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BRISBANE

Subtropical river city with rooftop bars, koala sanctuaries, and gateway to the Gold Coast. 35 curated spots.

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Arts

Culture & Arts

World-class galleries, live music venues, and a thriving street art scene along the river.

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Culture & History

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

Australia's largest modern art gallery. Free permanent collection. Stunning riverside building at South Bank. Rotating blockbuster exhibitions. Allow 2 hours. Adjacent to Queensland Art Gallery.

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Queensland Art Gallery
Culture & History

Queensland Art Gallery

Companion to GOMA. Australian and international art from colonial to contemporary. Free entry. The water mall connecting both galleries is architecturally stunning. Allow 1.5 hours.

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Queensland Museum & Sciencentre
Culture & History

Queensland Museum & Sciencentre

Natural history, cultural heritage, and interactive science centre. Free entry (Sciencentre $16). The dinosaur garden outside is free. South Bank. Great for families. 2 hours.

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Brisbane Powerhouse
Culture & History

Brisbane Powerhouse

Converted power station on the river. Theatre, comedy, art exhibitions, and live music. New Farm Park location is beautiful. Check what's on, always something interesting. Bar on-site.

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Museum of Brisbane
Culture & History

Museum of Brisbane

City Hall's clock tower has free tours (book online). Museum explores Brisbane's stories, free entry. The observation deck gives 360° views. Heritage-listed building. 1 hour.

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Taste

Food & Coffee

Subtropical brunch culture, Asian fusion, craft coffee, and riverside dining.

Eat Street Northshore
Food & Drink

Eat Street Northshore

Weekend container market on the wharf. 70+ food stalls from around the world. Live music, fairy lights, and waterfront setting. Fri-Sun evenings. $5 entry. Budget $15-30 for food.

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Howard Smith Wharves
Districts

Howard Smith Wharves

Restored heritage wharves under Story Bridge. Craft breweries (Felons), restaurants, and riverside bars. Free to wander. The view of the bridge from below is stunning. Best at sunset.

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James Street Precinct
Food & Drink

James Street Precinct

Fortitude Valley's upscale strip. Restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and galleries. Geraldo's for gelato, Same Same for Thai. Saturday mornings are buzzing. Brisbane's style capital.

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Sunny Daze Café
Food & Drink

Sunny Daze Café

West End institution. Excellent coffee, acai bowls, and all-day breakfast. Boundary Street. The outdoor seating is perfect in Brisbane's subtropical weather. Budget $15-25.

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Gauge
Food & Drink

Gauge

Modern Australian tasting menu in Fortitude Valley. Seasonal, local ingredients. One of Brisbane's best fine dining experiences. $80-120 for tasting menu. Book ahead.

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Montrachet
Food & Drink

Montrachet

French bistro at Bowen Hills. Award-winning wine list, duck confit, and steak frites. Smart casual. Budget $40-70. Brisbane's most elegant French dining. Book for dinner.

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Happy Boy
Food & Drink

Happy Boy

Modern Chinese in Fortitude Valley. Dumplings, roast duck, and cocktails. Lively atmosphere, neon-lit interior. Budget $25-45. No bookings, queue at peak times.

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After Dark

Nightlife & Bars

Rooftop bars, Valley nightclubs, craft breweries, and live music every night.

Felons Brewing Co
Food & Drink

Felons Brewing Co

Craft brewery at Howard Smith Wharves. River views, excellent IPAs, and pizza from the wood-fired oven. The location under Story Bridge is unbeatable. Budget $20-40.

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Fortitude Valley
Nightlife

Fortitude Valley

Brisbane's entertainment hub. The Valley has everything: clubs, live music, cocktail bars, and late-night eats. James Street for upscale, Brunswick Street for grungy. Safe and walkable.

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Mr Percival's
Woolly Mammoth
Food & Drink

Woolly Mammoth

Three levels of fun in Fortitude Valley. Alehouse, cocktail bar, and live music venue. Craft beer selection is excellent. Budget $15-25. Late night on weekends.

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The Gresham
Food & Drink

The Gresham

Heritage-listed building with 800+ whiskies. Brisbane's best whisky bar. Dark wood, leather chairs, and expert bartenders. Queen Street CBD. Cocktails $18-24. Smart casual.

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Wild

Nature & Wildlife

Lone Pine koalas, river kayaking, Mount Coot-tha lookout, and Moreton Bay dolphins.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Experiences

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

World's first and largest koala sanctuary. Hold a koala ($30 photo), hand-feed kangaroos, see platypus. $46 entry. 30 min from CBD by bus or river cruise. Allow 2-3 hours. Essential.

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Mount Coot-tha Lookout
Nature & Outdoors

Mount Coot-tha Lookout

Best panoramic view of Brisbane, river, and Moreton Bay. Free. Sunset is stunning. Botanic Gardens at the base (free, 56 hectares). Café at the top. 15 min drive from CBD.

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South Bank Parklands
Nature & Outdoors

South Bank Parklands

Free man-made beach and lagoon in the city centre. Rainforest walk, riverside promenade, weekend markets, and the iconic Brisbane sign. Streets Beach is free. Allow half day.

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Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Nature & Outdoors

Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Rock climbing, abseiling, and stunning river views. Free park with BBQs. Night-lit cliffs are dramatic. Kayak from here along the river. The Story Bridge frames the skyline perfectly.

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Roma Street Parkland
Nature & Outdoors

Roma Street Parkland

World's largest subtropical garden in a city centre. 16 hectares, free entry. The Spectacle Garden is beautiful. Picnic areas, walking trails, and hidden art installations. 1-2 hours.

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Moreton Island
Day Trips

Moreton Island

Sand island with crystal-clear water. Tangalooma dolphin feeding (wild dolphins at sunset!), sand tobogganing, snorkelling shipwrecks. Ferry 75 min. Day trip or overnight. $50+ ferry.

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Do

Experiences

Bridge climbs, river paddles, markets, and cultural walks.

Story Bridge Adventure Climb
Experiences

Story Bridge Adventure Climb

Climb Brisbane's iconic cantilever bridge. Dawn, day, twilight, and night climbs. 2 hours, from $139. 360° views of the city, river, and mountains. Brisbane's BridgeClimb equivalent.

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CityCat River Cruise
Experiences

CityCat River Cruise

Public ferry that doubles as a scenic cruise. $6 for a trip along the Brisbane River. Hop on/off at South Bank, New Farm, Lone Pine. Best public transport sightseeing in Australia.

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Kayaking the Brisbane River
Experiences

Kayaking the Brisbane River

Paddle past Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Story Bridge, and the city skyline. Night kayak tours are magical with lit-up cliffs. From $69. 2 hours. Riverlife at Kangaroo Point.

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Explore

Neighbourhoods

Fortitude Valley's energy, West End's bohemia, and New Farm's tree-lined streets.

West End
Districts

West End

Brisbane's bohemian quarter. Boundary Street has multicultural restaurants, vintage shops, and weekend markets. Davies Park Saturday Market for organic produce. Walkable and eclectic.

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New Farm
Districts

New Farm

Leafy riverside suburb. New Farm Park (jacaranda season is stunning), Powerhouse arts venue, cafes, and Brisbane Riverwalk. Brisbane's most liveable neighbourhood. Walk or bike.

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Fortitude Valley & Chinatown
Districts

Fortitude Valley & Chinatown

Brisbane's Chinatown Mall for dumplings and bubble tea. Valley Markets on weekends. Street art, nightlife, and James Street boutiques. The creative engine of Brisbane.

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Paddington
Districts

Paddington

Hilly suburb with Queenslander houses on stilts. Latrobe Terrace antique shops, weekend brunch spots, and Rosalie village. Charming and residential. Great for a morning walk.

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South Bank
Districts

South Bank

Cultural precinct across the river from CBD. GOMA, Queensland Museum, Streets Beach, and the Wheel of Brisbane. Weekend markets. The Arbour walkway is covered in bougainvillea. Free.

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Shop

Shopping & Markets

Weekend markets, vintage finds, designer boutiques, and James Street precinct.

James Street Market
Shopping

James Street Market

Boutique shopping precinct. Australian fashion designers, homewares, and specialty food. Saturday mornings are the best time. Combine with breakfast at one of the cafes.

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Davies Park Market
Shopping

Davies Park Market

Saturday morning market in West End. Organic produce, street food, handmade crafts, and live music. Free entry. The most local market in Brisbane. Budget $10-30.

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Escape

Day Trips

Gold Coast beaches, Moreton Island sand dunes, and Tamborine Mountain rainforest.

Gold Coast Beaches
Day Trips

Gold Coast Beaches

1 hour south. Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, and Coolangatta. Theme parks (Movie World, Sea World). Hinterland waterfalls. The most famous beach strip in Australia.

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Tamborine Mountain
Day Trips

Tamborine Mountain

Rainforest walks, Gallery Walk (art & craft shops), Witches Falls, and glow worm caves. 1 hour from Brisbane. The Skywalk through the canopy is worth it ($20). Cool mountain retreat.

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