Outdoor activities in Brisbane City
Think about Brisbane and you’d immediately imagine bustling bars, vibrant historical landmarks and sunny beaches. However, look beyond its laidback vibes and you’ll find plenty of thrilling activities right in the inner-city grid.
If you’re planning your first trip to this urban city, there’s no need to travel far to look for an adventure or two. Here are eight unique outdoor activities to put on your must-do list for when you’re in Brisbane.
P.S. For a comprehensive list of entry requirements, check out our Australia VTL guide. Then, hop on a direct SQ flight and you’ll be in Brisbane in a jiffy.
1. Climb a 22-storey-high bridge for panoramic views
Image credit: @storybridgeadventureclimb
Every city has that one iconic landmark that sits at the top of every visitor’s must-see list. In Brisbane, it’s Story Bridge – a 74M steel structure that is full of history and heritage. And if you think you have the stamina, sign up for a 2-hour climb that takes you all the way to its “summit”.
Once you arrive at the top, the 360-degree panoramic views of Brisbane City and the surrounding area will make the climb all worth it.
Story Bridge climb is more like a relaxing walk and you’ll be fully prepped by an experienced instructor before you start. It’s also a bridge that never sleeps, meaning you can come for a dawn climb, daytime conquest, twilight session, nighttime adventure, and even New Year’s Eve climb party.
Story Bridge Adventure Climb
Price: From AUD99 (~S$96.32)
Address: 170 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland 4169, Australia
Opening hours: 9.30AM-11.30AM, 2.30PM-7.30PM, Daily
Telephone: +61 7 3188 9070
Visit Story Bridge Brisbane.
2. Cuddle up with koalas at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Image credit: @jsueko
Besides koalas, the sanctuary is home to many other animals, such as the majestic owls and elusive platypus. On top of attending a private owl training session, you’ll get to ask questions, learn fun facts, and even hold an owl on your glove for some one-of-a-kind photo ops. As for the platypus, you might just get to feed them.
Image credit: @lonepinekoala
Don’t forget to swing by the scenic cafe located inside the sanctuary for some of the best views of the Brisbane River.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Price: From AUD35 (~S$34.04)
Address: 708 Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland 4069, Australia
Opening hours: 9AM-5PM, Daily
Telephone: +61 7 3378 1366
Visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.
3. Feast on street food at a riverside shipping container market
Image credit: @elephantadventures
For an extreme version of Eatbox, check out Eat Street Northshore – Brisbane’s vibrant foodie paradise. Besides tasty food, expect to find other gems here such as vintage clothes, handmade products and live performances – all nestled in colourful shipping containers under twinkly fairy lights.
Some sure-fire stalls that are guaranteed to hit the spot include the bustling Asia Street that sells cuisine from Vietnam, Shanghai and Thai and Singapore; Trawler Deck which serves up freshly shucked oysters and prawns; and the ever-popular Kombi Alley that sells desserts such as ice cream and fried Oreos, just to name a few.
Eat Street Northshore
Entry: From AUD5 (~4.78)
Address: 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, Queensland 4007, Australia
Telephone: +61 428 485 242
Visit Eatstreet Northshore food market.
4. Abseil off 20M-high cliffs with city views
Image credit: @visitbrisbane
Abseiling is definitely not for the faint-hearted. But if you haven’t abseiled off Kangaroo Point Cliffs, you haven’t fully done Brisbane.
This thrilling activity is straightforward. You’ll be strapped to a rope and either walk backwards, bounce or rappel as you descend off 20M-high cliffs. But regardless of how you’d like to complete the challenge – slow and steady or fast and furious – you’ll still get to take in the breathtaking views of the city and the river.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Price: From AUD48.98 (~S$47.59)
Address: Kangaroo Point, Queensland 4169, Australia
Book a Kangaroo Point Cliffs abseiling experience.
5. Go on a sunset kayak trip down Brisbane river
Image credit: @riverlifebrisbane
Both tourists and locals adore kayaking down the Brisbane River, and for good reasons. For us seasonal tourists, kayaking is a fun and affordable activity that gives you an eyeful of the city skyline. If you’re tight on time, this gives you an overview of the city in just a short 90-minute session.
You’ll get to drift past eight of Brisbane’s most iconic attractions like Story Bridge and Howard Smith Wharves while squeezing in a good workout. Kayaks are available for hire throughout the day, although we hear the twilight tours are truly spectacular.
Riverlife Adventure Centre
Price: From AUD65 (~S$63.21)
Address: Naval Stores Kangaroo Point Cliffs Drive, Kangaroo Point, Queensland 4169, Australia
Opening hours: Tue -Sun 9AM-5PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: +61 7 3517 4954
Book a kayak tour.
6. Have a floating picnic on an electric boat
Image credit: @goboatbrisbane
There’s no shortage of water activities in Brisbane. After all, a day out basking in the sun is a day well spent. Enter GoBoat – your unique and fuss-free floating picnic experience.
Image credit: @goboatbrisbane
You won’t have to sit through any lengthy briefing with the captain and crew because you’re the captain. All you gotta do is hire a boat, round up your friends, pack food and drinks, and set sail.
No boat licence or prior experience is required. Each electric boat can hold up to eight people and comes with essential picnic facilities such as a round table and sunshade. You can even bring your dog with you onboard.
GoBoat Kangaroo Point
Price: From AUD119 (~S$115.72)
Address: 44 Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland 4169, Australia
Opening hours: 10AM-5PM, Daily
Telephone: +61 1300 993 208
Book a Goboat picnic
7. Go bar hopping on a boozy cruise
Image credit: @rivertobay
Pub crawling holds a special place in our hearts – whether it’s going from one bar to another, making new friends or exploring a new city’s nightlife. Now, you can pub-crawl your way through the bustling Brisbane and hit all the famous drinking holes with River To Bay boozy cruises.
Whether it’s a classic pub crawl, a boozy cocktail tour or just a simple sightseeing cruise, rest assured you’ll be able to find something here to have a ball of a time with your friends or even bae. You’ll also get to skip queues and enjoy exclusive discounts at every stop on the way.
River To Bay
Price: From AUD89 (~S$86.38)
Address: 285 MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, Queensland 4006, Australia
Opening hours: 8AM-6PM, Daily
Telephone: +61 1300 733 698
Book a River To Bay cruise.
8. Dine on a floating seafood resto aboard a vintage boat
Image credit: @theprawnster_brisbane
The serene surroundings of Brisbane which comprise Moreton Bay, Mooloolaba and Coffin Bay mean one thing: the freshest catch of seafood. For fans of seafood, a stay in Brisbane equals repeat visits to The Prawnster – an old trawler turned famous floating seafood restaurant that attracts flocks of visitors daily.
Image credit: @theprawnster_brisbane
The Prawnster is known for its enormous seafood tower that comes with oysters, sashimi, prawns and lobsters – all served with wedges of lime. You can get takeaways and shop for fresh seafood from the retailer on board. Or, grab a table, enjoy the sunset, and tuck into some of Queensland’s best prawns on a rocking vintage boat.
The Prawnster Brisbane
Entry: Free
Address: Berth B1, Dockside Marina, 44 Ferry Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland 4169, Australia
Opening hours: 5PM-10PM, Daily
Visit The Prawnster
Top outdoor things to do in Brisbane city
Image credit: @visitbrisbane
With over 200 days of sunshine and a slew of hotspots in and around the city, Brisbane deserves its title of Australia’s up-and-coming must-visit urban destination. Whether it’s abseiling, rock climbing, bridge climbing or bar hopping, you won’t regret adding the city to your travel bucket list in 2022.
On top of these eight reasons why we love Brisbane, other highlights we’re all looking forward to include the opening of Queen’s Wharf – an entertainment and lifestyle destination that’s set to open in 2023, and of course, the highly-anticipated Brisbane Summer Olympics 2032. Both are expected to transform the Sunshine State capital and put it on the map.
Those who call Brisbane home know how easy it is to fill a weekend calendar with fun activities happening right at their doorsteps. As for us tourists, Queensland is now good to go, so you can bookmark this list and do ‘em all the next time you’re on that much-needed vacation in Brisbane.
Find more outdoor activities in Brisbane here
This post was brought to you by Tourism & Events Queensland.
Cover image adapted from: @jsueko, @visitbrisbane and @riverlifebrisbane.