Travel Packages to Brisbane, Australia

Discover Brisbane's Wonders

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is a vibrant city known for its sunny weather, lush parks, and thriving arts and dining scenes along the Brisbane River.

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Description

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, affectionately known as the Sunshine State, is arguably the world's most chilled-out city. The locals' friendly and upbeat demeanour is infectious, which, given their enviable lifestyle, is hardly surprising. A treasure trove of experiences, Brisbane is ready to be explored. The Central Business District (CBD) serves up a fast-paced atmosphere, but if you crave a dose of creativity, head to the contemporary arts hub — The Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm. How about dining with a side of city views at South Bank? Then for a nightcap, venture to the hip bars nestled in Fortitude Valley and West End. Fancy catching the sunrise? Paddle your kayak on the Brisbane River. Alternatively, unwind at South Bank's inner-city beach, the only one of its kind in Australia. For the thrill-seekers, rock climbing at Kangaroo Point Cliffs offers unparalleled views of the Story Bridge and city skyline. Finally, when it's time to take it easy, saunter over to Woolloongabba. Here you can sit back and partake in some spectator sports, an activity that Queenslanders just can't get enough of!

Useful information

Population:

2.6 million (2022)

Currency:

Australian Dollar (AUD) $1 = 100 cents

Emergency Info:

Police, fire & ambulance: 000
Poisons Information: +61 13 11 26

Opening Hours:

City retailers trade Monday to Thursday 9am–6pm, Friday 9am–9pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am–5pm

Do & See

Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo was opened in 1970 by Bob and Lyn Irwin, Steve Irwin's parents. Steve Irwin and his wife aimed to make the Zoo a wildlife conservation facility that is second to no other. Australia Zoo is the place to see a crocodile up close without getting eaten.

Book a Wine Tasting Tour

Of course, you could get all the best Australian wines without leaving Brisbane's city limits, but what could be better than meeting the people whose hands made the wine and taking in the atmosphere of a lush winery. Book a tour or get into a car with a designated driver, and don't forget to pack a picnic basket. We suggest heading south to discover the Scenic Rim’s wine, beer and spirit makers.

Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha

The original Botanical Gardens were established in 1855 and were located on Alice Street on the south-east side of the city. Due to the proximity to the river, the gardens have been flooded eight times which lead to the new botanical gardens at Mount Coot-tha. Don't miss the Tropical Display Dome — a large geodesic dome.

Brisbane City Markets

Brisbane City Markets deliver a premium selection of gourmet food and ingredients. Browse artisan goods, buy some premium meats and trawler-direct seafood, or bite into a freshly baked loaf of bread. The original market at Reddacliff Place is a favourite for city workers, local residents and tourists. The second location at Cathedral Square is smaller in size, but is more heavily focused on quality street food.

CityHopper

Brisbane City Council is runnings a free inner city ferry line called CityHopper. The tiny red boats cruise between six stops in central Brisbane between North Quay and Sydney Street, New Farm. The service runs every 30 minutes.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Less publicized, but no less astounding, the sanctuary is home to the world’s largest collection of Australian native animals. It was designated as a world heritage site in 2009. Check out their website to choose from a variety of experiences and encounters available.

Fairy Light Trees

Here and there around the inner city, you will find secluded fig trees covered in fairy lights. Perfect location for a romantic moment or a little photoshoot. Check out Brisbane City Council's City of Lights interactive map to discover the lighting installations that illuminate the city every evening.

Gallery Of Modern Art (QAGOMA)

Brisbane’s Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art are the largest, modern and contemporary art galleries in Australia. The complex is situated at the Kurilpa Point on the Brisbane River.

Dining

Chu The Phat

Chu The Phat (pun intended) is an upbeat contemporary restaurant and bar on Fish Lane, South Brisbane’s up-and-coming dining hotspot. Their menu is inspired by the Asian street food hawker stalls of Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. Try their a la carte dining options and lunch specials.

Corbett & Claude

Corbett & Claude is hidden away in a laneway basement, underneath the the heritage-listed Corbett Chambers. This modern and elegant in its simplicity space is popular with the young crowd, sipping trademark cocktails, enjoying the cold beer on tap and browsing the wine list. Signature pizzas leap out of the oven at breakneck speed.

CRU Bar & Cellar

CRU is an impeccably stylish bar and restaurant, and a hotspot for celebrity spotting. The food is made with the finest Australian ingredients and the dining hall is bathed in natural light. Come here for a cocktail or for an elaborate multi-course meal expertly paired with a bottle of wine.

Gambaro Seafood Restaurant

Gambaro first opened back in 1953 and remains one of Brisbane’s oldest seafood restaurants. This award-winning establishment focuses on getting the best locally sourced produce whenever possible. Through the use of candlelight and sheer curtains between tables, the dining room is intimate and airy at the same time. It is a perfect environment to dine on the freshest Mud Crab, Green Lobster, and Tasmanian oysters.

Gerard’s Bistro

Dishes from Africa, Europe and the Middle East in a chic dining room with a 3D timber wall. Every city should be so lucky as to have a bistro like Gerard's. Onions are charred, eggplant is blackened over flames and jars of pumpkin are patiently left to ferment inside Gerard's busy open kitchen. All are elements for Ben Williamson's menu, a beguiling mash-up of Middle Eastern and modern Australian cuisines. We recommend Williamson's funky Époisses and fermented mushroom dust mousse covering smoky eggplant purée, petals of baby onion filled with housemade pig's blood morcilla with sweetly smoky onion juice consommé. It's intensely aromatic and a dish of pure joy. A visit to Gerard's brings together inventive and beautifully executed food with a strong list of international wines to complement. Gerard’s menu is designed to be shared along with our carefully curated wine list to enhance the experience.

Grown

While you are exploring the foodie central West End, check out Grown — a completely plant-based vegan restaurant that uses ingredients sourced from no more than 400km from Brisbane. Their skilled use of flavours and textures are sure to satisfy and delight even the most meat-loving guests. The coffee is excellent, too.

Julius Pizzeria

Julius Pizzeria serves authentic wood-fired pizza and Italian dishes in a rustic atmosphere. The restaurant is always busy, however their food is definitely worth the wait for a table. If you are lucky, you will get a table close to the kitchen and see how your food is prepared.

Malt Dining

The atmosphere at this loft style restaurant is warm, relaxed and is perfect for an intimate dinner or a wedding reception alike. Have a delicious drink at the 10-meter Tasmanian oak bar after your luxurious, almost-to-good-to-be-true dinner.

Cafés

Andonis Cafe & Bar

Andonis Cafe & Bar in Yeerongpilly offers a sleek vibe with a spacious patio. Enjoy all-day breakfast, gourmet burgers, and vegetarian options. Locally roasted coffee, craft beer and unique cocktails complete the menu.

At Sixes & Sevens

Sixes and Sevens in New Farm is a trendy gastropub in a charming 1878 cottage. Enjoy cosy nooks, outdoor seating, and modern Australian fare. Popular for its relaxed vibe, it offers craft beer, cider, and delicious dishes like ocean trout ceviche. Perfect for casual hangouts or gatherings, this spot combines old-world charm with a contemporary touch.

Blackstar Coffee Roasters

Blackstar is a cozy bar and roaster serving cold pressed coffee and espresso brewed from single-origin beans roasted in-house. It is a great place to get your morning dose of caffeine, get some work done, and have a delicious brunch or brekkie. Burgers and poached eggs come highly recommended.

Grown

Marchetti Cafe

Marchetti Cafe serves authentic Italian coffee and wine as well as a selection of breakfast and lunch options. The historic Tattersall’s Arcade gives the cafe a charming flair. Try Nonna's Veal Meatballs for a taste of Italy in Australia.

Microlot Coffee House

Right next to the Hawthorne park, there's a quaint little cafe serving delicious morning brews with a small selection of snacks, pastries, gruyere cheese and fried eggs on brioche, and rye bread sandwiches. They get their beans fresh from Colombia and roast on site.

Salt Coffee Roasters

Salt Coffee Roasters an elegant espresso bar with an in-house roastery. Spend the morning in their picture-perfect interior that flawlessly combines emerald green furniture with millennial pink walls, polished concrete floors and a long leather wall seat with marble bistro tables. Salt serves a list of classic caffeine hits and more experimental cold drips and pourovers that really showcase the complexity and delicate character of their beans. Of course, they serve all the brunch staples including avocado toast and crumpets.

Sassafras of Paddington

This restaurant serves vegetarian and vegan food. The lush garden courtyard is perfect for an iced coffee. Sassafras is Australian for "place of many delicious and quirky things", at least according to their own definition.

Bars & Nightlife

Breakfast Creek Hotel

The Breakfast Creek is famous for its steaks, not only because they are delicious but you can choose the meat before it’s cooked. Come here on a Sunday for their session lunch, live music and an afternoon in the sun. The pub The Brekky Creek is located here and serves beer 'off the wood' or out of wooden casks.

Embassy Bar & Kitchen

Embassy Bar & Kitchen is a hidden gem serving great food and beer for a reasonable price. The menu offers an excellent selection of domestic craft and imported beers along with hearty pub grub.

Laruche

This award-winning venue with quirky decor is located in the heart of Fortitude Valley. It opened its door in 2009, and ever since it has attracted the young and beautiful. Here you can indulge in one of the signature cocktails and dance the night away on the dance floor.

Lychee Lounge

This is a very intimate hipster hideaway with great cocktails. Its interior with red lighting serves as a popular spot for pre-clubbing drinks and meals, but you can also come here for lunch.

Norman Hotel

The Norman is a good place to meet a cross-section of Brisbane society. It is a custom for those attending matches at The Gabba to get a pre-match steak. There are two bars here, the new Norman’s Bar and the traditional Sports Bar. Busy steakhouse serving cuts of Queensland beef in a converted old hotel with outdoor beer garden.

Riverbar & Kitchen

Come for the stunning views of the Story Bridge and stay for the cocktails and the equally tasty Asian Fusion menu that includes burgers, fish and chips, and dumplings.

Story Bridge Hotel

Story Bridge Hotel is a Brisbane stalwart. Its existence is intrinsically linked with The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba, but it’s probably best known for hosting the Australia Day cockroach races. You’ll find three different bars here: the Shelter, the Corner Bar, and the Outback bar. All of them have plenty of cocktails and ice cold beer to offer.

The Beat Megaclub

The Beat Megaclub is one of Brisbanes favourite LGBTQI nightclubs that has been around for over 35 years. There is live entertainment every night with DJs, live acts, and drag shows. Check out their Instagram page to see what's on.

Shopping

Avid Reader Bookshop & Cafe

This bookshop is a favourite among locals and visitors alike and houses an array of books, CDs and DVDs. There is also a mini café here where you can sip a cup of coffee while reading a book or attend a literary event. There is a children’s corner for kids too.

Brookside Shopping Centre

Brookside Shopping Centre is located less than ten kilometres north-west of the Brisbane CBD. It opened in 1971 as one of the first major shopping centres in Brisbane's northern suburbs. Stores you will find here are Bras 'N' Things, Millers, Zelows, Ruby & Tiffany and Bellrose Jewellers.

Camp Hill Antique Centre

Camp Hill Antique Centre is an indoor market that stocks a great range of unique homewares. They also have jewellery, potteries and ceramics and a vast selection of vintage clothing from the twenties to the nineties. Visit their quaint diner called Tart Cafe for locavore eats.

Fortitude Valley

Beyond the CBD, it's worth taking a look at Ann Street, Bakery Lane and James Street in Fortitude Valley, where you'll find a mix of boho-chic and ultra-trendy boutiques.

Jan Powers Farmers Markets

Every Saturday at the Powerhouse in New Farm, check out the Farmers Markets where you can pick up Queensland’s finest pineapples and mangos, freshly caught seafood or just-picked vegetables. The farmers bring their goods to the markets literally on the back of their trucks. Open from dawn till around lunchtime but, for the best experience, be early to get the best produce and avoid the heat.

Local Designers

If you leave the Queen Street Mall and head down Edward Street towards the river, you’ll find more Australian designer. Continue up Elizabeth Street and you’ll find many of the up-and-coming designer stores. Elizabeth Street is also a great place to try some Korean food before or after browsing the stores all day.

QueensPlaza

QueensPlaza is where a host of home-grown talents such as Herringbone of Sydney and Alannah Hill take pride of place. Take a short stroll and you’ll also find the likes of Max Mara, Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co.

South Bank Collective Markets

This is one of Brisbane’s largest and most comprehensive markets. At the South Bank Collective Markets, you will find local crafts, jewellery, clothes, unique artworks, and home decor objects.

Tourist Information

Best Time To Visit

Since March to May are the autumn months in Australia, it is best to visit Brisbane during that time. You will avoid holiday crowds while still being able to enjoy the warm weather and a low chance of rain. Temperatures will generally be around 24°C.

Passport/Visa

Unless you are a New Zealand citizen granted visa exemption on arrival (in most cases), you will need to obtain a visa prior to visiting Australia. Citizens of all European Union countries, as well as Andorra, Norway, Iceland, San Marino, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Vatican City are eligible for an eVisitor visa, which can be applied for online. For citizens of the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Brunei, South Korea and Malaysia, the Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) entry permit is available, which can be applied for online and grants holders the right to enter Australia an unlimited amount of times for stays of no longer than 3 months per visit. Citizens of other countries (with the exception of Somalia) are also able to apply for a visitor visa online. For more information, visit the official website of the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs.

Brisbane Airport (BNE)

Brisbane Airport is located 13 kilometres from the city centre, approximately 15-20 minutes away by car. Trains run every 30 minutes between 6am and 8pm. The journey takes 20 minutes and pre-booking is available.

Public Transport

A free bus service runs around the City (CBD). Look for the distinctive red busses and the red signposted bus stops. Tickets for the TransLink network can be bought from vending machines. Weekly tickets are valid throughout South East Queensland. Buses are low floor, and Citytrain offer assistance with wheelchairs.

Taxi

Uber, Ola, DiDi, Lyft and GoCatch ridesharing apps are used in Brisbane. Rates vary with the actual locations, traffic conditions, time of day and the route chosen. Save on fares by sharing a Maxi-taxi from special ranks in the CBD and in the Valley. Wheelchair accessible taxis are available. At night, secure ranks operate in the CBD, the Valley and Caxton Street. Black & White Cabs: +61 13 32 22 13cabs: 13 22 27

Electricity

Australia operates on a 230/240V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency. The country uses Type I power plugs, which feature two flat pins forming a 'V' shape, along with a grounding pin. This standard is also commonly used in New Zealand, Argentina, China, and several Pacific island nations. Remember to pack a universal adapter if your devices use a different plug type to ensure hassle-free charging.

Ferries

Brisbane’s ferries, known as CityCats, are one of the most enjoyable ways to explore the city, perfect for sightseeing and accessing key spots. You will need a Go Card to travel on a CityCat or Cross River ferry. CityHopper ferries are free and allow you to get around the inner city.

Pharmacy

In Brisbane, and Australia more broadly, there are several major pharmacy chains where you can pick up over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs, personal care items, and more. The major pharmacy chains are Chemist Warehouse, TerryWhite Chemmart, Priceline Pharmacy, Amcal, Blooms The Chemist and Capital Chemist. It's always worth checking the opening hours as these can vary, especially on weekends and public holidays.

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