Local tours and experiences expand across Brisbane neighbourhoods

Bookings for Brisbane walking and river tours climbed 28 percent in the first week of July 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to figures released by the Brisbane Marketing board.

The increase aligns with school holidays and cooler weather that draws residents outdoors, while city council reports show visitor numbers to inner-Brisbane attractions have returned to pre-2024 levels.

Routes through South Bank and Fortitude Valley

One new itinerary departs daily from the South Bank Parklands cultural forecourt and crosses the Goodwill Bridge before entering the laneways of West End. Guides point out the heritage-listed Davies Park markets and the 2025-installed public art installations along Montague Road. A second loop begins at the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm and winds through Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown, stopping at the 1920s Valley Markets building on Brunswick Street.

Prices, dates and next steps

Adult tickets for the two-hour South Bank to West End walk cost $48, with the first sessions scheduled for 15 July. River-based CityCat heritage tours, which leave from the Eagle Street Pier terminal, run four times daily and charge $35 for a 90-minute narrated loop past the Story Bridge. Brisbane City Council data from the 2025 financial year recorded 162,400 participants across all registered local tours. Residents can reserve spots through the Brisbane Marketing website or at the visitor information desk inside the Queen Street Mall. Early booking is advised for weekend slots, as capacity remains capped at 18 people per group.