3 days in Brisbane

Day by day

1. Day 1: South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

   South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach, Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and Queensland Art Gallery, then Story Bridge in the evening.

   1. Morning

      South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach

      Seventeen hectares of riverside parkland built on the World Expo 88 site, centred on Streets Beach, a free lifeguarded lagoon with sand and palm trees across the river from the skyline.

   2. Late morning

      Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

      Check the programme for the Children's Art Centre and the cinémathèque, both included in or alongside the free collection displays.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Moreton Bay bugs

      Seafood restaurants along the river at Howard Smith Wharves and South Bank, and fish markets in Hamilton.

   4. Afternoon

      Queensland Art Gallery

      The older half of QAGOMA displays Australian, European and Asian art from colonial landscapes to Indigenous works around a calm Watermall.

   5. Evening

      Story Bridge

      Walk across at dusk from Kangaroo Point towards the Valley for skyline views, then descend to Howard Smith Wharves for dinner.

2. Day 2: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and CityCat river ferry

   Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, CityCat river ferry and Queensland Museum Kurilpa, then Kangaroo Point Cliffs in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

      A river cruise from the city centre is a scenic way to arrive; otherwise take a bus from the CBD in about 40 minutes.

   2. Late morning

      CityCat river ferry

      Sleek catamaran ferries run the length of the city's river reaches from the University of Queensland to Northshore Hamilton, passing South Bank, the CBD, the Story Bridge and New Farm.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mud crab

      Seafood restaurants and Chinese restaurants in Fortitude Valley and Sunnybank.

   4. Afternoon

      Queensland Museum Kurilpa

      SparkLab charges separately; the main galleries are free and suit a hot or rainy afternoon.

   5. Evening

      Kangaroo Point Cliffs

      Book a guided climbing or abseiling session for a first try, or come after dark to see the city lights reflected in the river.

3. Day 3: Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens and City Botanic Gardens

   Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens, City Botanic Gardens and Howard Smith Wharves, then Eat Street Northshore in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Mount Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens

      The lookout at 287 metres, about 15 minutes' drive west of the CBD, gives the widest view of the city, river and Moreton Bay islands.

   2. Late morning

      City Botanic Gardens

      Follow the riverside boardwalk from the gardens to Eagle Street Pier and the Riverwalk at New Farm.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tropical fruit

      Farmers' markets at the Powerhouse and Davies Park, and greengrocers across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Howard Smith Wharves

      Restored heritage wharf sheds beneath the Story Bridge now hold restaurants, a riverside brewery, bars and lawns facing Kangaroo Point.

   5. Evening

      Eat Street Northshore

      Take the CityCat to the Northshore Hamilton terminus and arrive early before the queues build.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Brisbane City Hall and Museum of Brisbane (Brisbane CBD): Book the free clock-tower tour on arrival at the museum desk; places are limited.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Brisbane CBD keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, South Bank ($$$) suits families, first-timers, culture and couples. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 24–28 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in June to 13.9 hours in December.

More or fewer days

• One day in Brisbane
• 2 days in Brisbane
• 5 days in Brisbane

Questions travellers ask