Monday 10 August 2026
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Free Things to Do in Brisbane: Parks, Culture and the River

Brisbane offers a generous range of things to do at no cost, from the South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach to free entry at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the Queensland Museum. The riverside CityCat ferry is an affordable way to take in the city from the water, and neighbourhood parks in New Farm, Kangaroo Point and Botanic Gardens are popular on any day of the week. Many cultural events and markets are also free to browse.

Free Things to Do in Brisbane: Parks, Culture and the River
  1. 1

    South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach

    South Bank

    A free man-made beach in the heart of the city, with a lagoon, parkland, the Arbour walkway and free cultural events most weekends.

  2. 2

    Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

    South Bank

    Australia's largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, free to visit for the permanent collection, in a stunning building at South Bank.

  3. 3

    Queensland Museum (South Bank)

    South Bank

    Free general admission to natural history exhibits, dinosaur fossils, maritime history and the Story of Queensland gallery.

  4. 4

    Botanic Gardens, City

    CBD

    A tranquil free garden in the CBD beside the river, with heritage plantings, riverside walks and the City Botanic Gardens ferry stop.

  5. 5

    Mount Coot-tha Lookout

    Mount Coot-tha

    A free panoramic lookout 7km from the CBD with views across Brisbane to Moreton Bay and the Gold Coast, spectacular at sunset.

  6. 6

    Brisbane Riverwalk, New Farm to the Valley

    New Farm

    A flat riverside walkway from Howard Smith Wharves through New Farm to the Valley, passing under the Story Bridge and through the city's liveliest waterfront precinct.

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