Brisbane Car Hire

Things to do in Brisbane

Start your Brisbane trip with an experience you're unlikely to have anywhere else: hand-feeding and petting koalas at the world's first - and largest - koala sanctuary. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary has had over 90 years to build a home for over 70 species of animals native to Australia, including koalas, wild lorikeets, and platypuses. After you've thoroughly enjoyed the 'Koala Forest' with a coffee in hand, swing by one of the three 'blogger areas' with free wi-fi to quickly post a photo of your adventure if you're so inclined. It's not everyday one gets to experience a Guinness Book of World Records-worthy place!

For a dose of culture and history, head over to the Queensland Museum located in South Bank to learn about the Aboriginal and Torres Islander people, the original inhabitants of Brisbane, and reportedly one of the oldest cultures in the world. Often compared to the British Museum, the Queensland Museum also has a fantastic science and natural history section, and the 'Dinosaur Garden' and 'Sea Monsters' exhibitions are especially popular with the kids. A hop across the street is the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art. It houses a wide range of exhibits and activities from Aboriginal activism art to Japanese contemporary sculptures to free film screenings. Both museums mentioned above are free to enter and access most exhibits. It's a perfect way to spend a sunny Australian afternoon.

What is there to do outdoors in Brisbane?

If you think you've spent enough time indoors, then you'll be happy to note that, just a short drive from the city center, is a gigantic 56-hectare urban green space called Mt. Coot-Tha, complete with a summit circuit, botanical garden, and a public greenhouse. The Mahogany Trail, which is an approximately 5km round trip, is a perfect place to go for a run or take your dog for a walk (or do both at the same time if you're feeling rebellious). You can also pack a picnic basket and find a picturesque spot to catch the sunset with friends or family. If it ever gets too hot, take refuge at the Mt Coot-Tha Botanical Gardens which offers a multitude of activities, including lakes filled with turtles and the cacophony of water birds, a peaceful Japanese Garden, and a lush Tropical dome featuring plants from South America and Africa. Incredibly mobility- and kid-friendly, the botanical garden has something for everyone. Apart from global flora from various biomes, there are also refreshment centers sprinkled throughout the area, including a lunch spot overlooking the city, and a pavilion-style café with a great view of the bamboo grove and lotus lake.

As the sun starts to go down, swing by the West End for a taste of the various subcultures of Brisbane. One of the hippest locales of the city, the West End offers organic farmer's markets, re-loved clothes for the thrifty yet trendy, and quirky coffee-shops. It's the go-to place for hippies, yuppies, and compadres. Once a month, the West End Fire Festival takes place where you'll get to see people hula hooping, fire breathing, and performing other breathtaking (sometimes literally!) circus tricks. There'll also be food trucks offering a wide range of street foods catering to everyone from raw vegans to dedicated carnivores.

Brisbane nightlife and going out

Finally, Brisbane's nightlife is second to none. Even the most seasoned party animals will have something to reckon with at some of the hottest nightclubs in town, including Press Club, Sub Rosa, and The Brisbane Club. The best part is- all of them are located in Fortitude Valley, the party district. So you can bar crawl until the wee hours of the morning! However, if a quieter evening tickles your fancy, take a stroll along the Brisbane Riverwalk which stretches from the historic Howard Smith Wharves (in the CBD) to the New Farm across the river. With separate lanes for pedestrians and cyclists, the path sits above the water and offers fantastic views of the city and Kangaroo Point. Perhaps what is most interesting about this pathway is that it was completely destroyed by the tempestuous Brisbane river in 2011, and then expertly reconstructed again in 2014 to withstand floods that take place once every 2000 years!

Eating out in Brisbane

Brisbane simply brims with international cuisine options- from Greek to Italian to Asian, not to mention "traditional" Australian barbecues or "barbies" as they are fondly called. If you're not sure of what you want to eat, then check out Eat Street Market or Fish Lane (a 15-minute walk away from each other), both of which are vibrant hubs of not only global cuisine but also shopping, live entertainment, and street art. With over 100 food stalls between these two open-air markets, there's something for every dietary preference imaginable. You would even be able to try kangaroo or crocodile meat there if you're feeling adventurous! That being said, here are some top-rated restaurants in Brisbane:

La Vue Waterfront Restaurant

With gorgeous views over the Brisbane River and Story Bridge, La Vue offers a first-class dining experience. Serving primarily European fare with a distinctly French flair, the chefs here employ top-tier culinary techniques to produce exquisite flavors using high-quality ingredients such as truffle oils and foie gras. Popular dishes include lobster bisque, gratin dauphinoise potato, and coffin bay oysters. Make sure to call ahead for personalized desserts with sparklers to celebrate special occasions!

Olive Thyme

This family-run business consistently features on the list of best restaurants in Brisbane for a reason: outstanding food and impeccable service. As you enter, you'll be greeted by Sibel's warm hospitality while Yalcin plots how to tease your tastebuds from behind the kitchen. This Middle-Eastern restaurant, serving primarily Turkish cuisine, is known for its authentically prepared dishes that make you feel like you've sensorily been transported to Turkey. Although everything on the menu is bound to be a sure-shot hit, patrons regularly recommend the lamb kofta, octopus, barramundi, and baklava.

Rogue Bistro

Rogue Bistro is a no-nonsense, upscale restaurant that offers "modern Australian dining focusing on the simplicity of good food". As the name implies, this secret gem has a creative and enjoyably irreverent take on what food should look and taste like. They're best known for offering a six-course degustation menu (don't worry, they cater to all kinds of diets) that changes every month, so they've managed to build up a dedicated clientele that goes back again and again. So be careful, you might like this place a little too much for your wallet's good.

Jocelyn's Provisions

If you've never had a Lamington before, and decide that Brisbane is going to be the place where you put an end to that sacrilege, then look no further than Jocelyn's Provisions, a Brisbane institution that serves up a variety of flavors of lamingtons, but we recommend their orange zesty butter cake that's been dunked in chocolate (that has just a touch of raspberry!) before being rolled in coconut. It is a lamington worthy of Lord and Lady Lamington themselves!

Transport in Brisbane

Brisbane Airport (BNE) is located around 14km from the city, and has both domestic and international flights serviced by major carriers, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Alliance Airlines, Qatar and Emirates.

It takes around 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city, and you can take either the Airtrain (AUD$18) or a bus (route 590/1.5hours/AUD$7). To get around the city itself, the easiest solution is to buy a TransLink go card. This gives you access to all TransLink bus, ferry and rail services across south-east Queensland.

If you’re planning to hire a car in Brisbane, make sure you are aware of local speed limits. Most  residential or commercial roads have a speed limit of 50 km/h (31 mph), while most highways have speed limits up to 100 km/h (62 mph). Some larger highways have a limit of 110 km/h (68 mph).

Top tips for driving in Brisbane

• Speed limits range from 50km/h in built-up residential areas to 90/100 km/h on highways.
• Don’t drink and drive in Brisbane! The alcohol limit is 0.05% BAC.
• There are several tolls in Brisbane, including the Clem Jones Tunnel, Legacy Way, and Airport Link.
• Car parking in Brisbane CBD is a mix of street parking (paid by the hour) and paid parking stations.