Shopping in Brisbane

From Queensland’s premier shopping precinct – The City – to local favourites Fortitude Valley and Paddington, you’ll discover shopping experiences like no other in Brisbane. The City offers more than 1000 stores and the State’s largest collection of flagship stores. Fortitude Valley is home to local designers and high-end fashion at James Street and the Emporium, while Paddington is best for homewares, books, vintage and designer fashion.

Get Onboard a City Cat

With the Brisbane River winding through the city’s skyscrapers, CityCat is one of the most enjoyable ways to get around the riverside areas of the Brisbane CBD. A complete loop on the CityCat will show you most of the river areas, and keep your eyes peeled for the majestic Story Bridge when you cruise under it.

Explore South Bank Parklands

South Bank is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and cultural destination. Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, its 17 hectares of lush parklands, world-class eateries, stunning river views and hundreds of delightful events all year round make it the perfect place to relax and unwind. Take a selfie at the iconic Brisbane Signage, visit Gallery of Modern Art or chill with the locals at Streets Beach.

Explore Laneways with Brisbane Greeters

Brisbane’s strong list of hip laneways is ever-growing, and humming with trendy coffee joints, restaurants and bars. The best way to uncover all these hidden gems is to join a free walking tour – Brisbane Greeters to get insider local tips. Some of our favourite laneways are: Eagle Lane and Burnett Lane in the City, Ann Lane and Bakery Lane in Fortitude Valley. 

Café Culture

Brisbane’s caffeine scene has spent the past few years growing up, and now it boasts some of the best coffee in Australia with new boutique coffee joints popping up around corners and down laneways! Here are some good joints in the city laneways that we have sniffed out for you: Brew at Burnett Lane who starts pouring at 7am, Coffee Anthology at Margaret Street who was voted Australia’s Best Café in 2016 by café review site Beanhunter.

Dining with a View

In Brisbane, there is always an option to pair your meals with a killer vista or a luxe riverside setting depending on your mood and occasion. For undeterred view of the city skyline, we recommend heading to South Bank where one dines right by the river and looks over to the City. Other great spots for the cityscape will be from Mt Coo-tha and Kangaroo Point.

Views of Story Bridge in the evening never fails to light up a special occasion, and this is why so many fine restaurateur choose to set up shop at precincts such as Eagle Street Pier, with the Story Bridge in its full glory.

Weekend Markets

Brisbane’s bustling market scene is in overdrive. On the weekend, be prepared to hop from one farmers market to another crafts market – each offering a unique array of local produce and local designer craft.

On Friday and Saturday (4pm – 10pm) and Sunday (12 – 8pm), make a date at Eat Street Northshore and be prepared to get lost in the midst of over 180 dining and shipping containers that promises to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters. Don’t forget to check out local and touring bands who perform at the venue too!

Bar Hopping

With almost 300 days of sunshine every year, it’s easy to see why rooftop bars have popped up all over Brisbane. And with such good weather, rooftop bars are always on-trend.

If you are in Queen Street Mall and will like a breather from the hustle and bustle, step into Next Hotel and take the elevator to the 4^th floor to arrive at Lennons Pool. Get views over Queen Street Mall here.

For sweeping view of Brisbane City and River, head to Eleven Rooftop Bar at 757 Ann Street in Fortitude Valley for European-style share plates, coffee and cocktails!

Wildlife Encounters

Only 12km from Brisbane City, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary with 130 koalas. Interact with 100 species of Australian animals, with hands-on experiences and presentations. Hand-feed kangaroos and wild lorikeets, or hold a beautiful koala. Lone Pine is also home to two platypus, residing in a AUD1 million exhibit, who will entertain you with their playful antics.

Whale Watching (June – October)

In migration season, majestic humpback whales swing by South East Queensland on their 10,000km trek to the warm, tropical water up north. Get up close and personal between June and November with Tangalooma Whale Watching Cruises with expert commentary about these playful mammals.

Farm stay and glamping

Drop your devices, leave your power cords and step away from the tele. Within an hour from Brisbane City, you will be able to access some of Australia’s best farm stays set in a beautiful scenic countryside. Families with kid will get a chance to get their hands dirty at a working farm, and stay with a local family.
If you are seeking a camping experience without missing out creature comforts such as hot water bath, king-sized beds and micro-kitchens - Brisbane has no short of options for you too in the beautiful Scenic Rim. Check out Ketchup’s Bank Glamping, Nightfall Wilderness Camp and Sanctuary by Sirromet.

Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island

At just over an hour by catamaran from Brisbane, Tangalooma Island Resort is the most unique day trip destination from Brisbane. Whether you're looking for an action-packed day out, or something a little more relaxing, Tangalooma has something to offer everyone from desert safari tour with sand tobogganing, transparent kayaking at Tangalooma Wrecks and its iconic handfeed wild dolphins!

City by the beach

With over 52km of unbroken coastal line plus the lure of trendy dining options, fresh seafood and retail shops humming, one is always spoilt for choice in Gold Coast. By day, fun-seekers can beach-hop from Main Beach to Surfers Paradise and venture further south to Burleigh Heads and Currumbin where locals hang out. Dine by the beach with stunning sea views at a Surf Life Saving Club in the day, and end the day with trendy dining options in Mermaid Beach or Broadbeach. For some retail therapy, mark in your calendar to visit Harbour Town Outlet Shopping Centre for great outlet mall discounts or drop into Pacific Fair Shopping Centre for a day of domestic and international retail shopping. 

World Famous Theme Parks

The theme parks of Gold Coast bring smiles to people of all ages and stages. With exhilarating rides, exotic animals and endless waterslides to help you cool off on hot summer days, your Gold Coast holiday offers a full spectrum of interactive entertainment. From conquering the BIG 9 rides in Dreamworld, or taking on Warner Bros. Movie World longest, fastest, tallest DC Rival hypercoaster in the southern hemisphere or getting a kiss from a seal in Sea World – we recommend that you visit at least 1 theme park.

Conquer SkyPoint Climb

SkyPoint Climb is a must-do Gold Coast adventure, lasting 90 minutes from the beginning to the end and featuring an awe-inspiring, open-air adventure atop one of Queensland's most recognised land marks – the iconic Q1 Resort Building.

Rising 270m into the air, SkyPoint Climb is Australia's highest external building climb and provides unparalleled 360' views of the Gold Coast and beyond.

With morning, day and twilight climbs available it's time to take on the Gold Coast ultimate high altitude adventure.

Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast offers a unique blend of relaxed beach lifestyle alongside lush subtropical rainforest. From the iconic Glass House Mountains just north of Brisbane to Noosa and the coloured sands of Rainbow Beach, the region is popular for hiking, surfing, fresh local food and world-class events.

Noosa Farmers Market and Eumundi Market

Whether you are looking for fresh local produce or local art and craft, these are the 2 markets on the Coast that you should be looking out for. Noosa Farmers Market is a great place to buy fresh seasonal specialities from local producers and hang out on with locals on a Sunday morning. The colourful Eumundi Market which opens every Wednesday and Sunday morning is one Australia’s largest market where you will find original artwork, handmade jewellery from independent craftsman.

World famous Australia Zoo

Go wild at crocodile hunter Steve Irwin’s legacy zoo. Notable highlights include the magnificent Bengal tigers, African rhino and shows at The Crocoseum where stealthy crocs display some jaw-snapping action!