Bluey’s World is open! Here are all the highlights your kids will love

hero media
Thrill the little ones — and your own inner child — with a first look at the long-awaited Bluey’s World in Brisbane

Step aside, Hemsworths. Take a hike, Vegemite. Australia’s biggest export is Bluey, a children’s TV series about a Brisbane-based family of blue heelers that has thoroughly bewitched the globe. In a spectacular, pastel-splashed effort to captivate fans’ imaginations via an entirely new medium, Bluey’s World is an immersive event staged in the Queensland capital that celebrates the phenomenon in ways most could never have imagined.

From a dance party in the depths of Bluey and Bingo’s wardrobe to decorating jumbo-sized pavlovas in the family’s kitchen, our first look at Bluey’s World (open now at Northshore Brisbane in Hamilton until September 2025) uncovers extraordinary moments behind every door. Here, we break down the masterstrokes you need to see now.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Australian Traveller (@austtraveller)

Exterior of Bluey's house at Bluey's World in Brisbane
Step inside Bluey’s World and enter the family’s life-sized house.

1. It’s a guided tour for kids, so parents can take a load off

Visitors to Bluey’s World are split into groups and taken on a guided 60-minute tour inside the 4,000-square-metre Northshore Pavilion within the Northshore Brisbane Precinct. Tasked to endlessly enchant your kids, the guides arrive as the Heelers’ garden gnomes (seen in episodes including Hide and Seek and Hammerbarn), brought to life by magical fairies (who debuted in Fairies but are also mentioned in later episodes), much to the delight of every kid in the room. Not only will parents have their little ones totally distracted for a solid hour, but those heaven-sent angels also nudge you when it’s time to usher your kids along. “Grown-ups, grab your squirts" was this very appreciative Australian Traveller writer’s cue to spring back into parenting mode when required.

Kids in Bluey's living room at the all new Bluey's World in Brisbane
The experience includes an action-packed guided tour.

2. There’s even Bluey-themed ferries to get you there

You can jump on board a regular CityCat service to Bluey’s World (or drive as there’s plenty of free parking) but we suggest you go one better by hitching a ride on a limited-edition CityDog. Two very special ferries have been decked out to resemble Bluey and Bingo, with one dressed in the older sibling’s trademark blue hue and the other a vibrant orange. No matter which one you catch, the sisters’ wide-eyed faces feature on both, providing an exhilarating, photo-perfect prelude to what’s to come.

Car rides inside Bluey's World in Brisbane
If you miss out on the ferry, you can always hitch a ride inside with these guys,

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

AI Prompt

3. The life-size sets are absolutely breathtaking

Your first step into Bluey’s World — which starts out the front of the Heeler house before the fairies open the front door — instantly teleports you to, well, the world of six-year-old Bluey. From the red and yellow garbage bins of Bin Night to the native purple cloud perennials planted at the foot of the old Queenslander’s façade, the details are deeply considered and flat-out beautiful.

Inside Bluey's bedroom at Bluey's World in Brisbane
The bedroom is as colourful as can be,

At one stage, your group will move through a walkable blanket fort, inspired by the episode Cubby and complete with scribbles of arrows, a toilet, a clock and other tell-tale household markers. And that’s before you even get to the siblings’ bedroom, and the playroom, and of course…

Inside Bluey's playroom at Bluey's World in Brisbane
The playroom… The sets are a work of art.

4. The kitchen. Just, everything about the kitchen

While every new door presents a room worthy of gasps (and we heard audible varieties upon every new unveiling), the kitchen at Bluey’s World is a standout.

Inside Bluey's kitchen at Bluey's World in Brisbane
Visitors gasped in awe when entering Bluey’s family kitchen for the first time.

Whether you’re piling berries and sprinkles over gigantic pavlovas, building ham and cheese sandwiches while overlooking the backyard (more on that highlight later), cooking the famed Australian Women’s Weekly Duck Cake (honoured in the Duck Cake episode) in the oven or simply basking in the fact you can finally take photos (all rooms prior to the kitchen prohibit photography), the kitchen is indeed the heart of this home.

The iconic Women's Weekly duck cake in the oven at Bluey's World in Brisbane
The iconic Women’s Weekly duck cake is baking in the oven.
Kids cooking pavlova in Bluey's kitchen at Bluey's World in Brisbane
The kids can pile berries and sprinkles over the gigantic pavlovas.

5. The kids’ wardrobe hides an infectious dance party

Once you’re done playing a round of Magic Xylophone with Unicorse (the very cheeky hand puppet from Unicorse who plays a central role at Bluey’s World), you’ll walk right through Bluey and Bingo’s wardrobe and into a darkened room made for unadulterated boogeying. No child is immune to the spell of Bluey’s gnomes, who dance around the room like absolutely nobody is watching. It’s end-to-end euphoric fun as racks of the kids’ clothing and Chattermax, Bluey’s favourite electronic toy, are projected in high-octane colour across the walls.

The hallway of Bluey's World in Brisbane
Follow your guide into Bluey and Bingo’s wardrobe for a dance party to rival all others.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

6. There’s a surprise creek in the mix

Organisers sold Bluey’s World as a tour of the Heeler homestead, but Bluey’s World also encompasses a slice of the great outdoors. At one stage of the tour, you’ll stumble across a tranquil creek, much like the one featured in the widely adored The Creek episode, filled with more impressive projections and set designs to recreate Bluey’s beloved open-air escape. Skip across rocks, hop between floods of tadpoles and spot a wallaby amid a remarkably cooling ode to Queensland’s natural beauty.

7. The backyard’s Poinciana tree is an architectural feat

As iconic as the show’s canine stars, the Heelers’ Poinciana tree is world-renowned. Thankfully, this interpretation lives up to the hype. It looms dramatically over Bluey’s World’s sprawling backyard, decorated with the same paper lanterns seen hanging off the animated version in the famed Keepy Uppy episode. A family selfie is mandatory, as is taking a seat beneath its leafy branches as a series of inflated red balls take flight and squealing children live out their wildest dreams around you.

The Heelers’ Poinciana tree is in the backyard at Bluey's World
Get a family selfie under the Heelers’ Poinciana tree is world-renowned in the backyard.

8. The retail outlets are themed to perfection

It wouldn’t be a kids’ day out without sufficient snacks. At Bluey’s World, they’ve got you covered with a variety of light bites or much heartier picks including a selection of pudgy-based pizzas inspired by the episode Pizza Girls.

The shopfront of Golden Crown Takeaway inside Bluey's World in Brisbane
Pick up spring rolls, gyoza and fortune cookies from Golden Crown Takeaway onsite.

Fans of the show will love the Golden Crown Takeaway shopfront, seen in the episode Takeaway, which dishes up spring rolls, gyoza and fortune cookies. Don’t leave without visiting Alfie’s Gift Shop, too, home to exclusive Bluey merchandise no visitor to this once-in-a-lifetime event will manage to resist.

Shopfront of Alfie's Gift Shop inside Bluey's World in Brisbane
Alfie’s Gift Shop is full to the brim of take-home souvenirs.

Bluey’s World is now open at Northshore Brisbane. For tickets and further information, visit the website.    

Want to see more stories from Australian Traveller in your Google search results?

  1. Click here to set Australian Traveller as a preferred source.
  2. Tick the box next to "Australian Traveller". That's it.
Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
View profile and articles
hero media

8 reasons to book a stay at the reimagined Reefworld now

    Imogen Eveson Imogen Eveson
    Cruise Whitsundays’ famous Reefworld has undergone a complete transformation – here’s why it has become one of Australia’s most extraordinary places to spend the night.

    Imagine sleeping under the stars or beneath the sea, snorkelling vibrant coral gardens, and enjoying a dining experience that wouldn’t feel out of place at a top restaurant – all from a pontoon moored on the Great Barrier Reef. In a country that excels at extraordinary, immersive travel experiences, the reimagined Reefworld in Queensland’s Whitsundays has joined the upper echelons.

    Cruise Whitsundays has unveiled an extensive transformation of Reefworld, its pontoon permanently moored at Hardy Reef on the outer Great Barrier Reef.

    First opened in 2019, Reefworld is home to the famous underwater Reefsuites – Australia’s first underwater hotel – and was originally designed as a dual-purpose pontoon for both day visitors and overnight guests.

    Now, it has been transformed into an overnight-only experience, giving guests exclusive access to the pontoon and the reef, with more space, greater comfort and a more immersive way to experience this unique environment.

    The transformation forms part of Journey Beyond’s $40 million investment in responsible reef tourism in the region.

    Read on for eight reasons to book a stay at the reimagined Reefworld now.

    1. A scenic cruise through the Whitsundays

    cruise whitsundays boat on Great Barrier Reef Adventure tour
    Start with a cruise of the gorgeous Whitsundays.

    Your journey to Reefworld begins with a scenic cruise through the Whitsundays: dark-green islands daubed on an endless expanse of blue. Welcome to Ngaro Sea Country.

    Departing Port of Airlie, Daydream Island or Hamilton Island, a high-speed catamaran with priority boarding for Reefworld guests will whisk you across the Coral Sea to the outer reef.

    From next year, a new 35-metre catamaran will join the Cruise Whitsundays fleet, featuring an exclusive-use lounge area reserved for Reefworld guests. Snacks and refreshments are available onboard.

    Depending on the time of year, migrating humpback whales may pass you on your journey.

    2. A sense of arrival

    aerial view of new cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon
    Watch as your home on the reef rolls into view.

    Around two hours after leaving Hamilton Island, the Reefworld pontoon shimmers into view on the horizon.

    As you sail closer towards Hardy Reef – where the pontoon is permanently moored – your home for the next 27 hours comes into focus, including the plush new beds where Reefsleep guests will spend the night. Anticipation builds for the unique experience to come.

    The everyday world slips away as you alight the catamaran and step onto the pontoon. Now exclusively reserved for up to 36 overnight guests at a time, it has undergone an extensive transformation.

    The sense of space, peace and quiet is palpable as you’re welcomed with a cold non-alcoholic drink. Dab your brow with a refreshing cold towel and take in the stillness – interrupted only by the sound of flying fish slapping the water’s surface.

    From the moment you arrive in the late morning, the whole place is yours to enjoy. Reefworld has been redeveloped with considered spaces designed to help you make the most of your downtime.

    On the lower deck, you’ll find a bar serving tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, alongside comfy lounge areas where you can sit back and take in mesmerising reef views.

    Spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxed in the knowledge that you don’t have to leave again until tomorrow afternoon.

    3. Elevated food and beverage (including quality coffee!)

    cruise whitsunday reefworld food offering
    Indulge in an elevated food and beverage offering onboard.

    Elevated food and drink is central to the new Reefworld experience. The all-inclusive offering focuses on high-quality regional dining.

    A seafood buffet lunch might include Hervey Bay scallops grilled in shell with garlic and herb butter or line-caught reef fish baked with lemon thyme oil.

    A signature three-course dinner paired with premium Australian wines might dish up an entrée of Whitsunday blue swimmer crab wontons with smoked salmon caviar in a butter sauce, a main of Queensland grass-fed beef-eye fillet, and a tropical coconut and pineapple confection for dessert. Dietary requirements are catered for (notify team at time of booking).

    A hot breakfast buffet offers a selection of cooked favourites, smoked salmon, cheeses, and yoghurts, fresh fruit, toast and cereals.

    All-inclusive beverages include bottled beer and cider, soft drinks and Australian wine including sparkling. Or choose from a range of premium spirits and cocktails such as the 74 Islands Limoncello Spritz, made with a liqueur crafted right here in the Whitsundays.

    Perhaps the biggest boon of all? Barista-made coffee, available from 6.30 am. Only in Australia could you order an oat flat white in the middle of a coral reef.

    4. Snorkel one of the GBR’s most diverse reefs

    guests snorkelling the great barrier reef at cruise whitsunday reefworld
    Dive into the Great Barrier Reef.

    Reefworld sits above Hardy Reef, one of the most biologically diverse outer reef systems in the Great Barrier Reef. Exploring it is a simple matter of popping on a mask, snorkel and flippers and slipping into the water straight from the pontoon.

    Being in the outer reef means the water is clear, and marine life is abundant: here you could spot giant trevally, Māori wrasse, clownfish, parrotfish, nudibranch and giant clams, as well as vibrant coral gardens.

    Snorkel at your leisure over two days. Prefer to stay above the water level? Head to the underwater observatory or join an optional semi-submersible guided tour, and you might still spot the resident two-metre-long Queensland grouper, George, doing the rounds. Or Crush, one of 12 resident green sea turtles.

    5. A luxurious sleep under the stars

    cruise whitsunday reefworld pontoon reefsleep beds
    Spend the night in one of 16 spacious, four-poster beds.

    At the heart of the reimagined Reefworld is its elevated Reefsleep experience. On the upper deck are 16 spacious, four-poster beds, replacing the earlier swag-inspired accommodation and giving up to 32 guests the chance to sleep under the stars with increased privacy and added comfort.

    With names like Parrot Fish and Spotted Ray, each Reefbed is of its place and has everything you need: not least a queen-size bed with premium linens, decked out in coastal shades befitting the location. USB charging ports, reading lights and fans provide extra convenience and comfort. The beds are set up as daybeds in the afternoon, then turned down in time for sleep.

    Double-layer canvas and mesh flaps allow you to customise your experience and exposure to the elements: zip up for maximum privacy and shelter or leave wide open to stargaze as you drift off to sleep.

    Come morning, enjoy the luxury of watching the sun rise over the reef from the comfort of the covers (if facing east).

    6. Refreshed underwater Reefsuites

    Reefsuites room at reefworld
    Let the locals form your bedroom view.

    Reefsuites is Australia’s first underwater hotel and remains among the most unique stays in the country – if not the world. Its two suites have had a glow-up as part of Reefworld’s transformation, but the floor-to-ceiling underwater views of the Great Barrier Reef remain unchanged.

    Choose between king double or twin single sleeping configurations, with premium bedding and a glass-walled en suite in each suite. This is your front-row seat to the marine life of the reef in all its nocturnal glory.

    7. A sensational sunset and canapés session

    cruise whitsunday reefworld guests enjooying sunset canapes
    Wait for sunset at Australia’s best bar.

    There’s even a designated new spot for sunset canapés. Could this be Australia’s best bar? That’s what you will be asking come evening, as you gather on the upper deck for a Sunset Canapés session.

    Reefworld’s refreshed design includes a designated space for this very ritual. Grab a drink at the bar – bubbles, perhaps, or a G&T with locally produced gin – and pull up a stool to settle in for one of the most spectacular sunsets you’ll ever see.

    Nibble on a chef’s selection of light bites as the sun puddles into the molten Coral Sea, bathing the entire pontoon in a glorious glow. It doesn’t get more golden hour than this.

    8. Extras: the adventure continues

    tour leader preparing scua diving gear at cruise whitsunday reefworld
    Choose from a range of extra activities to help you keep exploring.

    And that’s not where the adventure ends. Your Reefworld stay also includes access to the underwater observatory and a guided semi-submarine tour, plus a complimentary guided snorkel safari led by expert reef guides. For those looking to do even more, add-ons include scuba diving and scenic flights over Heart Reef, available at an additional cost.

    As part of Cruise Whitsundays’ investment in reef tourism, nearby permanent Heart Pontoon has also undergone a significant refurbishment, further enhancing the visitor experience.

    The details

    Reefworld is open now as an overnight‑only pontoon, exclusively for Reefsleep and Reefsuite guests. Stays start from $895 per person for Reefsleep and $1495 per person for a Reefsuite, based on double occupancy.

    Book an unforgettable sleep out on the Great Barrier Reef at cruisewhitsundays.com.