There’s a five-storey pink duck floating on the Brisbane River right now. I went to New Farm to see the jacarandas and ran into it by accident. Everyone around me had stopped to take photos, and one person was filming a video report. I think it was the first day it was out.
It’s free, and it’s a lot bigger in person than you’d think.
What It Is
It’s the Rubber Duck by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, 15 metres tall, in a hot pink edition made just for Brisbane. It’s the first time the duck has floated on the Brisbane River (Maiwar). It’s part of Melt Festival, which Brisbane Powerhouse produces.
Where To Find It
It’s on the river in front of Brisbane Powerhouse, next to New Farm Park. You can see it from the park, the riverbank and the walking path.
According to the Brisbane Powerhouse event page, it runs from 21 October to 8 November 2026, 9am to 9pm every day. It’s free and suitable for all ages.
Check Before You Go On 24 October
The duck leads the River Pride Parade on Saturday 24 October. It’s a twilight parade, with boats going from West End to the Powerhouse. I don’t know what time it leaves New Farm Park that day, and I couldn’t find a time published, so check the Melt Festival website first if you’re going that day.
The Jacarandas
The jacarandas in New Farm Park are already out and they’re beautiful. All we needed was a big blue sky. If you’ve got time, walk through the park while you’re there.
Getting There
The CityCat stop at New Farm Park is about a 300 metre walk from the Powerhouse. UQ students can take the CityCat straight from UQ. There are buses too, and the Powerhouse has parking, but it’ll be busy while the duck is here, so I’d take the ferry if you can.
Before Or After
We walked to Kin for a matcha drink, then followed the river path along to the ferry terminal. It’s a nice walk.
More ideas in our things to do with kids page, and the Queensland school holiday dates for 2026 if you’re planning ahead.