Tourist Places To Visit In Brisbane

The city of Brisbane is one of the brightest among Australia's delight, filled with a lot of attractions for all kinds of travellers. Brisbane has a number of tourist places to visit and boasts of good weather for the most part of the year. For the adventure seekers, there is the Mt. Coot-tha Botanic Garden and for the water babies, a day trip to Tangalooma Moreton Island would make it a day worth remembering. For children and families, there are always theme parks and shopping malls. You can also learn the history of Brisbane from its museums and galleries.

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is home to the Cosmic Skydome with a diameter of 12.5 m. The show at the planetarium will take you on an astrological journey of the expansive universe. Right from the Big Bang to the current night sky of Brisbane, you can see it all at the planetarium. This is an education cum fun experience for the children who can also interact with one of the astronomers at the venue. This is located adjacent to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and both venues would make an ideal day trip.

Located a few kilometres away from Brisbane CBD, the gardens formerly known as the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens is located on the foothills of the great mountain that was its namesake. Spread over 52 hectares of land, you should explore the various sections including the Japanese garden, Bonsai House, Fern House, Exotic Rainforest, Australian Plant Communities and the National Freedom Wall among others. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens, along with the juxtaposed Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium would make an ideal day trip for families.

A visit to Brisbane would be incomplete without experiencing its vivid nightlife. Head to Fortitude Valley, probably the oldest entertainment precinct in Australia. At nightfall, the area comes alive with live music, performances, laughter and the rhythmic nightclub beats to which your feet will automatically sway. Let this be an evening for you and your loved one or your group of friends as you enjoy the night hopping from one pub to another.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is probably the first of its kind in Australia. Home to over 130 Koalas and over a hundred other species of native animals, the sanctuary will allow you to see the animals up close in their natural habitats. There are also a number of shows which you can enjoy and then meet the participating animals at the end of the show. You must also make it a point to attend a feeding session while at the sanctuary. It is also home to two platypuses. Children under 2 years can enter free of cost. The venue is also accessible by wheelchair. Adults are charged $25.76 and children are charged $15.74 for entry.

A day trip from Brisbane, Moreton Island is situated right off the coast. One of the most spectacular spots close to Brisbane, you can enjoy sunbathing on the golden sands of the pristine beaches here. Experience the clear see-through waters kayaking on a transparent paddleboat or kayak. You could also indulge in some water sports like surfing and parasailing. There are also guided snorkelling tours with lifeguards around to ensure safety. For the non-swimmers, there are see-through boards from which you can look for corals, dolphins, turtles and even beautiful reef fish. You will also be taken to explore the Tangalooma wrecks and feed the frenzied fish there. While on the inlands, you can surf the dune on a 4x4 and experience the thrill of sand tobogganing. For adults, the tour starts from $106 while for children its priced $92 onwards.

The best way to explore all of the beautiful highlights of Brisbane is through a full day city tour. The tour will take you around the city along a scenic cruise on the Brisbane river. The cruise will cover a history of the 19^th century Brisbane and its convict past. It will show you and explain the history and significance of the major highlights of the city including but not limited to the City Hall, the Customs House, the Story Bridge, Wheel of Brisbane and Kangaroo Point Cliffs. Children under 2 are complimentary. Meals are not inclusive and can be purchased on the tour.

Located an hour’s drive from Brisbane, in the city of Gold Coast, are arguably some of the best theme parks in the southern hemisphere. From Movie World showcasing rides and parades from your favourite movies and their characters, to Dream World, where the thrilling rides are not for the faint-hearted, these parks are not to be missed. You can also have your share of fun in the water at Whitewater park and explore the oceanarium at Sea World. These theme parks have a number of rides, exciting shows, a number of restaurants and even a few pubs. Lockers are available to store your backpacks and enjoy a fun-filled day with family or friends.

The Story Bridge was built during the Great depression of Australia, made entirely in steel that gleams in the sun. A walkway for pedestrians as well as used by vehicular traffic, Story Bridge is also a famous tourist location in Brisbane, giving you top views of the Brisbane river. Especially at night, when the lights illuminate the buildings and set off the dark sky.

Abbreviated as GOMA, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is home to some of the best artworks in the area. It sits on the South Bank Cultural Precinct’s waterfront, attracting locals as well as tourists who are into art from Asia, Asia-Pacific and Australian region. The gallery is all glass, with displayed contemporary pieces like sculptures, paintings, art shows and photos. There are also film and video screenings hosted here from time to time at the Australian Cinémathèque screens.

The Wheel of Brisbane is a sort of merry-go-round with spacious sitting capsules that give you amazing views of the entire city. The wheel is 60 m in height, and each of its capsules is perfect for two people, with AC and comfy seats. The ride is 12 minutes long, and takes you on a thrilling picturesque journey with audio tapes talking about the many attractions that you spot on your way -- both up and down.

The Nepalese Peace Pagoda, a beautiful monument, was first set up in a Nepal Expo. But it was so pretty that they later moved it to the city of Brisbane, making it a tourist attraction. The architecture style, the traditional curves and colours and lines of the shrine compel you to just keep clicking your camera. The three storey structure used more than 80 tonnes timber and manual labour that carved its beauty, and every effort is worth its beauty today.

How can you miss the golden glittering sands and the sky-coloured waters of Brisbane’s beaches? Streets Beach is a very famous beach in the city, a manmade lagoon on the south bank. With lush tropical flowering plants and trees, the beach is postcard-worthy and always populated with happy families and friend groups, as well as couples trying to find a quiet corner. The time between March and May is perfect to take a dip in the lagoon here, while other months are good enough to enjoy the sun.

The Cultural Centre on South Bank is home to a lot many art and culture centres of Brisbane. From the Queensland Museum to the Queensland Theatre Company, from Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art to the famed State Library, you can find a whole extravaganza here. Those who are lovers of performing and fine arts, this is the place to go to — for concerts, films, theatre, art galleries, exhibitions as well a museums.

Located on Level 3 of the Brisbane City Hall, the Museum of Brisbane is beautifully built. It exhibits various pieces of art, artefacts and installations, with live workshops for visitors through most months. The theme of this museum is Brisbane and its history, while its culture is displayed in happy, vivid colours throughout the installations. And the views from the clock tower of this building — stunning, to say the least.

Popular as the Glass House Mountains of Brisbane, this place is a cluster of volcanoes, whose Lava has made the surrounding land fertile and lush for local flora and fauna to grow. A set of 13 volcanoes rest in this place, making it a famous tourist site. Not all are open for viewing, except Ngungun and Tibrogargan volcanoes. And yet, these two are enough to take your breath away!

We have mentioned the South Bank in relation to many a tourist sites before, which just means that the area itself is pretty famous by itself. Sprawled over acres and acres of riverfront landscape, the South Bank is home to loads of shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Rock concerts, expo shows, food fairs and many other events are hosted on this bank. What’s more, attractions like the Nepal Peace Pagoda and Wheel of Brisbane also sit by here.

South Queensland’s longest river, River Brisbane is considered a fun way to escape the city traffic and bustle. You can visit the Brisbane Riverwalk for a little stroll, enjoy gorgeous city views, rent a cycle and ride down the walk or just pick a corner and lounge while seeing the river run. Periodic shelters and benches help you relax or catch your breath on the walkway that runs between New Farm and Howard St Wharves.

Queen Street Mall is your shopping destination when in Brisbane. The locals swear by it, hence making it ideal for the tourists as well. From retail shops to home-grown boutiques, world class brands to street style labels, the mall has over 700 stores. And then there are options for food and entertainment as well, guaranteeing a full day of fun.