Brisbane Attractions

Brisbane is renowned for its beautiful weather, cosmopolitan culture and relaxed lifestyle. With the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches only a short drive away, winery trails of the surrounding hinterland, Moreton Bay Islands nearby and plenty of inner city attractions offering recreational activities, Brisbane is a popular holiday destination of Queensland, Australia.

With the Brisbane River flowing through its heart, many paths surrounding the river offer easy access to attractions and sights of the city. Many shopping boutiques, nightclubs, cafes and restaurants offer great ways to pass the time.

There are many guided tours of Brisbane including river tours, self-guided walking trails or guided bus tours of the city, to delve into the interesting history of Brisbane. City Cat catamarans are a great way to see the city as they zoom around the Brisbane River at regular intervals.

Climb the Story Bridge or visit the Treasury Casino on Elizabeth Street. You can get a Brisbane map and travel information at the Roma Street Transit Centre on local and interstate train departure times. The Brisbane City Hall also has a museum precinct with many art and culture displays.

The range of accommodation in Brisbane is wide and varied, from stylish hotels like Sofitel, Stamford or Conrad International Hotels, to mid-range apartments or hotels like Royal on The Park. Budget style accommodation and hostels such as Brisbane Backpacker Resort in Vulture Street are all close to the following attractions:

City Botanical Gardens

A great diversion from the bustling CBD is the tranquil City Botanical Gardens located in Alice Street. A pleasant walk from the city centre, the park has many green lawns to relax on and is full of exotic and local plant species. It makes the perfect spot for picnics or an early morning jog around the river.

Fortitude Valley, Chinatown

The Valley is a short trip downtown from the city boasting great nightlife, bars, nightclubs and restaurants. Visit Saturday markets in Brunswick Street Mall, eat at the café strip, or head to Chinatown for Asian restaurants, markets and oriental supermarkets.

Mt Coot-tha Lookout

The Mt Cooth-tha Lookout observatory is the best place to see Brisbane with views out to Moreton Bay. Located at the peak, The Summit Restaurant and the coffee shop are great places to eat. You might like to visit the Botanical Gardens and Planetarium and discover the native wildlife on many walking tracks through the bushland reserve.

Queen Street Mall

For a shopper's paradise, you have to visit Queen Street Mall in Brisbane city centre. There are more than 500 shops including David Jones, Myer Centre, and many individual arcade boutiques offering the best of fashion, art and food.

Queensland Cultural Centre

The cultural centre at South Bank is a great place to discover the Brisbane arts scene. Comprising of Art Gallery, Performing Arts Complex, Qld Museum or State Library there is something to interest everyone. Theatres have regular daily or nightly shows and concerts.

Brisbane South Bank Parklands

Visit South Bank parklands on the CityCat for a relaxing day away from the busy city centre. There are open parklands, shopping, restaurants, cafes and live entertainment everywhere, surrounded by peaceful river walkways.