Brisbane’s reputation is not great. When I was moving to Brisbane for a month, many people responded with “why would you do that?” However, I absolutely fell in love with this city and cannot recommend it enough. Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and is ranked the safest city in Australia. Brisbane is at the center of many coastal cities, making it a great jumping off point for many different adventures.
Stroll through SouthBank!
SouthBank is without a doubt my favorite part of Brisbane. There is tons to see and do and depending on the time of year, many events sponsored by the Lord Mayor take place in this area.
Most people do not like Brisbane because it is far away from the coast and there are no beaches. To make up for this, SouthBank has Streets Beach, a large man made pool with sand on the side. Also known as the lagoon, this area is extremely popular on a hot day.
SouthBank is equally enjoyable for both locals and tourists. Some more touristy things to see include the Brisbane Sign and the Wheel of Brisbane. Pay 15 AUD to ride SouthBank’s ferris wheel and get a beautiful view of the city. Locals tend to stay closer to the ground and enjoy Picnic Island or the BBQ Picnic Area for a classic Australian Barbie. Grills are located at both of these spots for anyone to use.
Every night of the weekend head to SouthBank a little after 4pm to catch the evening Collective Markets. Stands set up all along Little Stanley Street sell a variety of artisan goods that are always fun to admire. This street, as well as Grey Street, are home to eatSouthBank where there are an endless amount of restaurants to enjoy. A favorite of mine was Cowch, an ice cream and sweets eatery with adorable cow themed decor.
Finally, enjoy the museums and galleries of SouthBank. The Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery are both at the northwest end of SouthBank and always have fun exhibits to wander through.
Another neighborhood to explore right across the bridge from SouthBank is the Queen Street Mall. Filled with shops, restaurants, and street performances, it is an area you cannot miss.
Relax and Enjoy Nature!
Although a major city of Australia, Brisbane has plenty of natural escapes from the urban jungle. Its gardens and parks never fail to show off the beautiful, unique fauna of the country.
Right in the city is the Roma Street Parkland. This lovely stroll is easy to get lost in and absolutely beautiful. Another central garden is the Royal Botanic Garden. Although I didn’t find it insanely special, the Riverside Sunday Market takes place right at the entrance of the garden, making Sunday mornings the perfect time to explore the area.
Kangaroo Point Park is another option to explore. It is right beside cliffs that are often scaled by rock climbers and it provides a perfect angle for sunset over the river.
Further out of the city (about 40 minutes by public transport) is Mount Coot-tha. A must see is the Mount Coot-tha Outlook where you can see the entire city of Brisbane. It also is home to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. I am not exaggerating when I say these Botanic Gardens were the best I have ever been to. They were massive with so many new and different plants I had never seen before.
Take a Day Trip!
Feeling like getting away from the heart of Brisbane? Brisbane is an epicenter for day excursions. With Sunshine Coast to the North, Gold Coast to the South, and Moreton Island to the East, you can never run out of day or weekend trips to take!
About 3 hours south of Brisbane by train is Gold Coast. Gold Coast has great surfing and crazy night life. With 8+ suburbs along its coast, there’s tons of day trips for you to choose from.
Eat Street North Shore opens every evening Friday-Sunday and is filled with amazing options for dinner, drinks, and dessert.
About 2.5 hours north of Brisbane by public transport is Sunshine Coast. Sunshine Coast is similar to Gold Coast, only it is home to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. If you’re going to visit any zoo in Aus, this is the one.
The best day trip you can possibly take from Brisbane is out to Moreton Island. Moreton Island is the third largest sand island in Australia, preceded only by Fraser and North Stradbroke Islands. Below are some highlights of the trip:
- Snorkeling the Tangalooma Wrecks
- Sand Tobogganing down giant sand dunes
- Relaxing on Tangalooma Beach
- Feeding dolphins at sunset
- Swim in Blue Lagoon
Party in the Valley!
Brisbane tends to be pretty chill on weeknights, but weekends definitely go off. Fortitude Valley is the club hub of the city and it has something for everyone.
- The MET – When you go out in Brisbane everyone will say you HAVE to go to the MET. With 5 floors of different DJs and genres, it is worth a pricier entry fee.
- Ric’s – Ric’s is perfect for chill drinks on a weeknight or partying on the weekend. It also has a karaoke room!
- Hey Chicas – Latin music lovers, this is the place for you. Honestly, Hey Chicas’ crowd is pretty hit or miss, so don’t plan on going, but if you walk past and it’s full, definitely stop in!
- Birdees – With a younger, Australian crowd, Birdees is great on the weekends. If it isn’t very busy there’s also games and a pool table to get into.
- Mr. Percival’s – Slightly outside of the valley, Mr. Percival’s is down on the wharf. It’s more chill than the clubs in the valley and its location is gorgeous – right underneath Story Bridge.
- Dunder – Dunder is not in the valley but I had to include it. Head in on a Wednesday for wet t-shirt contests or Tuesday for drag drinking bingo. Ask for a welcome drink between 7-9 for a free vodka redbull and compete in random contests for free drink vouchers!
How to Get to Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and the third largest city of Australia. You can easily hop on a Greyhound or Premier bus from anywhere along the east coast or fly in through its International Airport! The airport is a bit out of the city, but they have a skytrain for easy transport between Brisbane Central and the Airport Terminals.
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Brisbane
As a major city of Australia, Brisbane is full of various cafes and restaurants to explore. SouthBank and Northshore especially have some amazing spots to eat as homes to the two Eat Streets in Brisbane. This is definitely a city for foodies!
- The Spaghetti House Trattoria
- Camino Cantina
- Popolo
- The Pancake Manor
- The Alliance Hotel
- Pilgrim Brisbane
- Felon’s Brewing
- Flow Espresso
How Many Days in Brisbane?
Brisbane is not popular for tourists and many people get bored with the city when they don’t know what to do or where to go. You can make the most of 3-4 days in Brisbane easily, especially adding in day trips and nights out! I enjoyed living and working in the city, but if you’re just passing through, you don’t need much time in Brisbane.
OR Check out my full Australian East Coast Itinerary HERE!
Brisbane has a bad rep but you can definitely make the most of it. I absolutely adore this city and enjoyed every minute of the 1.5 months I spent working there. Don’t let the haters stop you from visiting!
Sylvia's Gap Year 