Brisbane, the third largest Australian city, offers sophisticated city attractions and is taken full advantage of by locals and tourists worldwide. You’ve come to the correct place for information on Brisbane’s finest tourist attractions and activities.

Great coffee shops, restaurants, bars, lush parklands, galleries, zoos, cultural events, adjacent islands, the Brisbane River, and pristine beaches make Brisbane a beautiful and go-to tourist destination.

1. Brisbane’s Tourist Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss

Brisbane certainly has a long list of all the fantastic tourist attractions. Brisbane’s tourist attractions offer various imaginative and inventive outdoor activities.

Brisbane’s weather is undoubtedly an additional plus point for tourism. The warm climate throughout the year makes this beautiful old Australian city more lively and fun.

1.1. South Bank Parklands

Situated on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, directly across from Brisbane, the South Bank Parklands is one of Brisbane’s most popular tourist destinations.

This place is the hub of entertainment and culture, with several good restaurants, pubs, and shopping stores. Here’s what you can do around South Bank Parklands.

i. Taking a stroll through the Brisbane River on a warm, sunny day is a great way to immerse in the spirit of Brisbane.

ii. You can also swim at Streets Beach, an artificial human-made lagoon on a warm day, or enjoy the fun Brisbane screenings and events hosted at the South Bank Parklands.

iii. If you are a shopaholic, look at the Collective Markets on Little Stanley Street, which boasts handmade crystals and crafts, including vintage clothes and jewelry, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; undoubtedly among the best tourist destinations in Brisbane.

1.2. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Who does not love some cute little koalas? You could stare at them for the entire day and never get bored.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has over 100 different types of Australian animals and cute koalas, making it one of Brisbane’s most engaging tourist destinations.

You can hand feed the kangaroos, take a photo with a koala, or watch the flocks of rainbow lorikeets; every view in this sanctuary is super exciting and fun.

It’s one of the largest and oldest koala sanctuaries on earth, and the zoo keepers keep all the animals engaged, thus making the sanctuary experience fun.

Some everyday encounters include feeding the platypus, barn animals, and sheepdog shearing shows. Also, you can encounter other animals like snakes, wombats, dingoes, crocodiles, and wallabies.

1.3. Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art

If you’re an art enthusiast, the amazing Queensland Art Gallery is among Brisbane’s best tourist attractions.

The gallery does not cost you an entry fee and features artworks from around the world, including Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. The Gallery of Modern Art boasts award-winning modern contemporary paintings adjacent to the Queensland Art Gallery.

Significant artworks by Pablo Picasso and Richard Godfrey Rivers and the Indigenous Aussie arts collection are all displayed at the Queensland Art Gallery along with pretty interiors, including gigantic chandeliers and floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Gallery of Modern Art is one of Brisbane’s best tourist destinations since it always features new exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, films, photographs, and videos.

1.4. Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Brisbane is spoiled with beautiful lush gardens, and Brisbane City Botanic Garden is the most popular.

One of Brisbane’s top tourist destinations, this garden is situated on Mount Coot-tha Road, approximately 8 km from the city center, and offers stunning panoramic views.

The botanic garden is home to various subtropical plants covering a horticulture area of 130 acres. This unique botanic garden has a collection of bamboo trees, indigenous plants, fragrant plants, cacti, and Japanese gardens.

The garden is surrounded by picnic spots, fountains, rivers, fig-trees, and lily-topped ponds, an ideal for serenity from the city’s hustle and bustle.

1.5. Moreton Island

One of Brisbane’s finest tourist destinations for an island getaway is Moreton Island. It is one of the third largest sand islands on earth, surrounded by palm trees and filled with exciting outdoor adventures.

The island is a national park home to many wildlife and marine life on land and at sea.

To explore this beautiful Moreton island, jump en route on a day cruise to Tangalooma Island Resort, which includes whale spotting, snorkeling, feeding dolphins and pelicans, sand tobogganing, Segway beach rides, wildlife viewing, helicopter tours, and an ATV Quad bike tour. 

1.6. Roma Street Parkland

One of the best places to visit Brisbane is Roma Street Parkland, particularly if you travel with children.

The parkland is situated on the slopes of Spring Hill, and the children will fall in love with the ample 40-acre parkland, which allows them to run and play freely.

The parkland has swings and slides and serves as a great picnic spot.

The botanical beauty of the parkland is serene, with fig, palm, and bamboo trees, vegetable patches, and colorful flower beds.

The lush green surroundings of the park, sunny picnic areas, and the leafy walking trails are eye-catching sights and a must-place to visit and explore.

1.7. Eat Street Northshore

It’s time for some good food. Any trip is incomplete without good dining, and Eat Street Northshore is among the culinary highlights of Brisbane’s tourist attractions.

This hotspot is not only about good food but is famous for its great ambiance, rocking live music, and novelty acts. Hundreds of food vendors sell delicacies worldwide, from Mexican to Peruvian cuisines.

Japanese pizza and deep-fried camembert cheese are unique dishes to dry at this food paradise, along with international cuisines from all over the globe.

The plethora of food is a bit overwhelming but worth the try. Kids will love the gigantic and colorful cotton candies; all the foods are made sustainably and freshly.

1.8. Wheel of Brisbane

As one of Brisbane’s most popular tourist destinations, the Wheel of Brisbane is impossible to miss. The Brisbane Wheel was inaugurated in 2008, and hopping on this wheel will give you a picturesque view of the Brisbane River and the city for a good 12 minutes.

Each gondola is enclosed with air conditioners and accommodates up to eight people.

The best time to hop on this wheel is during sunset when the city’s skyline is painted with beautiful fiery colors or at night when the city lights reflect on the Brisbane River, making it one of the best tourist attractions in Brisbane.

The ride also includes an audio tour describing all the city’s iconic landmarks. You can pre-book the ticket online or buy the key on the spot.

1.9. Queen Street Mall

It is time for some shopping, and Queen Street Mall is the epicenter of shopping, thus making it one of the top tourist attractions in Brisbane. The mall has many options, with over 700 retailers boasting national, international, and local designs.

Brands include Lorna Jane, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, R.W Williams, H&M, and Tiffany & Co. This mall has covered you all.

The mall buzzes with excellent cafes and a pyramid of heritage-listed arcades. Exploring the mall is fun, and on Wednesdays, the area at the end of the mall turns into a city market selling local products and flowers.

If you are a designer home decor fan, visit the Fortitude Valley, and if you love thrift stores, head to the popular breakfast spot of Paddington.

1.10. Museum of Brisbane

The fascinating Museum of Brisbane inhabits the top level of City Hall and displays a lot of Brisbane’s history and its people.

The museum exhibits a series of art exhibitions, including the city’s and indigenous people’s histories, the present and future of Brisbane, and the Brisbane floods.

The museum always boasts something new with its temporary exhibitions, thus keeping the tourists engaged. In addition, the stunning views of Brisbane from the clock tower should not be missed.

The best part is that the entry and the maximum number of museum tours are free. Housing more than 5000 artworks and sculptures, the Museum of Brisbane is one of Brisbane’s top 10 tourist attractions.

2. Takeaway

This is not the end; Brisbane has more to offer its tourists, including taking a tour at the Customs House, enjoying a show at the Suncorp Stadium, climbing the Story Bridge, or just enjoying the 90-minute Brisbane river cruise tour. 

A combination of natural beauty, culture, and modernization has made Brisbane a top tourist destination in Australia. 

Last Updated on March 3, 2024 by laibaarif