How to Spend 72 Hours in Brisbane, Australia

Meet Brisbane, the ideal starting point for your Australia trip that’s a destination all its own. Queensland’s River City is a country kid at heart: wide smiles, sun-kissed forearms, salt-of-the-earth charm. But over the last 20-odd years, the city has also embraced more cosmopolitan delights. Think rooftop cocktails, cutting-edge art galleries, and riverside fine dining.

For American travelers, getting there is easy. Multiple carriers (Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines) now fly direct to Brisbane from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Dallas, making the “city with the biggest backyard” an ideal entry point into Australia. Once you arrive, make time for rainforest and island adventures, golden-sand beaches, tours that introduce First Nations culture, and relaxed city living — all to be found within day-trip range or closer.

 
A well-planned three-plus days can deliver these iconic experiences and more, immersing you in the Australian way and, like any must-visit city, leaving you eager for more.

Photo: Visit Brisbane

Whether you’ve woken up in Brisbane or just arrived at your hotel, you’ll want a pick-me-up. The city center hides many great cafes, such as John Mills Himself. This hole-in-the-exposed-brick-wall hangout serves coffee good enough for its own tasting flight. Pair a foamy flat white (an Australian delicacy) with a fresh croissant or pear polenta cake. Tip: Remember the cafe’s secret laneway location if you get a cocktail craving later on.

Now you’re fed and watered, aim for the Brisbane River, known as Maiwar in the Indigenous Turrbal language. This waterway has been the city’s flowing heart for centuries, and the ubiquitous CityCat and Cross River ferries are your ticket to Brisbane’s commercial, cultural, dining, arts, and industrial districts. It also costs just 50 cents per ferry ride. Bargain.

Walk or catch a ferry to South Bank (sit at the back for the best river views) and head to the Queensland Cultural Centre. There, some of Queensland’s most integral art and culture hubs cluster along the riverbank. This includes Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), two art galleries in one, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artwork teaches about the history and traditions of Indigenous Australians in Queensland.

With year-round subtropical weather in Brisbane, the day is likely heating up by now, so ride a public electric bike or scooter to Streets Beach in the South Bank Parklands. This man-made beach overlooking the river is one-of-a-kind in Australia and the perfect spot to swim, sunbathe, or run around in an aquatic playground. Remember your towels and swimwear; lockers are available for everything else. If you’re hungry, Emporium Hotel’s rooftop terrace is nearby for gourmet bites, seafood sashimi, and designer cocktails with an infinity pool garnish.

From there, you’re a short drive or a fun river cruise away from coming face to face with some of Australia’s most iconic animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The koala sanctuary bills itself as “the world’s oldest and largest” refuge of its kind and proudly houses more than 100 of its namesake marsupials — in addition to dingos, platypus, kangaroos, raptors, reptiles, and a whole host of other native Australian species.

Next, swap koala and kangaroo encounters for Kangaroo Point‘s clifftops to admire Brisbane and its bridges from above. Joey’s is open for a quick bite or drink with a view. Alternatively, visit Riverlife Adventure Centre for river kayaking or cliffside abseiling. Afterward, it’s back on the ferry to Howard Smith Wharves for riverside cocktails at Mr Percival’s or craft beer at Felons Brewing Co.

End your first day with dinner and drinks at one of Australia’s newest rooftop venues, the Sky Deck at The Star Brisbane. Sip cellar wines and enjoy flame-grilled meats 100 meters (328 feet) above it all as you watch the sun set over the mountains and the river reflect the city lights.

Photo: Visit Brisbane

Some of Australia’s best islands and beaches are within two hours of Brisbane. North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) makes a great day trip for relaxation, eco-conscious activities, and a chance to learn about Aboriginal culture. Drive or catch the bus or train to Cleveland before hopping on the Stradbroke Flyer water taxi or SeaLink vehicle ferry to the island.

Learn about Minjerribah’s Aboriginal heritage on a three-hour driving experience with Yura Tours. Led by the Indigenous Quandamooka people, it includes a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony, Dreamtime creation stories, and teachings about medicinal uses of local flora as you stop at Point Lookout, wander the Terra Bulla Bush Tucker Trail, and visit the freshwater Myora Springs.

After your tour, explore Point Lookout, a peaceful township on the island’s northeastern tip. Cool off with a double-scoop waffle cone from Whale Tail Gelati & Coffee Bar or enjoy all-day pancakes, Bircher bowls, and smoothies on the terrace at The Blue Room Cafe. Sandy Frenchman’s Beach is ideal for a swim afterward. You may even spot whales during the winter migration season.

Speaking of wildlife, there’s a good chance you’ll see kangaroos, koalas, and wallabies on Main Beach and around the Dunwich and Point Lookout townships. The island also has numerous snorkeling and dive sites. Scuba with stingrays, speckled wobbegong sharks, and reef-dwelling gropers at Middle Reef, or snorkel with manta rays in the summer.

Before returning to the mainland, spend a moment in Dunwich. Grab a cold one at Straddie Brewing Co., a three-story brewhouse, before having an early dinner of fresh Moreton Bay bugs (a small crustacean), oysters, and prawns at Perry’s Seafood. Pop into Salt Water Murris’ Quandamooka Art Gallery to purchase paintings, clothing, and creative souvenirs by local Aboriginal artists to give back to the community, or visit the newer Quandamooka Arts and Culture Centre (QUAMPI) to see what rotating exhibitions, artist studios, and cultural programs are sharing Quandamooka stories when you’re there.

Alternatively, set your sights toward Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) for your second day’s adventure. Climb aboard the Holt Street Wharf ferry in Brisbane, and in a little over an hour you could be swimming, snorkeling, or racing down sand dunes across this beachy perch. Close enough for a day trip and exciting enough to merit an overnight (or several), Tangalooma is proof that Brisbane’s backyard extends well beyond its riverbanks.

Photo: Visit Brisbane

Today, you’ll explore a different side of Brisbane’s surroundings, trading tropical island scenes for the Scenic Rim’s rainforest and mountain landscapes. Your destination: Tamborine Mountain. Your route: A straightforward 72-kilometer (45-mile) drive down the M1 and up a forested mountain road past valley farmland and towering cedars and strangler figs.

Leave early to reach Tamborine Mountain in time for breakfast, whether you prefer to drive yourself or go with a tour guide. The Artizen Teahouse & Cafe on Long Road sets the scene for an alfresco breakfast under palm trees (the Bagel Eggs Benny is a winner). Afterward, browse the intricately designed timber clocks at the German Cuckoo Clock Nest and the hand-blown glass jewelry and homewares at Tamborine Mountain Glass Studio.

You could spend hours visiting with talented artisans, but rainforest adventures await. Soar through the treetops on the award-winning Canyon Flyer Zipline Tour over the forested valleys of Cedar Creek Canyon. The tour takes place at Thunderbird Park, an eco-certified adventure playground with high-ropes courses, fossicking, mini golf, bird feeding, and swimmable rock pools.

Adventuring builds up an appetite. Drive to the historic St. Bernards Hotel, famous for its valley vistas and two adorable St. Bernard dogs. Book a table on the back deck, where you can tuck into traditional chicken parmigiana, lemon pepper calamari, or a juicy steak burger while gazing out over Guanaba Creek and the surrounding rainforest.

Once you’re fueled, it’s time to go chasing waterfalls. Tamborine Mountain has three main falls — Witches, Cedar Creek, and Curtis — with rainforest trails that lead to their inviting cascades and freshwater pools. Take your time there, then stroll the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk to admire the canopy of giant trees from 30 meters (100 feet) up. The view is a perfect backdrop for reflecting on a well-spent 72 hours in Brisbane.

While you’ll still have so much to see and do, these few days will give you a deeper appreciation of the city’s various personalities. Both a destination in its own right and a gateway to the rest of Australia, Brisbane is a place that rewards curiosity. So start planning your trip and see just how far Brisbane’s backyard will take you.