Brisbane
Brisbane is a city that seems to have got rather comfortable with itself.
It isn't as immediately spectacular as Sydney, it doesn't have Melbourne's slightly superior cultural attitude and it certainly doesn't have the sheer size and scale of some of Australia's other cities.
But Brisbane has something going for it that many larger cities would give their right arm for.
It is pleasant, very pleasant.
Brisbane sits on the Brisbane River in southeastern Queensland and is a city that seems to have been designed for people who enjoy being outdoors. There are parks, gardens, riverside walks, cafés, restaurants and an almost unhealthy obsession with making the most of the sunshine.
And there is a lot of sunshine.
The locals seem to have decided that if you are going to live somewhere with a subtropical climate, you might as well make the city as pleasant as possible.
It works.
Of course, there is always a downside.
It can get rather hot and humid, very humid.
But we'll come to that.
The Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the heart of the city.It winds its way through Brisbane in a series of enormous bends, dividing the central business district from South Bank and providing some very attractive views of the skyline.
One of the best things you can do is simply walk along the river.
You can also take a CityCat ferry, which is a particularly good way of seeing Brisbane because you get a much better idea of the shape of the city from the water. And unlike some sightseeing cruises, you don't necessarily have to pay an enormous amount of money to do it.
The river also gives Brisbane something that many inland cities lack — a sense of space. Even in the middle of the city you can look across the water and feel that there is room to breathe. This becomes particularly impressive after dark when the city lights come on.
South Bank
If Brisbane has a favourite child, it is probably South Bank.The area sits on the southern side of the Brisbane River and has developed into a huge leisure and cultural precinct containing parks, restaurants, museums, galleries, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the famous Streets Beach.
What makes South Bank particularly interesting is that it wasn't always this nice.
The area was transformed for World Expo 88, which attracted an astonishing 18 million visitors during its six-month run. After the Expo finished, Brisbane residents decided they rather liked having South Bank as a public space and successfully campaigned for much of it to remain.
Today you can walk through the parklands, wander along the river, have something to eat, visit a museum or gallery and generally spend a very pleasant day without having to travel very far.
There is even an artificial beach, yes, a beach, in the middle of Brisbane.
Streets Beach is a man-made swimming lagoon surrounded by sand and greenery with the city skyline providing the backdrop.
It is a slightly bizarre concept but a remarkably successful one. It is also exactly the sort of thing that makes Brisbane rather likeable.
The Cultural Precinct
South Bank is also where you will find Brisbane's principal cultural institutions.
The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, usually abbreviated to QAGOMA, are here, along with the Queensland Museum, State Library and Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Even if you aren't particularly interested in art, museums or theatre, the area is worth exploring.
The Queensland Museum is particularly good for anyone wanting to understand Queensland and its natural history, with collections covering everything from wildlife and fossils to cultural history.
And the best thing about wandering around this part of Brisbane is that you don't have to do everything.
You can simply pick and choose.
The Story Bridge
Then there is Brisbane's most recognisable bridge. The Story Bridge stretches across the Brisbane River and has become one of the city's great landmarks. You can admire it from below, drive across it, photograph it from the river or, if you are feeling particularly adventurous, climb it.
The Story Bridge Adventure Climb takes you above the city and provides some spectacular views, particularly around sunset.
Personally, I am quite happy admiring bridges from ground level. There is something deeply unnecessary about climbing hundreds of feet above the ground simply to prove that you can. But if you enjoy that sort of thing, Brisbane has you covered.
The area underneath the bridge has also been transformed into the Howard Smith Wharves, with restaurants, bars and riverside spaces.
So even if you don't climb the bridge, there is plenty of reason to go there.
The City Centre
Brisbane's CBD is fairly compact and easy enough to explore on foot.Queen Street is the main shopping area, although if you have seen one modern shopping street you have probably seen most of them.
What makes Brisbane's centre more interesting is the mixture of old and new buildings.
Brisbane City Hall is particularly impressive and houses the Museum of Brisbane, which concentrates on the history and development of the city.
There are also some older buildings scattered among the modern towers, reminders that Brisbane wasn't actually invented in 1988 despite what the amount of modern development might lead you to believe.
The Botanic Gardens
Brisbane is blessed with greenery.
The City Botanic Gardens sit right on the edge of the CBD and provide an excellent escape from the traffic, buildings and general urban nonsense. There are enormous trees, tropical plants, lawns and riverside paths, making it possible to wander around in relative peace while being only minutes from the city centre.
There is also the much larger Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha, which is another excellent place to visit.
It is a particularly good example of something Brisbane does very well.
You can have all the facilities of a modern city while never being very far from nature.
Mount Coot-tha
If you want the best view of Brisbane, head for Mount Coot-tha. The lookout provides a magnificent panorama across the city and the surrounding area.
It is particularly good late in the day when the sun is going down and Brisbane begins to light up.
And, rather conveniently, you don't necessarily have to climb the mountain to see the view.
There are hiking trails for those who want to earn their view, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with arriving by car, taking a photograph and then finding a café.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Now we get to one of the things that makes Australia Australia.Koalas (and kangaroos).
And various other creatures which have clearly been designed by somebody who had never seen a European animal and decided to make everything up.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of Brisbane's best-known wildlife attractions and is home to koalas, kangaroos, cassowaries, platypuses and plenty of other Australian wildlife.
If you've never seen a koala close up, this is likely to be one of the highlights of your visit.
They are extraordinary creatures.They also appear to have perfected the art of doing absolutely nothing for most of the day. Frankly, I admire them.
Australia has some of the world's most dangerous wildlife, but the koala is unlikely to chase you down the street and kill you.
Unless you are an eucalyptus leaf, then you're in trouble.
The Wildlife Problem
Of course, mentioning Australian wildlife inevitably raises the question:
What can kill me?
The answer is quite a lot.
Australia has snakes, spiders, crocodiles, jellyfish and various other creatures that seem to have been specifically designed to discourage British tourists from venturing into the undergrowth.
Fortunately, Brisbane itself is not a giant wildlife survival course. You can walk around the city without constantly checking the pavement for spiders. You can also enjoy the parks and river without assuming that every bush contains a snake.
Although, being Australia, I wouldn't put my hand into any bush just to be certain.
Brisbane's Weather
The weather is one of Brisbane's greatest attractions. It is warm for much of the year and the city makes enormous use of its outdoor spaces.
Cafés spill onto pavements, people eat outside and parks are busy.
It is very different from Britain where you can spend three months planning a barbecue only to discover that the temperature has dropped to eight degrees and it is raining sideways.
Brisbane's subtropical climate does, however, mean humidity.
And heat.
If you aren't used to it, the first few days can be exhausting.You can walk a relatively short distance and arrive looking as though you've just completed a sponsored endurance event.
The answer is simple - slow down, find a café, have a cold drink.
Then continue.
There is no prize for sightseeing at maximum speed.
Roma Street Parkland
Another of Brisbane's excellent green spaces is Roma Street Parkland.
It is remarkably close to the centre but feels a world away from the surrounding city.
There are gardens, water features, walking paths and plenty of space to sit down.
This is another example of Brisbane's greatest strength.
The city doesn't seem to regard parks as something that needs to be squeezed into whatever space is left over after the roads and buildings have been constructed.
They are an integral part of the city.
Kangaroo Point
Across the river from the city are the Kangaroo Point cliffs. They provide another excellent viewpoint and are particularly attractive in the evening.You can walk along the river, sit and watch the boats or simply enjoy the view back towards the city.
For the more adventurous there is climbing and abseiling. For the rest of us there is a perfectly good footpath.
I know which one I'd choose.
So, Is Brisbane Worth Visiting?
Yes.
Very definitely.
Brisbane doesn't have the instantly recognisable landmarks of Sydney, but that may actually be part of its appeal.
It is a city you discover rather than a city that screams at you.
The river, parks, gardens and outdoor lifestyle give it a relaxed atmosphere, while South Bank provides enough museums, galleries, restaurants and entertainment to keep you occupied.
It is clean, modern and easy to explore.
And, unlike some Australian cities, it doesn't seem to be trying desperately to convince you how important it is.
Brisbane is quite happy being Brisbane.
The only thing Brisbane really needs to be careful about is that it doesn't become too nice. Because once a city becomes this pleasant, the Old Moaner starts running out of things to moan about.
And that simply won't do.
Prices correct as at August 2026
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