Brisbane travel guide
Brisbane Tourism | Brisbane Guide
You're Going to Love Brisbane
Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and the capital of Queensland. With two million people, it is rapidly growing, creating an exciting and vibrant atmosphere.
The city oozes confidence and a positive, can-do attitude, fueled by youthful enthusiasm. It's said to be the friendliest big city on Australia's east coast, and strong migration from Southeast Asia and elsewhere has created a diverse cultural mix.
The spectacular scenery in the surrounding area, along with a comfortably warm year-round climate, friendly locals, and laid-back atmosphere make Brisbane an engaging and welcoming location.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Brisbane
1. Manly Boat Harbour
Manly Boat Harbour connects the city to Moreton Bay, with stunning waterways and lots of islands to explore. Manly Harbour Village has a beautiful marina with lots of restaurants and interesting stores to enjoy.
2. Mount Coot-tha
Mount Coot-tha is the tallest mountain in the Brisbane area and provides great views of the city. It is also home to the Planetarium and Botanic Gardens. It has scenic drives, along with walking and cycling trails through the forest.
3. South Bank
South Bank was the site of World Expo 1988 and has been transformed into an area of shops and restaurants with extensive parks and an artificial beach. It's a great place to hang out and enjoy a free swim on a hot day.
4. Roma Street Parkland
Roma Street Parkland is the biggest urban subtropical garden in the world, and is home to nearly 2,000 unique plant species. It has rainforest walks and many art exhibits, summing up the urban/outdoor spirit of Brisbane.
5. Greater Brisbane Country
The area around Brisbane is full of national parks, vineyards, lakes, and rainforests. The McPherson Range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers an experience of the spectacular Australian wilderness.
Where to Eat in Brisbane
The Beach House Bar & Grill on Albert Street is a good budget eatery, serving bar food in larger portions while offering live entertainment. Expect to pay A$15 for a dish with a drink. Little Tokyo is Brisbane's oldest Japanese restaurant, with some fine and authentic food. For the best steaks in town, and maybe in Australia, head over to Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill on Eagle St. Expect to pay around A$75 for a three-course meal for one without wine.
When to visit Brisbane
One of the joys of Brisbane is its excellent year-round climate. It avoids the worst of northern Australia's wet season and stays warm when the south gets cold in summer. Summer temperatures peak around 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with winter temperatures rarely falling below 68.
How to Get to Brisbane
Plane
The city's main airport is Brisbane Airport (BNE), which is around 12 miles northeast of the city center. It has good connections to all major Australian cities and connections via Southeast Asia to Europe and North America. The airport is also well connected to the city. The Airtrain leaves every 15 minutes and costs A$17, taking around 30 minutes to get into town. CoachTrans will take you to your Brisbane accommodation for A$20, while a taxi to the city center will cost around A$35.
Train
Brisbane is well served by two rail networks. Countrylink connects the city to other major Australian cities such as Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney, while Queensland Rail offers services from other Queensland locations.
Car
Visitors driving from the major southern cities can reach Brisbane via the New England or Pacific Highways. The A1 connects the city with northern Queensland, while the M1 runs to the Gold Coast.
Bus
The Premier Motor Service links most of the centers on the east coast, while Greyhound Australia has connections to almost all major cities.
Airlines serving Brisbane
Where to stay in Brisbane
Brisbane's Central Business District (CBD) is where you will find most of the city's shopping streets, parks, and historical sites. It is also home to some of the major hotel chains. Budget accommodation options include Brisbane City Backpackers. The Emporium Hotel is a good upscale hotel, with some great rooms, a spa, and a gym. Golden Chain Motels have a number of locations around the city with good quality accommodation and affordable rates.
Popular neighbourhoods in Brisbane
South Bank - this area offers lots of restaurants, an urban beach, and riverside boardwalks. It also houses Brisbane's Cultural Precinct, with the Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Museum, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and Gallery of Modern Art.
Fortitude Valley - this is the center of Brisbane's nightlife and alternative shopping district. It is also home to the city's Chinatown. You will find lots of edgy bars and clubs with some great DJs. It is widely thought to be the best district for live entertainment and music in Australia.
New Farm - this is Brisbane's upscale shopping and dining area. This is the place to see and be seen, and it is widely frequented by Brisbane's local in crowd.
Where to stay in popular areas of Brisbane
Most booked hotels in Brisbane
How to Get Around Brisbane
Public Transportation
Brisbane has three public transport networks, consisting of buses, ferries, and trains. They all share a common ticketing system, TransLink, which lets you transfer between the networks to complete your journey. Fares start at A$4 for a one-way journey. Another option is to buy a go card, which starts at A$10. This takes the hassle out of figuring out the correct ticket to buy and can simply be touched to the terminal as you enter the vehicle and topped up as required.
Taxi
Taxis in Brisbane are plentiful and reliable. The main companies are Black & White Cabs and Yellow Cabs. They all take cash and credit cards and can be hailed from the street. The exception to this rule is Friday and Saturday nights in the city center, where they will almost exclusively pick up from taxi ranks. These are well policed by ushers and can be found throughout the city center. Alternatively, book a cab before you travel. Taxis will cost around A$22 for a five-mile journey.
Car
The one-way system in the city center can make driving in Brisbane a little confusing. Roads in the center become clearways in rush hour and you will be fined and towed if you are parked on one. City center parking is, however, widely available, costing anywhere between A$15 and A$40 for a day's parking. There are lots of toll roads and rush hour traffic can be extremely slow. Tolls don't accept cash, so you will need a pre-paid transponder or you can post-pay on the Queensland Toll Road website. Expect to pay around A$50 per day for car hire; Avis, Budget, and Thrifty are all present.
Best car rental deals in Brisbane
Intermediate
5 adults, 3 Bags
C$ 35/day
Compact
4 adults, 2 Bags
C$ 30/day
The Cost of Living in Brisbane
Shopping Streets
You will find most of the major stores in the CBD. The Queen Street Mall is the main shopping destination in Queensland. It has more than 700 stores across six shopping centers. It sells everything from fashion to jewelry and hunting gear, and also has restaurants, a casino, a cinema, and street entertainment. More artsy, diverse, and local stores can be found at the West End and in Paddington.
Groceries and Other
Brisbane has a wide range of supermarkets, including Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, and IGA. Expect to pay around A$2 for a pound of Apples and A$1.5 for a quart of whole milk.