Brisbane is the capital city of the Queensland region of Australia. This region is known for having incredible beaches, making it an ideal beach vacation destination. You can find isolated beaches, cities located directly on the coastline, amazing zoos, beautiful parks, and more that make this one of the most family friendly destinations in Australia.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital city of Queensland and a great starting point for exploring the beautiful beaches that this region is so famous for. In addition to the access to beautiful nature, the city is a cultural hub, full of museums, performance centers, parks, and more.
Brisbane Logistics
How to Travel Around Brisbane
Brisbane is a relatively small city. If you stay on the Southbank or in the city center, you will be walking distance to most attractions around the city. That being said, it is recommended to purchase a transit card so you can use the various forms of transportation, including the ferry and trains that go to the Gold Coast area. To get a transit card, you can go to a number of different locations around the city, including the visitor information center in the city center. Here are the locations where you can purchase the card. You can also use your credit card to tap on to and off of public transportation but you need a separate card for each individual who is using the transportation. You also will have to pay the international conversion fee if your credit card does not waive these fees.
Where to Stay in Brisbane
Central Business District (CBD)
The Central Business District is the downtown area of Brisbane. Here, you can find most of the shops, malls, museums, botanic gardens, etc. and you are walking distance from the performance arts area on the other side of the river. Given that this is the main transportation hub of the city, it’s a great place to stay if you are looking to explore the areas around Brisbane, such as the Gold Coast.
The South Bank + West End
The South Bank, including the West End, has a neighborhood vibe to it that cannot be found in other parts of the city. It includes the Boardwalk where you can walk along to see the skyline and swim in the public pools. The West End is full of coffee shops and boutiques. This area is perfect for young travelers and families alike.
Fortitude Valley
Fortitude Valley, also known as the Valley, is the restaurant and nightlife area of Brisbane. It is full of breweries, restaurants, bars, and clubs. This area is perfect for those who are interested in the nightlife of the city. (The biggest downside of this area is that it is hard to access the Southbank from here.)
The Best Things to Do in Brisbane
Take the Ferry
One great way to see the skyline of the city is to take the ferry that runs along the Brisbane River, especially from the North Quay or South Bank Terminal to the Northshore Hamilton ferry terminal. Along this route, you will get great views of the bridges and skylines that add value to the city. Some of the buildings and bridges you should look out for include the Story Bridge, 1 William, and the Powerhouse. At the end of the ferry line, Northshore Hamilton ferry terminal, you can find Bluey’s World Brisbane for kids or Eat Street Northshore, a night market full of international food stalls.
Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout
To get a nice view of the city skyline from above, head to the Mount Coot-tha Summit. You can drive to the summit or hike your way up there. Here are some of the different hikes that can be done on and around Mount Coot-tha. At the peak, there are a few viewpoint locations where you can take in the city and a nice cafe to grab a coffee and enjoy the view.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens - City Center and Mount Coot-Tha
The botanic gardens of Brisbane are located both in the Central Business District and at Mount Coot-Tha. Both locations are free to visit and it’s a nice place to wander and picnic among the beautiful tree setting.
Moreton Island: Tangalooma Wrecks
Moreton Island is located off the coast of Brisbane and has become a popular tourist attraction and activity in the region. The island has beautiful beaches, wonderful wildlife, and interesting snorkeling at the boats that were sunk to build a reef and protect the coastline of the island. While Moreton Island can be visited independently, the public ferry drops you off on a beach with no shade and away from the resort that provides any snorkeling or beach equipment. This is ideal for those who have their own snorkeling equipment, don’t care to snorkel, and can provide their own shade to protect themselves from the brutal Australian sun. By going with the Tangalooma Island Resort, you will have an experience that more efficiently and enjoyably allows you to explore the island and the wreck. They have their own private ferry that takes you to and from their beach resort from Brisbane, which is the only location that rents out beach and ocean equipment. Other experiences that the Tangalooma Resort provides include sandboarding, ATVing, kayaking, and more to get the most out of the island. And if you want a longer island vacation, you can consider booking a few nights on the resort to enjoy all the different activities of the island.
Brisbane Southbank
The Brisbane Southbank is a fun and family-friendly promenade. It includes parks and pools that are open to the public to use. It’s a great place to spend a few hours hanging out in the pool, barbecuing, going on the ferris wheel, etc. It is also the cultural hub of the city with the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Queensland Museum, and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, all of which have exhibits and performances year-round.
Roma Street Parklands
The Roma Street Parklands is a modern park located to the north of Brisbane’s Central Business District. The park is made up of numerous beautifully designed gardens, all of which have a magical and transformative design to them. The park adds extra decorations for different times of year, such as lights for Christmas that can be experienced after dark.
The Sunshine Coast
The Sunshine Coast is the beachland north of Brisbane. The communities here are artsy and bohemian and the ocean is perfect for surfers at any level and avid beach goers looking for a relaxing beach destination with a boutique flair.
Sunshine Coast Logistics
How to Get to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane
The best way to get to the Sunshine Coast and maximize your time and experience here is to rent a car from Brisbane and drive one hour north to the start of this portion of Australia’s coastline. You may want to explore different towns along the coast and visit the Australia Zoo and having a car will make these logistics easy. There is also a Greyhound bus that goes directly from Brisbane to Noosa, if driving is not available to you.
Where to Stay on the Sunshine Coast
There are many small towns along the Sunshine Coast that provide the quaint beach-town vibe that define this part of Australia. One of the most popular towns to stay in is Noosa. It has a beautiful beach, a promenade full of restaurants and bars, and Noosa National Park.
The Best Things to Do in the Sunshine Coast
The Australia Zoo
The Australia Zoo is a zoo that was started by Steve Irwin, the famous “Crocodile Hunter” and tv personality that explored the behavior of so many unknown, feared, and varied animals around the world in his TV shows. He focused on environmentalism and conservation to protect animals from tourism, poaching, and human interference and educate people on the importance of saving wildlife. His zoo was part of his efforts.
Started by his parents as a reptile park, Steve Irwin expanded the park to help protect the greatly feared saltwater crocodiles. Eventually the zoo grew to include an Animal Hospital to help protect the varied and unique wildlife within Australia. Today, the zoo displays a huge number of different animals from a variety of climates and ecosystems, both within and outside of Australia. It is an amazing place to visit if you want to see the weirdly unique wildlife that is so famous on this continent.
We recommend arriving at the zoo at the opening. You will be able to see the schedule of the different shows and talks that happen in the zoo throughout the day, all of which are free to attend. The Australia Zoo’s Wildlife Warriors Show is the most popular show and includes demonstrations of the abilities of a variety of animals, including different birds and crocodiles. You will not want to miss this one! Other shows occur throughout the day and should be attended based on your own interests.
For a luxury experience, you could look into staying at the zoo’s accommodation of the Crocodile Hunter Lodge, a luxury property with one and two-bedroom lodges surrounded by Australian nature with kangaroos, emus, and koalas.
Noosa National Park + Noosa
Noosa National Park is a coastal region of the Sunshine Coast that is full of beautiful coastal fauna and a beachline that is popular for surfing. To reach some of the more beautiful and isolated locations around the national park, you will need to hike along the coast, following the Hell’s Gate walk or continuing onto the Coastal Track where you will get beautiful views of the water, beach, and infrastructure built along the beaches further down the coast. For both walks, bring a bathing suit and towel so you can take advantage of the quaint beaches along the way.
This national park is located within the popular town of Noosa along the Sunshine Coast. This town combines laid-back luxury with stunning natural beauty in its surfer beaches, quaint boutique accommodations and delicious dining scene along the beautiful Australian coast.
The Gold Coast
The Sunshine Coast is the beachland north of Brisbane. The communities here are artsy and bohemian and the ocean is perfect for surfers at any level and avid beach goers looking for a relaxing beach destination with a boutique flair.
Gold Coast Logistics
How to Get to the Gold Coast from Brisbane
To get to the Gold Coast, you can take a train and a tram directly to some of the more significant and popular beach destinations along the Gold Coast, such as Surfer’s Paradise and Broadbeach, or a train and a bus further south along the coast to Burleigh Heads or Currumbin Beach. Otherwise, you could drive from Brisbane, but the public transportation access makes this part of town so appealing to travelers.
Where to Stay on the Gold Coast
There are a multitude of international hotel chains and boutique hotels all along the Gold Coast. These hotels provide easy access to the beach and comfortable stays that can vary based on your budget or hotel allegiance. Try and find a hotel within the skyscrapers of this coast so you can have wonderful views of the skyline and the magnificent beach.
The Best Things to Do in the Gold Coast
Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise is one of the most popular destinations along the Gold Coast. This part of the beach stretches for miles, lined by an extending skyline that makes this area so unique. You can spend time relaxing on the beach, take surfer lessons, swim in the designated swimming areas, and just soak up the Australian sunshine.
Skypoint
If you want to see the skyline for a different vantage point, head to Skypoint, an observatory on the top floor of a building. It is incredibly popular for sunset (even though the sun does not set over the ocean here) but we think that it is best to visit first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds. It is not necessary to purchase tickets in advance, especially since they cap the number of people who are in the observatory, no matter if you have tickets purchased ahead of time. Some other experiences that you can have at the Skypoint observation deck include climbing to the very top of the building for those looking for a thrill or reserve a buffet breakfast overlooking the beach, but make sure to get tickets in advance for either of these.
Burleigh Heads
Another destination within the Gold Coast that has both beautiful beaches and some nice walks is Burleigh Heads. Here, there is a national park you can walk around and beaches that are famous for their consistent surf potential. Finally, you can meander through the town center where there are plenty of little boutiques to check out.
Read More About the Blueprint Travelers' Personal Experience in brisbane
Update 52: Relaxing in Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, Australia and the surrounding beaches
We visited the incredible Queensland beaches in the Sunshine and Gold Coasts and enjoyed fun activities around the city of Brisbane, Australia.