21 Best Things to do in Brisbane

This list of the 21 best things to do in Brisbane will surely help complete your Brisbane itinerary for your next Australian adventure. Brisbane is a bustling metropolis centered on the large Brisbane River. This incredible Australian city offers a great mix of warm weather, fantastic wildlife, cultural experiences and easy access to the great outdoors. Shop till you drop or visit any of the neighbouring mountains for a wholesome yet rewarding day out among the natural landscapes.

From great Brisbane hikes to day trips from Brisbane city, this Brisbane travel guide will give you a great foundation to build on for your next holiday.

Shopping in Brisbane

No doubt if you’re choosing a city as your next holiday destination then you would have a day planned to do some shopping. This short but detailed list of the best places to shop in Brisbane includes a factory outlet for all your discounted shopping, the largest mall in Australia and an outdoor street mall which will have all of your latest fashion trends.

DFO (Factory Outlets)

One of the best shopping outlets in Brisbane is DFO (Direct Factory Outlet), this shopping mall in Brisbane is a short bus ride from Brisbane airport which makes it the perfect place to stop before you head to your hotel to start your holiday. DFO has individual storage lockers you can pay for to store your luggage, or there is a luggage storing service in the smaller shopping mall directly across the road.

DFO has many of your big brands and daily necessity needs, from Coach and Boss to Bonds and Adidas. You will even find some great Australian brands like Nude Lucy to fall in love with.

Queen Street Mall

Queen Street Mall is a bustling, outdoor pedestrian mall with great shops and even better shopping deals on the latest and greatest trends. Buskers inhabit the streets and live music and entertainment can be found within the crowds of shoppers. Whether you’re in Brisbane for a shopping expedition or you want to rest your feet with a cold beverage and want to watch the world go by, Queen Street Mall is a great shopping district in Brisbane thatr you can’t possibly ignore.

Chermside Mall

The Brisbane suburb of Chermside hosts the largest shopping mall in Queensland, boasting approximately 476 retail outlets including local and international brands. With an incredible hospitality and leisure dining precinct on the outskirts of the mall. Head to Chermside Mall for some great shopping in Brisbane, or treat yourself to some well deserved self care, either way Chermside mall will have almost everything you’re after.

Uptown

Uptown Mall in Brisbane CBD is a basic mall with everything you need; with coffee shops, a supermarket, pharmacy and basic retailers this is where you can easily run in and out from if you’re after some essential items for your big day ahead.

Newfarm Market

Newfarm Market isn’t a shopping mall but I couldn’t possibly leave it off the list of best places to shop in Brisbane. Newfarm market is an outdoor market that provides an array of delectable food stalls, fresh fruit and vegetables and hand made goods perfect for souvenirs or to decorate your own home. This market is one of the best things to do in Brisbane so make sure you slot it in to your Brisbane itinerary.

Best Restaurants in Brisbane

One of my most favourite things to do on holiday is eat, so it is only natural that I put my top 3 favourite places to eat in Brisbane in this quick travel guide. From fine dining to casual eateries, you won’t run out of things to do in Brisbane as long as you factor in great places to dine.

Hizolas Kitchen and Bar

Dining at Hizolas Kitchen and Bar was a pleasant surprise. I had booked our table on First Table and barely looked at the reviews, so when we walked in to a simple yet contemporary dining room with exceptional service, I knew the food was going to be just as good. Hizolas is one of the best Cantonese restaurants in Brisbane where they mix traditional ingredients with modern flavours and create a whirlwind of incredible dishes. We certainly over indulged on the menu and went back to our hotel with nothing but bloated bellies and smiles that stretched across our faces.

Cucina Regina

If you’re looking for a great Italian restaurant in Brisbane then do I have the perfect location for you. Based in The Star, Cucina Regina offer an incredible menu of authentic Italian food right in the heart of Brisbane CBD. Sitting on the eastern side of The Star, this Italian Restaurant boasts incredible views across the Brisbane river allowing for a spectacular sunset dining location.

Harajuku Gyoza

For a more relaxed dining experience with a simple yet tasty menu, I suggest heading to one of the best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane. Harajuku Gyoza have an incredible menu filled with tasty gyoza, shared plates and dessert. If you’re feeling extra thirsty you can book the bottomless banquet. Harajuku Gyoza offers a 90-minute bottomless banquet feast where you can enjoy a set menu of their famous gyoza and izakaya eats, with bottomless cocktails and Japanese craft beer!

Brisbane Hikes

If you’re looking for outdoorsy things to do in Brisbane then you have come to the right place. The following Brisbane hikes are a great mix of easily accessible to rather adventurous. I’m not the type of traveler or tourist that likes to just sit around the city to drink, eat and shop. I love exploring natural terrain and rugged coastlines that have helped create the very place I’m visiting.

Cedar Creek Falls

An oasis of cascading water surrounded by dense native forests and chatty wildlife. Cedar Creek Falls is a fantastic waterfall near Brisbane if you’re craving a small nature escape. The short but scenic tracks winds you down towards the rock pool at the bottom of the waterfall where you can cool off with a quick dip, enjoy a picnic or relax with a book in hand.

Curtis Falls

One of the best things to do in Brisbane is to escape the city and explore the native forests that surround the concrete jungle. Curtis Falls sits within Eagle Heights near Mount Tamborine and is a hive of wildlife activity from cockatoos to bats and lizards to leeches. The walking track weaves through the native bush to a gentle flowing stream where you can spots water lizards sunbathing amongst the rocks.

Northbrook Gorge

Northbrook Gorge is for the more adventurous type of traveler and is one of the best Brisbane hikes. This moderately challenging Brisbane hiking trail in D’Aguilar National Park led us down a steep dirt track before reaching a free flowing stream where you have to rock hop your way along. Several sections of the gorge require you to swim your way across with some sections being chest deep water. Northbrook Gorge is a true adventure hiking trail near Brisbane that is well worth the trip if you’re looking for it.

Best Beaches in Brisbane

Brisbane is a rather warm city, so if your accommodation doesn’t have its own pool you’re going to be looking for a boy of water to cool off in. These beaches in Brisbane all have their fantastic qualities and are either worth a day trip or morning excursion.

Streets Beach

Streets Beach is Australia’s only inner city beach, this free to use, man made lagoon is located on Brisbane’s South Bank between the large Ferris wheel and Goodwill Bridge. With picnic areas and food stalls, the Brisbane lagoon is surrounded by clean white sand and is patrolled by qualified lifeguards year round. Find out more about the Brisbane Lagoon through the South Bank Visitor Centre.

Tangalooma Resort

Feed wild dolphins, dive amongst shipwrecks and schools of fish, slide down sand dunes or simply relax poolside with cocktails in hand. Tangalooma resort is a tropical escape right on Brisbane’s front door. Located on Moreton Island, you can book yourself a one day visit or a week long holiday to get the most out of this blissful island surrounded by blue waters and bright sand.

Cylinder Beach

This family-friendly destination on Brisbane’s Stradbroke Island is the perfect beach getaway when you want to get out of the city. Loved for its calm, blue water ideal for water based activities fit for the whole family.

Brisbane Wildlife Centre’s

One of the best things to do in Brisbane is to visit one of the many animal sanctuaries located around the city. Some of these animal sanctuaries in Brisbane allow you to get up close and personal with some animals, while others are kept in large enclosures are human interaction is limited to only what is necessary.

Daisy Hill Koala Centre

Daisy Hill Koala Centre is a beautiful animal sanctuary in Brisbane that is completely free to visit. Permanently housing 3 gorgeous Koalas who were all rescued from a very young age so are unable to be released into the wild, Daisy Hill is where you can visit for free education on Koala habitat and get incredibly close to the fluffy bears, although you cannot touch or hold them.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

With over 100 koalas, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary offers a wildlife experiences in Brisbane like no other. Experience Koalas up close or wildlife tours with other residents like Platypus and nocturnal tours after sunset.

Walkabout Creek Discover Centre

Walkabout Creek is one of Brisbane’s best animal sanctuaries, featuring a gorgeous tree Koala, various water based reptiles and cuddly wombats. The resident emu wonders freely throughout the pedestrian enclosure so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for him. Situated right next to Enoggera Dam, bring your swimmers for an afternoon spent on the water after exploring Brisbane’s native wildlife.

Day Trips from Brisbane

Book yourself a one day car hire or a ferry pass and explore these day trips from Brisbane. Whether you want to enjoy water based activities, get lost in the forest or simply a change of scenery with more shopping options. These Brisbane day trips have something that everyone will enjoy and are definitely one of the best things to do in Brisbane.

Moreton Island

Moreton Island is a beautiful tropical resort off the coast of Brisbane. Surrounded by clear blue water with beaches draped in fine white sand. Moreton Island is loved its incredible natural beauty and wildlife. From shipwreck snorkeling to wild dolphin feeding, Moreton Island is a resort getaway perfect for families or anyway needing a tropical escape.

Stradbroke Island

Stradbroke Island is a laid back holiday destination and one of the most popular things to do in Brisbane. Sitting just off the coast of the city, the island is only accessible via boat like Moreton Island, Stradbroke offers amazing tourist experiences among the incredible coastline and pristine blue waters.

Tamborine Mountain

Tamborine Mountain was definitely one of my favourite day trips from Brisbane, featuring so many incredible Brisbane hikes among Tamborine National Park, and great boutique shopping options in Eagle Heights. Grab yourself some artisan fudge or do a spot of souvenir shopping at the Christmas shop of Gnome gallery.

Mt Glorious

We stayed in Mt Glorious for 3 nights which was a welcomed break from inner city life. Our accommodation at Maiala Park Lodge provided incredible view back over towards the city where we were able to watch the storms roll in as quickly as the rolled out above the city. Mt Glorious is where you can explore Northbrook Gorge or do a spot of second hand shopping down in the township.

Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast is another well known summer destination for locals and overseas visitors. Featuring the famous Australia Zoo, incredible beaches in Noosa and Mooloolaba, as well as coastal highlights like Noosa National Park and Point Cartwright Lighthouse.

Other Amazing Things to do in Brisbane

There are so many amazing things to do in Brisbane but I couldn’t possibly add them to one article, otherwise I would be writing forever! The following list of things to do in Brisbane are ones I’m yet to explore and enjoy but they are definitely on my Brisbane itinerary for next time!

• Brisbane Botanic Gardens
• North Gorge Walk
• Brisbane Opal Museum
• Queensland Museum
• Museum of Brisbane