventure. The bikeway stretches for kilometres and is flat enough for young riders, while the grassed areas along the brook are perfect for a picnic. On a clear Brisbane weekend morning, it’s hard to beat.
Chermside Aquatic Centre
The Chermside Aquatic Centre at Rode Road is a staple for local families. With both indoor and outdoor pools, a water slide, and a toddler area, it gives younger kids a solid few hours of water-based activity. It pairs beautifully with an afternoon session at EKPE, swimming to burn off morning energy, then heading to the arena when everyone’s ready for something with a bit more competitive edge.
Westfield Chermside Itself
It would be remiss not to mention the shopping centre at the heart of it all. Beyond shopping, Westfield Chermside has a solid food court and a cinema, making it an easy landing pad between activities. If you’ve booked an EKPE session for the afternoon, a morning at Westfield to grab breakfast and browse is a perfectly relaxed way to ease into the day.
Planning Your Perfect Weekend Day Near Chermside
A well-structured day around Chermside doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s a simple itinerary framework that works for most families:
- Morning (9:00 AM – 11:30 AM): Head to Kedron Brook for a walk or bike ride. Pack a snack and let the kids run loose in the parklands.
- Late Morning (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM): Swing by Westfield for lunch in the food court. Book your EKPE session online in advance to secure your preferred time.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM): Arrive at EKPE Activate Games. Allow at least 90 minutes , most families end up staying for the full session and then some.
- Late Afternoon (3:00 PM onwards): Wind down with a coffee (adults) and a treat (kids) back at Westfield, or head to the Aquatic Centre if there’s still energy to burn.
This kind of day captures the very best indoor activities Brisbane families are searching for, combined with the ease of a suburb that has everything within easy reach.
EKPE as an Indoor Playground Brisbane Families Keep Coming Back To
There’s a meaningful difference between an indoor playground Brisbane families visit once and one they return to week after week. Most traditional play centres plateau quickly, kids master the slides, bounce on the same trampolines, and start asking to leave after an hour. EKPE is built differently. Because the games rotate and the difficulty scales, children who visit regularly are always chasing a new high score, a faster completion time, or a better strategy for the laser maze.
This is what separates experience-based entertainment from passive play. At EKPE, the engagement is active, the challenge is real, and the reward, that grinning, breathless face at the end of a hard-fought game, is something parents come back for as much as kids do. It’s also one of the very few venues in Brisbane where adults get just as invested as the children. More than one parent has reportedly been caught asking for “one more round” long after the kids were ready to leave.
Final Thoughts
There’s no shortage of ways to fill a weekend in Brisbane, but few suburbs combine convenience, variety, and genuine excitement the way Chermside does right now. From peaceful morning walks along Kedron Brook to full-throttle afternoons dodging lasers at EKPE Activate Games, the area has quietly assembled one of the best collections of chermside kids activities in Queensland.
Whether you’re a local family doing your weekly weekend reconnaissance or visitors to Brisbane looking for indoor activities near me that actually deliver, Westfield Chermside and its surrounds are worth your Saturday. And at the centre of it all quite literally, just a short walk from the shopping centre at Level 1, 744 Gympie Rd, EKPE Activate Games is waiting to make your weekend genuinely unforgettable.
Move fast. Feel alive. Book your session at ekpe.com.au before the weekend fills up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group is EKPE Activate Games suitable for?
EKPE is designed for players aged 6 and up, though younger children are welcome with adult supervision. The games scale in difficulty, meaning a 6-year-old and a 60-year-old can genuinely compete in the same session without either feeling bored or overwhelmed.
Do I need to book in advance, or can I just walk in?
Walk-ins are welcome at EKPE, but booking online in advance is strongly recommended ,especially on weekends, when sessions fill quickly. You can secure your spot via the EKPE website at ekpe.com.au. Last bookings are taken at 7:00 PM, and the venue is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM.
Is EKPE a good option when it's raining or too hot to be outside?
Absolutely. This is one of the reasons EKPE has become the go-to for indoor activities near me searches among Brisbane families. The fully climate-controlled arena means the Queensland summer heat and the occasional tropical downpour are completely irrelevant. It’s one of the best all-weather indoor activities Brisbane has, operating year-round regardless of conditions outside.
Can EKPE host a kids' birthday party, and how does that work?
Yes, EKPE is one of Brisbane’s most popular kids’ birthday party venues. The arena offers party packages that include access to the challenge rooms, with options for catering and private group bookings. It’s particularly well-suited to parties for kids aged 6–16, and the venue handles the entertainment entirely, meaning parents can actually relax and enjoy the event rather than running it.