The Ultimate Guide to
Things To Do in Brisbane

The absolute best things to do in Brisbane include visiting South Bank Parklands (with its stunning artificial beach), climbing the Story Bridge at twilight, cuddling koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, riding the CityCat ferry along the Brisbane River, exploring Mount Coot-tha for panoramic views, and discovering the cultural precinct with GOMA and the Queensland Museum. Add a guided food walk through West End and a sunset kayak on the river for a perfect Brisbane week.

Brisbane is wonderfully generous with its free offerings. The best include South Bank Parklands and beach lagoon (free swimming), City Botanic Gardens, Roma Street Parklands, GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art, free permanent collection), Queensland Museum, walking or cycling the New Farm Riverwalk, hiking Mt Coot-tha tracks, visiting Brisbane City Hall, exploring the Fish Lane street art precinct, and browsing the South Bank and Boundary Street Farmers markets on weekends.

Most visitors find 3–4 days ideal for exploring Brisbane's main attractions at a relaxed pace. This allows one day for the city centre, South Bank and riverside, one day for a wildlife and nature experience (Lone Pine and Mt Coot-tha), one day for a day trip (Moreton Island or the Gold Coast), and a half-day for a food and culture experience. If you want to explore the Sunshine Coast, hinterland national parks, or multiple day trips, add two or three extra days.

The best time to visit Brisbane is during the cooler, drier months from April to October (autumn and winter). Temperatures are a perfect 15–26°C with low humidity and almost no rainfall — ideal for outdoor activities, hiking, and day trips. Winter (June–August) is also prime whale-watching season in Moreton Bay. Summer (December–February) is hot and humid with afternoon storms, but it's excellent for beach activities and the islands buzz with activity. Brisbane enjoys around 280 days of sunshine per year, so there is truly no bad time to visit.

Brisbane is outstanding for families and consistently ranks among Australia's most child-friendly cities. Top family attractions include Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (cuddle koalas, hand-feed kangaroos), South Bank Parklands with its safe lagoon beach and playground, the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre (brilliant hands-on science), Roma Street Parklands, numerous excellent playgrounds, CityCat ferry rides, and easy day trips to Gold Coast theme parks like Dreamworld and Sea World. Many of the best activities are completely free.

Brisbane has excellent public transport, including bus, train, and the iconic CityCat and CityFerry services along the Brisbane River. A go card gives you discounted fares across all modes. The CBD and inner suburbs are very walkable, and there's an excellent bike share network. For day trips outside Brisbane (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, national parks), car hire provides the most flexibility. Ride-share services are widely available and affordable for shorter inner-city trips.

The best day trips from Brisbane include Moreton Island (75 min ferry — dolphins, snorkelling, sandboarding), North Stradbroke Island (45 min ferry — surf beaches, lakes), Gold Coast (1 hour — beaches and theme parks), Sunshine Coast and Noosa (90 min — beaches, national park), Tamborine Mountain (1 hour — wineries, waterfalls), Springbrook National Park (90 min — glow worms, rainforest), Lamington National Park (2 hours — ancient rainforest), and Glass House Mountains (1 hour — hiking, views). Each offers something completely unique.

The most reliable koala experience is Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket, where you can cuddle koalas and it's guaranteed. For wild koalas, head to Daisy Hill Conservation Park in Brisbane's south, which has a dedicated koala centre and resident population. You can also spot wild koalas in several Brisbane parks and leafy suburbs including Karawatha Forest and occasionally in Mt Coot-tha Reserve. Early mornings are the best time to look — check the eucalyptus trees carefully as koalas are remarkably well camouflaged.