What to Do in Brisbane

October 30, 2026

Brisbane activities sorted by what you want to spend

Brisbane sits on a bend of the river, about 15 to 20 km from the open water of Moreton Bay. That shapes the activity list: cliffs, galleries, parkland and night markets rather than surf. Prices are in Australian dollars from published listings, so check with the operator before you pay. Normal travel precautions are enough here; sun and summer storms matter more than crime.

Free

Streets Beach, South Bank Parklands: a lagoon beach with lifeguards. Hours shift with the season and the lagoon can shut at short notice, so read the Visit South Bank notices on the day.
Aquativity, the water play park beside the beach, costs nothing either.
QAGOMA on Stanley Place has free general entry every day from 10:00 to 17:00, and some exhibitions carry a separate ticket. Check QAGOMA hours and admission around Anzac Day and the Christmas period.

About $75 to $100: the Kangaroo Point cliffs

Riverlife Adventure Centre works from the Naval Stores on Lower River Terrace, Kangaroo Point, and the cliffs face the CBD across the water. Visit Brisbane lists these prices:

Day kayak $75 and day abseil $75
Day rock climb $89
Twilight abseil $99 and twilight rock climb $99 (minimum age 12)
Twilight kayak from $99, with a listed minimum age of 18 and a higher figure on another listing

Day sessions take ages 8 and up. Session times differ from day to day and fill early, so reserve through Riverlife first and build the rest of the day around your slot.

Weekend evenings: Eat Street Northshore

At 221D MacArthur Avenue, Hamilton, dozens of container-built stalls trade on Friday and Saturday from 16:00 to 22:00 and on Sunday from 16:00 to 21:00. The market is closed from Monday to Thursday. Entry is about $6, and children under 13 and their carers walk in free. Current details are on eatstreetnorthshore.com.au .

Wildlife and paddling at The Gap

Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre, in D’Aguilar National Park, charges adults $17.30 and concession holders $13.80, with the same-day wildlife centre included. The visitor centre is open daily from 9:00 to 16:00, and rangers present a Wildlife Discovery Show at 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Enoggera Reservoir next door has a buoyed swimming area with no lifeguards, and it closes when water quality drops. Only non-motorised craft are allowed. Walkabout Creek Adventures hires out kayaks and paddleboards from Friday to Sunday, and every day in school holidays, with a kayak minimum age of 5. Boardwalk works are planned for 2 to 17 November 2026, so look at the Queensland Parks page before you go.

When it rains

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium on Mt Coot-tha Road screens Cosmic Skydome shows. Adults pay $17.50 and children aged 3 to 14 pay $11. Council pages quote different concession prices and opening days vary, so confirm both before the trip up the hill.

River safety and fares

Skip swimming in the Brisbane River itself, because bull sharks have been recorded a long way upstream. Streets Beach is the place to swim. Buses, City trains, trams, CityCats, KittyCats and ferries cost a flat 50 cents per journey, and the CityHopper ferry is free. The airport’s Airtrain is a separate private service with its own fare.

For a guided session, browse Brisbane activity listings on GetYourGuide .