The Capital City of Queensland, and Centerpiece of South East Queensland, Brisbane is a place that is still constantly under rated by both domestic and International tourists. This is unfortunate, as the “river city” is an amazing place to visit. There are so many things to see and do, that just spending a few days there is not enough. In this Complete Guide to Brisbane, I will show you why.
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Brisbane is a place that I have called home several times in my life. I grew up there, spending all of my school years exploring and discovering its many nooks and crannies with my friends. After moving away for a long time, I recently moved back, and was amazed at how much it had changed. Brisbane was no longer the poor cousin of the other State Capitals, and was shining brighter than I had ever seen her before.
From the river bank at Southbank, to the wonderful hiking around Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane is now a city on the move. It is no wonder that it now commands the title of fastest growing city in Australia.
Table of Contents
- About Brisbane
- How to get to Brisbane
- Things to do in Brisbane
- Best Brisbane Day Trips
- Where to stay
- How to get around
- Helpful Links
- Summary
About Brisbane
Brisbane, as already mentioned, is the Capital City of Queensland, and the third largest city in Australia. It is at the very heart of South East Queensland, located nicely right in between the holidays strips of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. This makes it a favorite destination for many, and the gateway for those arriving from all over the country for a sun-filled vacation.
Brisbane residents enjoy the fact that they live in a sub tropical climate. This is unique in a country as large and diverse as Australia. Hence the reason that many from all over Australia are choosing Brisbane as the place to relocate to. This has been happening for many years now, but has certainly ramped up since the pandemic. For me, having lived in Brisbane for many years over two different periods, the fortunes of the city changed in 1988 when it hosted World Expo. The South Bank Precinct, where the Expo was held, was afterward converted into the parkland and entertainment district that exists now, and the city never looked back!
Since then, the River City has blossomed. The river banks along the edge of the city came alive, and was soon populated with classy and chic bars, cafes and restaurants. Many of the seedy neighborhoods slowly died, and up sprung boutique stores and hip coffee shops. Brisbane had changed, and 30 odd years later, it is still improving.
How to get to Brisbane
Brisbane is easy to find. It’s pretty big after all! But this wouldn’t be a Complete Guide to Brisbane unless I told you.
Brisbane is located in South East Queensland, where the vast majority of Queensland residents live. It is 15 Kilometers from the river mouth at Moreton Bay. So even though it technically isn’t ON the coastline, it would still classify as a coastal city.
The easiest way to reach Brisbane from anywhere in Australia, and certainly Internationally, is by plane. The city has an amazing airport, and I actually would rate the International Airport in particular as my favorite in Australia. Flights are relatively cheap domestically to get to Brisbane, with all the major and minor airlines traveling the route regularly.
For flights prices, check out THIS LINK.
One of the other popular ways for Australians to reach Brisbane is by road. Driving your own car means that you have ease of getting around whilst in the City, and more chance to explore the holidays coasts to the North and South. With the M1 Motorway running all the way from the NSW border to the Brisbane CBD, it’s quick and easy.
Of course, I would also have to mention here that you can also take the interstate buses that run regularly as well. This is not as common as it was many years ago, but being a Complete Guide to Brisbane, I would be remiss to leave them out. Traveling by Bus is a very economical option if you have the extra time.
There is also trains, and the XPT trains run from Brisbane, all the way to Sydney and Melbourne via Coffs Harbour. In fact, on the great train networks in Australia, you can go all the way to Perth if you like!
For more information on buses and trains that run from Sydney to Brisbane, check out the below link for Bookaway, the site that I always use for booking bus and train travel.
Things to do in Brisbane
Next up on my Complete Guide to Brisbane is things to do.
Brisbane is an amazing city, and you will not run out of activities to keep you occupied. Many of these activities didn’t even exist when I was a kid growing up, but Brisbane is so diverse that even then we had no problems keeping ourselves entertained!
Needless to say, on my second coming to Brisbane, I tried all of these activities and more. Some, I still miss to this day. I loved Brisbane, and will always call it my home!
So let’s take a look at the Complete Guide to Brisbane things to do!
See the City from Mount Coot-tha
First up on my Complete Guide to Brisbane is one of my favorite activities.
But first, let’s get one thing said. Mount Coot-tha is NOT a mountain. Certainly not if you have seen real mountains. In a flat river city like Brisbane though, it is affectionately a Mountain. It IS the highest peak in the Taylor Ranges nearby to Brisbane, so we can afford it the title!
Basically, Mount Coot-tha is used for telecommunications. Standing above the city, the TV Towers blink away day and night, and have done so for all of MY living memory. But there is more to Mount Coot-tha than just that.
When I lived in Brisbane, I would climb it every day. There are over 90 hiking trails, and I covered them all multiple times. It is a great day out for hikers, trail runners, and cyclists from all over Brisbane.
On top of Mount Coot-tha, there is a wonderful lookout and café. The views of the city are amazing, and well worth the short drive up to check them out. You can also get there via public bus. On the way, you can also stop by at the Botanic Gardens and Planetarium at the foot of the mountain.
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Park at JC Slaughter falls and do the Summit Track hike to the top, enjoy coffee at the lookout, and hike back down again.
To read more about Mount Coot-tha, check out the Guide in the link below.
Climb the Story Bridge
The Story Bridge is an institution in Brisbane, and if it isn’t, then it should be!
But did you know that you can climb the Story Bridge? There are only 4 bridges in the world that you can actually climb, and 3 of them are in Australia. The Story Bridge is one of them!
The views of the river and the city are extraordinary from the top of the Story Bridge. It doesn’t cost much, and there are even specials at certain times of the year with prices as low as $99 AUD! Normal prices are usually between $130 to $200 AUD depending upon the package that you choose.
Check out the Story Bridge Climb at THIS LINK.
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Try the twilight climb, and enjoy the amazing lights of the city!
Enjoy a Stroll along South Bank
The South Bank Precinct has become synonymous with Brisbane over the past 30 years or so. It actually became so popular, that it became a blueprint for cities from all over Australia and abroad to replicate. Many riverfront and seaside districts have come alive as a result.
South Bank sprang to life after the World Expo of 1988. It was the site of the Expo, and afterward the city had to find a use for the prime riverfront real estate. To their credit, they decided to create a whole new Precinct that had immediate success.
Today, South Bank includes a wonderful riverside walkway and cycle path, gardens, parks and a huge “beach” swimming pool. There are playgrounds for the kids, cafes, food carts and even a Ferris Wheel. Alongside the parklands, the main street is lined with boutique eateries and cafes. World class hotels, pubs and breweries, and chain restaurants reside for as far as you can see toward the nearby Theatre, Performing Arts Center, and Queensland Museum. To say that South Bank is the center of entertainment in Brisbane would not be far off the mark!
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Come during the holidays around Christmas and Australia Day for Special Events and shows!
Eat your way through the city
If there is one thing that can be said for living in the city, it’s that you will put on some kilo’s! Because the restaurants, eateries and cafes are crazy!
Add to that the amount of boutique pubs and hotels that can be found everywhere, and you will be spoilt for choice for where to go and where to eat every night. I used to work right in the city, and one of the hardest conversations every week was picking the Friday night end of week drinks location. There are just too many, and it’s so hard to narrow them down.
My suggestion is to take a stroll along the riverfront of the CBD and just enjoy it. You will come across restaurants with live music, German Beerhalls, and Boutique Breweries. Stop in wherever you get the urge, and you simply can’t go wrong. Venture a little further afield into the city itself, and you will find more traditional pubs and clubs, if that is more to your style.
Also, don’t miss the opportunity on the weekend to catch the river cat around to Hamilton’s famous Eat Street. This place has LOADS of places to eat! It is an entire precinct of old shipping containers converted into food caravans. One warning though. You will not be able to choose where to eat. There are so many options!
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Walk down to the Story Bridge. Underneath you will find the Felons Brewing. The place to be on a sunny Sunday afternoon!
Take a River Cruise
Brisbane is a River City, and therefore it only stands to reason that there are many ways to enjoy the river itself. In fact, most of the activities around the CBD incorporate the river in one way or another.
You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a cruise on the Brisbane River. There are any number of places you can book, and times of day that you can get out and enjoy the river. The most popular time, of course, is at night. Dinner cruises are all the rage!
Kookaburra Cruises is the one that you will see while you are out and about in Brisbane. It is the large white paddle steamer that stands out from a mile away. You can easily book this, and is very, very popular for parties and events. Especially work Christmas parties!
If you want to head up river to Lone Pine, consider going by boat. Mirimar Cruises offer daily transfers to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, so why not enjoy a trip on the river as well? River City Cruises is a smaller cruise boat, but offers a more homely and personal touch to the experience.
Beyond the actual cruises, think about taking the ferry or river cats when you are moving around the city. Especially going from the CBD to South Bank, or vise versa. It’s a great way to see the city, and avoid the traffic at the same time!
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Take the free ferry (city hopper) when you are moving around the city. If you are willing to wait for it, there is no cheaper way to get around.
Meet some locals at Lone Pine
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is located in the suburb of Fig Tree Pocket, South West of the CBD. When I grew up in Brisbane, this was pretty much in the middle of the bush, but these days it’s suburbia. Despite that, Lone Pine is still there, and still provides a home for the many Koalas and other native wildlife that it always has.
The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and still the biggest Koala Sanctuary in the world. It is famous internationally as the place to go if you want the chance to cuddle a Koala, and get your photo taken. People come from all over Australia just for this opportunity.
Other than Koala’s, Lone Pine is home to nearly any native Australian Wildlife that you could think of. Kangaroos, Possums, Echidnas, and even the elusive Platypus can be found there.
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Grab a cruise from the CBD for a fun and easy way to get to Lone Pine!
Take in the nightlife at Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley is a place that I called home briefly a couple of years ago. It was once the seedy, divey red light district of the city, but how it has changed these days!
The nightclubs and pubs are still there. Even the strip joints are still there. But so are the boutique hotels and eateries. Take a stroll down Brunswick Street, or especially James Street toward New Farm and you will find an entirely different atmosphere. If you like being where it’s all happening, then Fortitude Valley is the place for you. A little known fact about Fortitude Valley is that it was Australia’s very first dedicated Entertainment District!
“The Valley” is also home to Chinatown. Now, I know that every city in the world has a Chinatown, and every one of them is amazing, featuring restaurants and stores unique to the Chinese style. The Brisbane edition is no different, and the Fried Rice from a restaurant I frequented there is still one of the best I have ever had! Unfortunately, I couldn’t possibly remember the name of the place, but can always seem to find it by memory whenever I find myself in the city.
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Take a stroll from New Farm, up James Street and enjoy the boutique shops and hotels. Time it right on a weekend, and you can arrive in “The Valley” in time for a great meal followed by the signature nightlife.
Go Hiking!
Something that many would not really think about when visiting a city such as Brisbane, is that you might be able to do some good hiking. For several years living in Brisbane recently, it was my favorite past time, and something that I did several times a week.
Start out at Mount Coot-tha. There are over 90 hiking trails on the mountain alone. I spent months exploring them all. Then, move further out on the Taylor Range for even more hiking trails.
Just to the West of the CBD are Mount Nebo and Mount Glorious. Both are covered by amazing Bush and Rainforest, and provide all sorts of incredible trails for all levels of hikers. The last time I was there, I joined a group that took me down an amazingly beautiful river gorge!
To the North, just behind the Sunshine Coast, are the famous Glass House Mountains. Each of them offers hiking and climbing at different levels, with incredible views from the tops.
To the South, head to Mount Tamborine, and the areas around Binna Burra and O’Reilly’s. There are dozens of trails at all these locations that feature wonderful views, and hikes past towering waterfalls. The entire Scenic Rim, in fact, is interlaced with so many hiking trails that one person could not possibly cover them all!
Complete Guide to Brisbane tip: Grab the “meet up” app for your phone and search for hiking groups. I did some incredible hikes in and around Brisbane with this app, joining local groups that took me places I would never have known existed!
Best Brisbane Day Trips
Brisbane is a place that spoils you for choice. Getting out and away from the city is easy, and there are so many world class places to go. With the Sunshine Coast to the North, Gold Coast to the South, Scenic Moreton Bay with her incredible sand islands to the East, and the amazing scenery of the Scenic Rim also on the doorstep, it is no wonder why it is so popular!
Let’s take a look at some of the very best Daytrips that you can do from Brisbane. For each, I have included a link to my recommended tour with GetYourGuide for easy reference.
- North Stradbroke Island Daytrip with Sunset – Discover incredible North Stradbroke Island on this trip. See the beautiful fresh water lakes, the beaches, surf and wildlife. Then, on the cruise back, enjoy the sunset from the boat. Click HERE to check it out.
- Tamborine Wine and Distillery Tour – Do you love wine? Then why not take a tour to the beautiful Mount Tamborine in the Gold Coast Hinterland, and visit 3 local wineries and the Distillery? Click HERE to check it out.
- Rainforests and Glow Worm Cave Tour – Take a trip to the beautiful rainforests behind the Gold Coast and see the incredible Natural Bridge, one of my favorite places in the Hinterland. Check it out HERE.
- Sunshine Coast Hinterland and Noosa Small Group Tour – The Hinterland of the Sunshine Coast is absolutely beautiful and the views amazing. On this tour you get to visit Maleny, the heart of the Hinterland, catch incredible views of the Glass House Mountains, and stop by the most famous beach on the Sunshine Coast. Click HERE to check it out.
- Tangalooma day trip with whale watching – Take a cruise to Moreton Island and the Famous Tangalooma Resort. See Whales breaching, and check out the incredibly beautiful wrecks along Tangalooma Beach. Click HERE for more details.
There are many, many ways to spend a day if you want to get away from Brisbane. If you have your own transport, then the sky is the limit. If not, why not hop a train to the Gold Coast? You can get easy access to the Theme Parks, and catch the light rail all the way into the famous Gold Coast Beaches!
Complete Guide to Brisbane Tip: Head up to Tangalooma. The beach is incredible. If you can afford to stay at the resort overnight, they allow the guests to hand feed the wild dolphins at sunset.
Where to stay
Brisbane has many places and options to stay. Most are pretty central, and all are close to public transport. If you are a visitor to Brisbane, then there are multiple options available to you. Let’s take a look at a few that I would recommend.
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
South Bank
As covered already, the South Bank Precinct is the very heart of Brisbane Entertainment and Culture. Stay in this area if you enjoy strolling through parklands, along river banks, and eating at great eateries and restaurants. You will also be close by to the Museums and Cultural Center, with the CBD only a short stroll across the bridge, or cruise across the river.
My choice is the Rydges South Bank. It is in the very heart of the Precinct, with everything that South Bank has to offer right at your doorstep. The Breakfast and General Service are also well above Par!
Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley is the place to stay if you love nightlife, or want to be on the lively side of town. There is also the wonderful Boutique Shopping down James Street, and beautiful New Farm just down the road. You are also in easy reach of the city, only one train stop away.
My Choice is Ovolo The Valley. It is a little away from all the noise, luxurious, and hopefully will not break the bank. Most guests have very positive experiences, and rave about the great service and hospitality.
Spring Hill
Spring Hill is just out of the main CBD, and is a more residential area. Think, nice leafy streets and quiet neighborhood, still within easy stroll of the main CBD area. That’s Spring Hill. I know many people that have moved to Brisbane to work in the City, and chose Spring Hill as a place to live, or rent an apartment. It holds a great attraction in that regard.
My Choice of place to stay in Spring Hill is The Inchcolm by Ovolo. It is in a great place, and everyone gives 5 star reviews about the service and hospitality. Check it out below.
CBD
The CBD is a perfect place to stay if you want to be within walking distance of everything to see and do around Brisbane. With great restaurants and cafes nearby, the river front right at the doorstep, and South Bank right across the river, the CBD is the perfect place to base yourself.
My pick of places to stay in the CBD is definitely the Westin Brisbane. Perfect for families, but really just a great choice for anyone. The food is magnificent, facilities 5 star, and perfectly located right on the elbow of the river with the Botanic Gardens only a short stroll away.
Manly
Manly is a left field option that I wanted to bring to your attention. If you want to experience Brisbane, but don’t really find staying in the middle of everything that attractive, then Manly could be your answer. This is a beautiful, quiet suburb on the bay, with really nice cafes, local pubs and tasty restaurants. There are two yacht clubs and a beautiful coastal, bayside walk to enjoy in the mornings. Then, you can catch the train into the city each day.
My choice of place to stay is the Manly Marina Cove Motel. Nestled in beside the Manly Marina, it is nice, quiet, and comfortable. The Marina itself has a wonderful bar and restaurant, and the coastal walk down past the local coffee shops is right on your doorstep.
How to get around
Getting around in Brisbane is simple. If you have your own car then easy! The M3 and M1 Motorway will get you to the Gold Coast. The network of roads around Brisbane are easily navigated, especially with Google Maps.
If you are relying on public transport though, then your best bet is to get the Translink Go Card. This little beauty will take you everywhere!
You can get the Translink Go Card from the Airport when you arrive, or else just pick one up at convenience stores around the city. Top it up with money manually, or set it up online to top up automatically when you need it. If you do it this way, fares become even cheaper.
The Go Card will get you on all trains, buses, and ferries around the city. It will even get you as far as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts. Simply Tap on and Tap off whenever you are getting on and off public transport. Easy!
If you are more interested in other options to get around, and by that I mean manually, then Brisbane is a great place to do it. Especially if you are staying in the CBD area. Cycleways are everywhere, and you can easily hire a bicycle from right beside the road. There are also electric scooters available almost anywhere. Just download the app to get you started. Then, if all else fails, there is the good old option of walking! Brisbane is a very walking friendly city, so bring your comfy shoes and hit the pavement!
Helpful Links
Complete Guide to South East Queensland
Ultimate Guide to Mount Coot-tha
Cities of Australia – Your Complete Guide
Gold Coast Hinterland – 7 Reasons to Visit Today
Summary
If you are heading to Brisbane, then you are onto a winner! The city is one of the very best in Australia, even if it still flies under the radar a lot, and takes second, third of even fourth place to other, bigger and more popular cities further south. You will not be disappointed by Brisbane though!
I hope you found my Complete Guide to Brisbane helpful. Let me know in the comments below!
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