Where London has the London Eye, Brisbane has the
Wheel of Brisbane. What better way is there to get an understanding of the layout of a city than from high above the city in a Ferris wheel? For a romantic escape, book a VIP gondola and enjoy a glass of wine with your partner in the sky.
To get another fantastic birds’ eye view of the city, consider climbing the
Story Bridge. Climb at twilight and watch the city come alive at night. Or go the thrill-seeker's route and try the cantilevered lean out—lean out over the bridge at an angle and get your heart racing. It’s one of only 3 bridge climbs in the world!
Escape the excitement of the city for a moment and visit Mount Coot-Tha. The
Brisbane Lookout at Mount Coot-Tha is the ultimate vantage point to see the city and the stunning natural scenery surrounding it. Enjoy a cup of coffee at the café lookout before wandering along one of the tracks and trails that begin at the lookout area or head down the mountain for a stroll through the
Mount Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens. And when you decide to look to the stars the
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is right next door where you can learn all about the stars above you.
If you’re in Brisbane in the warmer months, you won’t want to miss
Streets Beach. Queensland is known for its great beaches, but Brisbane sits on a river, not by the ocean. To make up for this, the city took matters into their own hands and built a man-made beach in the centre of the city. Relax on the sand or splash about in the water for summer fun in the city. If you’re in Brisbane with kids, they’ll be begging you to take them to
Aquativity, the interactive water-play park designed just for kids, right next to the beach.
Throughout the year, Brisbane is home to many farmer’s markets that serve the freshest food in the city.
Farmers markets in Brisbane run on different days of the week and at several locations, so whenever and wherever you are in Brisbane, you should be able to visit at least one. The Jan Powers Powerhouse markets (Saturdays 6am to midday) are one of the most popular, and perfect for grabbing a fresh juice and lunch
If the markets sparked your shopping instinct, head to Queen Street Mall for some of the best shopping in Brisbane. The mall is home to over 700 different stores and is truly the place to be when you need some retail therapy. For higher-end boutique shopping, head to James Street in Fortitude Valley. Many Australian boutique labels have set up shop on James Street, including Brisbane fashion designer, Gail Sorronga and Australian jewellery success story, Natasha Schweitzer. Even an afternoon of window shopping means discovering something new in fashion.