Best things to do when visiting Brisbane
MUST SEE + MUST DO + MUST EAT
Top 10 things to do in Brisbane
I’ve traveled the world but absolutely love Brisbane and wouldn’t live anywhere else. My name is Ben Forbes i’m going to share with you my local knowledge on how to best spend your time in Brisbane.
11. Brisbane Riverfire
OKAY! We are starting from 11 because Brisbane has too much to offer and I couldn’t leave this one out. If you happen to be in Brisbane around the 28th September, Riverfire is a spectacular night full of fireworks featuring a jet plane weaving through the city! Read more about here.
10. Eat Street Northshore
‘Eat Street’ is open every Friday and Saturday. Its kinda like premium food trucks with a different band or DJ each night! You will find all sorts of unique food selections here from Funky Dragon Dumpling , Japanese Pizza, The Doughnut Bar and the REST OF THEM HERE. And of course all with a nice view on the Brisbane River.
9. Day trip to Noosa
The famous town of Noosa Village is a 1h 45min drive from Brisbane. Well worth the trip with plenty of great beaches where the waves are known for being super consistent for surfing which makes it my favourite place to surf.
8. Mt Coot-tha Lookout
Brisbane’s BEST LOOKOUT. Mt Coot-tha is home to Forbes MTB. This is where most people take our mountain bike rentals and where the mountain bike tours and coaching are done. Only 15 min drive from the centre of the city! But you could also take on the challenge to get there via the connecting mountain bike trails, I’ll even provide you a detailed map on how to do it!
7. GOMA
THE GOMA. This is Brisbane’s largest art exhibition. Pictured above is 100 metric tonnes of real rock. Visitors will be able to walk and scamper all over it. Just one of many weird and wacky pieces of art opening 7th December 2019. Tip: Rent a mountain bike to ride along the river to get here, the GOMA is also located near the #1 on this top 10 😉
6. Byron Bay day trip
If you’re in Brisbane then it’s worth the 2h drive to the hippie town of Byron. The locals have created a real nice vibe here. Grab some beers, lay on the beach, soak up the atmosphere as the buskers play their music and watch the sunset.
5. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is home to over 70 species of Australian native wildlife. from the Koala, Platypus, Kangaroo, Tasmanian Devil, Dingo, Wombat, Hairy Nose Wombat, Crocodile, Rainbow Lorikeet, Emu and many more! Located only a 20 minutes drive from centre of Brisbane City.
4. Brisbane Night Life with EDEN QLD
You haven’t experienced a city until you have experienced its night life. Brisbane has a thriving electronic music culture thanks to Eden QLD who brings some of the biggest names from around the world to play for us in a nice cozy venue called Sub Rosa. Even if you aren’t exactly into ‘electronic music’ or even ‘going out’, this will be a great experience to add to the trip that will be sure to bring home some stories! Check out the Eden QLD Facebook page to see their all year round events.
3. Brisbane Mountain Bike Tour or Rental
Through out all of my traveling around the world, the biggest thing I’ve learnt is that a bike is the best way to see a city. A bike allows you to see everything in between the iconic sites (Mt Coot-tha Lookout, The Story Bridge, The Lagoon, The GOMA). It’s the sites in between that you will have the genuine local experience. You can rent a bike and go on your own adventure ticking off these top 10 or come ride Brisbane’s mountain bike trails. You can even take a guided tour to save the hassle of looking at maps to get the best approach for your time and money. We also have Electronic Mountain bikes!
2. The Story Bridge at Night
I highly recommend checking out The Story Bridge at twilight because the sunset and light show every night is absolutely stunning. Howard Smith Wharves is the restaurant/bar where this photo is taken from. My brother even got married there! Tip: Rent a mountain bike to ride along the river and through the gardens to get there.
1. South Bank Lagoon – A BEACH IN THE CITY!
At number 1 on the list. Brisbane’s Beach lagoon is a MUST SEE AND DO. Not much needs to be said here. A crystal clear beach lagoon in the middle of the city that is free to use. With its convenient location this can be tied in with any of your other adventures. South bank has a vast range of restaurants in the area too. Tip: Rent a mountain bike to ride into the city, lock up the bikes with the provided lock and go for a swim!
For more information about tourism in Brisbane, check out… Kayak.com.au/Brisbane Guide
