Brisbane destination guide
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland, in South East Queensland, and the Bureau of Meteorology counts it among Australia's subtropical places. The CityCat ferries that run between The University of Queensland at St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton have open decks for sightseeing.
A first visit can take in the galleries and museum at South Bank, the lookouts and Botanic Gardens on Mt Coot-tha, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and a boat out to Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) or Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). Trains from the city also reach the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
What to see and do in Brisbane
South Bank: the galleries and the museum
The Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (together, QAGOMA) stand 150 metres apart on Stanley Place, South Brisbane, next to South Bank Parklands. QAGOMA is open daily from 10am to 5pm, from 12 noon on Anzac Day (25 April), and closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Its buildings include a Children's Art Centre at the Gallery of Modern Art, and a cinema.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa is on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets, South Bank. The museum is open 9:30am to 5pm daily and 1:30pm to 5pm on Anzac Day (25 April), and closed on Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
South Bank Parklands' own site points visitors to Streets Beach, The Wheel of Brisbane and The Collective Markets. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and Fish Lane for street art and eateries, are among South Bank's neighbours.
Mt Coot-tha and the Botanic Gardens
Mt Coot-tha is 7 kilometres from the central business district (CBD) by Tourism and Events Queensland's measure, with hiking trails to views, waterfalls and wildlife spotting. Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, at 152 Mount Coot-tha Road, is open every day from 8am to 6pm between September and March and from 8am to 5pm between April and August. The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium stands in the gardens' grounds.
The gardens' Ring Road and Botanic Way are closed to vehicles on weekends, on public holidays and on weekdays from 4pm. Domesticated animals are not permitted at any time, except guide and assistance dogs. The Visitor Information Centre opens from 9am to 4pm daily, except Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, at 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, is 12 kilometres from the CBD by the operator's measure and was established in 1927. It is open every day from 9am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.
CityCat ferries do not travel to Lone Pine. The sanctuary names Brisbane City Council bus routes 430 (from Ann Street) and 445 (from Wickham Terrace), a taxi, or a river cruise run by Koala & River Cruises.
The river by CityCat
Visit Brisbane says the CityCats connect South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, Kangaroo Point, Eagle Street Pier, New Farm Park, Northshore Hamilton and The University of Queensland at St Lucia. The CityCats have wheelchair and pram access, toilet facilities on board and open decks.
Neighbourhoods and other things to do
Tourism and Events Queensland points visitors to Fortitude Valley, West End, New Farm, Teneriffe and Newstead, and in the CBD to Howard Smith Wharves, Queen's Wharf, Roma Street Parklands and Queen Street Mall. Its list of things to do takes in kayaking on the Brisbane River, abseiling the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb and Eat Street Northshore.
Weather and events in Brisbane
Tourism and Events Queensland says Brisbane has its highest rainfall in summer (December to February). It describes autumn as having low humidity and less rain, winter as generally dry and mild, and spring as a season of warm, sunny days.
On 6 October 2026 the Queensland Police Service said the state was entering its Higher-Risk Weather Season, naming fires, cyclones, flooding, storm surge and severe storms as the hazards.
Riverfire
Riverfire is the fireworks event that starts Brisbane Festival, and the festival gives Saturday 4 September as the date of Riverfire in 2027. The Brisbane Festival Riverfire page lists the 2026 road, bridge and river closures.
The Ekka and its public holiday
The Ekka (the Royal Queensland Show) is held at the Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills. People's Day is a show holiday and public holiday in the Brisbane area only, and each region has its own show holiday. The Ekka calls People's Day its most popular day, with large crowds.
Flying to Brisbane
Brisbane Airport (BNE) has a Domestic Terminal and an International Terminal, four kilometres apart. Airtrain runs to Brisbane City and the Gold Coast.
Queensland does not observe daylight saving, while New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory do, according to the New South Wales (NSW) Government.
Direct flights recorded from Brisbane Airport go to the places below, with the airlines recorded on each route. Schedules change, so check with the airline before planning around a route.
| Destination | Airlines recorded |
|---|---|
| Adelaide | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Albury | Qantas, Alliance Airlines |
| Alice Springs | Qantas |
| Armidale | Link Airways |
| Barcaldine | Qantas |
| Biloela | Link Airways |
| Blackall | Qantas |
| Bundaberg | Link Airways, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Cairns | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Canberra | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Charleville | Rex |
| Coffs Harbour | Link Airways |
| Darwin | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Dubbo | Link Airways |
| Emerald | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Gladstone | Qantas, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia |
| Hamilton Island | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Hervey Bay | Qantas |
| Hobart | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Inverell | Link Airways |
| Launceston | Jetstar, Virgin Australia |
| Longreach | Qantas |
| Mackay | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Melbourne (Melbourne Airport) | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Melbourne (Avalon Airport) | Jetstar |
| Moranbah | Qantas, Alliance Airlines |
| Mount Isa | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Newcastle | Jetstar, Qantas, Alliance Airlines, Virgin Australia |
| Norfolk Island | Qantas |
| Orange | Link Airways, Virgin Australia |
| Perth | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Port Macquarie | Qantas |
| Proserpine (Whitsunday Coast Airport) | Jetstar, Virgin Australia |
| Rockhampton | Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Roma | Rex |
| Sydney | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Tamworth | Link Airways, Virgin Australia |
| Toowoomba (Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport) | Rex |
| Townsville | Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin Australia |
| Uluru (Ayers Rock Airport) | Virgin Australia |
| Wagga Wagga | Qantas |
Getting around Brisbane
Translink is the city's public transport system, with buses, trains and CityCat ferries integrated in one network. You can tap on and off with a contactless credit or debit card, including one stored in a phone's digital wallet, or use a go card bought at selected retailers, online or through the Translink app. Visit Brisbane names Central Station and Roma Street Station as the rail hubs, and the Brisbane Metro links Eight Mile Plains with Roma Street.
Brisbane City Council runs the all-stops CityCat daily between The University of Queensland at St Lucia and Northshore Hamilton, with express CityCats in weekday peak periods. Its Cross River ferries include Bulimba to Teneriffe, Dockside to Sydney Street and Holman Street to Riverside. On CityCats and ferries you can tap on and off with a Visa or Mastercard contactless card or a smart device, go cards are still accepted, and pre-paid paper tickets cannot be bought on board.
Dogs may ride CityCats and ferries during off-peak times (8.30am to 3.30pm and 7pm to 6am on weekdays, and all day on weekends), on a lead and muzzled or in an enclosed carrier, and outside the cabin. Bikes and scooters travel at the discretion of the vessel's master.
Visit Brisbane names Black & White Cabs and 13cabs for taxis, Uber, DiDi, Ola and Shebah for rideshare, and Lime, Neuron and Beam for e-scooters. It says you can drive in Queensland on a valid Australian or foreign licence, carrying an official English translation if the licence is in another language, and that traffic drives on the left.
Long-distance trains from Brisbane
Queensland Rail Travel's Spirit of Queensland runs along the coast between Brisbane and Cairns, the Tilt Train between Brisbane, Bundaberg and Rockhampton, the Spirit of the Outback between Brisbane and Longreach, and the Westlander from Brisbane and Toowoomba to Charleville. Transport for NSW says its XPT regional trains operate between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Dubbo, Grafton and Casino.
Side trips from Brisbane
Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) puts Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) 40 kilometres offshore from Brisbane, reached by ferry, barge or boat. Barges and ferries for vehicles and passengers run daily, with extra services in school holidays and on long weekends, and bookings are essential.
QPWS says a four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle is essential for driving on the island, and that all-wheel-drive vehicles without true 4WD function and low-clearance vehicles are not suitable. Vehicles must be registered and carry a valid Moreton Island Recreation Area vehicle access permit. QPWS advises against driving two hours either side of high tide, and often for longer, and against travelling at night.
QPWS says there are no patrolled swimming areas on the island, and it advises against swimming in the ocean, where there may be rips and sharks. The QPWS Mulgumpin visiting safely page sets out the driving rules.
Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)
Vehicle ferries and a water taxi link Cleveland and Redland Bay with Dunwich on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). QPWS gives 25 minutes by water taxi and about 50 minutes by ferry, and SeaLink runs vehicle and passenger ferries daily from Cleveland. A public bus meets the ferries and water taxis, and QPWS says most sightseeing attractions are on sealed roads in the north of the island.
Driving on Flinders Beach and Main Beach in the Minjerribah Recreation Area needs a 4WD, and beach access and beach driving are not permitted from one hour before to one hour after high tide. Motorbikes are not permitted on unsealed tracks and beaches in Naree Budjong Djara National Park and the recreation area. Camping and vehicle access permits are booked through Minjerribah Camping.
The Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast
Visit Brisbane says the train network reaches Ipswich, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast from the city. By road, Tourism and Events Queensland says the Bruce Highway links Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and the Pacific Motorway runs south to the Gold Coast.
Brisbane questions
Does Brisbane observe daylight saving?
Queensland does not observe daylight saving, according to the NSW Government's page on which states and territories do.
Can you take a CityCat to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane?
The sanctuary says CityCat ferries do not travel to Lone Pine. It names council bus routes 430 and 445, a taxi, or a Koala & River Cruises boat.
Do you need a 4WD on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)?
For driving on the island, QPWS says a 4WD is essential, and vehicles need a Moreton Island Recreation Area vehicle access permit. It also advises against driving two hours either side of high tide.
When is Brisbane's wettest season?
Tourism and Events Queensland says Brisbane has its highest rainfall in summer, from December to February, and describes the winter as generally dry and mild.
Is the Ekka public holiday for all of Queensland?
The Ekka says People's Day is a public holiday in the Brisbane area only, and that each region has its own show holiday.