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Treasury Brisbane, Brisbane

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Brisbane

Updated 7 October 2026 · 14 things to do

Pictured: Treasury Brisbane

Brisbane is the Australian city that lives outdoors. The sun shines most of the year, a wide brown river loops through the middle, and locals spend their free time beside it: on ferries, on cliff-top barbecue decks, in a man-made beach in the middle of town. It is friendlier and more relaxed than Sydney or Melbourne, and proud of it.

Most of what you'll want to see sits along the river, linked by footbridges and fast catamarans. Give the city two or three days, then use it as a springboard for sand islands, surf beaches and rainforest.

Don't miss

  1. 1South Bank
  2. 2Story Bridge
  3. 3Mount Coot-tha
  4. 4Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  5. 5Moreton Island

Along the river

The Brisbane River is the main street. Start here.

  1. South Bank

    Neighbourhood

    Streets Beach lagoon in South Bank Parklands
    Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Across the river from the business district, South Bank is a long ribbon of parkland, restaurants and culture. Its star turn is Streets Beach, a lagoon with real sand and palm trees where you can swim with the city skyline as a backdrop.

    A bougainvillea-covered arbour winds the length of the park, past a big observation wheel, picnic lawns and weekend markets. Families could happily spend a whole day here without spending much at all.

  2. Story Bridge

    Landmark

    The steel Story Bridge over the Brisbane River, lit up
    Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Brisbane's steel cantilever bridge, opened in 1940, is the city's emblem, at its most handsome when lit up at night. You can walk across it for nothing, or join a guided climb to the top for a view that runs from the bay islands to the mountains inland.

    Beneath its northern end, Howard Smith Wharves has turned old cargo sheds into a strip of bars, restaurants and a brewery, set right under the ironwork.

  3. Kangaroo Point Cliffs

    Nature

    Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the park beside the Brisbane River
    Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Directly opposite the city centre, a wall of volcanic rock drops to the river. Climbers and abseilers work the cliff face while everyone else enjoys the park along the top, with its barbecues, cafés and one of the best skyline views in Brisbane.

    Come at dusk, when the towers light up and the cliffs themselves are floodlit. It is a short walk or ferry hop from South Bank.

  4. CityCat ferries

    Activity

    A CityCat ferry on the Brisbane River
    Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The quickest way to understand Brisbane is from the water. Sleek CityCat catamarans run the length of the river through the city, calling at South Bank, the centre, New Farm and beyond, and locals use them as buses.

    Sit outside at the front, ride for a few stops and you have a river cruise for the price of a public transport fare. Smaller cross-river ferries fill in the gaps.

Culture and views

  1. QAGOMA

    Museum

    The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art at dusk
    Photo: Chris Olszewski, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art sit side by side on the river at South Bank, known together as QAGOMA. The modern gallery, light-filled and vast, is especially strong on contemporary art from Australia, Asia and the Pacific.

    The Queensland Museum and the State Library are in the same cultural precinct, so this is the place to head when the heat or a summer storm drives you indoors.

  2. Mount Coot-tha

    Nature

    The lookout on Mount Coot-tha
    Photo: Kgbo, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A short drive west of the centre, this forested hill has the classic lookout over Brisbane: the river snaking through the towers, Moreton Bay glinting beyond. There is a café and restaurant at the top, and bushwalking trails lead off through the eucalyptus.

    At its foot are the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, with a tropical dome and a Japanese garden. Sunrise and sunset are the best times at the summit.

  3. City Botanic Gardens

    Nature

    The formal garden and rotunda in the City Botanic Gardens
    Photo: John Robert McPherson, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Tucked into a bend of the river at the edge of the business district, these are Brisbane's original gardens. Huge fig trees, bamboo groves, lawns and mangrove boardwalks make them a welcome patch of shade at lunchtime.

    A riverside path links them to the footbridge across to South Bank, which makes for an easy loop walk.

Eat, drink and go out

  1. Fortitude Valley

    Nightlife

    The Valley, as everyone calls it, is where Brisbane goes out. By night its pedestrian mall and side streets are packed with live-music venues, clubs and rooftop bars; this is the heart of the city's music scene.

    By day it is calmer and more polished, particularly along James Street, a leafy strip of boutiques, cafés and good restaurants. Chinatown is here too.

  2. Eat Street Northshore

    Market

    On an old wharf downriver at Hamilton, shipping containers have been turned into a sprawling night market of food stalls, bars and stages. You graze your way around the world, from dumplings to doughnuts, under strings of lights with bands playing.

    It is loud, cheerful and popular with families and groups. The CityCat stops close by, which is the nicest way to arrive.

  3. West End

    Neighbourhood

    Boundary Street in West End
    Photo: -wuppertaler, CC BY 4.0

    Just beyond South Bank, West End is the city's alternative quarter: multicultural, slightly scruffy and full of character. Boundary Street has cafés, bookshops, bars and restaurants serving everything from Greek to Vietnamese.

    It is a good bet for breakfast or a relaxed dinner away from the glossier riverside strips, and on Saturdays a big farmers' market sets up by the river.

Wildlife and day trips

  1. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

    Wildlife

    Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket
    Photo: Fry72, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Founded in 1927 in the suburb of Fig Tree Pocket, Lone Pine is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary. As well as its many koalas, it is home to kangaroos, wombats, platypus and other native animals in leafy riverside grounds.

    It is the easiest place near the city to see Australian wildlife up close, and a favourite with families.

  2. Moreton Island

    Day trip

    The Tangalooma wrecks off Moreton Island seen from the air
    Photo: Ishara Udawela, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A ferry ride across Moreton Bay brings you to one of the largest sand islands in the world, almost all of it national park. There are towering dunes to toboggan down, clear freshwater lagoons and long, empty beaches.

    At Tangalooma, a line of deliberately sunk ships has become an artificial reef, now a much-loved snorkelling site alive with fish. It is the best day out from Brisbane for anyone who likes the water.

  3. North Stradbroke Island

    Day trip

    Main Beach seen from Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island
    Photo: S. Newrick, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Straddie, as locals know it, is another big sand island in Moreton Bay, reached by ferry from Cleveland. Point Lookout has surf beaches and a gorge walk along the headland where you can often see dolphins, turtles and, in winter and spring, migrating humpback whales.

    It is low-key and unspoilt, with a handful of small settlements. Come for beach walks and fish and chips rather than attractions.

  4. The Gold Coast

    Day trip

    The skyline of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast
    Photo: Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0

    An hour or so south by road or rail, the Gold Coast is Australia's biggest beach resort: a long run of surf beaches backed by high-rise towers, with Surfers Paradise at its centre and a cluster of large theme parks inland.

    It is everything Brisbane isn't, which is the appeal. Families come for the parks; surfers head for the breaks around Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta.

Where to stay in Brisbane

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Brisbane →

Getting around

The centre, South Bank and Fortitude Valley are close together and linked by riverside paths and footbridges. Ferries, buses and trains fill the gaps, and trains run to the airport and the Gold Coast. You only need a car for trips into the hinterland.

When to go

Brisbane is warm all year. Winter, from June to August, is dry, sunny and mild, and many people's favourite time to visit. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms.

Questions about visiting Brisbane

What is Brisbane best known for?
Sunshine, the Brisbane River, South Bank and its city beach, the Story Bridge, and easy access to koalas, sand islands and the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
How many days do you need in Brisbane?
Two or three days covers the city. Add a day each for Moreton Island or North Stradbroke Island and for the Gold Coast.
What is there to do in Brisbane with kids?
Swimming at Streets Beach on South Bank, a CityCat ride, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the Queensland Museum and a day on Moreton Island are all good family choices.
Is Brisbane worth visiting?
Yes. It is a relaxed, sunny river city with good food and galleries, and it makes an excellent base for the islands of Moreton Bay and the beaches to the north and south.

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