Tahiti Tourisme/Gregoire Le Bacon
1. Tempt your taste buds at the Eat Street Markets
Plan to visit Brisbane over a weekend so you can visit the famous East Street Markets. This melting pot of delicious foods takes your taste buds on a tip around the world. Open from 4-10pm Friday and Saturday, you will find a huge array of culinary delights at reasonable prices. From Jamaican jerk to Peruvian curries and Japanese pizzas, visitors can make a night of their visit - savoring the tempting treats while sitting back and listening to the live music available. Grab a beer, a cocktail, or a glass of wine from one licensed outlets. of There are also several outlets on-site that sell gifts and clothing. Arrive before you are hungry, giving you the chance to check out all stalls before making any rash food decisions. Brisbane by Bicycle offers a tour each Friday night for those looking for a little for a little adventure.
2. Climb the Story Bridge
Opened in 1940, Story Bridge is a Heritage-listed bridge that spans the Brisbane River, connecting Kangaroo Point to Fortitude Valley. The iconic bridge is the longest cantilever bridge in Australia. Illuminated at night, its fund just to walk around the area, however unlike most bridges around the world, you can harness up with other climbers and enjoy gorgeous panoramic views of the river.
Join a day climb, night climb or twilight climb to suit your schedule. Our favorite is the Twilight option which captures the perfect balance as the sun sets on the horizon and the city comes to life with lights.
3. Cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
The iconic Brisbane River is the perfect backdrop to this city of lifestyle and leisure. Being on the water is one of the best ways to enjoy a Brisbane sightseeing adventure and a trip to the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is home to over 130 koalas and over 70 species of other native Australian wildlife. Get your photo taken with a Koala, hand-feed the kangaroos or wild lorikeets or watch the playful platypus. Unwind with a coffee in the ‘Koala Forest’, surrounded by some of the sanctuary’s beautiful female koalas, or catch the action in the Free Flight Raptor Show. You can also enjoy an Australian outback farm experience at the daily Sheepdog Show, performed by experienced sheepdog handlers and their loyal dogs.
4. Visit a Brewery – Queensland’s iconic XXXX
Brisbane is home to a craft beer aficionado’s dream. Take a journey through one of Brisbane’s greatest attractions in a remarkable exploration of the world of Queensland beer. The XXXX Brewery Tour takes you through the 140+ year history of Queensland’s most iconic brewery. You will learn all about Queensland’s favorite brew: their world-class brewing methods, top quality ingredients and, of course, how to pour the perfect XXXX. The 90—minute tour concludes with a guided 4 beer tasting session. Brisbane offers several craft beer breweries and ‘Hop On Brewery Tours’ offer the most fun, educational and unique day out in Brisbane or on the Gold Coast.
5. Historical Past
Brisbane might be a young city compared to other great cities of the world, but the city offers excellent opportunities to showcase its past. Discover the storied convict history of the River City with Boggo Road Gaol, Newstead House, and the Old Windmill. Flashback to the World Wars with Fort Lytton National Park or wander into the political backdrop of the Parliament House, Old Government House, and Customs House. Some of Brisbane’s oldest churches are still operational today as well. Catholic Old St. Stephen’s Church, St. John’s Anglican Cathedral and Albert Street Uniting Church host services every Sunday and are gorgeous relics of the 20th century.
6. Kayak Brisbane River
Have a penchant for paddling and the great outdoors, Brisbane offers some wonderful waterways and rives to explore. The Brisbane River wraps itself around the city center and inner suburbs, affording spectacular views of the city skyline, Story Bridge, South Bank, and luxurious waterfront homes from the seat of a kayak. For the ultimate night experience, take a twilight tours in an illuminated kayak!
7. Experience world-class art at QAGOMA
Considered one of Australia’s finest art galleries, QAGOMA came about in 2006, with the merging of the history Queensland Art Gallery (established in 1895), with the Gallery of Modern Art. Located in an architecturally significant building on Brisbane’s South Bank, the two galleries are home to some incredible visual art from around the world, along with work by Indigenous artists and interactive exhibits.
This bold collection is sure to spark animated conversations between art lovers of all stripes. Even the Gallery of Modern Art’s award-winning, glass-encased building makes a statement.
8. Walk Brisbane Laneways
Wander down a labyrinth of intimate hip laneways and discover captivating cafes, boutique bars, hidden secrets, and rare finds. Enjoy a cup of locally roasted coffee, sink back a nightcap, sample excellent eats or pick up something from a local label.
One of our favorites is Gresham Lane, that takes its name from an important hotel in Brisbane’s history that met a tragic end. It survived the 1889 floods, but the 1974 floods caused such damage it was demolished. Qantas was formally established at The Gresham Hotel in 1920, and in 1942 the infamous Battle of Brisbane took place between Australian and American servicemen where one man died, and many others suffered gunshot wounds and other injuries. Now it is a bustling mini food court with quick street feeds including Korean delights, Vietnamese rolls for fried chicken to name a few.
Burnett Lane is one of Brisbane’s oldest laneways, named after our first colonial surveyor, started life as a prison ‘exercise’ yard in the dark days of the penal colony and was the grim scene of floggings and hangings. After the penal colony closed and the city buildings replaced the gaol, it was a tradesman’s entrance to Brisbane’s first bookshop (amongst other things). In recent years it has experienced a council makeover with all sorts of interesting historical facts scrawled on its walls, luminous artworks on the ground and a tiny smattering of cool restaurants, cafes and bars
9. Wheel of Brisbane
London may have its Eye, Brisbane has its Wheel - a towering 197 feet high giant Ferris wheel that boasts unbeatable views of the city. Located in South Bank, the Wheel of Brisbane was opened in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the state of Queensland. The 10–12-minute ride offers bird’s-eye views over the river from 10am daily to 8pm weeknights and 10pm on weekends. Visitors can choose to experience the sights by day, a romantic sunset ride or the sparkling city lights at night with all rides including an engaging audio tour of the Brisbane landscape.
10. Howard Smith Wharves – Food and Wine
Nestled between Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge and the New Farm cliffs with a 180-degree vista of the city skyline and river sits Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane’s ultimate foodie and lifestyle precinct. Just a short 10-minute walk from the Brisbane city center, this historic site has recently transformed to a bustling pedestrian boardwalk lined with restaurants, bars, hotels, and event spaces. Join the locals and sock up the Queensland sunshine for breakfast, lunch or dinner – when the precinct comes alive as the city lights come on.
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