Brisbane City Guide – What To See, Do, Eat And Drink

Brisbane Travel Guide

The capital city of Queensland – or what the locals call the Sunshine State – is a bustling city with pleasant weather all year round.

Not to be overshadowed by its glitzy neighbour Gold Coast, the city of Brisbane and its surrounding suburbs have much to offer for the adventurous, the foodies and the family.

In this post, we will share with you some of the highlights of Brisbane, and you have your usual Must-Sees, Must-Dos, and Must-Eats.


WHAT TO SEE IN BRISBANE


Brisbane Southbank Parklands

SOUTHBANK PARKLANDS

There is nowhere as unique as Southbank Parklands. Where else in the world would you find a beach, complete with fine white sand and swaying palm trees, right smack in the middle of the city?

Southbank Parklands has redeveloped the site of the 1988 World Expo, into a premier entertainment hub of Brisbane. Stroll along the river banks to soak in the view of Brisbane city and admire the Bougainvillea trellis when the flowers are in full bloom.

If you are searching for somewhere to cool off in summer, put on your boardies and take a dip at the manmade Streets Beach.

Mount-Cootha-Lookout

MOUNT COOTHA

There is no better view of Brisbane city than from Mount Cootha! Located just a mere 10-minute drive from the city, Mount Cootha is easily accessible and boasts a mesmerising bird’s eye view of the city.

Apart from a spectacular lookout, Mount Cootha—part of the D’Aguilar National Park— has a few short trails around the forest which are ideal for those who are keen to explore the wilder side of Brisbane.

How to get there: Board Bus 471 on Adelaide Street towards Mount Cootha. The bus terminates at the Mount Cootha Lookout.

Stradbroke-Island-Gorge

NORTH STRADBROOKE ISLAND 

Looking to unwind at the beach, yet dislike the crowds at popular beaches in neighbouring Gold Coast? With its white sandy beaches and scenic coastal cliffs, North Stradbrooke Island—also commonly known among the locals as Straddie—is a must-visit.

There are many activities available on the island for both the young and old. Learn to surf, explore the island on a bicycle or just chill on the beach. On lucky days, you may even spot whales off the coast in winter or turtles and manta rays in summer!

How to get there: Take a Train from Central Station to Cleveland Station on the Cleveland line and take Bus 258 from Cleveland station to Toondah Harbour, before hopping onto one of three ferry services (Stradbroke Flyer, StradbrokFerries and Big Red Cat) to the island.


WHAT TO DO IN BRISBANE


CityCat Ferry

EXPLORE BRISBANE VIA THE UNIQUE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM

In Brisbane, nothing is as ubiquitous as its unique public transport option. Not only does it have the works (trains and buses), its public transport system is also supplemented by its own ferry and bicycle services.

For a leisure ride across Brisbane to soak in the view of the city, hop on the CityCat—a ferry service that takes you right into the heart of the city. The stretch between Regatta to New Farm ferry terminal is especially scenic. For the budget conscious, the CityHopper presents a free alternative that brings you around the city centre.

If you prefer to explore the city in an active manner, why not consider cycling? For just A$2 a day, you can rent a bicycle from one of the 150 CityCycle stations around the city. Just remember to end each journey in 30 minutes to avoid having to pay any additional bicycle rental fees.

Koala Brisbane

MAKE FRIENDS WITH KOALAS

Other than the kangaroo, there is no animal that screams Australia more than the Koala. Where better to catch a sight of these cuddly marsupials than in Brisbane’s Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary?

Koala

Home to the world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary, not only will you get to see these cute koalas up-close, you can also hold them for photos. Apart from koalas, there are also many native Australian animals in the Sanctuary such as Kangaroos, Echidnas and Platypuses.

Alternatively, drop by the Daisy Hill Koala Centre (especially if you are making your way down to Gold Coast). The Koala Centre has a boardwalk that allows visitors to view the koalas in the Centre, which is a home for rescued Koalas that are not suited for release back into the wild. Viewing of these creatures is free of charge.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
708 Jesmond Rd
Fig Tree Pocket
QLD 4069, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3378 1366
Daily: 9am – 5pm

Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Regional Park, Daisy Hill Rd
QLD 4127, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3299 1032
Daily: 10am – 4 pm

Davies Park Market

SHOP AT DAVIES PARK MARKET @ WEST END

Farmers’ Markets are a common sight in Australia and the Davies Park Market at West End is one of the most popular ones. The weekly market is open from 6am to 2pm on Saturdays. It has a myriad of products for sale; visitors can anticipate fresh produce such as vegetables and honey to interesting handicrafts by local artists.

Of course, what is a farmer’s market without food? Fill your tummies with Hungarian garlic bread aka lángos and poached eggs served atop freshly fried Rösti patties.

Montague Road and Jane Street
West End QLD 4101, Australia
Tel: +61 4 3101 9454
Saturday: 6am – 2pm


WHERE TO EAT IN BRISBANE


Corner Store Cafe

CORNER STORE CAFE

Housed in what used to be a derelict cottage built in the early 1900s, the Corner Store café has since been expertly restored it into a quaint little café with an adjoining patio that offers a relaxing atmosphere.

We love Corner Store Café’s eclectic mix of all-day breakfast options; from spiced porridge to cauliflower and chorizo hash, the cafe is not one to shy from experimenting flavours. They even have an outdoor herb garden where the herbs they grow are incorporated into their dishes.

113 Sylvan Rd, Toowong
QLD 4066, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3870 2223
Daily: 7am – 3pm

CAXTON GRILL (THE CAXTON HOTEL)

Steak is a staple among Queenslanders and there is clearly no shortage of steakhouses in the city. However, with so many choices, it is not easy to find a steak place that that resonates with everybody.

Caxton Grill is our go-to place for a good steak in Brisbane; we love its large portions and daily steak specials. Their specially made Hollandaise is sinfully delicious and complements the beef and chips really well.

38 Caxton St, Brisbane City
QLD 4000, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3369 5544
Sun to Thu: 10 am – 2am
Fri and Sat: 10 am – 3am

Miel Container

MIEL CONTAINER BURGER

Miel Container Burger stands out from the surrounding dull grey office buildings with its striking red colour shipping container. The burger place has been turning heads since its opening day for its interesting set-up and their gourmet burgers with an Asian twist.

The Korean-inspired BBQ Bulgogi Burger and Japanese fusion Miso Smoked Pork Belly Burger are highly recommended. Should none of the pre-fixed burgers interest you, then consider building your own burger instead.

88 Mary St, Brisbane City
QLD 4000, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3229 4883
Sat, Mon to Thu: 11am – 9.30 pm
Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Closed on Sundays

Madtongsan

MADTONGSAN II

With one of Australia’s largest Korean community (the largest outside of Sydney), you can be certain that Korean food in Brisbane is authentic and tasty. Of the many Korean restaurants, Madtongsan is a hot favourite amongst the locals.

The restaurant serves a variety of heartwarming Korean dishes such as Bi Bim Babs and Korean stews (Jji Gae), that are affordably priced; most main courses cost no more than A$15.

1/85 Elizabeth St, Brisbane City
QLD 4000, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3003 1881
Mon to Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10 pm


WHERE TO DRINK IN BRISBANE


NEWSTEAD BREWERY

What was once a steel warehouse (and subsequently an art studio) had been tastefully converted into both a microbrewery and a gastro-pub. While Newstead Brewery serves up a variety of heartwarming food, the star is definitely their locally-brewed beers.

With 12 taps on offer, one will be spoilt for choice, be it trying one of their handcrafted brews or craft beers by other microbreweries.

85 Doggett St, Newstead
QLD 4006, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3172 2488
Daily: 10am – 12 am

ARCHIVE BEER BOUTIQUE

If 12 beer taps are not enough to quench your thirst, how about 22 taps? Located in the hippie West End, Archive Beer Boutique curates a selection of Australian craft beers so impressive that it is enough to leave any beer enthusiasts feeling immensely satisfied.

Comic book fans would also love the look of the place, whereby its walls are plastered with comic book pages from many different comic book series.

100 Boundary St, West End
QLD 4101, Australia
Tel: +61 7 3844 3419
Daily: 11am – late


TRANSPORTATION IN BRISBANE


AIRPORT TRANSFER FROM BRISBANE AIRPORT

Public Transport: The Airtrain connects Brisbane Airport to the Brisbane CBD, as well as its network of local Translink train stations. The train leaves the airport every 15 minutes and costs A$17.50 one way or A$33 return.

Con-x-ion Airport Transfers: A private shuttle service providing door-to-door pickups from the airport, simply pop by the Con-x-ion booth at Level 2 of the International Terminal to book your transfers after your arrival.

A one-way ticket from the airport to Brisbane CBD would cost around A$20. However, booking a return trip would give you a discount on your trip back to the airport.

Taxi: Taxi stands are available at both Domestic and International Terminals and a one-way trip to the city from the airport costs approximately A$44. If you are travelling in a big group, it may be more cost-efficient and time-efficient to book a Maxi-cab than taking the Airtrain or the shuttle buses.

Note that an additional A$11 on top of the cab fare will be incurred for a ride on the Maxi-cab.

Brisbane Story Bridge Climb

GETTING AROUND BRISBANE

There is a variety of transport option available for visitors travelling around Brisbane. Managed by Translink, Brisbane’s public transport service provider, its fare structure is the same across all buses, ferries and trains.

Using a zonal system, travelling around Brisbane typically starts at A$4.80 for travel within one zone, and it is highly recommended to purchase a go card if you are travelling around Brisbane regularly as go card users enjoy a significant discount off fares, especially if travelling across multiple zones.

CityCat: The city’s public ferry service, the CityCat plies its route along the Brisbane river with the University of Queensland at one end and Hamilton Cruise Terminal at the other, running through the heart of the city and providing a scenic yet efficient means of public transport to the city.

CityHopper: A free ferry service between North Quay (Queen Street) and New Farm which brings you past Brisbane’s most iconic landmarks such as Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Story Bridge. As its name suggests, simply hop on and hop off.

Buses: Apart from the many regular bus services that connect you to suburbs and towns around the city, there are two free city loop services visitors and residents alike can enjoy. These two free services bring you to some of Brisbane’s most popular areas such as Queen Street Mall and Riverside and can be identified from its distinctive red or yellow buses.