Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city (after Melbourne and Sydney) and the capital of Queensland, the northeastern-most state in Australia, and home to about 2.8 million people.
I first visited Brisbane during a solo backpacking trip around Australia in 2019 where I followed the classic backpacker route, mostly visiting big cities, staying in hostels and traveling by public transport.
This time, I've returned to Australia with my partner and we're currently living full-time in our campervan, a 2018 Mercedes Sprinter, with a plan of "driving the lap" (completing the entire perimeter of the country).
For over 22,000 years, the Turrbal people lived on this land, long before any Europeans arrived, and called it Meanjin.
The first European to see this coastline was Captain James Cook in 1770 but the area was not explored until almost three decades later when Matthew Flinders surveyed the region for two weeks in 1799. A British penal colony was established in the area in 1824. The state of Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859 at which point Brisbane became the capital (although not officially named a city until 1925) and it grew economically, thanks to its location as a major port, encouraging migration to the area.
I first visited Brisbane in February 2019 on a solo backpacking trip and returned with my partner in our campervan at the beginning February 2026 as well as again at the end of the month to go to a concert and updated the original post with all the new things we did. This post was first published on 10 February 2019; last updated 21 February 2026.
Every single spot (and more) that I mention in all my blog posts about Australia can be found in my Australia | Ultimate Map!
This is a digital map featuring hundreds of my favourite restaurants, campgrounds, accommodations, shops, photo spots, museums, beaches, lakes, animal spots, bridges, viewpoints, hikes and SO much more in Australia, including its three external territories.
Each pin includes exact locations, images, detailed information, the ability to open and save the spot in your Google Maps and a link to my relevant blog post to read more.
COMING SOON → Buy the Australia | Ultimate Map!
Below is some useful information for preparing for your trip to Brisbane. In all cases, please be sure to check with the relevant local authorities for the latest and accurate information.
Language: The official language of Australia is English. In Brisbane, the traditional language of the Turrbal people is Turrbal.
→ Learn more about the language of the Turrbal people.
Currency: The currency used in Australia is the Australian dollar, denoted as AUD $. I use a Wise account when I travel which allows me to have a single, free account with multiple currencies. I only have to pay once to convert my money in the app and then I can pay in AUD $!
→ Check the latest currency conversion between AUD $ and your local currency.
Data/WiFi: Before you arrive, I recommend purchasing an eSim on your phone so that you can access data the moment you land. eSims are much more convenient as it means you don't have to put a separate physical Sim into your phone. AirAlo offers great deals for eSims of various data sizes and time lengths with Optus.
→ Load an international eSim on your phone with AirAlo.
If you are visiting Australia long term, you might wish to put a physical Sim in your phone as AirAlo is geared more towards short term visitors on holiday. This way you can access a local phone plan. There are three main mobile phone network providers in Australia: Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Telstra has the best coverage across the country whereas Optus and Vodafone are good within cities. I recommend Telstra as it means you have the best coverage while you travel around the country, especially in rural areas.
We travel with a Starlink in our campervan which enables us to have unlimited WiFi wherever we are, even in places without coverage.
Free WiFi is provided by Brisbane City Council throughout many areas of the CBD, public parks and libraries on the "Brisbane Free Wifi" network. Major shopping centres, cafes and restaurants also offer free WiFi.
Visa: All passport holders except New Zealand require a visa to visit Australia. All arrivals must fill out an Australian arrival card before landing.
→ Check which visa you need for Australia.
Time of year to visit: Australia can be visited all year-round. Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, can get very hot and busy in the summer, especially around school holidays, and cool in the winter months. I recommend visiting in spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May) for pleasant, sunny days.
Length of stay: Across two visits, I have spent about a week in Brisbane and the surrounding area. It's such a big city and there is so much to do, especially when you factor in day trips!
Kangaroo Point in 2019
As Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city (after Melbourne and Sydney) and the capital of Queensland, the northeastern-most state in Australia, and home to about 2.8 million people, it is a major destination to travel to.
By flight: The easiest way to get to Brisbane is by flying, home to a major international airport connecting 31 airlines to 50 domestic and 29 international destinations directly.
From Brisbane Airport, it's just a 20-minute drive into the city; Uber is a popular choice here. You can also grab the Airtrain straight from the airport to the CBD in under half an hour.
By car: If you're driving around the country as we are in our campervan, then the easiest way to get to Brisbane is with your own wheels. The most popular way of exploring Australia is by camping - whether with a motorhome, campervan, caravan or a roof tent on top of a car. This gives you the ultimate freedom of going as fast or as slow as you like.
You might want to start in Brisbane as your base for renting a campervan to explore Australia.
→ Rent a campervan in Brisbane with Apollo, Camplify, Indie or Juicy.
By coach: Both Flixbus and Greyhound run coaches to Brisbane from multiple stops along the east coast.
By train: The Spirit of Queensland train runs between Brisbane and Cairns, a journey of almost 1700km and 25 hours, stopping all along the way.
Queensland Rail Network Map
As Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city (after Melbourne and Sydney) and the capital of Queensland, home to about 2.8 million people, with loads of ways to get around.
On foot: The main CBD area including South Bank and Kangaroo Point are all very walkable and exploring on foot is the best way to get around and visit many of the city's main highlights.
By public transport: Translink runs a vast bus, train and tram network around Brisbane, making this a super practical and easy way to get around.
→ Plan your trip by public transport around Brisbane.
By car: If you have your own wheels, of course you can drive yourself around.
→ Find out about parking in Brisbane.
By Uber: Uber is readily available throughout Brisbane.
By ferry: As Brisbane is divided by the Brisbane River, getting around by CityCat ferry is a popular and convenient option, especially as each journey is just AUD $0.50.
→ Find out about the CityCat schedule and routes.
By guided tour: There are countless guided tours of all sorts in Brisbane available, no matter what you're interested in!
A CityCat seen from Kangaroo Point
Hostel: When I first visited Brisbane in 2019, I was on a solo backpacking trip around Australia, staying in hostels along the way and traveling by public transport.
I stayed at the Breeze Lodge just behind Kangaroo Point which was in a great location for getting around the city, especially at it was near a ferry terminal to cross the river into the CBD. The facilities were clean, even if the kitchen was a bit small, but they make up for that with free WiFi, outlets and personal lockers for each person by their bed.
Hotel: Not traveling by campervan? Driving in a car? Whatever your reason for needing a place to stay, there are some great accommodation options in Brisbane to suit any budget.
→ Check out all the accommodation options in Brisbane.
Camping: We are driving "the lap" around Australia, exploring the country in our campervan. As with the rest of Australia, Queensland permits freedom camping on designated sites. These sites can vary greatly; some offer a variety of facilities such as toilets, trash bins, picnic tables, outdoor cooking stations and others have none of this and might simply be a pull-out on the side of the road.
The best way to find legal freedom camping spots is to use an app. We use Wikicamps Australia, a cheap app that has every single amenity listed (both free and paid) that you might need on the road. This includes things like where to fill up fresh water, where to dump grey water, where to empty toilets, where to stay, gas stations, information points and also has suggestions for things to do as you go.
→ Download the Wikicamps Australia app.
There is no free camping in Brisbane itself; we stayed at two nearby. About an hour west, we stayed at Narda Lagoon, a peaceful little park located along a river with a suspension bridge and lots of birds. There are also picnic tables, BBQs, toilets and a playground.
Brisbane is Australia's third-largest city and has countless food options to go with it. When I visited in 2019, I cooked in my hostel and don't have any food recommendations from then.
However, when we returned in 2026, we went out for a delicious brunch at Andonis which offers Australian cuisine with a Greek twist in a vibey spot in the heart of Fortitude Valley.
I've followed Brooke, the owner of Brooki, on Instagram for over a decade, long before she ever got into baking, and was instead the writer of a solo female travel blog (World Of Wanderlust) and watched her whole journey as she winded down traveling and focused on baking, inspired by her trips to Parisian bakeries. Her bakery has gone pretty viral on Instagram and TikTok and while Fortitude Valley is her original location, she has since expanded across the country and internationally.
So of course, when I was finally in Brisbane, I had to stop in and try her viral goodies myself. I must say, they were some of the best cookies we've ever had...!
While you might wonder why I'm recommending a restaurant inside a Westfield mall in northern Brisbane, I promise you won't regret coming to Ka-Chow. They offer Asian food from across the entire continent and it's all mouthwateringly good. The mall itself is super vibey too and the decor of the restaurant is super tastefully done so we actually really liked hanging out here!
And after you've had your meal at Ka-Chow, walk down the mall to Yo Way, a delicious build-your-own frozen yogurt spot where you pay by weight for whichever flavour fro-yo and toppings you desire. Yum!
Brisbane is the third-largest city in Australia with tons to do no matter what you're interested in. Both visits, I loved my time in Brisbane, Queensland's capital.
Here is everything I did from both my visits in 2019 as a backpacker and in 2026 in our campervan, including some day trip suggestions to the surrounding areas:
Take in the view from Petrie Point Story Bridge Lookout
We stumbled across this place as we were walking from Fortitude Valley down into the CBD area and it just offers the most gorgeous view overlooking Story Bridge and the Brisbane River. You can ride the glass elevator up or walk along New Farm Riverwalk to get here from the river.
Go for a walk along the City Reach Boardwalk
Both times I visited Brisbane, wandering along the river was one of my favourite ways to pass the time. There are walks stretching for kilometres all along the Brisbane River wherever you want to walk (or run!), but my personal favourite stretch is the bit between Story Bridge to the City Botanic Gardens.
Explore the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
Located right along the Brisbane River, the beautiful City Botanic Gardens - the city's oldest park - boast plenty of green space, a beautiful forest to walk through and markets on Sundays.
Go shopping at the Brisbane Arcade
First opened in 1924, the Brisbane Arcade is the oldest shopping centre in Brisbane with gorgeous interior decor and specialty shops to browse.
Explore Roma Street Parkland
A subtropical oasis in the middle of the city, Roma Street Parkland is a lovely, peaceful place to wander around, enjoying the seasonal displays and spotting plenty of lizards and wild birds running around.
Cross the Victoria Street Bridge
We left behind CBD in the direction of the South Bank and went via Victoria Street Bridge offering some of the best city views in Brisbane. Crossing Brisbane River, you'll have perfect views looking back at the CBD skyline and catching views of the Wheel of Brisbane and riverbank along South Bank as you walk.
Snap a photo of the BRISBANE sign
Sure, it's touristy, but this colourful BRISBANE sign is perfectly propped against the backdrop of the city skyline and the river from South Bank.
2019
2026
Ride the Wheel of Brisbane
A great way to take in a 360-degree view of the city, the Wheel of Brisbane is perched right on the riverbank in South Bank.
→ Book tickets to ride the Wheel of Brisbane.
If you don't want to go for the ride, you can also snap photos of the wheel from different angles on South Bank or from the Victoria Bridge.
2019
2026
2019
Hang out on Brisbane's city beach
Even though Brisbane is located inland from the ocean, it took advantage of being on the river and created the manmade Streets Beach on South Bank. It's completely free to visit this spot where blue water runs over real sand and sunbathers snooze on the surrounding grass and beach while lifeguards stand on duty.
Wander through the Arbour Walkway
The most beautiful part of the city has to be the walk from Kangaroo Point along to Streets Beach where bright pink flowers bloom all year round over a stunning archway. Restaurants line the walkway and the entire vibe is enticing.
Walk along the Cliffs Boardwalk
Similar to the City Reach Boardwalk at the beginning of this post at the northern side of the CBD, another gorgeous stretch of boardwalk along the Brisbane River is the bit between the Arbour Walkway and Kangaroo Point under the Captain Cook Bridge.
Take in the view from Kangaroo Point
In my opinion, Kangaroo Point is the best viewpoint in Brisbane located on the southern side of the city across the Brisbane River with panoramic views looking toward the CBD skyline.
Go up to the top of Mount Coot-tha
Pronounced Mount "Cootha" (not "Coot-a"), this spot is home to the Brisbane Lookout with wide-reaching views over the city.
You can drive to the top or take bus 471 from the city to the summit, a journey of about 25 minutes.
Go thrifting at Lifeline Shop
We found this place because of a viral reel on Instagram because it's home to a gigantic selection of books towering up into the rafty ceilings. The Lifeline Shop in North Lakes is an awesome place to dig for secondhand treasures and books, if that's your thing, and we picked up a cool serving plate, some art work and a few books.
Find the signed Ed Sheeran mural in Ipswich
This is a niche one but if you're an Ed Sheeran fan, read on...
Ed Sheeran is from the UK town of Ipswich and makes it a bit of a thing to visit other Ipswiches around the world when he goes on tour.
In Ipswich, Australia, a suburb of Brisbane, Ed signed a bright pink mural of him on the walls of the Hotel Commonwealth on 20 February 2026, the day of his first of three concerts in Brisbane (which we attended!) on the Loop Tour. Naturally, when he told the crowd about this at the concert, we had to go and visit for ourselves and spot his signature on the mural.
Shop for antiques in an old church in Ipswich
While on a mission to find the signed Ed Sheeran mural in Ipswich, we stumbled across the Ipswich Antique Centre, an incredible treasure trove of antiques inside an old church from 1895. We wanted to buy half the shop!
Bonus: Go to a concert!
We returned to Brisbane at the end of February after our trips to Norfolk Island and Singapore because we had tickets to see Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour at the Suncorp Stadium. Vance Joy opened for him and getting to hear some of my favourite songs live was such a treat.
We both agree it was one of the best concerts we've been to!
→ Check out what concerts are playing during your trip to Brisbane.
→ Check out the reel I made about hearing Vance Joy play Riptide!
→ Check out the reel I made about Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour, a concert he plays entirely by himself!
While in Brisbane in both 2019 and 2026, I did some really cool day trips to beautiful spots around the region. Click on each picture below to read my complete guides!
Australia Zoo
Mount Ngungun in the Glass House Mountains
Lake Somerset
North Stradbroke Island
BOOK AN EXPERIENCE IN BRISBANE!
PIN THIS POST TO REFER BACK TO LATER!
GET READY TO TRAVEL!
— Book tours and experiences - with GetYourGuide
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (North America)
— Get all the gear you need for your trip - with Amazon (Europe)
— Find a place to stay - with Booking.com
— Choose a hostel to stay at - with Hostelworld
— Purchase global travel insurance - with World Nomads
— Load an international eSim on your phone - with AirAlo
— Start your own travel blog - with Hostinger
— Join the GetYourGuide Travel Creator Community - with GetYourGuide
Discover more from Jana Meerman
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.
