Wondering whether to add Brisbane to your Aussie travel itinerary?

Queensland’s vibrant capital, Brisbane is an absolute MUST SEE on your trip Down Under. Bursting with quirky cafes & restaurants, colourful attractions & a rich cultural scene waiting to be discovered by YOU. Top it all off with Brisbane’s beautiful balmy weather and ample green spaces & you have yourself a city you may never want to leave (they don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing!).

We know navigating a new city can come with its challenges (especially one that’s nestled amongst an ever-so-windy river), so here’s your go-to list of everything you need to know about Brisbane….

City Hopper:
First things first, you’ll need to get your Brisbane bearings and the best way to do that is by the Brisbane River. Jump on the little red City Hopper which travels from North Quay (Brisbane) to Sydney Street (New Farm) for FREE! Jump on and off the as you please - be sure to visit Brisbane’s hot spots: Botanical Gardens, Eagle Street Pier, Kangaroo Point Cliffs & Southbank (don’t forget to snap a pic with our ‘BRISBANE’ sign while you’re here). The CityHopper runs from 6am to Midnight.

Story Bridge Adventure Climb:
If the view from the river wasn’t enough, take it up a notch with a Story Bridge Adventure Climb. Give your adrenaline a small boost as you climb to the very top of the Story Bridge! You won’t be disappointed with panoramic views that stretch from the Scenic Rim to Moreton Bay!

Mt Coot-tha Brisbane Lookout:
For a more relaxed viewpoint of the city, take a short 7km drive to Mt Coot-tha – Brisbane’s scenic lookout point. Soak up the sunset & stay for dinner at Summit Restaurant or Kuta Café. If you’re travelling by public transport – take the bus from Adelaide St to the summit (bus 471).

Wine Tasting Tour to Tamborine Mountain:
If you really want to make your co-workers at home jealous, we strongly suggest a Wine Tasting Tour of Tamborine Mountain. Located one hour from the city in the scenic hinterlands. Enjoy a day of delicious local wine & liqueurs, gourmet food and some of the best mountain views in Queensland! Added bonus: Tash Maree Tours & Events offers a pickup and drop off service in an air-conditioned bus, so you can kick back, relax & enjoy the day!

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA):
For a dose of art & culture, it’s worth checking out GOMA, located waterside in South Bank.

Brisbane’s best picnic spots…

If there’s one thing Brisbane does well, it’s picnic-perfect-parks! Grab yourself a blanket, pick up some cheese & crackers and make your way to one of the many beloved picnic spots around the city... With weather like this, it would be rude not to!

New Farm Park: Located by the river with ample space for you and your friends. With plenty of BBQ facilities, you can cook up a storm, or grab a bite to eat at one of the many nearby cafes. Finish the day off with dinner & a show at the Brisbane Powerhouse!

Roma Street Parklands: Surrounded by serene gardens, this park is perfect for a bit of R&R!

Kangaroo Point Cliffs: Whether you’re at the top or the bottom of the cliffs – you’re bound to have the best seats in the house for Brisbane City views. The best time to visit Kangaroo Point Cliffs is in the afternoon when the sun slips behind Mt Cootha & lights up the sky with shades of pink. While you’re here, take a look at the many river activities you can do!

Botanical Gardens, Brisbane: Located in the heart of the city – across from Kangaroo Point. A beautiful secluded place to take a stroll or relax under a tree. If you’re travelling by two wheels - the Brisbane Bike track will take you right through the Botanical Gardens & beyond!

Southbank Grassy Knoll: At the Southern end of Southbank lies a vibrant licensed area that extends straight out to the riverfront. It’s the perfect spot for an afternoon beer or two before exploring South Bank’s fabulous dining establishments. Visit on a Sunday and enjoy live music from one of Brisbane’s talented musicians.

Love markets? Then you’ll love these!

Eat Street Markets: This is an experience not to miss! Located in Hamilton, Eat Street Markets is a lively marketplace made up of old shipping containers. Eat Street is bustling with live music, bars & food stalls of every cuisine imaginable (wear your comfy pants!).
Eat Street Markets are open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday with a $3 entry fee.

Brisbane City Farmers Markets: Reddacliff Place, Brisbane. Wednesday 8am – 6pm (organic, farmers produce)

Davis Street Food Market: Located in Davis Park, West End every Saturday from 6am – 2pm (breakfast/lunch, fresh produce, flower stalls)

Riverside Garden Markets: Located in the Botanical Gardens every Sunday (food, craft, art, jewellery)

Southbank Collective Markets: Located on Stanley Street Plaza, every Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday (craft, art, gift stores, clothing)

Restaurants, Bars & Nightlife…

Wondering where the locals like to eat, drink & PARTAAY!?

Howard Smith Wharves (located under the story Bridge): Home to Felons Brewery, Mr Percival’s, Greca Greek Taverna & Arc Wine Bar & Restaurant. You can spend hours here with its diverse cluster of cool bars & the best river views in Brisbane! Great for lunch, dinner or an afternoon beverage.

South Bank, Grey Street & Fish Lane: Imagine every mouth-watering culinary cuisine possible – all lined up in a neat row! Well, welcome to SouthBank! Here you’ll find an abundance of multicultural restaurants, coffee shops & casual bars. While you’re here, take a stroll through Southbank’s Urban Jungle or peruse through the Gallery Of Modern Art.

Nightlife: If you want to show off your dance moves, Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley is a hot spot for clubs & pubs. In the city, you’ll find a line up of bars overlooking the river at Eagle Street Pier (Fridays, Jade Buddha, Bar Pacino’s & Riverbar to name a few), OR if mechanical bull riding is more your thing – why not head to Johnny Ringos for a rodeo rendezvous.

…It’s time to let you in on a little secret….

If you’re up for the challenge, take to the streets of Brisbane to uncover its TOP SECRET BARS! We’ve knocked on every door, passed through every antique wardrobe and de-bunked every secret code to give you a cheeky head start…

Next Episode: This Hip Hop hidden gem may have you fooled by it’s a late night barber shop front. But if you play your cards right, you may gain access into the New York Inspired bar for craft beer & cocktails!
Located: on Fish Lane, Southbank

Jack Rabbits Whisky Bar: Keep an eye out for the old antique wardrobe… It wont take you to Narnia, however it will throw you back in time to a 1920’s Jazz & whisky speakeasy!
Located on Logan road, Wolloongabba

Tom Cat: The cats out of the bag! This cool dive bar is found up an unassuming set of stairs off the main drag of Fortitude Valley. But wait, there’s more! This secret bar has ANOTHER SECRET BAR within! I’ll leave this up to you to find…
Located on Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley

Savile Row: Enter this classy establishment through an unmarked orange door in the thick of Fortitude Valley. Be greeted by the glow from the impressive chandelier above and extensive range of top end spirits.
Located on Ann Street, Fortitude Valley (clue: it’s neat ‘The Beat’)

Escape Room
If you’re not satisfied with de-bunking codes and suspicious doors, then you may want to visit one of Brisbane’s Escape Rooms! Test your mind (..and possibly your relationship) in a nail biting adventure at The Escape Manor on Edward Street.

Got yourself a car? Then you’ll want to add these destinations to your travel itinerary….

Glass House Mountain:
Made up of 11 unique mountains in the Sunshine Coast Hinterlands (50 minutes from Brisbane CBD). Here you’ll find ample walking & hiking tracks (beginner to expert), horse trials & more. If time isn’t on your hands, drive to the top of the Glass House Mountain Lookout Point for the best views of the hinterlands.

On your way to the Glass House Mountains, you’ll pass Steve Erwin’s Australia Zoo (home of the Croc Hunter!). This is 100% worth the visit with over 20 different hands-on animal encounters (tigers, dingos, koalas, kangas or hand feed a giant tortoise!)

Sunshine Coast beaches:
Need to tan the getaway sticks!? Sunshine Coast is home to a large stretch of white sand beaches, walking tracks, fashion shops, cafes & restaurants from Caloundra to Noosa. You won’t be disappointed.

Springbrook National Park:
For amazing waterfalls, nature walks and scenic views, Springbrook National Park is worth a visit (1.5 hours South of Brisbane). Its beauty is vast – so be sure to plan your travel route in advance.

For more details on car hire, click here!

THE ISLANDS:

North Stradbroke Island (“Straddie”):
A must-see island during your stay in Brisbane. North Stradbroke Island has so much to offer from white sand beaches, ample wildlife (kangaroos, koalas, whales, dolphins, turtles, manta rays – just to name a few), breathtaking lookouts, nature walks, scuba, SUP & surfing (surf the water AND the SAND!).

How to get there? Take a water taxi or ferry from Cleveland to North Stradbroke. If you don’t have a car, you can catch the train to Cleveland Station and make the most of Stradbroke Flyer’s free shuttle service.
To plan your journey, visit: jp.translink.com.au

Another great Island to visit from Brisbane is Tangalooma, Morton Island:
Another paradise with many activities & wildlife to explore. Visit the Tangalooma shipwrecks, go snorkelling, quad biking, kayaking, dolphin feeding – and so much more!

How to get there? The passenger launch departs Pinkenba port twice daily. We suggest booking your travel in advance so you don’t miss out.

For more activities & sights around Brisbane, you may wish to read more content from our friends at Brisbane.com and Momondo.

Happy travels,
Tash :)