Why my Brisbane experiences bucket list is incomplete
Brisbane – Australia
Brisbane Bucket List – Fun things to do
What can you do in Brisbane?
A question often asked by travellers who might prefer Melbourne or Sydney.
With its relaxed vibe and subtropical climate, Brisbane might give the impression of being too laid back for some but you would be surprised by its vibrant charm with a multitude of attractions to explore and experiences to put on your bucket list.
Visitors can choose from art and cultural attractions to outdoor adventures. History or city explorer? Old and new, you’ll find both in this exciting capital of Queensland.
Updated August 2023
In March 2023 we finally took the giant leap to immigrate to Australia. Since arriving we have found a few more interesting things to do which you will find under the Bonus Content.
Previously Updated 19/01/2023 – At the end of 2022 we ticked off a few more bucket list items for Brisbane while we were there for a three-week visit. Our first visit a few years ago was a short stay of 2 nights.
In 2015 whilst we were in Sydney we made last minute arrangements to fly to Brisbane for a brief stay. Our time was limited, and therein lies the reason why my bucket list is incomplete. In that short time I discovered Brissie (as it is called by the locals) has so much more to offer.
Story Bridge spanning the Brisbane River
The purpose of visiting Brisbane was to see our South African friends who were living there. They were the couple that had accompanied us on our second visit to Madagascar when we chartered a catamaran to sail around some islands near Nosy Be. We had not seen them for many years and it would be good to spend a short period with them and reminisce about our travel memories.
They kindly fetched us from the airport, put us up for two nights. They were also excellent tour guides and showed us some stunning parts of the River City.
Queensland is known as the Sunshine State and Brisbane is the capital. We had heard the subtropical climate was more consistent and warmer than Australia’s southern areas throughout the year. With that in mind we left our thick jackets and jerseys in Sydney but still packed our small overnight bags with some winter clothing, albeit slightly thinner fabric.
As we stepped off the plane, dressed in winter clothes, we realised we would still be overdressed in our jeans and warm tops. Apparently Brisbanites live in shorts and t-shirts throughout the year. Go figure!
What else did I discover about Brisbane? It’s all about views, views and more views … for days!
What we did in and around Brisbane
Admired the spectacular views from Mount Coot-tha
I had a different picture of Brisbane etched in my mind. Who thought Brisbane was flat? Uhm, me? Maybe small parts are flat but the rest consists of rolling and heaving hills. We summited the highest point of Brisbane, Mount Coot-tha and admired the breath-taking views over the city and its suburbs. Trust me, it’s worth it!
Lunched at Mercure Clear Mountain Lodge, Spa & Vineyard
The jaw dropping views did not end at Mount Coot-tha. We continued our undulating journey through the forest and ended at a mountain top retreat – Clear Mountain Lodge. I could have spent the entire day on the open deck at Mandy's Lakeview Lounge and Dining admiring the views where we had a light lunch. The striking wetlands landscape stretched towards Glass House Mountains. Another view veered off to Moreton bay and yet another vista sneaked a glance at the CBD of Brisbane.
The sights over the valleys beckoned us to explore further and we spent the rest of the afternoon roaming around a few of those sights in the valley. We loved the picnic area around Forgan Park. The gas grills, spotlessly clean is a fascination to us.
Ventured deeper into the Hinterland
The following day we took a short trip further into the Hinterland. We stopped for lunch at Montville, a quaint little historic town settled in 1887, with yet more glorious views towards the Sunshine Coast as well as the Hinterland.
Montville is located close to the Kondalilla National Park on the Blackall Range. This quaint village has much to offer from art galleries, boutique stores to delightful coffee shops. There are even outdoor activities such as hiking or walking to a waterfall.
The beautiful Chapel Montville crafted from Helidon sandstone and red cedar is worth looking at and is highly sought after as a wedding venue.
Caught a closer glimpse of Glass House Mountains
We resumed our day trip and returned through the scenic Glass House Mountains. Yet more epic views and vistas of these national listed heritage rocky outcrops to enjoy but no time for some blood pumping bushwalks or hikes. No time either to see some of the wildlife. Maybe next time!
Ate bugs for dinner
That evening we went for dinner at Moreton Bay Boat Club and ate bugs. You heard right. Moreton bugs, that is. An appropriate place to eat them, don’t you think? They are strange looking creatures - a cross between a crab and a crayfish. They were delicious, even with such a yucky name. We shared a tiered seafood platter with prawns, oysters, fish, calamari and of course those bugs!
Strolled along the promenade of South Bank
The following day we spent a short time strolling on South Bank before our flight back to Sydney. We watched the traffic on the Brisbane River traveling between the northern and southern suburbs of Brisbane.
We had a fleeting look at the rainforest, the Nepalese peace pagoda as well as the Grand Arbour covered in bougainvillea. It is definitely worth spending a couple of hours in this beautiful and interesting recreational area for adults and kids alike. Apparently there are weekly markets too.
For those that have read my previous blogs you would know I love beaches and am an avid island hopper but the only beach I got to was Streets Beach, an iconic man made and only inner-city beach at South Bank. Just as well I didn’t get to any other beaches, considering I didn't pack a swimsuit. After all it was winter. As for islands, I was nowhere near one!
What we did not do in and around Brisbane - and other activities to tick off my bucket list
One thing was for sure, we hardly scratched the surface of the iconic things to do in Brisbane. These are a few experiences and activities I have added to my bucket list to do. Hopefully I can tick them off at a later date.
Explore the Brisbane River, a tidal estuary on a free City Hopper Ferry.
Visit the oldest Koala Sanctuary - Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
Stroll around the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha.
Enjoy more views over Brisbane River at The Kangaroo Point Cliffs.
Wander around the Queensland Cultural Centre.
If there was a slight chance of boredom I would venture further afield to the Sunshine Coast in the north or Gold Coast in the South. What do you think? In fact, that would be a definite, anyway!
Go island hopping to one of the many islands such as Moreton Island, North Stradbroke Island, Bribie Island, Fraser Island. How many more can I add to my list?
Explore the Lamington National Park and do some bushwalking while hunting for waterfalls. I might even admire the rainforest canopy from the Tree Top Walk.
These are just a handful of things I would still like to do. Have you any other suggestions for me?
One thing is for certain, I would love to return to Queensland and take my time to explore more of the beautiful City of Brisbane and its surroundings. Maybe I would be able to complete my bucket list. Then again the list might just grow continuously.
Bonus content about Brisbane:
As mentioned at the start of this blog, we travelled to Australia and Brisbane at the end of 2022 and spent a few weeks relaxing, exploring and sightseeing. Here are some of the highlights of what we did.
1. Had oysters at Felons Brewing Co.
Nestled under Story Bridge on the banks of the Brisbane River, a modern-day brewing company, Felons, is situated in a prime spot where you can sit back, relax and enjoy the view while you sip on some ale or other beverages. While you are there you might want to nibble on some oysters or other wholesome food.
Oysters at Felons
2. Queued for croissants at Lune Croissanterie.
I never thought I would be queueing for croissants at all, but these are totally worth it.
Hot tip: Get there early, because it is impossible for them to keep up with the demand, or even better order on-line.
Each Lune croissant is a masterpiece created to perfection. A dream that took physical hard work, patience and experimentation has paid off and made Lune the most talked about bakery in the world. We visited Shop 1 at 13-17 Manning Street, Brisbane South.
Croissant perfection at Lune
3. Picked up great vibes and good food from Eatstreet Northshore.
Built from 180 repurposed and recycled shipping containers, situated just 15 minutes from Brisbane CBD on a disused historic wharf over the Brisbane River, you’ll be able to tickle your tastebuds with delectable dishes and all kinds of treats from tastes and flavours around the world at Eatstreet. Whilst you are at it you can enjoy some of the best local live entertainment. They are open every weekend of the year, Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, Sunday 4pm to 9pm. They are closed Christmas day.
Eatstreet Northshore - good food and great vibes
4. Strolled through the gardens at Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
If you are a garden lover like me, you will enjoy this tranquil green space in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD. You might even find a water dragon or two. The riverside City Botanic Gardens are Brisbane's original botanic gardens and were established in 1828 to provide food for the early penal colony. For further information click this link.
Nestled against the Brisbane CBD lies Brisbane’s first garden
5. Took a day trip to the Gold Coast.
Have fun in Australia’s holiday capital. Soak up the sun at the beautiful beaches of the Gold Coast, shop till you drop or keep those hunger pangs at bay at numerous restaurants. Filled with natural beauty or if that is not your scene, head to the theme parks and other tourist attractions. If that is not enough, head inland to the hinterland or hop across the New South Wales border to explore more. There’s a lot more to do on the Gold Coast than what I have mentioned.
Currumbin Rocks looking north to Surfer’s Paradise on the horizon - Gold Coast
Looking south to Coolangatta
6. Discovered wildlife in nature in suburbia.
Brisbane has many parks and green spaces created for walks, cycling, kids play areas. You might think you are in the city but you will be surprised how many green spaces and forest walks there are in the suburbs of Brisbane. You might even be amazed by the wildlife you will find if you look up and look down. We’ve discovered a few, from birds to reptiles.
Tawny frogmouth
7. Walked on a sandbank that’s only possible at low tide.
We drove to Wellington Point where we saw a small uninhabited island roughly 1 kilometre off the shore. The island itself is a conservation park and is part of the Moreton Bay Marine Park.
At low tide the sandbank will be visible. Only at low tide will you be able to walk to King Island like we did. If you set out for the walk, take note of the tide times so you can make it back in time before the tide covers the sandbank entirely.
It is a great bucket list item for families with kids to walk and explore the treasure trove of shells, splash in shallow water and look for small marine creatures.
It is advisable to take some form of shoes as there are small rocks and pebbles on the sand. Of course it is also sensible to have a hat and some sunscreen.
The exposed sandbar to King Island at Wellington Point
King Island
8. Rode the ferry on the Brisbane River.
It is always worthwhile to take a ferry up or down the Brisbane River. You will need a Go Card to travel certain legs of the ferry ride, depending on where you want to go.
Closer to the inner city there is a free city hopper ferry service. Brisbane City Council's CityHopper allows you to hop on and off at seven stops between North Quay and Sydney Street, New Farm. The service runs every 30 minutes between 5.30am and midnight, Sunday to Thursday, with services operating later Friday and Saturday nights.
High rise buildings in Brisbane next to the river
Story Bridge crossing the Brisbane River
9. Roamed around one of Brisbane’s many outdoor art festivals.
Brisbane City Council and various public artists, institutions and galleries often transform Brisbane’s gardens, lanes, city streets and parks into outdoor art throughout each year.
In May each year Botanica Contemporary Art Outside display state-of-the-art projects with unexpected installations and interactive artworks to captivate children and adults alike. We strolled around an array of displays from talented artists that lit up Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.
A display at Botanica Contemporary Art Outside
Contemporary art exhibition at City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
10. Visited the Daisy Hill Koala Sanctuary.
Would you like to escape the city with your family and meet the resident koalas, walk in the wild, or cycle on a track? We did just that at Daisy Hill Koala Sanctuary, apart from the cycling part. You can meet rescued koalas and find our more info about them at the koala centre. You might even see one in the forest as you walk or cycle. You can even pack a picnic and relax afterwards in the shade of ancient trees.
It is a great day outdoors for kids, mountain bike cyclists and walkers.
Koala at the Daisy Hill sanctuary
Sleeping koala
11. Discovered the military history at Fort Lytton.
We set aside a couple of hours and found a noteworthy site that played a significant role for Queensland and therefore Australia in safeguarding shipping lanes and ports in the 19th and 20th century.
At this typical 19th century fortress we found the bunkers, interpretation and display of important aspects of Queensland’s military and social history from 1879 to the 1950’s, interesting.
Fort Lytton museum
12. Hopped on the ferry across Moreton Bay for a day trip to North Stradbroke Island.
A popular day trip destination, or an island getaway for a weekend or even a holiday close to Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island is worth a visit for young and old, whether you want to relax or spend some time in nature.
A day trip is an excellent opportunity to get a taste of the laid-back vibe of Straddie. However it is large enough to enjoy a stay for 2 to 3 days or even a week.
Cylinder Beach at North Stradbroke Island
Two of the ferries that travel to North Stradbroke Island
13. Spent a couple of hours roaming around Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens.
At the foot of Brisbane’s tallest mountain, Mount Coot-Tha lies a botanic garden and planetarium. Just 7 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, these gardens are a must visit not just for the beautiful gardens and some of its resident wildlife, but also to discover more about the universe at the planetarium located on the grounds.
Japanese Garden at Mount Coot-tha
We spent a few hours strolling around the gardens – definitely worthwhile – and then experienced the Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Planetarium experience inside the Cosmic Sky dome, at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Entrance into the gardens are free but unfortunately no dogs are allowed. We bought tickets online for the Pink Floyd experience which is running until March 2024.
Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens
Queensland Police Memorial in the botanic gardens, Brisbane City
Bell at Nepalese Peace Pagoda on South Bank
Flying over Brisbane
I still have loads more to explore in Brisbane and surroundings, so watch this space for further updates.
Click on image and pin for later
Click on image and pin for later
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About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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You might have heard of the lookout at Mount Coot-tha that offers a spectacular view of Brisbane but have you heard of the botanical paradise at its base?