Brisbane is our home town. It’s where we have lived all our lives. We know it, we love it and it is home.
There is so much to love about “Brissy”. Our weather is superb, people are friendly and it’s a big city without being too huge.
Brisbane typifies our States motto “Beautiful one day, Perfect the next”!!
We have great, warm weather almost all year round. Winter in Brisbane is sensational, blue sunny skies, calm weather and mild temperatures.
Here’s a list of 21 Things to Do in and around Brisbane
Brisbane River CityCat
1. Take a ride on the Brisbane River on a City Cat
These are fast ferry’s that take you some of Brisbane’s best places on the River. Go to Portside and see Cruise Ships, New Farm the home of the Powerhouse Brisbane, which is home to different arts and creatives, plus New Farm Park. Stop in at Riverside for great restaurants and bars on the river and take a walk around the City.
The Citycats are a great cheap way to get around Brisbane. There are stops all the way along the Brisbane river foreshores. A 2 hour ticket is a maximum $5.60 or even cheaper with a Go Card.
It’s a fabulous day out on Brisbane’s CityCats.
Brisbane Riverfire
2. Brisbane Riverfire
In September each year the Brisbane River comes alive as 500,000 people or more attend Riverfire. The skies light up as the Australian Defence Force fly Fighter Jets and Blackhawk Helicopters before the Fireworks are launched from the River, from Bridges and atop City high-rises.
This is a spectacular not to be missed. Get there early and enjoy the atmosphere.
St Helena Island
3. Tour St Helena Island
Learn how St Helena Island is steeped in our History. In 1867 it was chosen as our first Penal settlement due to its location 4kms offshore in Brisbane’s Moreton Bay.
The island is now Heritage listed and fantastic tours are operated by Cat O’ Nine Tails Cruises, the only way you can tour the island. Learn all about the rugged life of those that called St Helena Island home in those formative years.
http://www.sthelenaisland.com.au/
4. Eat Street Northshore
The Eat Street Markets are located at Hamilton and are a culinary delight for everyone regardless of your preferred tastes. Enjoy the enormous array of amazing dishes, live bands, great bars and enjoy a few hours of amazing fun by the Brisbane River.
Open every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm and Sunday from midday to 8pm.
https://www.eatstreetmarkets.com/
5. Eagle Street Pier
The Eagle Street Pier at Brisbane’s Riverside provides amazing views, sensational restaurants and incredible bars directly looking over the Brisbane River and Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. Walk along the riverfront discovering the many different shops and see the Kookaburra Queen paddlewheelers which have been doing cruises of the Brisbane River since 1986.
On Sundays, visit the Riverside Markets for lots of locally made crafts, food, drinks and street performers.
http://www.eaglestreetpier.com.au/
http://www.riversidemarkets.com.au/
Book your Buffet Lunch Kookaburra Queens River Cruise here>
Book your Kookaburra Queens City Lights Dinner Cruise here>
6. Island time – Stradbroke Island & Moreton Island
Whilst Queensland’s Fraser Island is the most famous island within the state, Moreton Island and “Straddie” are just a short Ferry or Barge trip from Brisbane and are just as majestic. Go Camping on the islands and feel like you’re in paradise.
Spend time at Tangalooma Resort, snorkel the wrecks, check out Cape Moreton, ride the Sand Dunes and drive the magnificent beaches. Both Islands are truly amazing.
Stradbroke Island –
Book a North Stradbroke Island 4WD Day Tour here>
Moreton Island –
Book a Moreton Island 2 Day Tour here>
Book a Tangalooma Day Trip with Activities here>
Eleven Rooftop Bar
7. Visit the Eleven Rooftop Bar in Brisbane
This amazing restaurant at 757 Anne St Fortitude Valley features spectacular views over the Brisbane Inner City as well as a great bar and fabulous food.
The Eleven Rooftop Bar features in our list of the Best 17 places to Eat and Drink in Brisbane and Gold Coast.
Make sure you book, it does get very busy.
http://elevenrooftopbar.com.au/
Brisbane Sign
8. Go to Southbank on the Brisbane River
Here you can walk around the gardens, take a ride on the big Brisbane Wheel, visit GOMA (the Gallery of Modern Art) for free, swim in the Lagoon at Streets Beach, eat out at the many restaurants and pubs or go at night and visit the markets from Friday to Sunday.
Buy your Wheel of Brisbane Tickets here>
Wilsons Outlook
9. Wilsons Outlook Reserve New Farm
This park at New Farm has the most incredible views. Arrive just before dusk, take your camera and watch as the Brisbane City, iconic Story Bridge and the Brisbane River transform into an incredible array of colours and beauty as the lights take effect.
Bee Gees Way Redcliffe
10. Redcliffe
Redcliffe is just north of the city and it feels like an island as it is mostly surrounded by water. Access from the south is by the 3.2km bridges spanning from Brighton to Clontarf.
At Redcliffe foreshore there is a great Lagoon perfect for swimming on a warm Brisbane day. Redcliffe is also considered home to International megastars, the Bee Gees. Visit the incredible Bee Gees Way to see the city’s fantastic tribute to the family that became worldwide superstars.
11. Mount Cootha
Mount Cootha in Brisbane’s western suburbs is where the local TV stations reside but it is also a very popular vantage point for locals who run, ride and cycle their way to the top where there are stunning views across Brisbane from the lookout.
The restaurants are very popular and the place of many wedding proposals and ceremonies over the years.
12. Roma Street Parklands
The Roma Street Parklands is on the Brisbane City’s doorstep yet offers 16 hectares of Horticultural beauty with its themed gardens and lush greenery. Events are held regularly at the amphitheatre with plays performed by the Queensland Theatre Company and others.
You don’t have to have a green thumb to enjoy a stroll through this parkland.
Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park)
13. Brisbane Sporting Stadiums
Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba are Brisbane’s primary sporting stadiums where we cheer on our teams to regular success. Queenslanders are passionate about their sport and turn out to support their teams whenever they are in town.
Previously named Lang Park the name was changed to Suncorp Stadium in 1994. It now holds crowds of 52,500.
Go the Broncos and the Queensland Bulls!
Boggo Road Gaol
14. Take a Tour of Brisbane’s old Boggo Road Gaol
The Brisbane Boggo Road Gaol once housed Queensland’s most feared prisoners until it was closed in July 1992. Today you can take tours and hear about the days in the lives of those that found their way inside. At night they also provide ghost tours but we stayed with a daytime visit.
https://boggoroadgaol.com/
Houseboat Gold Coast Broadwater
15. Houseboating on the Gold Coast Broadwater
It’s a lot of great fun and we have been houseboating several times before we left on our road trip around Oz. We always used Coomera Houseboats, the staff are fantastic and the boats were perfect for our trips.
https://www.coomerahouseboats.com.au/
16. Climb Brisbane’s Story Bridge
The Story Bridge Climb takes you over Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. Walk up the top for an amazing experience, standing high above the traffic overlooking the Brisbane River and the City.
Book your Brisbane Story Bridge Adventure Climb here>
Redcliffe Jetty Markets
17. Weekends are great for Markets in Brisbane
Every Saturday from 6am to midday the Carseldine Markets on the corner of Beams and Dorville Roads at Carseldine provide superb fresh products and craft ideas. You can enjoy a fantastic array of foods and juices or coffee in a great atmosphere with easy parking and it’s Free to enter.
On Sunday you can visit the Cleveland Markets near the Bay where you will find many craft stalls, lots of entertainment, great food and fresh produce.
The Cleveland markets have operated for over 30 years and you can see them on Bloomfield Street Cleveland where they are open from 7am to 1pm every Sunday.
The Redcliffe Jetty Markets are located in the main street overlooking Moreton Bay and features many stall holders with a great range of home made products. There’s a great variety of food and drinks and on a sunny day the position is perfect.
http://carseldinemarkets.com.au/
https://www.clevelandmarkets.com.au/
https://redcliffejettymarkets.com/
King Island
18. Take a 1km walk out to King Island
At low tide at the bayside suburb of Wellington Point in Brisbane’s East you can walk across to King island. Time it right and you can enjoy a stunning sunset as you walk across the sandy straight to the island.
Moreton Island camping
19. Go Camping
Within 1-2 hours from Brisbane are so many fantastic camping experiences. Noosa North Shore Campground is fantastic or take the Barge across to Moreton Island or Stradbroke Island.
You can go to Somerset Dam west of Brisbane or a short drive to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast Hinterlands all provide amazing places to park the caravan or pitch a tent. Here you can enjoy the Wildlife, go swimming and fishing and escape city life for awhile.
https://www.noosaholidayparks.com.au/noosa-north-shore
Beenleigh Rum Distillery
20. Visit the Gold Coast
Head south just an hour from Brisbane and visit the world renowned Gold Coast with its superb beaches and fantastic waterways. What we love about the Goldie is there’s always something happening. Visit the theme parks, hang out at Cavill Mall, dine in the wonderful restaurants at Broadbeach, surf at Snapper Rocks or Burleigh Heads and enjoy some good fishing.
Movieworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild –
Purchase a 3 Day Pass here>
Dreamworld & WhiteWater World –
Purchase a 1 Day Pass here>
Don’t miss Springbrook National Park in the Hinterland and while there visit Purling Brook Falls, Best of all Lookout and Natural Bridge. At night you will see Glow worms and Fire flies.
On the way to the Gold Coast stop into the famous Yatala Pie Shop and do a tour of the Beenleigh Distillery and enjoy some samples of their products.
https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/
https://www.beenleighrum.com.au/distillery
http://www.yatalapies.com.au/
Noosa National Park
21. Visit the Sunshine Coast
Conversely, head north an hour and take in all that is the Sunshine Coast. Much more laid back, the beaches are equally fantastic. Visit Coolum Beach and Noosa National Park, Buderim Falls, SEA LIFE at Mooloolaba for the marine life and go to the amazing Australia Zoo owned by the family of Steve Irwin.
Climb Mt Coolum or head inland and visit wonderful towns like Kenilworth, Maleny, Montville and Mapleton plus be sure to visit the Ginger Factory at Yandina.
The Sunshine Coast is fantastic with so much to see and do.
SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast – Purchase your General Admission Tickets here>
Australia Zoo – Purchase your General Admission Tickets here>
Ginger Factory – Purchase your Ride Double Deal Tickets here>
There are so many great places to eat out around Brisbane and Gold Coast. Read about our best 17 places to Eat and Drink
If you are looking for somewhere to stay in Brisbane with your Caravan or Motorhome the Lawnton Showgrounds provides the perfect place to stay. Located on Brisbane’s Northside it has power and water for just $25 per night. It is an easy walk to Lawnton Rail Station and 5 minutes drive either direction to plenty of shopping options.
Check out How to get to Brisbane and Southbank if you are in your Motorhome or Caravan
You may also enjoy watching https://indefiniteleave.com.au/australia-road-trip-ep-1-springbrook-national-park/
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