Brisbane is a city that loves the outdoors. With 283 days of sunshine a year, a winding river, and a thriving cultural scene, there's always something to do. Here's our pick of the best.
Top Attractions
South Bank Parklands
Brisbane's premier lifestyle destination. Swim at the Streets Beach lagoon (free!), wander through the rainforest walk, picnic on the lawns, and visit the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). See our South Bank guide.
City Botanic Gardens and Roma Street Parkland
The City Botanic Gardens at the edge of the CBD are perfect for lunchtime walks. Roma Street Parkland is a spectacular subtropical garden just a 5-minute walk from Roma Street Station with themed sections, waterfalls, and great city views.
Brisbane Riverwalk and CityCycle
The riverside pathways are excellent for walking, running, or cycling. Hire a CityCycle bike from one of 150+ stations across the city. The New Farm to CBD riverwalk is a favourite.
Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens
Drive or bus up to Mount Coot-tha for panoramic city views. The Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens below include the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and incredible Japanese and tropical gardens. Free entry.
Free Things to Do
- GOMA — The Gallery of Modern Art is always free (special exhibitions extra)
- CityCat ferry ride — Just a Go Card fare for a scenic river tour
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary — paid entry, but you can see koalas in the wild along the river
- Brisbane Markets — Rocklea Markets (Saturday) and Jan Powers Farmers Markets (multiple locations)
- Brisbane Powerhouse — Free events and the weekend markets at New Farm
Weekend Ideas
- Saturday morning: Jan Powers Farmers Market at the Powerhouse, then brunch at New Farm
- Sunday: Riverside walk from South Bank to the Howard Smith Wharves, lunch at the food precinct
- Day trip: Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for a beach day
- Evening: Rooftop bar in Fortitude Valley, live music at the Triffid or Tivoli
The Seasonal Calendar
Brisbane’s year runs on weather. Summer (Dec–Feb) is river and beach season — the CityCats, South Bank’s Streets Beach, and the Gold Coast an hour away. Autumn (Mar–May) is the festival season: Brisbane Festival and Riverfire in September actually kick off spring, with the jacarandas turning the city purple in October–November. Winter (Jun–Aug) is the outdoor season — perfect hiking weather, whale watching from Moreton Bay (June–November), and the Woodford Folk Festival just beyond the year’s end.
The local rhythm: mornings are for activity, afternoons for the pool or air-conditioning in summer, and evenings for the river. Whatever the season, the free attractions — South Bank, the Botanic Gardens, GOMA, Mount Coot-tha — anchor the calendar.
The Best Free Things
- South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach: the inner-city lagoon, free all summer
- GOMA and QAG: Australia’s best free art museums
- CityCat ferry ride: a river cruise for the price of a Go Card fare
- City Botanic Gardens and Roma Street Parkland: lunchtime escapes
- Mount Coot-tha lookout and botanic gardens: the best view of the city, free
- New Farm Park and the riverside bikeways: Saturday markets and river loops
- Story Bridge: walk the bridge or climb it — the walk is free, the climb from $129
Practical Tips
Do outdoor activities early from November to March — by 11am the heat is real and the car parks are full. Book the Story Bridge Adventure Climb and XXXX brewery tours ahead. For family days, combine Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with a Mount Coot-tha picnic. And use the CityCats for transport, not just tourism — the river is the fastest way across town and the most scenic commute in Australia.
Family and Rainy-Day Options
Rainy days in Brisbane are rare but real (summer storms most often). The indoor arsenal: the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, GOMA, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium at Mount Coot-tha, and the cinemas of South Bank and the CBD. For a stormy summer afternoon, the South Bank restaurants and the Wheel of Brisbane’s enclosed gondolas keep the fun going while the rain passes.
Family days are where Brisbane shines: the CityCat to New Farm Park, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with a Mount Coot-tha picnic, the free splash parks at South Bank and the river parks in summer, and the day-trip beaches within an hour. The membership trick — zoo, museum, and Sciencentre annual passes — makes the school holidays affordable.