18 Famous Landmarks in Brisbane, Australia (100% worth a visit)
Located on the East coast of Australia between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland and the 3rd largest city of the country with 2.3 million people. And keeping growing every year!
Shunned by the locals for a long time, Brisbane has taken advantage of the economic growth and a nice climate to undertake its transformation, and become more and more attractive. Lots of hotels, restaurants and bars have opened, its cultural offerings have grown considerably, and tourists have flocked from all over the world to discover The Gateway to Queensland.
Do you know what are the most famous landmarks in Brisbane?
Here are 18 of the best natural and man made landmarks in Brisbane!
The Full List of the 18 Most Famous Landmarks in Brisbane
We can divide Brisbane landmarks in 2 categories: the natural landmarks and man made ones. Below is the full list👇
Natural landmarks:
- Brisbane River
- Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park
- City Botanic Gardens
- Roma Street Parkland
- Mount Coot-tha Lookout & Botanic Gardens
- Glass House Mountains National Park
- Moreton Island
Man made landmarks:
- Story Bridge
- City Hall & Clock Tower
- St. John’s Cathedral
- South Bank Parklands
- The Wheel of Brisbane
- Queensland Cultural Center
- Brisbane Powerhouse
- Fortitude Valley
- Eat Street Northshore
- Settlement Cove Lagoon
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
So here are 18 of the best landmarks of Brisbane. Keep reading to get more details & info about each of these place!
Natural landmarks of Brisbane
Although Brisbane is a city, we still can find natural landmarks in town or nearby. And they are incredible!
Let’s discover 7 of them now!
1. Brisbane river
With a length of 344 kilometers, the Brisbane river crosses the city and flows into the Pacific Ocean at Moreton Bay.
There are several companies offering cruises on the Brisbane river, but the cheapest is CityCat. It’s actually a great way to explore the city as you can admire the city’s skyscrapers and waterfront without spending too much. The boats run on a regular schedule, so you can stop wherever you want to see what’s nearby before getting back on board to continue your trip.
If you’re seasick or simply prefer strolling along the river, you can of course walk or ride on the banks which are well arranged.
2. Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park
Located across the Brisbane River in Brisbane suburb, Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park is a recreation place offering stunning views of Brisbane’s skyline, as well as excellent climbing and abseiling suitable for all abilities on its heritage listed cliffs. You shouldn’t miss Kangaroo Point Lookout so you can take your best photo of Brisbane!
Very popular among locals, the park gets full of tourists and families picnicking or making barbecues especially on weekends.
3. City Botanic Gardens
In Brisbane CBD, on the other side of South Bank, there’s a nice walk to do along the river. Laid out in 1828, the City Botanic Gardens are the green lung of Brisbane and for good reason as they cover almost 18 hectares.
Among the many species of plants and flowers found in the gardens, some are the first native plants of Queensland, and others were imported during the colonial era.
You can go jogging, biking or lazing around in these gardens, it’s up to you! For a drink during the day or a bite to eat, you can take a break at the Eagle Street Pier where you’ll find a wide choice of restaurants and bars.
4. Roma Street Parkland
Located in Brisbane CDB, Roma Street Parkland is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the whole city.
Tucked away in the middle of the city’s skyscrapers, it’s a peaceful oasis of subtropical gardens with lots of plant varieties and rainforest where you can relax.
In this 16-hectare park, you’ll find barbecue facilities, picnic spots, playgrounds, workout stations and events. It’s the perfect spot in town to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
5. Mount Coot-tha Lookout & Botanic Gardens
Mount Coot-tha offers one of the best panoramic views of Brisbane, and is only a 15-minute drive from the city center. You can also take a public bus, or rent a bike for a more leisurely ride.
Besides the lookout, Coot-tha offers a 52-hectare subtropical botanical gardens thats is well-worth a visit (entrance is free 😊 ), lots of hiking trails you can also take by bike or horse, picnic areas and few restaurants.
It’s the perfect spot for families, sport lovers and tourists!
6. Glass House Mountains National Park
Located 1-hour drive north from Brisbane, Glass House Mountains National Park is a collection of 13 hills located in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast.
The aboriginal legend says that each mountain represents a member of a family: the father is the mount Tibrogargan while the mother is mount Beerwah. By the way, these are the only mounts opened to the public. The peaks are famous among climbers who come every year to try them.
It’s the ideal day trip from Brisbane to immerse yourself in wild nature.
7. Moreton Island
Located 40 kilometers from the coast of Brisbane, Moreton Island is the perfect day trip if you want to go on adventure and enjoy water sports. To access the island, you can take a 75-minutes ferry from Brisbane downtown.
Moreton Island is the 3rd biggest sand island in the world and 98% of it is classified as national park. No doubt you’ll be in awe there!
You’ll be able to swim in turquoise waters, sunbath on white sandy beaches, enjoy snorkeling or diving, feed the dolphins at Tangalooma Wrecks and much more.
Man made landmarks in Brisbane
As the 3rd city of Australia, Brisbane a lot of man made landmarks, some being world famous. From art galleries and museums to music scenes, artificial beaches and markets, Brisbane is a thriving city where you won’t get bored.
Let’s discover some of these landmarks!
8. Story Bridge
This is THE most iconic Brisbane landmark. Built in 1940, it’s the biggest designed and built bridge in all Australia.
You can walk to it from the Fortitude Valley area and admire this great steel structure that leads to Kangaroo Point. It’s also possible to climb or abseil down the Story Bridge for a thrill.
In any case, whether you climb it or walk on it, you’ll get one of the most incredible view of Brisbane.
9. City Hall & Clock Tower
Built in an Italian Renaissance style in the 30s, the City Hall is located in the middle of King George Square and contrasts with the other buildings around.
The Brisbane City Hall is a must-see mainly because of its Clock Tower, a tower that rises at 91 meters and that offers a beautiful view of the city center. The building also houses the Museum of Brisbane in its 3rd floor.
Entrance is free, but you have to arrive early to get a ticket as they are limited.
10. St John’s Cathedral
The completion of St John’s Cathedral took more than 100 years as it started in 1901 and finished only in 2009.
It’s the second oldest cathedral in the city and as such, is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This Gothic cathedral also bears the title of ecclesiastical cathedral of Queensland.
The cathedral attracts lots of visitors every year thanks to its beautiful stained glass windows, its excellent acoustics and several concerts and events.
11. South Bank Parklands
Located int the heart of the city in front of the business district, South Bank is a huge outdoor leisure center.
There, you’ll find a beautiful artificial lagoon in Streets beach, where you can swim for free; a cultural center with museums, bookstores, theater halls and many events; lush gardens, a miniature forest, promenades and biking trails; and of course, a lot of restaurants, bars and shops.
South Bank is also where you’ll find Brisbane iconic sign! But you have to be patient if you want your photo, South Bank attracts more than 10 millions tourists and locals every year!
12. The Wheel of Brisbane
The Wheel of Brisbane, also known as Brisbane Eye, is a 60-meter high Ferris wheel. Opened in 2008, the wheel is located at South Bank Parklands, just behind the Brisbane sign, and it’s also one of Brisbane iconic landmarks.
If you want to admire a breathtaking panoramic view of the city from above in privacy, the Wheel of Brisbane is the best choice! But choose carefully who will accompany you in the gondola as the rides lasts 12 minutes! Just for you to know, the gondola can take up to 6 adults and 2 kids.
13. Queensland Cultural Center
If you like discovering museums, then you’ll have plenty to keep you busy when visiting Brisbane!
Located at South Bank, Queensland Cultural Center gathers Brisbane’s main cultural centers in one place:
- GOMA (Gallery Of Modern Art), the largest modern and contemporary art gallery in Australia
- Queensland Art Gallery that houses several art collections of artists from around the world
- Queensland Museum, a museum dedicated to Queensland history and culture, but also to its fauna and flora
- Queensland Performing Arts Centre, a stage that hosts various musicals, operas, concerts and theater and dance events throughout the year
- State Library of Queensland, the main research library and reference in Queensland
14. Brisbane Powerhouse
The Brisbane Powerhouse is the main hub of the local culture. Renovated in 2000, it’s a former thermal power station transformed into a cultural center.
With a revamped industrial decor, the Powerhouse invites you to discover the talents of the city and beyond through its exhibitions, musical performances and other artistic performances.
The site has become a major place for Brisbane art scene and could even be proud to have ousted its rivals from Sydney and Melbourne for a few performances.
15. Fortitude Valley
Denigrated for a long time, Fortitude Valley has become a must if you visit Brisbane as it became of the most trendy places of the city.
The area has its own special atmosphere: cinemas, stores, music and art scenes, bars and restaurants… All of them are located in the heart of this place to be, which is very popular after sunset.
If you’re wondering what to do in Brisbane for an evening, let yourself be carried away by Fortitude Valley! Every weekend, the Brunswick Street Market takes place there. From vintage to design creations, one thing is sure: you’ll have trouble leaving empty-handed.
16. Eat Street Northshore
This place is a hidden gem in the suburbs of Brisbane for any foodie. It’s a kind of giant food court with a 70s and retro atmosphere, which gives a crazy charm to this place.
Located on the banks, you’ll find all kind of culinary specialities from all over the world: Greek, Italian, Asian, Brazilian, etc. Everything is excellent and the atmosphere is great.
If you’re looking for a place to eat and hang out that’s unique, Eat Street is the place to be!
17. Settlement Cove Lagoon
Located about 35min drive from Brisbane, Settlement Cove Lagoon is a nice place to go with family for a fun swim right in front of Redcliffe Parade, between land and sea.
If you’re looking for a place to entertain your kids, this is the place. And cherry on the cake, entrance is free!
For kids, you’ll find squirting lizards, wading pools and mushroom fountains, but also resting areas where you can relax or sunbath. You can spend all day there as there’s all the needed facilities to picnic or have a barbecue.
18. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Located about 20 minutes drive from Brisbane city center, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary opened in 1927 and is now the largest koala sanctuary in the world. You can reach Lone Pine by ferry on Brisbane river if you want by taking the Koala and River Cruise.
Although the park is dedicated to koalas, Lone Pine has several other species of Australian animals such as kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, crocodiles, snakes and more.
It’s one of the few places in the world where you can hold a koala, feed kangaroos and wallabies, and have rainbow lorikeets on your head.
Map of the 18 Brisbane Landmarks
Here is a map of Brisbane with all the listed landmarks in this post. To get it, click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.
So here are 18 of the best landmarks in Brisbane, Australia!
More Landmarks in Australia
Want to discover more famous Australia landmarks? Well, I have other posts that you might like!
Here is the main guide of all famous Australia landmarks 👉 The Very Best Landmarks in Australia.
Find the best landmarks in Australia by state:
- Famous landmarks in New South Wales
- Famous landmarks in Queensland
- Famous landmarks in South Australia
- Famous landmarks in Northern Territory
- Famous landmarks in Victoria
- Famous landmarks in Tasmania
Find the best landmarks in Australia by city:
- Famous landmarks in Sydney
- Famous landmarks in Darwin
- Famous landmarks in Cairns
- Famous landmarks in Adelaide
- Famous landmarks in Wollongong
- Famous landmarks in Hobart
I hope you could’ve made your list of the must-see places in Australia thanks to these guides. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!
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