Brisbane

Queensland Museum

A large museum featuring several exhibitions that generally focus on natural history and Queensland history.

9:30AM to 5PM · Free, except for some special exhibitions · Free entry · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

City Botanic Gardens

Walking and cycling tracks. Exhibits. Free tours are a mix of the history of the gardens and the city whereas the garden tours at Mt Coot-tha are more focused on the wide variety of plants.

24/7. Free 1-hr guided tours Mon–Sat 11AM and 1PM (no need to book) · Free

Gallery of Modern Art

Part of the Queensland Art Gallery and a short walk from the Main Gallery. Opened in 2006 the gallery regularly hosts exhibitions featuring internationally famous artists (such as Warhol and Picasso) as well as many local contemporary artists.

Mo-Su 10:00-17:00 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Wheel of Brisbane

A Ferris wheel that allows you to observe the city from 60 m with views across the Brisbane River. The trip is a 15-minute ride in an enclosed, climate-controlled gondola.

Daily 10AM to 10PM · Adult $22, student $18, child 4 to 11 years $14.50

New Farm Park

This historic park is famous for the long line of jacaranda trees, shady picnic areas and its large rose gardens that contain hundreds of varieties of roses, and over 40,000 plants.

Roma Street Parklands

The world's largest subtropical garden in a city centre and home to 1,800 unique species of plants. Experience the theme gardens such as the topiary maze, rain forest walk, lake, celebration law and amphitheatre with many public artworks to admire.

Free

Commissariat Store Museum

Occupying the oldest habitable building in Queensland, the museum highlights both the building and aspects of Brisbane and Queensland's convict, colonial and more recent history. Run by The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Audio tour can be downloaded from website in advance.

Tue–Fri 10AM to 4PM · Adults $7, concession $5 · Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible

Queensland Maritime Museum

Has a range of exhibitions and vessels. Step aboard HMAS Diamantina and experience life as a Navy sailor. Be sure to see Ella's Pink Lady, the yacht Queenslander Jessica Watson sailed solo unassisted during her record-breaking journey to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

Daily 9:30AM to 4:30PM · Adult $16, concession $14, child $7

Museum of Lands, Mapping and Surveying

Spotlights a historical collection of resources in exhibits relating to surveying techniques and maps.

Mo-Fr 09:30-16:00

Sciencentre

A hands-on, interactive science facility particularly popular with families and children.

Mo-Su 09:30-17:00 · Adult $15.50, concession $13.50, child $12.50 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Queensland Art Gallery

Housed in two buildings in the cultural precinct.

10AM to 5PM · Free, except for some special exhibitions · Wi-Fi · Wheelchair accessible

UQ Anthropology Museum

First opened in 1948, this museum houses a display of ethnographic objects, including modern Indigenous Australian and Pacific Island artwork.

Mo-Fr 11:00-15:00 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Museum of Brisbane

Hosts a permanent display on the history of Brisbane and rotating exhibits by local artists that touch on Brisbane's lifestyle and culture. Daily tours into the clocktower and observation deck, bookings essential.

Daily 10AM to 5PM, Fri till 7PM · Free · Free entry

MacArthur Museum

This museum occupies what was during the Second World War the Office of General Douglas MacArthur. Travel back in time to the early 1940s in this niche Brisbane museum.

Tue Thu Sun 10AM to 3PM · Adults $8, seniors $5, child $4

The University of Queensland

One of Australia's oldest and most prestigious institutions, situated on a bend of the Brisbane River. Its majestic sandstone buildings are surrounded by ornamental lakes, jacaranda-lined boulevards and some of the finest architecture. Visitor attractions include the Great Court, the UQ Art Museum at the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, and wildlife in the UQ lakes. It can be reached by CityCat, or bus route 66 from the CBD along Busway.

Suncorp Piazza

Within South Bank, it often hosts free live events and movies.

Cathedral of St. Stephen

Heritage-registered Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Brisbane with regular services and guided tours on weekday mornings. Nearby is St. Stephen's Chapel, which was built in the 19th century and lays significance as being the oldest surviving church building in Queensland.

Daily 8AM-6PM

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

World's first and largest koala sanctuary, with over 130 koalas. Cuddle a koala, hand feed kangaroos and see other Aussie wildlife. Admission $32 adults, $21 children 3–13 years, with discounts for families and students. If you prefer not to drive, you can catch the hourly 445 or 430 buses from the city or the Mirimar boat cruise from South Bank at 10:20AM.

9AM to 5PM. Reduced hours 25 April · Adults $36, child $22, concession $24. Family rates available. Discounts if purchased online in advance

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium

Open Tu-Su with free admission to astronomy and space displays and a mini theatre. Admission fees apply to the Cosmic Skydome which features a wide variety of astronomy and space programs. All shows feature a "live" segment recreating the current Brisbane night sky. On weekdays (closed M and public holidays), the doors open at 10AM with school shows at 10:30AM and noon. Members of the public are welcome to attend the earlier school shows when space permits (children must be school age). The 1:30PM and 3PM sessions (Tu-F) are public programs, although the 1:30PM program may be booked for dedicated school programs (check with the Planetarium's Booking Office). During Queensland school holidays there are extra public shows on weekdays. On weekends, the Planetarium opens at 11AM and shows are also presented on Saturday night with "Saturday Night Live" at 6PM being a very popular show. There is a shop with a wide variety of astronomical/science merchandise and souvenirs. There is free parking, an adjacent bus stop and a separate cafe/restaurant.

Hours vary – from 10AM weekdays and 11AM weekends · Adult $16.10, child $9.80, concession $13.20

The Cube, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

The Cube is one of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces dedicated to providing an inspiring, explorative and participatory experience of QUT's Science and Engineering research. Here you will find one of the world's largest digital interactive and learning environments in the Science and Engineering Centre at the QUT Gardens Point campus. You can view research-inspired projects across science, engineering, maths and technology displayed on more than 40 multi-touch screens and 14 high-definition projectors. The Cube is inspiring and engaging the next generation of thinkers and doers with its extensive outreach to schools, including their hands-on and interactive workshops and public programs for high school students and QUT undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Daily 10AM to 4PM · Free

Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower

A 92-metre clock tower with Australia's largest analogue clock face. Opened in 1930, it offers a tour through Brisbane's oldest operating cage lifts.

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Named as the world's best convention centre, this purpose-built convention centre and event venue plays its host to an average of 1,300 yearly events and contains four exhibition halls.

Japanese Garden, Toowong

Designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Ogata with the theme of mountain-pond-stream with a combination of both Japanese and Australian plants.

Mount Coot-tha

Brisbane's tallest mountain. A popular make-out spot with a great view and good but overpriced cafe and restaurant. Large TV and radio antennas line some of its broad peak. You can take a scenic drive through the heavily forested Mount Coot-tha Reserve to the peak to see the almost-360° views of Brisbane and the surrounding region. The mountain is 287 m (941 ft) above sea level and forms the eastern extent of the Taylor Range. It is the most northern part of Australia to record snow. It is a prominent landmark approximately 6 km (4 mi) to the west of the Brisbane central business district and is visible from much of the city. Before the Moreton Bay penal settlement, Mount Coot-tha was the home of the Turrbal Aboriginal people. Early Brisbane people called it One Tree Hill when bush at the top of the mountain was cleared except for one large eucalypt tree. The Aboriginal people of the area used to come to the mountain to collect ‘ku-ta’ (honey) that was produced by the native stingless bee. Mount Coot-tha (Place of Honey), a derivative of the indigenous term, replaced the title ‘One Tree Hill' in 1880 when the area was declared a Public Recreation Reserve. Car is the most effective way to enjoy Mount Cootha at your own pace. There is ample parking at the peak. One can also hike the marked trail from the mountain's foot. See one of the best views of Brisbane. It is best to arrive just before dusk or dawn so you can enjoy the transition from day to night. Drive to the peak for a picnic dinner and admire the views. There are several walking tracks through the forests that surround the summit; some are difficult. It is a great place from which to watch the Riverfire fireworks in Sep.

Brisbane City Hall and King George Square

The City Hall is Brisbane's most significant historical landmark and was restored in 2010–2013. The area has free public Wi-Fi.

Fort Lytton National Park

Preserves a historic fort built in the late 19th century which operated until just after the Second World War which was an important site for Brisbane's defence, and a historic quarantine station used to quarantine visitors coming from ships who had some sort of disease.

Manly Boat Harbour

This is the nearest access point to Moreton Bay Marine Park with its pristine waterways and fascinating islands. Next to the harbour is Manly Harbour Village, with a great range of dining and shopping options overlooking the marina.

South Bank and Cultural Precinct

South Bank is a relatively recent development across the Brisbane River from the heart of the city on the site of World Expo '88, and features an artificial beach surrounded by extensive parklands. Also in South Bank are the shops, cafés, restaurants and cinemas of the Grey Street precinct. A great place to hang out on a hot day and swim for free. Adjacent to South Bank, the Cultural Precinct includes the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) and State Library of Queensland. Griffith University's South Bank Campus incorporating The Queensland Conservatorium and the Queensland College of Art are also located on Grey St.

State Law Building

The office and headquarters of the Attorney-General of Queensland. The structure of the skyscraper, an iconic landmark since 1995, is dubbed the Batman Building, modelled after the Gotham City skyline in the Batman comic book series.

Rainforest Walk

Ecological park of South Bank. Set along the banks of the Brisbane River, it's a cool spot to stroll along the boardwalk with plenty of shady subtropical trees. There are also small benches to soak in the tranquility.