Must do things in and around Brisbane
See all of Brisbane
Brisbane Lookout at Mt Coot-tha
Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-tha Lookout, Mount Coot-tha, Queensland 4066
Just a short drive from UQ you will find a remarkable vantage point to view Brisbane and beyond. The Mount Coot-tha Lookout sits within Brisbane Forest Park, and on a clear day, you can see from Brisbane City through to Moreton Bay. A favourite for night viewing especially during fireworks when visitors enjoy the city lights and star-lit skies.
Taste the world’s cuisine
Eat Street
221D MacArthur Ave, Hamilton QLD 4007
Eat Street transformed an old disused container wharf, into a gastronomic adventure land featuring delicious international street food as well as beers and wine. Live music adds to the experience while dining beside the Brisbane River. Open every Friday & Saturday night - 4pm to 10pm. Entry fee is $2.50 for adults.
Experience the beach in the city
South Bank
South Bank Parklands, South Brisbane QLD 4101
South Bank is a must do on any visitors list of cultural and lifestyle experiences. Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, South Bank is 17 hectares of parklands, dining, and culture mixed with outdoor spaces. Take a swim at Streets Beach while overlooking the city, shop at the markets at night, enjoy a free dance or fitness lesson or spend the day in the Museum or one of the world class galleries.
See a Koala
A trip to Australia would not be complete without meeting a Koala. Brisbane is very lucky to have a few options to get up close with these fluffy animals.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket QLD 4069
Lone Pine is the world's largest koala sanctuary with 130 koalas. The sanctuary has hands-on experiences and presentations with 100 different species and has free roaming Kangaroos.
Daisy Hill Koala Centre
Daisy Hill Conservation Park, Regional Park, 253 Daisy Hill Rd, Daisy Hill QLD 4127
Nestled within the leafy confines of the Daisy Hill Conservation Park, this small education centre is a great way to learn about the threat to one of our country’s cutest animals while also getting up close and personal with our furry friends.
Explore our city’s parks
City Botanic Gardens
Alice St, Brisbane City QLD 4000 
This landmark city botanical garden offers an array of plant life, ponds, and picnic areas overlooking the Brisbane River. A self-guided walk outlines historical sites as well as some of Queensland’s botanic marvels.
Mount Coo-tha Botanic Gardens
Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong QLD 4066
A short bus trip from UQ, find one of the world's greatest sub-tropical 
gardens and if you walk to the top, one of the best views of Brisbane. The Mount Coot-tha BotanicGardens includes a Japanese garden, a bonsai house, the largest collection of Australian native rainforest in the world, a huge tropical greenhouse and a large cafe. Take a free guided tour.
Get up-close with a whale
Whale watching
Every year majestic humpback whales migrate to the warm tropical waters of Queensland via the South East Queensland coast. Take a cruise and see these amazing creatures out in the open water or grab a vantage point from land on North Stradbroke Island where pods of dolphins are regularly seen.
See the southern sky
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Mount Coot-Tha Rd, Toowong QLD 4066
Located within Brisbane's Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, the Planetarium is the home of the Cosmic Skydome, a 12.5-metre-diameter projection dome. Make sure you take a tour of Brisbane’s night sky with astronomers and learn about the Southern Cross.
Take a hike
Within an hour or two’s drive from Brisbane are some incredible National Parks to take hikes. Ranging from relatively easy tracks through to more intensive climbs.
Parks that show the beauty of South East Queensland’s nature include:
- Mt Tambourine.
- Springwood Conservation Park.
- Kondalilla Falls National Park.
- D'Aguilar National Park.
- Lamington National Park.
- Mt Coot-tha.
- Springbrook National Park.
https://www.theurbanlist.com/brisbane/a-list/we-love-these-epic-hikes-around-brisbane
Swim with the past
Spring Hill Baths
14 Torrington St, Spring Hill QLD 4000
Built in 1886 this heritage listed swimming pool is the oldest surviving swimming baths in the southern hemisphere and was the first in-ground pool in Brisbane. Pop in for an inner-city swim and enjoy the cute old school charm.
Day Trips
Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217
Theme parks, surfing, great food and shopping. The Gold Coast is an action-packed day trip just one hour drive from Brisbane. The Gold Coast has more than 57 kilometres of sandy beaches overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Head to Surfers Paradise and grab an ice cream while overlooking the beach. Great surfing can also be found at The Spit or Mermaid Beach; you can even get lessons if you've always wanted to learn. If you need some retail therapy, the choices are unlimited with Village Markets on Sundays at Burleigh Heads, 500 stalls at Carrera Markets plus The Harbour Town outlet mall for some serious bargains.
The very popular Gold Coast theme parks feature something for everyone. Meet cartoon characters on Main Street at Warner Bros. Movie World, Splashdown at Wet’n’Wild, frolic with dolphins at Sea World or head to Dreamworld and experience its Big Eight thrill rides.
http://www.australia.com/en/places/gold-coast.html
Sunshine Coast
Montville and Maleny
Montville, QLD 4560
Maleny, QLD 4552
The Sunshine Coast Hinterland towns of Montville and Maleny are a great day trip to explore arts and crafts, book shops, antique stores as well as fantastic local restaurants.
Eumundi
Eumundi, QLD 4562
Saturday’s Eumundi Markets are huge, allow a few hours to explore the markets, which sell absolutely everything you can think of, from arts and crafts, clothes and toys to jewellery, fantastic food, crystals and more. Eumundi is also home to Berkelouw Books, the oldest bookseller in Australia as well as some delightful historic pubs.
Noosa
Noosa Heads, QLD 4567
A walk through beautiful Noosa should include famous Hastings Street, the boardwalk of stunning Noosa Beach and the remarkable scenery of the National Park and Laguna Bay. A relaxing way to see Noosa is a ferry trip along the beautiful Noosa River to the heart of Noosa. Noosa also has several superb surfing spots for those wanting to catch a wave. Experienced surfers will want to visit the headland section of the Noosa National Park, Sunshine Beach and Main Beach.
Tangalooma Island
Tangalooma, Moreton Island QLD 4025
Only a 75-minute catamaran cruise from Brisbane, Tangalooma Island has some incredible opportunities for visitors. Every day visitors can hand-feeding a pod of wild bottlenose dolphins and try daring adventures such as Desert Safari Tour and sand tobogganing.