Brisbane

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

Stones Corner Hotel

The heritage charm of the Stones Corner Hotel is felt the moment you enter this beautifully renovated landmark. Busy, rustic-chic pub with a wide range of craft beers and extensive menu of classic Australian pub food. Features a beer garden, plus trivia and comedy.

Daily 6AM to 4AM · Outdoor seating

Alchemy

Located in a little hideaway on Eagle St, this restaurant has one of the most impressive views in Brisbane, looking across the river to the Story Bridge. Well known for its "liquid nitrogen nibbles", Alchemy lives up to its name.

Mo-Fr 12:00-15:00,18:00-22:00; Sa 18:00+

Royal George (RG) Hotel

Large beer garden in the Brunswick St Mall, great atmosphere, great food deals most nights.

Mo-Su 08:00-05:30

The Beat

Downstairs has three dance areas dedicated to hardcore/rave, electro and popular music, upstairs is gay (generally a younger crowd than the Wickham) and has two dance floors and a beer garden.

We-Su 20:00-03:00

Covent Garden West End

A modern Australian, gin house. This is where gin lovers in Brisbane go to satisfy their thirst.

The Tivoli

Has a very relaxed, noir-styled interior with sizable floor space and a mezzanine. Highly rated venue among locals and only a 10-minute walk from The Valley train station.

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.

Beach House

Beach House Bar & Grill CBD

Located on the corner of Albert and Elizabeth St, Myer Centre, 2F. Licensed bar, large meals and live entertainment at value for money.

Sun–Thu 11AM–9PM, Fri Sat 11AM–9:30PM

Brisbane Festival

By far the largest and most popular event in Brisbane. Held annually at the end of September. This festival, which started as a celebration of the Brisbane River, now incorporates a number of smaller events at various places around South Bank Parklands, the Cultural Centre and the CBD as a celebration to Brisbane itself. Notably, the 'Riverfire' event which is held in South Bank every September draws the largest crowd. It offers free family entertainment all day and the city's biggest Fireworks display at night.

Bar Merlo

Various outlets throughout the city, their first being opened in the QUT Gardens Point campus. Regarded as one of the leaders in the Brisbane café society boom since the 1990s, their coffee is served at countless cafes and restaurants throughout Brisbane.

Cloudland

Cocktail lounge on Ann Street with a retractable roof, 10 metre waterfall, 5,000 plants and a glass bar made from 17,000 glass balls threaded by hand. Caters to a very upmarket, sophisticated crowd. Smart dress code which is strictly enforced on busy nights.

Harvey's

Very popular cafe restaurant and deli. It is located a short walk from James St market.

The Boundary Hotel

West End's oldest pub. This is perhaps the largest drinking establishment in West End, with two bars downstairs and a beer garden & deck on the upper floor. The food is fairly plain but well priced, and the drinks menu is about the same. Excellent live blues acts Sunday afternoon and evenings from Wednesday to Saturday are the main reason to visit.

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

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.

Westfield Garden City

Large shopping centre with two levels. Contains a large variety of fashion retailers and book stores. Outdoor food section based around a water feature, that's busy into the evening.

A Salt 'n Battery

Quality fish and chip shop-cum-seafood restaurant with a wide variety of foods and decent prices. Approx 5- to 10-min walk from the University.

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.

Kangaroo Point

The walls along the Brisbane River are a popular spot for rock climbing and give an excellent view of the CBD skyline just across the river. Activities carry on after dark, when the walls are well-lit. Abseiling and rock climbing classes on the cliffs with an instructor are available from Riverlife Adventures, as well as kayak, kick-bike, rollerblade and bicycle hire. There are also barbecue and picnic spots in the area.

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.

Paniyiri Festival

A Greek cultural celebration held by Brisbane's large Greek population. A popular family entertainment event, offering authentic Greek foods and entertainment. In Musgrave Park.

The Scenic Rim

This describes the large arc of mountains, to a height of 1,375 m (4,511 ft), from the Mistake Ranges (south of Gatton) across the Main (Great Dividing) Range to the MacPherson Range that terminates at Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Apart from some well known locations on the Rim, such as Binna Burra and O'Reilleys guesthouses, Springbrook and Cunningham’s Gap, the largest proportion of these ranges are unspoilt and much of it near-wilderness. Many forest areas were previously logged, but the forest recovery has been excellent, and virtually all the logging tracks have disappeared except for those still used for foot access. At the previously mentioned sites, graded paths offer a taste, but for the more adventurous there are many hiking possibilities from day trips to sustained multi-day exercises. More information can be found on the web. Hikers should be properly prepared and conversant with navigation in difficult country and the rules of National Parks.

Cruise the Brisbane River

There are various companies offering a range of river cruises and tours to take in the sights. These include cruises to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and the BrisVegas floating nightclub.