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BRISBANE Must Do
Queensland’s capital, Brisbane is a great city with a lot to do and see. To help you out planning your itinerary, here is my selection of best activities and places to make the most of your time in the area.
For a day, a week or more; with a car, by bus, or just walking around, there is something for everyone!
1. Adventure, Relax & Shopping in the city
Climb the Story Bridge: did you know that there are only 3 bridges in the world you can climb?
Brisbane is one of those! Choose the late climb for scenic sunset views over the CBD, and river.
For the most adventurous, you can even climb and abseil the bridge : 30 meters…
More info : Here
Rate: $99 per adult - $119 for the Twilight Climb - $119 for the combo climb + abseil
Shop in the CBD: Queenstreet is the main shopping avenue, you will find many malls, shops and markets: the temptation is high to spend a lot of money…!
Sunbathe at Southbank and enjoy pubs, cafes and nice restaurants : my favourite part in the city, love the “fake beach” , the rainforest walk around and all the atmosphere. Visit the lifestyle market on week ends.
Kayak or SUP the river, climb rocks, bike, try the Segway: all these are possible with Riverlife Brisbane: the most difficult part: choose your adventure!
More info: Here
Catch the Free City Hopper for a slow journey along the river: you can hop on along the river and enjoy nice views of the CBD, jump off anywhere to explore a new part of Brisbane.
More info and routes: Here
2. Culture in the city and around
Meet friendly Brisbane locals who are passionate about their city and want you to have the best time. Go for a stroll with them, discover the city differently, immerse in its history and heritage. This is a free public service, just need to book in advance, say what you are interested in, how long you get!
There are more than 100 Greeter volunteers with more than 20 languages available:
How "Greet" is that?!
More info: Here
Get some culture and visit the GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art): an impressive design building with a free entry for the permanent collection. Until May 2014, don’t miss the exhibition “Falling Back to Earth” from the Chinese artist Cai Guo Qiang, really interesting.
More info: Here
Visit an Australian Icon : XXXX Brewery Tour: learn the history behind the truly iconic Australian beers, interactive and tasting at the end J
More info: Here / Rate: $27 per adult
3. Wildlife experiences
Daisy Hill Conservation Park:
30 minutes away from the CBD, come and learn more about the adorable Koalas. This is a Queensland Government education facility dedicated to koalas. The entry is free and you can watch Celeste, Faith and Elsa, the 3 females living at the centre. Ask the rangers about their habits and go for a walk in the 445 ha of open eucalypt forest. Just be aware that here you can’t cuddle them. This is not to be confused with a zoo.
Koala and river cruise / Lone Pine Sanctuary:
To see more Aussie wildlife, hug a koala, hand feed a kangaroo and enjoy a trip on the river at the same time, visit Lone Pine Sanctuary with Mirimar daily cruise! This is the first and largest koala sanctuary in the world with more than 130 koalas. I also like the Platypus display. Be aware that you can spend only 2 hours 30 in the park if you choose the return cruise tour, but this is a convenient option if you don’t have a car.
More info: Lone Pine Sanctuary / Koala and river cruise
$68 for the park entry + cruise
Australia Zoo: The famous Steve Irwin Zoo always proves to be a good day out, mixing it with Crocs, Koalas, Tigers and so much more! No car? Just book a tour with Greyhound Australia.
More info: Australia Zoo / Greyhound
Rate: $96 : return trip with Greyhound + entry to the Zoo ($59)
4. Island escapes
Moreton Island: come and explore the world 3rd largest sand island! Less known and busy than Fraser Island but as beautiful and stunning! Sandboard its dunes, snorkel its wrecks, book a quad bike or Segway tour, go off the beaten tracks with a 4WD trip. Swim in the lakes, chill on the pristine beaches: Moreton island has it all!! You can day trip it or spend the night. At Tangalooma resort, you can even hand feed wild dolphins.
My personal advice: don’t limit your visit at the Resort side,
Explore the island‘s backyard, which will blow your mind away!
A 4WD tour is a must do!
North Stradbroke Island “Straddie”: and this is the 2nd largest sand island in the world! Just next to Moreton Island, Straddie is accessible with a normal car, which is an important point when visiting!
The island has got some of the most spectacular scenery found anywhere in Australia. Enjoy the relaxed village atmosphere with a variety of cafes, restaurants and pubs.
Check out my earlier post about it:
5. Green getaways
Discover the Scenic Rim Region: Book a car and explore Brisbane’s backyard: go bushwalking in Mt Barney national park, enjoy a quiet stay far away from the busy city lifestyle at Mt Barney Lodge. Surrounded by birds, mountains and valleys, take in the stunning scenery. Ride a horse and experience a farm stay at Lillydale.
All this at less than 2 hour drive from the capital.
More info: Mt Barney NP
Where to stay...
Mt Baney Lodge:
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Innes & Tracey have different accommodation types on offer: camping, rustic cabins, Queenslander homesteads. Great place, awesome people!
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More info: Here
Lillydale Farm Stay:
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Enjoy a farm BBQ, milk the cows, feed baby animals and ride a horse, all this with a perfect view of Mt Barney!
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More info: Here
Wanting to go a bit further away?
Explore Bunya Mountains NP, three hours’ drive north-west of Brisbane. This is a very special place where you can see the world’s largest bunya pines (up to 40 meters with huge cones weighing about 8kg)! Enjoy peaceful walks in cool rainforest, relax in front of pristine waterfalls and be amazed by the wildlife: cute red-necked wallabies are seen everywhere, plenty of birds like the cat bird and it weird call or the satin bowerbird : a real treat!
More info: Bunya Mountains NP
Where to stay...
Bunya Mountains Accommodation:
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You can stay for the week end or more, many houses to rent
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More info: Here
Other Info
What to do next?
Discover also the beautiful Sunshine Coast and the Fun Gold Coast at 1 hour from Brisbane CBD.
Read more here:
