How to Spend 3 Days in Brisbane – Queensland’s Best City Break

While Queensland is renowned for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests and coral reefs, the Sunshine State’s vibrant cityscapes are seriously underrated. If you’re seeking a short city break, may we suggest Brisbane?

The perfect destination for foodies, culture seekers and nature lovers alike, Brisbane offers the ultimate city escape. Only have a long weekend to spare? Read on to learn how to see the very best of Brisbane in just three days.

Day One: Culture and Koalas

Morning
Begin your Brisbane adventure in South Bank, the city’s thriving cultural precinct. Spend a morning at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), twin galleries housing some of the best examples of contemporary Australian, Asian and South Pacific art. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through the endless restaurants, bars and cafes of Fish Lane, the perfect place to grab a bite to eat following a morning of museum-hopping.

While in South Bank, we also recommend ascending the Wheel of Brisbane for unmatched views over the city centre. And if it’s a warm day, be sure to cool off with a dip at Streets Beach – the only place where you’ll find a beach right in the centre of a capital city!

Afternoon
No trip to Australia is complete without coming face-to-face with the country’s incredible native wildlife. Spend the afternoon at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. Home to over 130 cuddly koalas and 70 species of other Australian animals, there’s no better place to snap a selfie with Queensland’s most iconic wildlife. Lone Koala Sanctuary is just 15 minutes outside of Brisbane City and can be accessed via taxi, bus or river cruise.

Evening
Tonight, feast like royalty at one of Brisbane’s hottest food and entertainment destinations, Eat Street Northshore. Here, an old, abandoned docking site has been transformed into a Disneyland for foodies, with over 50 shipping containers fitted out into food stalls. No matter what you’re craving for dinner tonight, Eat Street Northshore is sure to have something to satisfy, offering everything from pork dumplings and Korean sliders to Japanese pizzas, cheesecake sundaes and everything in between. Drawing hungry crowds every Friday and Saturday night, you’ll soon discover why this is a local favourite.

Day Two: City Exploring and Bridge Climbing

Morning
You can’t visit Brisbane without spending a day exploring the heart of the city. Start your second day in Brisbane by exploring the gracious old buildings, sleek skyscrapers and grassy parks of the CBD. In need of some retail therapy? You can easily spend hours exploring the heritage arcades and 700-plus stores on Queen Street Mall, the city’s bustling shopping hub. For lunch, head over to the elegant former Treasury Building, now home to a casino, hotel, and several bars and restaurants.

Afternoon
Buckle up for one of Brisbane’s best adventures – this afternoon, you’re embarking on the iconic Story Bridge Adventure Climb. As one of only three bridge climbs in the world, this is easily one of the best experiences Brisbane City has to offer. During the two hour climb, you’ll journey up over the bridge’s superstructure to the 80-metre summit, where jaw-dropping, 360-degree views of Brisbane City and the surrounding Glass House Mountains, Moreton Bay and Scenic Rim Mountains await.

Evening
After your bridge climbing adventure, make your way to the nearby Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane’s newest lifestyle and entertainment precinct. Here, you can drink and dine just metres from the Brisbane River, all while admiring spellbinding views of the city. Choose to dine at unique restaurants like Greca, Yoko, Stanley and Ciao Papi or simply sample a few locally-brewed schooners as you watch the sunset at Felons Brewing Co. But be sure to book in advance – the Howard Smith Wharves is highly popular amongst Brisbane locals, and for good reason!

Day Three: Island Time

An island getaway offers the perfect end to a whirlwind weekend in Brisbane. Take a short 90-minute ferry from the Port of Brisbane to the paradise of Moreton Island, known for its uncrowded beaches, sparkling lagoons, steep sand dunes and walking trails. And, while you’ll need a 4WD to explore the whole island, there are plenty of adventures to fill your day trip.

No visit to Moreton Island is complete without visiting the famous Tangalooma Wrecks. These 15 deliberately sunken shipwrecks have created an underwater playground of colourful fish and marine life, perfect for snorkelling. Stay until sunset to experience the magic of hand-feeding wild dolphins at Tangalooma Island Resort. And, if you’re visiting between June and November, be sure to keep an eye out for the migrating whales.

Of course, as the world’s third-largest sand island, there’s plenty of fun to be had on land as well. Join an exhilarating quad bike tour of the island or feel the rush while tearing down Moreton Island’s mammoth sand dunes at 40km/hr on a sand toboggan. Be sure to bring your camera – Moreton’s dunes offer some impeccable views over the bay! There really is no better way to end a long weekend escape to Brisbane.

Discover Your Perfect Brisbane City Break

Planning a weekend city escape to Brisbane? My Queensland offers a range of perfectly packaged Brisbane holidays, complete with exclusive bonus extras like room upgrades, resort credits, included dining, local experiences and so much more. It’s all part of the My Queensland difference, which simply can’t be found anywhere else.

You can check out My Queensland’s range of unbeatable holiday packages here.