Brisbane

Understand

The Greater Brisbane region has a population of about 2.2 million people and is Australia's third-largest city. Brisbane, colloquially known as Brissie (pronounced Briz-ee), gained international exposure through multiple international sporting events and political summits, including the upcoming 2032 Summer Olympics. It is also known as the main setting of the animated kids TV series Bluey. Tipping is not part of the local culture. A simple 'thank you' is sufficient for good service.

History For many thousands of years prior to British settlement, the Brisbane area was inhabited by the Turrbal and Jagera Aboriginal people. They knew the area that is now the central business district as Mian-jin, meaning "place shaped as a spike". The Australian English phrase "hard yakka" – meaning "hard work" – comes from the Jagera people, and is certainly what the British settlers faced in Brisbane's humid subtropical climate. The Moreton Bay area was explored by English navigator Matthew Flinders. On 17 July 1799, Flinders landed at what is now known as Woody Point which he named "Red Cliff Point", now Redcliffe after the red-coloured cliffs visible from the bay. In 1823, Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane, instructed that a new northern penal settlement be developed, intended to house dangerous prisoners in a remote location and an exploration party led by John Oxley further explored Moreton Bay. The original penal settlement was established in Redcliffe but was later moved to a location further down the bay where freshwater supplies were more reliable. Oxley named this new settlement "Brisbane" in honour of the Governor. A series of major immigration events took place in the following decades which brought with it strong industry and commercial development in the region. In 1838, non-convict free settlers moved to the area and pushed to close the jail and to release the land in the area. In 1859, a gold rush led to the establishment of the colony of Queensland with Brisbane as its capital even though Brisbane was not incorporated as a city until 1902. In 1925, the Queensland State Parliament created the City of Brisbane Act that set up a single government for the city of Brisbane, still the largest metropolitan authority in Australia and one of the largest in the world by area. Over twenty small municipalities and shires were amalgamated to form the City of Brisbane. 1930 was a significant year for Brisbane with the completion of Brisbane City Hall, then the city's tallest building and the Shrine of Remembrance in ANZAC Square which has since becom

Getting there

By plane Brisbane can be accessed by plane via Brisbane Airport (BNE IATA), or via the less convenient but often cheaper Gold Coast Airport.

Main article: Brisbane Airport Brisbane Airport has direct flights from all Australian capitals and many Queensland centres. Major domestic carriers include Virgin Australia, Jetstar, and Qantas. The airport is serviced by many regional airlines and it is possible to fly daily to most Asian centres (and on to Europe), the United States and New Zealand, without flying via Sydney or Melbourne. You can travel from the Gold Coast Airport to Brisbane for 50c by taking the 760 bus to Varsity Lakes station and transferring to the train.

By ship The 1 Brisbane International Cruise Terminal is located in Pinkenba.

By train Long distance rail services both arrive and depart from 2 Roma Street Station in the inner city. Services to New South Wales operated by NSW TrainLink depart from Platform 2. Services to the rest of Queensland depart from Platform 10.

NSW TrainLink operates a daily return rail service from Sydney, with onward connections to Melbourne and Canberra. Unfortunately, the journey from Sydney takes around 14 hours and due to scheduling issues, the train leaves at 2:41PM at Sydney Central Station and arrives between 4–5AM at Roma St Station. Queensland Rail operates services to most centres in Queensland. Luxury train operator Journey Beyond operates the Great Southern from Adelaide during the summer months from December to January. The train takes a circuitous routing along the coast of Victoria and New South Wales, and is more expensive than flying, meaning that it is designed for luxury travellers with a lot of time and money on their hand, rather than as a practical travel option. The Great Southern arrives at the 3 Brisbane Freight Terminal in Acacia Ridge, not Roma Street Station in the CBD that other long-distance trains use, but coaches from the terminal to the CBD are included in the ticket price.

By bus Most long distance bus services operate from level 3 of the 4 Brisbane Transit Centre near Roma Street Station in the inner city.

Premier Motor Service offers services between Sydney and Brisbane and Brisbane and Cairns. Greyhound Australia link other interstate capitals to Brisbane via their extensive national network. In particular they operate regular services between Brisbane and Sydney, Brisbane and Toowoomba then onward to Roma and between Brisbane and Cairns. Pick-up is available from Brisbane Airport on some services. Flixbus operates services between Sydney and Brisbane, as well as

Getting around

By public transport Translink is responsible for all trains, buses, ferries and trams in South East Queensland and regional urban buses. The website and app can be used to plan a journey, including full navigation and real time updates. Apple Maps and Google Maps provide a similar experience.

Fares A 50-cent flat fare applies to any journey, regardless of mode or distance, with a limit of 3 transfers. The only exception is an Airtrain journey to or from Brisbane Airport which costs $22.30 (June 2025), with a 15% discount for booking online. Refer to the website for other discounted fares. You can be fined $261 for travelling without a valid fare. There are three ways to pay for your journey:

Contactless credit or debit card. A Mastercard or Visa is accepted, including those in a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your fare is deducted from your card as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. Trains and trams have fare gates or distinctive pink validators to touch before you board and after you alight. Buses and ferries have validators to touch as you board and alight. A failure to touch off each mode of transport will result in a fixed fare of $2.50. Go card. A go card is available at train station ticket counters, busway and tram fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores. The card requires a $10 deposit. The card can be topped up with travel credit at the same locations, including train station fare machines. The maximum travel credit you can top up is $250. Refunding the deposit and travel credit can be a hassle. If you last topped up using cash it can be processed at Brisbane Airport and selected newsagents and convenience stores. If you last topped up using credit or debit card it can only be processed via an Australian bank account transfer. Paper ticket. A paper ticket is available at train station ticket counters and fare machines, and busway and tram fare machines.

Trains Brisbane has a sizeable rail network. Most services are through running, travelling from one side of the city to the other. All trains stop at Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central and Roma Street, regardless of their origin or destination. Interurban services run between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, with connecting tram services at Helensvale. Interurban services also run between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, with connecting bus services at Landsborough. Trains generally run from 4AM to midnight, running later on Friday and Saturday nights, and finishing earlier on Sundays.

Buses Brisbane has a large, interconnected netwo

See

Buildings and landmarks

1 Brisbane City Hall and King George Square, between Adelaide and Ann Streets. The City Hall is Brisbane's most significant historical landmark and was restored in 2010–2013. The area has free public Wi-Fi. 2 Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower, Museum of Brisbane. A 92-metre clock tower with Australia's largest analogue clock face. Opened in 1930, it offers a tour through Brisbane's oldest operating cage lifts. 3 The University of Queensland, St Lucia, ☏ +61 7 3365 1111. One of Australia's oldest and most prestigious institutions, situated on a bend of the Brisbane River. Its majestic sandstone buildings are surrounded by ornamental lakes, jacaranda-lined boulevards and some of the finest architecture. Visitor attractions include the Great Court, the UQ Art Museum at the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, and wildlife in the UQ lakes. It can be reached by CityCat, or bus route 66 from the CBD along Busway. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Wheel of Brisbane, Russell St, South Bank. Daily 10AM to 10PM. A Ferris wheel that allows you to observe the city from 60 m with views across the Brisbane River. The trip is a 15-minute ride in an enclosed, climate-controlled gondola. Adult $22, student $18, child 4 to 11 years $14.50. (updated Jun 2025) 5 Cathedral of St. Stephen, 249 Elizabeth St. Daily 8AM-6PM. Heritage-registered Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Brisbane with regular services and guided tours on weekday mornings. Nearby is St. Stephen's Chapel, which was built in the 19th century and lays significance as being the oldest surviving church building in Queensland. 6 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Glenelg St (South Bank), ☏ +61 7 3308 3000. Named as the world's best convention centre, this purpose-built convention centre and event venue plays its host to an average of 1,300 yearly events and contains four exhibition halls. 7 State Law Building, 50 Ann Street. The office and headquarters of the Attorney-General of Queensland. The structure of the skyscraper, an iconic landmark since 1995, is dubbed the Batman Building, modelled after the Gotham City skyline in the Batman comic book series.

Museums and galleries 8 Commissariat Store Museum, 115 William St, ☏ +61 7 3221 4198, [email protected]. Tu–F 10AM to 4PM. Occupying the oldest habitable building in Queensland, the museum highlights both the building and aspects of Brisbane and Queensland's convict, colonial and more recent history. Run by The Royal Historical Society of Queensland. Audio tour can be

Do

Activities and trips

1 Kangaroo Point. The walls along the Brisbane River are a popular spot for rock climbing and give an excellent view of the CBD skyline just across the river. Activities carry on after dark, when the walls are well-lit. Abseiling and rock climbing classes on the cliffs with an instructor are available from Riverlife Adventures, as well as kayak, kick-bike, rollerblade and bicycle hire. There are also barbecue and picnic spots in the area. 2 Story Bridge Adventure Climb, toll-free: 1300 254 627Country code missing, [email protected]. Scale the top of Brisbane's iconic bridge. You can enjoy 360° views of Brisbane, the mountain ranges and Moreton Bay Islands at dawn, afternoon or night. Jan Powers Farmers Markets. Buy fresh fruit, vegetables and cuts of meat from one of the many farmers markets across Brisbane including the Powerhouse at New Farm, Manly, Mitchelton and the newest market at Reddacliff Place at the top of the Queen Street Mall. Balloons over Brisbane, ☏ +61 7 3844 6671. You can gain an aerial perspective as you float over Brisbane in a hot air balloon. It's often possible to see as far off as the magnificent Glasshouse Mountains, to the Gold Coast and out to the islands of Moreton Bay. (updated Jun 2025) Cruise the Brisbane River. There are various companies offering a range of river cruises and tours to take in the sights. These include cruises to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, and the BrisVegas floating nightclub. Explore Brisbane's Moreton Bay and Islands. The bay is 25 km (16 mi) from Brisbane's CBD and stretches from Bribie Island to the Southern Bay Islands. Enjoy sand tobogganing, 4-wheel driving, diving or snorkelling or go marine watching and spot turtles, dolphins, dugongs and whales. Explore Greater Brisbane Country. Take a day trip to the surrounding regions around an hour from Brisbane and discover wineries, national parks, lakes and country living. The Scenic Rim including Ipswich, Beaudesert and Boonah is a vast region of mountains, rainforest and valleys embracing the World Heritage wilderness of the McPherson Range. The Lockyer Valley provides a perfect blend of town and country living, with experiences ranging from guided tours and bush camping to hot air ballooning and sky-diving. The Scenic Rim. This describes the large arc of mountains, to a height of 1,375 m (4,511 ft), from the Mistake Ranges (south of Gatton) across the Main (Great Dividing) Range to the MacPherson Range that terminates at Currumbin on the Gold Coast. Apart from some well known locations on the Rim, such as Binna B

Buy

Late night shopping is Thursday evenings in the suburbs, and Friday evening in the city centre. Other nights, expect most shops to close at 5PM.

1 Queen Street Mall. Main shopping mall in Brisbane, large variety of shops, contains several shopping centres. 2 Uptown. Runs the gamut from jeans shops to specialty knife stores. Internet kiosks are available. 3 The Wintergarden. A fashion centre connected to the foot of the Hilton Hotel. Also contains a licensed day or night bowling alley. 4 QueensPlaza. A fashion centre, with more expensive, big brand stores. 5 Brisbane Arcade. A secluded narrow shopping strip which acts as a pass way between Adelaide and Queen St. It contains many unique stores. It is one of the few remaining heritage shopping arcades in Brisbane. 6 Queen Adelaide Building. One of Brisbane’s oldest buildings is home to Queensland’s flagship Sportsgirl store, Adidas and Rebel Sport.

7 Treasury Brisbane (The Conrad Treasury Casino) (at the George Street end of the mall). Adelaide Street. Downtown's dress circle 8 Elizabeth Street Arcade. Arcade that spans between Elizabeth and Charlotte streets. Lots of independent boutiques to suit various prices, and lots of cheap Asian food. Albert Street. Has many adventure and sports-type retailers, lots of bookstores. Eagle Street. The centre of law and finance in Queensland, holds the Eagle Street and Riverside markets. Edward Street. Mostly covered by 9 Queens Plaza, 10 MacArthur Central and 11 Wintergarden street fashion stores. There are also a couple of jewellery, take-away restaurants, bars and night clubs. Edward St. has been transformed into a luxury brands precinct, with stores such as MaxMara, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Bulgari, Bally, Mont Blanc, Chanel, Gucci, Hugo Boss, Oroton, Ralph Lauren, L'Occitane, and Hermes. Apple opened its Brisbane flagship store in the heritage-style MacArthur Chambers building, (which acted as U.S. General Douglas MacArthur's regional headquarters in World War II), and is similar to Apple's other heritage building refurbishments in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin. Brisbane's MacArthur Chambers store was ranked among the best. (updated Dec 2016) 12 South Bank markets. Held at the South Bank Parklands every Sunday. 13 Brunswick Street Mall. Located in the heart of China Town, there are many Chinese retailers, fast food restaurants, cafes and bars. Markets are run on Sundays. 14 Indooroopilly Shopping Centre (322 Moggill Road), ☏ +61 7 3378 4022, [email protected]. Large shopping centre sprawled over three massive

Eat

Brisbane City and Spring Hill

Budget 1 Kadoya, 73 Mary St, ☏ +61 7 3229 3993. M–Th 10:30AM to 8PM, F 10:30AM to 8:30PM, Sa 11AM to 9PM, Sunday closed. A casual Japanese eatery and takeaway dishing up rice bowls, noodle soups and bento boxes. Cooked fresh, tasty, cheap. Popular lunch spot for city-workers. (updated Apr 2019) 2 Beach House (Beach House Bar & Grill CBD), Shop 58, Level E, Myer Centre Corner Elizabeth and Albert St, ☏ +61 7 3003 0017. Su–Th 11AM–9PM, F Sa 11AM–9:30PM. Located on the corner of Albert and Elizabeth St, Myer Centre, 2F. Licensed bar, large meals and live entertainment at value for money. (updated Jun 2025) Bar Merlo. Various outlets throughout the city, their first being opened in the QUT Gardens Point campus. Regarded as one of the leaders in the Brisbane café society boom since the 1990s, their coffee is served at countless cafes and restaurants throughout Brisbane. 3 Pancake Manor, 18 Charlotte St (just down from George Street), ☏ +61 7 3221 6433. A Brisbane institution, open 24 hours. Tends to fill up with nightclub revellers on their way home after about 3AM on a Saturday or Sunday morning. (updated Jun 2025)

Mid-range 4 Le Bon Choix, 379 Queen St, ☏ +61 7 3229 9260. Near the golden triangle. Great French bakery. Sells a good variety of sandwiches, cakes, tortes, macarons, fresh bread, croquettes, quiches and coffee. M–F 7AM to 6PM, Sa Su 7AM to 5PM. (updated Jun 2025)

Splurge 5 Alchemy, 175 Eagle St, ☏ +61 7 3229 3175. Located in a little hideaway on Eagle St, this restaurant has one of the most impressive views in Brisbane, looking across the river to the Story Bridge. Well known for its "liquid nitrogen nibbles", Alchemy lives up to its name. (updated Jun 2025) 6 E'cco Bistro, 63 Skyring Tce, ☏ +61 7 3831 8344. Founded and run by the internationally renowned and acclaimed chef Philip Johnson, it is one of the best restaurants in Brisbane and Australia-wide. (updated Jun 2025) 7 Moda, The Barracks 61, ☏ +61 7 3221 7655. Huge selection of wines and a varied menu including seafood, duck, rabbit and pork cheeks. By no means cheap but amazing food. (updated Jun 2025) 8 Vintaged, Elizabeth St (Hilton Brisbane). Serving carefully aged meat within luxe surroundings, this is one of the better hotel restaurants in Brisbane.

Fortitude Valley and New Farm 9 Continental Cafe, 21 Barker St, ☏ +61 3254 0377. Good food, nice atmosphere across several rooms, surprisingly good children's menu. Open for dinner 364 days a year. Watch out for the offal specials on Tuesdays. Reliable high quality. (updated Jun 2025) 10 Enjoy

Drink & nightlife

Brisbane's drinking and nightlife scene is separated into some distinct areas. Anyone planning a night on the town should be aware that after 3AM, no more patrons are allowed into pubs and clubs. This is a safety measure, coupled with increased security presence at taxi ranks. Additionally, smokers should beware of strict anti-smoking regulations. Smoking is now banned in "all areas where food & drink are served", both indoors and outdoors. This means that smoking is banned in all hotels, clubs, and cafés except in designated smoking areas. The drinking age in Australia is 18 and only an Australian driver's licence, 18+ card or a foreign passport is accepted as proof of age. Other forms of ID such as a student card are not accepted. These regulations are strictly enforced – for nightclubs in particular, your ID will always be checked at the door, and while venues serving food may let you in, most are very prudent in checking ID if you wish to purchase alcohol.

Suburban Toowong:

1 Regatta, 543 Coronation Drive, Toowong (adjacent to the Regatta CityCat terminal), ☏ +61 7 3871 9595. Expect a wait to get in on Th, F and Sa nights, but a must-go for the best sessions on W and Su nights when the venue is completely taken by students. (updated Jun 2025) 2 Royal Exchange (RE) Hotel, 10 High St, ☏ +61 7 3371 2555, [email protected]. Generally a good, down-to-earth pub, more so than the Regatta, which tends to cater to a slightly trendier crowd (updated Jun 2025) Regatta and the RE have reputations (which they more than live up) as student haunts, being located reasonably close to the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland. Bulimba: Catch a citycat to Bulimba for some trendy shopping on popular Oxford Street, great cafes, hip bars or for a picnic in the park.

3 Oxford 152, 152 Oxford St, ☏ +61 7 3899 2026, [email protected]. One of Brisbane's most popular suburban restaurant/bars. (updated Jun 2025) Breakfast Creek: In Brisbane's inner north as you head over Breakfast Creek you will see the exterior of one of Brisbane's most famous pubs and the Heritage Listed figure of Mr Fourex winking at you from the signage.

4 Breakfast Creek Hotel, 2 Kingsford Smith Dve, Albion, ☏ +61 7 3262 5988, [email protected]. Built in the French Renaissance style in 1889 - the ' Brekkie Creek' is one of Brisbane's most iconic watering holes famous for its steaks and XXXX 'beer off the wood' popular. (updated Aug 2025) Stones Corner An up-and-coming historic area experiencing a revitalisation in boutiques shops, restaurants, cafes and ba

Sleep

Budget 1 Banana Backpackers (Banana Benders), 118 Petrie Terrace (500 m from Roma St Transit Centre), ☏ +61 7 3367 1157, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 11AM. A small, clean & friendly hostel on the fringe of Brisbane CBD. 10 minutes walk from Brisbane Transit centre and an easy walk to South Bank & CBD. Can be a little quiet but a great place to relax and meet new people. $25-75. (updated Sep 2025) 2 Brisbane City Backpackers, 380 Upper Roma St (400 m from Roma St Transit Centre), ☏ +61 7 3211 3221. Clean, relaxed hostel with a pool and friendly staff. (updated Jun 2025) 3 Brisbane City YHA, 392 Upper Roma St (600 m from Roma St Transit Centre), ☏ +61 7 3236 1004, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. From $29. (updated Jun 2025) 4 Bunk Backpackers, 21 Gipps St, Fortitude Valley, ☏ +61 7 3257 3644, [email protected]. Check-in: 1PM, check-out: 10AM. Modern, clean, very popular, swimming pool, and one of Brisbane's popular (but more expensive) night clubs, Birdee Num Num. (updated Jun 2025) 5 Cloud 9 Backpackers Resort, 350 Upper Roma St, ☏ +61 7 3236 5007, [email protected]. New, modern, industrial-space conversion. (updated Jun 2025) 6 ibis budget Brisbane Airport, 18 Navigator Place, Cnr. Nudgee Road, ☏ +61 7 3868 3457, [email protected]. From $89. (updated Jan 2016) 7 ibis budget Windsor, 159 Lutwyche Road, ☏ +61 7 3857 0488, [email protected]. From $74. (updated Jan 2016) 8 Kingsford Riverside Inn, 114 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton, ☏ +61 7 3862 1317, toll-free: 1800 777 590, [email protected]. Close to the airport. A few minutes’ walk from the Breakfast Creek Hotel. The accommodation can be accessed via door-to-door transport services. From $99. (updated Jun 2025) 9 Manly Harbour Backpackers, 45 Cambridge Parade, Manly, ☏ +61 7 3396 3824. Next to the ocean, in a bayside suburb. 40 min train ride from the Brisbane CBD. Can organise activities like surfing, sailing, fishing and diving. Dorms and private rooms, internet access, airport and train transfers. (updated Oct 2024) 10 Somewhere to Stay Backpackers Hostel, 47 Brighton Rd, Highgate Hill, ☏ +61 7 3333 2964, toll-free: 1800 812 398. (updated Jun 2025)

Mid-range Brisbane hotels are listed in alphabetical order.

11 Adina Apartment Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square, 255 Ann St, ☏ +61 7 3001 9888, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11PM. Adina Hotel Brisbane Anzac Square is a modern hotel that overlooks the Anzac Square memorial gardens. From $104. (updated Jan 2016) 12 Albion Manor Apartments and Motel, 402

Go next

Brisbane provides a base for day trips to explore the southeast of Queensland. The North Coast of New South Wales can also be reached in an hour if traffic is light, but allow up to two hours travel if traffic is heavy or there is an accident on the Pacific Motorway. Queensland Rail also provides extensive services out of Brisbane to the north and south of the city and to the Gold Coast. Northwest of Brisbane:

Samford Valley – about 30 mins drive north west of Brisbane CBD. A beautiful rural valley with a historic hamlet, Samford Village. A great day trip for the family. North of Brisbane:

Glass House Mountains – about an hour north of Brisbane. There is a scenic drive through the mountains with a couple of lookouts, or you can go for a hike - easy or difficult, depending on the mountain. (Mount Beerwah offers a stern but quick scramble and a good view of the area.) There are a few small roadside shops in the area that sell homemade jams and varieties of macadamia nuts. Beerwah – home of the Australia Zoo, run by the family of the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. Admission is $57 for adults. Sunshine Coast – 90 minutes north of Brisbane, suitable for surfers without the clutter of the more famous beaches to the south. The city of Noosa and several derivatively-named cities (e.g., Noosa Heads, Noosaville) offer short and long-term accommodation, some restaurants and a few stretches of shops aimed at tourists with and without a budget. Sunshine Coast Hinterland – 90 minutes north of Brisbane. Crafts and galleries and cafes and lots of bushwalks and scenic views in the Blackall Ranges at Maleny, Montville, Flaxton and Mapleton. Eumundi – famous markets on Wednesday and Saturday. North Stradbroke Island and South Stradbroke Island – amazing beaches, 4WD and fishing, accommodation, all very close to Brisbane. Tangalooma on Moreton Island – Whilst located entirely within Brisbane - it's island location is unique to the city and a Holiday destination/neighbourhood in its own right due the need to access by scheduled boat. Dive and snorkel Tangalooma Wrecks, go sand tobogganing, 4wd safaris and day tours from Brisbane River to Tangalooma. K'gari – World Heritage listed site, offering pristine, unspoiled lakes, dunes, forests and wildlife. Camping is possible, or day-trips can be arranged from Noosa. World's largest sand island. Redcliffe – This peninsula located 45 minutes north is famous for its long stretch of beach, friendly locals and excellent food, shops and weather. South of Brisbane:

Gold Coast – famous for being a tourist town, approximately 70 k