A popular city and tourist destination, Brisbane enjoys high visitor numbers due to its impressive concentration of Queensland attractions. When tourists first arrive in Brisbane, it is well worth joining one of the City High Lights Bus Tours and getting a feel for the layout of this large and diverse city.Top tourist attractions in Brisbane include the Australian Woolshed and its fun sheep shearing, the indigenous Australian wildlife within the Koala Bushlands, and the walking trails to be found at both the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and Mount Coot-tha. Also of note is the glitzy Conrad Treasury Casino, guided tours of the city's very own Coca Cola Factory, and the Mount Gravatt Lookout, where splendid views of the D'Aguilar Range and the Glasshouse Mountains can be expected.
Walking Tours
Address: Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Walking tours of Brisbane are widely available and operated by numerous tour guides and companies. Providing a real insight into many of the city's premier tourist attractions and heritage buildings, such as the City Hall and Parliament House, guided walking tours are led by friendly, informal Australian guides who usually live locally and come with an enormous wealth of knowledge, happy to answer your questions. The tourist information centres always have the latest information about guided tours of the city.
Open: daily - hours vary
Admission: charge, discounts usually available for children and senior citizens
City High Lights Bus Tour
Address: Post Office Square, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +1 3 12 30
Operated by the Brisbane City Council, the City High Lights Bus Tour is one of the best guided bus tours of the city. Featuring knowledgeable and informal commentary, the City High Lights Bus Tour stops at around 20 major locations on route. The bus tours are also a very convenient way to travel around, since the bus ticket is valid all day, allowing you to get off and rejoin the bus tour later, with many regular buses stopping each hour.
Open: daily - 09:00 to 17:00, 18:30 to 21:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for senior citizens, children and groups
Cruises and Coach ToursAddress: Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Brisbane's location in Queensland, close to major cities, towns, islands, beaches and coastlines, has meant that countless tour operators have evolved. Offering a vast and diverse mixture of guided cruises, tours and excursions, some of the city's most popular tours include coach trips to the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, rainforest areas and dolphin-watching cruises around Moreton Bay. The latest detailed information about current guided tours and cruises is available at the numerous tourist information centres, throughout the city. CityCat Cruises travel the entire length of the Brisbane River each day, making many stops along the way, and have become one of the premier cruises in the area.
Open: daily - hours vary
Admission: charge, discounts available for senior citizens, children and groups
Australian Woolshed
Address: 148 Samford Road, Ferny Hills, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4055, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3872 1100
The Australian Woolshed, on the outskirts of Brisbane, is a popular place of interest, celebrating Australia's rich history of sheep farming. Featuring exciting sheep shearing demonstations, wool spinning, historic exhibits, many different breeds of sheep, other farmyard animals, koalas and a playground area for children, the Australian Woolshed is close to the Ferny Grove train station.
Open: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge
Conrad Treasury CasinoAddress: Queen Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3306 8888
Conrad Treasury Casino, in the city centre, is one of Brisbane's most popular tourist attractions and can be found in the old Queensland Government Treasury building. Full of numerous roulette and blackjack tables, fruit machines and many other gaming options, the Conrad Treasury Casino also features live entertainment, wine bars and restaurants with exceptional views of the nearby riverfront.
Open: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free
Koala BushlandsAddress: Daisy Hill Road, Daisy Hill, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4127, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3404 8888
The Koala Bushlands can be found to the south of central Brisbane and are made up from several large areas of Eucalypt forest. Home to several thousand koalas, the Koala Bushlands is also rich in other native wildlife and local flora, and guided tours are often available.
Open: visitors' centre, daily - 10:00 to 16:00
Admission: charge for guided tours
IMAX Theatre
Address: Ernest Street, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3844 4222
The state-of-the-art IMAX Theatre is located in the South Bank area and has become a major tourist attraction for visitors to Brisbane. With an enormous cinema screen displaying three-dimension movies, a visit to the IMAX Theatre is a memorable one.
Open: daily - 10:00 to 22:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens
Brisbane PowerhouseAddress: 119 Lamington Street, New Farm, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4005, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3254 4518
Situated in the Fortitude Valley region, the Brisbane Powerhouse is a popular centre of arts and theatre. The Powerhouse regularly hosts many of the city's most important events, festivals, concerts and theatrical performances.
Open: hours vary
Admission: charge
Coca Cola Factory Tour
Address: 260 Orchard Road, Richlands, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4077, Australia AU
The fascinating Coca Cola Factory Tour takes place in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, in the large Coca Cola factory. Guided tours give visitors a real insight into how Coca Cola is made and there are some very interesting displays along the way.
Open: March to September, Monday to Thursday - 09:30 to 14:00
Admission: charge
Double Helix
Address: 84 Alfred Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4006, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3852 4499
The Double Helix is a popular attraction which comes alive at night. Featuring regular concerts, dances, live entertainment and hosting major festivals, the Double Helix venue is located in the scenic Fortitude Valley area of the city.
Open: Monday to Wednesday, Sunday - from 16:00, Thursday to Saturday - from 15:00
Admission: free
Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Address: Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4169, Australia AU
The Kangaroo Point Cliffs stand in the city's southern outskirts and are within easy driving distance of central Brisbane. Home to many nature trails, rock-climbing facilities and picnic areas, the Kangaroo Point Cliffs also feature spectacular views of both the surrounding countryside and the city centre itself.
Open: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free
Mount Coot-tha
Address: Mount Coot-tha, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4066, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3368 2117
The glorious Mount Coot-tha area, in the city's nearby suburbs, features large areas of rainforest, walking trails, picnic spots and cafés. Of particular interest is the Mount Coot-tha Lookout, which has breathtaking panoramic views across all of central Brisbane.
Open: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free
Mount Gravatt
Address: Mount Gravatt, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4122, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3221 8411
Rich in local wildlife and colourful, native birds, Mount Gravatt is a magnificent location, filled with walking trails and forested areas. With breathtaking views, picnic facilities, seating areas, fascinating remains of historic gold mines and botanical gardens, Mount Gravatt is a popular day out and is within easy reach of the city centre.
Open: daily - 24 hours
Admission: free
Brisbane PlanetariumAddress: Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4066, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3403 8888
The Brisbane Planetarium is sited in the splendid Mount Coot-tha Botanical Gardens, on the outskirts of the city. Providing incredible views of the sky at night, other attractions at the Planetarium include large astronomical displays, historic equipment and many seasonal star-gazing events.
Open: Wednesday to Saturday, 12:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens
Sunset Cinema
Address: City Botanical Gardens, Alice Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +1 900 999 009
Sunset Cinema is one of the most popular evening attractions in the city centre. Consisting of classic films projected outside in the peaceful surroundings of the City Botanical Gardens, the exciting open-air Sunset Cinema regularly attracts large crowds and is a very atmospheric way to watch some of your favourite films.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday - from 18:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and senior citizens, children under five years old are free
Theatres
Brisbane is home to a number of excellent theatres that regularly host local comedy events, theatrical productions, dramas, concerts, operas, workshops and exhibitions. Popular theatres located within this part of Queensland include:
- Arts Theatre
Address: 210 Petrie Terrace, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3369 2344 - Cement Box Theatre
Address: Union Road, Saint Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4067, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3377 2240 - Cremorne Theatre
Address: Queensland Performing Arts Complex, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: 61 (0)7 3840 7444 - Gardens Theatre
Address: QUT Gardens Point Campus, 2 George Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3864 4213 - Kooemba Jdarra Indigenous Performing Arts
Address: 109 Edward Street, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4000, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3221 1660 - Lyric Theatre
Address: Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3840 7444 - Old Queensland Museum
Address: Bowen Bridge Road, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4006, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3257 4089 - Optus Playhouse
Address: Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Grey Street, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3840 7444 - Princess Theatre
Address: 8 Annerley Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4102, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3891 3900 - Queensland Conservatorium Concert Hall
Address: 16 Russell Street, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3875 6291 - Queensland Performing Arts Complex
Address: Queensland Cultural Centre, South Bank, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3840 7444 - Queensland Theatre Company
Address: Stanley Street, South Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4101, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3840 7000 - Roundhouse Theatre / La Boite Theatre Company
Address: 6 - 8 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4059, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3007 8600, Bookings QTIX 136 246 - Tivoli Theatre
Address: 52 Costin Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4006, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3852 1711 - Twelfth Night Theatre
Address: 4 Cintra Road, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland (QLD), 4006, Australia AU
Tel: +61 (0)7 3252 5122
