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Travel Bestie

27 Apr 2023 - 6 min read

Brisbane's Top Major Attractions, The Complete List!

This inspirational article is a part of the collaboration between Traveloka and Tourism & Events Queensland.

Brisbane is full of unexpected surprises - and we’ve got the inside scoop. Whether you’re here for a day, a week, an extended holiday or you’re lucky enough to live locally, we’ve got a comprehensive guide to the most iconic Brisbane experiences, as well as some hidden gems- waiting to be explored. You’ll be pleasantly surprised just how much Brisbane City has to offer. Cruises, culture and a city of excitement. What more could you want?

Cruise the Brisbane River

Kayaking adventure on the Brisbane River

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. Hop on board a River to Bay cruise to the city’s iconic cocktail, breweries or bars with picturesque river views. With a wide range of tour options, including blazing a trail of seafood, wine and craft beer, enjoy taking in Brisbane’s breathtaking skyline, all leaving from and returning to the heart of Brisbane.

To amp up the adventure, adrenaline seekers can ride with Jet Ski Tours Brisbane. See the sights along the Brisbane River for an unforgettable experience on the water. If an afternoon of leisure is more your speed, jump on a GoBoat for a picnic like no other! With no licence or experience required, captain your own ship along the Brisbane River, take in the sights and cruise along in these environmentally-friendly self-drive boats.

Get ready to party up the Brisbane River on the iconic YOT Club, the superyacht that brings Brisbane’s best events to the water. Book into one of their epic parties and raise your glasses to the sights of Brisbane. For dining and entertainment, the Kookaburra River Queens are a Brisbane classic – a beautiful balance of old-school cool and modern dining – all aboard an old paddle steamer.

To keep the little ones entertained, experience is the relaxing and informative daily Koala and River cruise to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, run by Mirimar Cruises, to take in the best of both worlds: wildlife and heritage cruise in a day.

Breathtaking views

Off the watery path, Brisbane has plenty of other sights to marvel at. It’s hard to beat the bird’s eye view you can only get with a helicopter tour of Brisbane City or the nearby Moreton or North Stradbroke Islands. To keep your feet on the ground, enjoy stunning city views perched on the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, or a different perspective from Eagle Street Pier on the opposite bank. The Story Bridge Adventure Climb is a great way to get another breathtaking view over Brisbane’s city skyline and surrounds. A quick drive up Mt Coot-Tha offers more wonderful sunrise and sunset views. Stay after the sun goes down and watch the city lights and star-lit skies sparkle to life.

For truly spectacular views you can climb straight into the sky with one of Brisbane's hot air ballooning companies. Hot Air Balloon Brisbane can collect you from within The City well before the sunrise to take you down to O'Reilly’s in the Scenic Rim for a vineyard and coastal view. Thirty minutes west of the city in Ipswich, Floating Images promises the most beautiful countryside and cityside views across the Scenic Rim and the city of Ipswich.

Howard Smith Wharves

At the heart of Brisbane’s dining and entertainment hub is Howard Smith Wharves. Enjoy the best seat in the house right under the Story Bridge, on the edge of the sparkling Brisbane River. It’s a place where you’re spoilt for choice with some of Brisbane’s best restaurants and bars, and it just keeps getting better!

Your first stop has to be Felon’s Brewing Co. to sample the beers brewed on premises, which are even more refreshing with a gentle river breeze. Just a few metres away is the effortlessly cool Mr Percival’s – the perfect place to sip cocktails and watch the sparkling city skyline work its twilight magic.

No matter what flavour you’re chasing, Howard Smith Wharves have got something to surprise you. Try some authentic Greek at Greca, funky Japanese at Yoko Dining, or traditional but trendy Italian at Ciao Papi. Or if you’re feeling fancy, fine dine on Cantonese and Chinese at Stanley Restaurant.

From breakfast, to lunch, to the perfect afternoon beverage, to dancing the night away under stars (or lounging on a bean bag), Howard Smith Wharves has it all. But don’t stop there, book a night at the Crystalbrook Vincent and have a drink at their trendy rooftop bar Fiume to watch the hustle and bustle of The Wharves from afar.

Cultural Centre

The Cultural Centre is home to Queensland’s largest galleries, library and Australia's most popular museum. QAGOMA consists of the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The Queensland Art Gallery houses more traditional mediums and exhibitions while the Gallery of Modern Art is where modernism meets the abstract.

Head to QAGOMA from 26th Nov - 23rd Apr to experience world-class exhibition, “Air”, which will highlight immersive and large-scale works by leading international and Australian artists exploring the cultural, ecological, and political dimensions of air. QPAC, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, is home to over 1200 performances a year, boasting a catalogue of emerging, local, new, and world-renowned productions.

The State Library of Queensland is a knowledge bank in the heart of the Cultural Centre, positioning itself as a community hub for sharing, learning, collaborating and creating. Register as a member for free to get access to the impressive catalogue and to book meeting and study rooms.

Queensland Museum is a museum of natural history, cultural heritage, science and human achievement that also tells the changing story of Queensland. Permanent and rotating exhibitions provide refreshing education experiences for kids and grown-ups while the Sciencentre on Level 1 gets you up close and personal with the latest in research and discovery. Entry to the Sciencentre is ticketed.

Inner-city adventures

For an inner-city adventure, look no further than Riverlife. Take a Segway spin under the Story Bridge, rock climb the Kangaroo Point Cliffs or glide down the river in a night-time kayak among the range of experiences.

Brisbane boasts two Botanic Gardens in which to explore and unwind. Bring a picnic blanket and friends or family to the Mt Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens before a hike up the mountain for the breathtaking views of The City. Or relax in the City Botanic Gardens before shopping your stress away along Queen Street Mall.

Island adventures

Brisbane’s coastline is home to a multitude of idyllic islands, perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle of city life and immersing in nature and adventure. You can jump on a ferry, charter a boat, join a tour, drive across or wade out at low tide and discover a different side of Brisbane.

In Moreton Bay, Tangalooma Island Resort offers day cruise options for dolphin and whale watching, shipwreck snorkelling, and ATV quad bike tours. Brisbane Whale Watching and Aria Cruises also provide whale watching and dolphin tours between whale season (June and November).

Day trips

Brisbane is a beautiful place to spend a day discovering all the regions have to offer. Up north, Australia Zoo is the iconic home of the Crocodile Hunter, delivering conservation through exciting education. While in the area, make tracks to explore D’Aguilar National Park - housing remote gorges, subtropical rainforests and spectacular views of Moreton Bay just half an hour out of the city.

Shopping in the city

Pedestrian shopping street in the heart of the city

If nothing else, a long wander through the concrete jungle is the perfect excuse to spend some of your hard-earned cash and glam up. The Queen Street Mall is home to some of your favourite retailers and big international chains and luxury brands, while James Street in Fortitude Valley offers a leafy boutique and luxurious experience.

River City culture

The Brisbane Powerhouse is a local favourite with Friday night comedy, regular exhibitions, shows on stage and a bar and restaurant for a full night out. The Museum of Brisbane focuses on the art and stories of Brisbane, the Queensland Maritime Museum at South Bank examines our connection to the river and the bay, while the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium urges us to look to the stars.

The Judith Wright Contemporary Art Centre, also known as the Judy, is home to a unique blend of cabaret, circus, dance, music and contemporary performance right in Fortitude Valley. The Institute of Modern Art inside the Judy is a free public art gallery and forum for art and its discourses. The Brisbane Arts Theatre, similarly, is an independent icon.

The Fortitude Music Hall is Brisbane’s newest culture kid on the block, hosting the best up and coming gigs Brisbane has had to offer. Right in the heart of Fortitude Valley, it’s the place to let your hair down and get your groove on.

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