Brisbane is Australia’s third-biggest city and the heart of Queensland society.
The city proudly shows its historic past and gives a good look its progressive and modern future.
Ride the ferry that tours from the South Bank financial district until the end of the Brisbane River.
The 1.
5-hour tour is a great way to get around and see the entire city of Brisbane at the same time.
Pet, hug, and feed a cute koala or take pictures of the kangaroos, dingoes and wombats on the loose at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
It has enough ample space on the outskirts of Brisbane to let every visitor observe the wild animals’ habitat and be close to nature.
The Gallery of Modern Art is equally interesting, as is the weekly free game exhibition.
The museum is located near the main State Library of Queensland, and there is a corner especially dedicated to children.
Best time to visit Brisbane ?
Because of Brisbane’s sub-tropical atmosphere, the climate typically swings between gently warm to downright hot throughout the year.
The best time to take a tour is from May to October because most events and festivities are held around this time and will help to make your holiday worthwhile.
The autumn, winter, and spring months are an average time to visit Brisbane.
Winters, which are from June to August, are agreeably warm because of the atmosphere of the region.
One important thing that must be remembered when venturing out in Brisbane is that the sun is constantly high in the sky so there is a high risk of getting sunburned even during the winter month.
Come equipped with sun-protecting items (sun block, wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, etc.
).
If you want to witness the Jacaranda trees in full glory or want to make the best possible tour, September and October are the months you may want to mark on your travel journal.
December to February is the summer season, which means extreme heat, overcast skies and even damp or rainy weather.
The circumstances can inconvenience you and even make you feel uncomfortable, as there is very nearly no wind in the region.
November- March is the off-season and must be avoided no matter what; it is the most sizzling time of the year.
Best things to do in Brisbane
These are my favorite things to do and fun places to visit on your next holiday to Brisbane.
South Bank Parklands
Popular among residents and guests, the South Bank Parklands is located near the Maritime Museum and offers different pools, green lawns, a tunnel of flowering plants, the softest golden sand, an Asian side — plus it’s an ideal place for walking and recreation.
It is also a great place for a family holiday.
You can just walk around with the kids, ride the big 60-foot Ferris wheel to see the whole city, listen to the audio guide, or take a dip in the outdoor-swimming-pool-stylized coastline.
In the park, you can
explore the Art Gallery, Museum of Queensland
, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, State Library, Gallery of Modern Art, and the open-air amphitheater.
It is situated on the banks of the Brisbane River and is connected to the
city center’s famous Victoria Bridge
.
Go there because it’s full of cute cafes and all are different — but great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and after dinner.
The South Bank is worth going to because it is really relaxing and invigorating to walk, run, and take pictures of its beautiful surroundings.
My favorite stuff to do in Brisbane
Gallery of Modern Art
GOMA or the Gallery of Modern Art is very nice, large, modern building with plenty of natural light.
It is easy to reach by bus, on foot or by boat, and offers an optimal number of exhibits (spread over 2 floors).
The general admission is free and the museum shop has lots of original articles and art pieces.
Like almost everything in this city, the art gallery has clean restrooms, programming for kids, amazing exhibits, and attentive and polite employees.
It educates every visitor about contemporary art.
The LEGO giant activity area is interesting not only for kids but also great for adults.
Taking pictures without flash is allowed and relative silence must be observed in this well maintained and excellent museum about modern art.
Fun things to do in Brisbane
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
One of the top things to do when in Brisbane is to familiarize oneself with its local fauna.
Experience the most amazing reserve adventure when visiting the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
You will not only see Koalas, but also kangaroos and other well-known inhabitants of the Green continent.
None of them is behind bars in a cage as in zoos, but they are immediately all around you, so you can easily feed the kangaroos with special food.
For an additional fee you can take a photo with a koala.
Also visit the show-herding dogs.
To reach this sanctuary, you can take the train or bus that stops just outside the station bearing the same name.
The place contains almost all the fauna of
Australia so go ahead and spend some special time and be photographed with these cuddly and warm animals
.
It is the only province in Australia where the law permits taking a koala in your hands.
Take a picture with the cute dormouse, feed the kangaroos or take a look at other unique animals and birds.
Get a lot of positive emotions and a rare chance of bonding with the animals from down under inside this well maintained natural reserve.
How can I spend a day in Brisbane?
If you have only 1 day to spend, I would recommend you to visit the following places:
The Brisbane River
The Brisbane River lies in the heart of the city and is a wonderful promenade, where there is a park with quaint arches covered with greenery, elegant pavilions, ponds with water lilies and ducks.
A spacious pool with a sandy beach, entertaining playgrounds, cozy benches with views of the center of Brisbane, a monument to the wise Confucius and even a row of tomato plants.
Take a nice tour on the river — you can choose a ride on two types of boats, the blue ones (for a fee), and the red ones (for free).
The first functions like a real water taxi, the latter also, but being free will obviously save you some money!
However, either tour can help you admire the beauty of Brisbane directly from the river.
You need to try this adventure at least once and remember that it will give your photos a different perspective.
From the boat you can see a fantastic view, the skyline of tall buildings, the numerous parks, all the way to the side of the South Bank Parklands.
This is a very large river that runs through the
city and finishes in the ocean
located near the airport.
Roma Street Parkland
Nestled in the heart of the city, there is a small park that is clean and tidy; everything is in bloom with tropical palm trees, lots of fountains and water in which to relax.
There are many areas of the Roma Street Parkland with lawn and beautiful flowers everywhere, which can be reserved/rented for outdoor wedding receptions.
The park is located almost in the center of Brisbane and you can arrive by car (although there is no parking), bus, on foot or by taking its bike trail.
The park has a lake and around it are different plant species; there is an area of rainforest with a constant spray of tiny water particles.
Children can see how to grow vegetables and plants (strawberries, fennel, etc.
).
The lake fish are pretty big and you can be photographed with a catch — and then release the fish to swim again in the water.
You can lie down on the manicured lawns or spend an afternoon playing ball with the kids.
Popular Brisbane tourist attractions
Queensland Art Gallery
Art Gallery in Brisbane occupies a huge area that is located near the center on the bank of the river.
It can be viewed from several different angles.
It is within the grounds of the University of Gruffudd, and the gallery gives both tourists and students access to a huge range of art from painting to architecture.
It has a vast exhibition hall that highlights world-class art works and frequently features a modern artist and his or her work on weekends, along with a theme or concept exhibition show.
The QAG can be spotted very easily in the heart of the city and is only a short walk around the extension from the Queen Street Mall.
Additionally, you can see the Brisbane Museum, Science Museum and Gallery of Modern Art in the same vicinity (and Brisbane Southbank Parklands).
Likewise, it is just a short stroll to the West End where there are truly extraordinary restaurants and bistros.
What else to do in Brisbane ?
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.
Coot-tha
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt.
Coot-tha serves as the gateway to visit other attractions in the city.
It has plenty of space to practice physical exercises, hold weddings or picnics, or just spend some time reading on its well-tended lawns.
From the Botanical Gardens, you can have a good view of the river and another tourist spot, the Kangaroo Point.
It is a complete botanical garden with species from around the world.
When exploring the park, it is important to note that there is a predetermined direction for following the paths and seeing the whole park without going back and forth all the time.
To access this garden, you can catch a bus in central Brisbane and arrive here quickly.
The view from the top of Mt.
Coot-tha is the best spot for viewing Brisbane because you can see the whole city.
The restaurant at the Look Out Point is very good.
The planetarium and Greenhouse are also very interesting and ideal for families and children.
Is Brisbane worth visiting?
The answer is Yes.
Brisbane is worth visiting.
This is because it is such a magical place
full of beauty and adventures.
Make sure you visit the following stunning place:
Brisbane Powerhouse
It is truly interesting to visit this former power plant, the Brisbane Powerhouse .
You can see some cool exhibits or choose to have a coffee or a beer with a great view of the river during sunset.
Right from the entrance to the building you can see art on the walls.
Huge exhibits and various shows can be seen and admired in every corner.
There is a bar and restaurant which are extensively used.
All kinds of people come here and enjoy the place for its special atmosphere and for photography subjects.
Admission is free and everything is well worth a visit.
What else to see in Brisbane ?
Queensland Museum
The Queensland Museum is an interesting museum of local history where you can have the
opportunity to discover the best of Australia
starting from its flora, fauna, and the colorful birds that you will not see anywhere else in the world.
This museum can be reached from a train stop called “South Bank” and from there; you can take a 2-3 min walk from George St.
Once you see a place called “Brisbane Square”, go towards the Victoria Bridge where you can take a 20-minute walk from Brisbane or ride the bus leading to the museum.
In this museum, there is a reproduction model of the Coral Sea, the city’s true gem.
Then you have some of the city’s old radio stations, a unit of light brought from Paris etc.
On the 3rd floor you have the aboriginal culture history, painting, etc.
All these features are free for the public to admire.
This is more interactive and you can touch and test to satisfy your curiosity; especially the children will surely enjoy it there.
Popular places to visit in Brisbane
Story Bridge
The Story Bridge is easily reached on foot from the main shopping street or from many of the South Bank hotels.
If you come from the South Bank side there is a pedestrian bridge and there are both bike paths and viewing decks along the river.
It’s a nice walk to the Story Bridge if you pass along the mangroves as you approach from the city center.
Shortly before this comes a small river port with boats which provides a nice picture in front of the bridge.
The Story Bridge in Brisbane is arguably
one of the most famous bridges in Australia
.
It offers a perfect view of the city skyline.
You can also walk across the bridge.
In the evening, it looks more stunning and impressive, as it will be illuminated.
Every New Year’s eve, it gets really crowded with spectators and local residents, as the bridge is the primary site for the fireworks show.