Things to do in Brisbane this weekend

Brisbane's subtropical climate and the lifestyle culture that comes with it makes the city particularly rewarding on weekends. Here are the experiences that locals know and visitors discover and love.

South Bank Parklands

South Bank's 17 hectares of parkland along the Brisbane River include Streets Beach — the only man-made beach in an Australian CBD — the GOMA galleries, the Wheel of Brisbane, and the Arbour walkway that connects it all in a linear sequence of shade and greenery. It's Brisbane's living room and deservedly its most visited destination.

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

Australia's most visited gallery of contemporary art offers free entry to its permanent collection and curates the kind of ambitious special exhibitions that consistently put Brisbane on the national and international cultural map. The building itself — a masterpiece of South Brisbane's cultural precinct — justifies a visit.

Mount Coot-tha

The summit lookout delivers the definitive Brisbane panorama: the city's riverside skyline, the bay, and on a clear day, the Glass House Mountains to the north. The botanic gardens at the mountain's base are outstanding, as is the planetarium and the cafe that seems to have been positioned specifically for photographing the view.

Moreton Island day trip

The world's third-largest sand island is 75 minutes by fast ferry from Brisbane and delivers an experience — clear water, sand dune tobogganing, snorkelling with wild dolphins — that visitors consistently rate as the highlight of their Brisbane visit.

Eagle Street Pier markets

The Sunday morning markets at Eagle Street Pier, with the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge as backdrop, are among the most atmospherically satisfying markets in Queensland. Fresh produce, artisan food, and excellent coffee in a setting that reminds you why Brisbane is one of Australia's most beautiful river cities.

This article was compiled by AI from the sources linked above and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.