Things To Do In Brisbane

The sunshine city of Brisbane is known for its pleasant weather apart from the daytime thunderstorms during the summer months. With so many things to do in Brisbane, you would surely find activities to suit your likes the best. Whether it’s a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane or a Dolphin Feeding cruise, the coveted Brisbane festival or live shows at Brisbane Powerhouse, each traveller is sure to take back wonderful memories from a trip to Brisbane. 

If September is your month of travel, we suggest you plan your trip so that you can attend the Brisbane Festival. What started off as an event to celebrate the Brisbane river, today is the biggest festival hosted in the city. Today this festival celebrates the city itself with smaller events spread all across its length and breadth. The festival takes the city by storm with thrilling music, theatre, dance circus and opera events. Do not miss the Sunsuper Riverfire event which is held on the South Bank each year. Drawing the largest crowds, it offers an entire day of family entertainment with a dazzling display of fireworks at night.

Brisbane falls in the Humpback Highway and is one of the best places to go whale watching from. The Whale Watching months last from June to October and attract a lot of tourists and sealife enthusiasts during this time. The best way to experience this is by getting on board a whale watching cruise from Tangalooma Island. You could make this a day alone experience by relaxing in the Tangalooma resort and enjoying its top-notch facilities until it is time to board the cruise. The cruise lasts for three hours and includes a light lunch buffet. The trip starts at 7 am and ends around 4 pm. For a little more adventure you could add on the Dolphin adventure tour which commences post 4 pm and brings your evening to an end by 8 pm. 

Ever imagined a beach in the middle of a city? Don’t worry if you cannot believe it, just head to Streets Beach in Brisbane and experience the magic. Located right in the heart of the city, this beach is a major attraction because of its unique location. The manmade beach boasts of a sparkling lagoon surrounded by golden sands and tropical plants. This one is a hit with all families due to its free entry and parking space and lifeguards on patrol all around. 

If you’re a live music person and enjoy live performances, Brisbane Powerhouse is definitely not to be missed. Head here for a couple of drinks at Watt Bar followed by Dinner at Bar Alto. Then ease into an eventful night with live performances that will leave you mesmerised. From arts to culture, from music to theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse has it all. Care for a laugh? They even have some of the best stand-up comics of Australia performing here. 

See the sun rising on the horizon as you float 5000 feet above ground level in a hot air balloon. Experience nature’s beauty from a different vantage point. The hot air balloon ride lasts from 30-45 minutes. Upon landing, you can sip on a glass of champagne and enjoy a lovely breakfast spread which is included in the package. Pickups from hotels can also be arranged for these tours. Approximately, the tour would last for about 3-4 hours and will leave you with memories for a lifetime. Tickets can be purchased at $240 per person.

For the Beer lovers, this will definitely be the highlight of their Brisbane trip. A trip to a few of the many local breweries located in the Suburbs of Brisbane will leave you with a great deal of knowledge of the history of beer and the brewing process. An added benefit will be a tummy full of this golden ale. Begin the day with a visit to Aether Brewing Co. where you can sample a few seasonal varieties, learn of the brewing process and the history of the drink. Next, you head to 4 Hearts Brewing in Ipswich and tour the brewery. This is followed by lunch and tours of White lies Brewing Co. and Ballistic Beer Co. before you end your day. Tours are priced at $117 per adult and last from morning to late afternoon.

A thrilling experience for first-time and seasoned divers alike, the tour allows you to take a dive in 1 of the 15 wreck sites on the island. A catamaran takes you to the island, where, as per your level of expertise, you dive into the beautiful underwater world. View the vibrant marine life and teeming corals in all their glory. You can spot sea turtles, dugongs and even dolphins at times. The tour also includes kayaking, paddle boat or a beach bike hire which can be used for an hour. Following all the adventure, you can head to the Tangalooma Island Resort for unwinding before the catamaran takes you back to Brisbane. If you have chosen the introductory dive, you will get the scuba certification at the end of the excursion. 

Sandgate Beach is the place to tick off activities from your bucket list. Be it Kitesurfing or Windsurfing, as a newbie, you can get lessons in these activities from trained professionals. No prior experience is required to learn these thrilling activities. You will be taught the basics of the activities and the theory of how the winds work to help you surf. 6-8 hours of training will ensure you become capable of taking out your own equipment for a surf. 

Story Bridge in Brisbane is the only Bridge Abseiling experience in the entire world. Post the pre-climb briefing, climbers ascent to the top of the bridge with complete safety equipment. A spiral staircase leads to a suspended walkway. From here onwards, the real climb begins, going up the eastern inner arm and leading straight to the southeastern cantilever. Here you’ve reached the highest point of your climb from where you can soak in the breathtaking 360^o views of Brisbane’s skyline. Climbers will move forward to see the bridge from a different angle and then take a group climb photo before the final abseiling descend. This is a 2 hour trip for travellers with a moderate level of fitness and the price is $159 per adult and $139 per child over the age of 10 years. 

An hour away from Brisbane, the city of Gold Coast is home to the best theme parks in the southern hemisphere. A full family fun activity to do, the theme parks will easily take over 2 days if you want to explore them all. For the most thrilling rides, head to Dreamworld and take a shot at the Big 9 thrill rides. Enjoy the parade at movie world and get drenched in the water rides at Whitewater Park and Sea World. All theme parks have lockers to store personal belongings and a number of eateries and souvenir shops. Purchasing a theme park package entry tickets will turn out to be more economical. Visit their official websites for more details.