Walking in Brisbane: free guided walks and self-guided routes Brisbane is flat enough along the river and compact enough in the CBD to see a lot on foot. The easiest start is a volunteer-led walk, with self-guided routes for the rest. Prices below are in Australian dollars. Carry water and start early, since UV is extreme most of the year and summer afternoons bring storms. Brisbane Greeters Brisbane Greeters offers free volunteer-led walks of 2 to 4 hours, booked through the Brisbane City Council events and booking page.

Sightseeing in Brisbane: free galleries, lookouts and gardens Many of Brisbane’s best sights cost nothing, and the 50 cent flat fare on TransLink buses, trains, trams and CityCats keeps getting between them cheap. Prices below are in Australian dollars, and hours are the ones published at the time of writing. Galleries and museums at South Bank QAGOMA on Stanley Place has free general admission and is open 10:00 to 17:00 daily, starting at 12 noon on Anzac Day.

Romantic Brisbane by river, hill and vineyard Brisbane’s romance is mostly about light on the water: a sunset from a hilltop, a drink under a bridge or a slow ride down the river. Prices below are in Australian dollars and come from operator pages at the time of writing. Dinner and drinks at Howard Smith Wharves This riverside precinct sits under the Story Bridge and is the city’s easiest date-night stop.

Multi-day trips from Brisbane Brisbane works well as a base for two or three nights in the city, followed by a regional circuit. Keep the loop inside roughly 200 km, because the long drives north to Cairns or south to the Snowy Mountains do not fit a Brisbane-based itinerary. Prices are in Australian dollars and are hedged where the sources disagree. Island stay: North Stradbroke (Minjerribah) Point Lookout is the main base for a night or two.

Family days out in Brisbane Brisbane has plenty of free or low-cost things for children, and most of them sit within a short ride of each other. All prices are in Australian dollars and come from the operators’ pages at the time of writing, so check before you go. Free water play at South Bank Streets Beach is a free, lifeguarded lagoon beach in South Bank Parklands, and the Aquativity water play park next to it is also free.

Day trips from Brisbane Brisbane suits three kinds of day trip: a Moreton Bay island, a hinterland mountain and the Gold Coast. Beyond about 200 km the travel time eats the day, so the last section lists places that need an overnight stay. Prices are in Australian dollars and come from operator pages quoted at the time of writing. North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) The SeaLink passenger ferry runs from Toondah Harbour, Cleveland, to Dunwich in about 25 minutes.

Brisbane attractions that run as tours Most of Brisbane’s headline attractions work best with a booking or a set departure. This page covers the ones that do, with the details to check first. Prices are in Australian dollars. Story Bridge Adventure Climb The climb starts at 5 Boundary Street, Howard Smith Wharves, under the Crystalbrook Vincent hotel, and the summit is about 80 metres up. The operator’s minimum age is 8 and children need to be over 110 cm, although resellers quote other ages, so confirm on the Story Bridge Adventure Climb site .

Cliffs, kayaks and the city on the river Brisbane is a river city about 15 to 20 km inland from Moreton Bay, so its best activities are cliffs, kayaks, parkland and night markets rather than surf. All prices below are in Australian dollars and are the figures listed at the time of writing, so check before you book. Riverlife at Kangaroo Point Riverlife Adventure Centre sits in the Naval Stores on Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, below cliffs that face the CBD across the water.