By Nick Dent, Matt Shea, Courtney Kruk and Jocelyn Garcia
I’m standing in the open air 80 metres above the roaring traffic of the Bradfield Highway, dressed in a blue-and-grey jumpsuit, Top Gun: Maverick style.
My harness has a metal clip attached to a steel cable, ready to catch me should I falter.
I can see the Gateway Bridge to the east and the tips of the Glass House Mountains to the north. The skyscrapers of the city loom next to us and the river curls below, the afternoon sun bouncing off the roofs of Howard Smith Wharves.
“The bridge is held together by 1.25 million rivets,” says Story Bridge Adventure Climb guide Jessikah Nisbet. “It’s 12,000 tonnes of steel, and 6000 tonnes of reinforced steel, made in Rocklea. It’s a pretty sturdy bridge, and probably why we’ve had it for over 80 years without any issues.”
Story Bridge Adventure Climb offers up to 15 climbs a day to the top of the historic bridge, which opened in 1940. Credit: Story Bridge Adventure Climb
Visitors aged six to 96 have done the climb, and there’s perhaps no better way to appreciate how far Brisbane has come as a city than to admire it from up here.
We at Brisbane Times are not blind to our city’s problems, but that doesn’t stop us being superfans. So we’ve pooled our knowledge to bring you this list (in no particular order) of 50 essential experiences in the River City. How many have you done?
(For the sake of this article, we’ve limited ourselves to the City of Brisbane, Logan and the Redlands. We know there are great things to do on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim – we’ll cover them in a different list.)
Night climbs are also popular.Credit: Story Bridge Adventure Climb
1. Climb the Story Bridge
The bridge opened in 1940 and climbing it is both a fascinating history lesson and an exhilarating adventure with amazing views. Dawn and sunset climbs are the bomb.
2. Abseil at Kangaroo Point
Experience these 20-metre high cliffs across the river from the CBD like an action hero – through a licensed abseiling operator. Not into heights? Have a picnic there instead.
3. Take a CityCat somewhere
Who cares where you’re going when you can travel the Brisbane River gloriously by boat? Alternatively, take a guided River City Cruise.
4. Drink in a brewpub
In Brisbane, brewpubs are the new pubs – civilised places to try different beers, dine in and catch up with mates. Ones we love right now are Slipstream in Yeerongpilly, Range Brewing in Newstead and Sea Legs in Kangaroo Point.
5. Browse the multicultural bargains at Global Food Markets Logan
Stock up on fruit and veg then gobble authentic street food courtesy of the city’s immigrant communities at this authentic Sunday farmer’s market next to Woodridge Station.
6. Hike up Mount Coot-tha and enjoy the view
The view from Mount Coot-tha Lookout is magnificent at any time, but just incredible in the minutes before sunrise. Add to the sense of accomplishment by parking at JC Slaughter Falls picnic area and hiking up – it’s just 30 minutes.
Low tide allows visitors to walk across to King Island from Wellington Point.Credit: Nick Dent
7. Walk from Wellington Point to King Island/Yara-bin at low tide (or swim back at high tide)
For a few hours each day the waters of Moreton Bay recede, revealing a sandy track that can be easily walked to the small island one kilometre offshore. Check the tides before you go.
8. Enjoy fire-kissed cuisine at Agnes
It’s the Brisbane restaurant they can’t stop talking about down south and for good reason – a dark and dramatic dining room with open flames in the kitchen and a virtuosic use of char and smoke from executive chef Ben Williamson.
9. Look at art, or watch a movie, at GoMA
See amazing contemporary art in an amazing gallery – including a world-renowned collection of Asian and Pacific art – and by the way, the cinematheque at GoMA will get you excited about movies again.
10. Yell “c’mon Aussie” at the Gabba
The iconic Brisbane stadium is home to the Bulls, the Heat and the Lions, and from October to March you can be a part of its famous cricketing history. But its largest-ever crowd? That was for Adele, in 2017.
11. Eat fish and chips from Pam’s Cafe 88 at Nudgee Beach
Grab it from Pam’s and take it a block away to the beach. It’s a legendary spot and the fish and chips are superb. Don’t tell the locals we told you.
12. Take an Aboriginal cultural tour
Find out about heritage, history and art in Meanjin and beyond with a walking tour by BlackCard, a company run by Aboriginal elders and academics.
Built as a relief project during the Depression, Howard Smith Wharves are now a foodie destination.
13. Eat, drink and do yoga at Howard Smith Wharves
A 1930s industrial site is now a party playground making the most of the riverside site. Restaurants, bars, a brewpub, a hotel, a cafe, plus yoga classes make it a must-do – not to mention that awe-inspiring view of the Story Bridge.
14. Escape to the beach on North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah
In winter, head straight to Point Lookout to see the passing parade of humpback whales. In summer, swim at Cylinder Beach and surf at Main Beach. Don’t miss the Gorge Walk.
15. Get entertained at Brisbane Powerhouse
QPAC’s grungy cousin is home to a vibrant program of theatre, comedy, art and concerts. The Powerhouse also has a cracking bar and two excellent restaurants in an idyllic river and parkside location. See also: Metro Arts.
16. Experience live music in the Valley
The Tivoli, The Triffid, The Brightside, The Fortitude Music Hall, The Zoo and more, all within coo-ee of each other – it’s no wonder Brissie’s live music scene is the envy of the nation.
Kingsfood restaurant in Sunnybank is almost 33 years old.Credit: Markus Ravik
17. Chomp your way around Sunnybank
Brisbane’s biggest Asian community calls this suburb home – Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Singaporean – and the restaurant scene here is sensational. Make a beeline for shopping centres Sunnybank Plaza, Market Square and Sunny Park and get stuck in.
18. Chill at a rooftop bar
Where better to catch views and afternoon breezes while drinking coldies and cocktails? We’re loving Fiume (at Howard Smith Wharves), Maya (for stylish Mexican food and margaritas in the Valley) and Iris Rooftop (also in the Valley).
Queensland Museum’s new display of prehistoric Queensland has opened.Credit: Nick Dent
19. Meet local dinosaurs at the Queensland Museum
Free permanent exhibition Dinosaurs Unearthed recreates the giants of prehistoric Queensland via touchscreens, 3D-printed maquettes, and 4K animations alongside original fossils.
20. Paddle at an artificial beach
Streets Beach in South Bank is a rightfully popular must-do in the warm months – but don’t forget the city’s other free water parks such as Ferny Grove Aqua Park and Whimsical Whales Waterplay, Wynnum.
21. See a show at QPAC
Brutalist masterpiece the Queensland Performing Arts Centre has four theatres and a year-round program of plays, musical, comedy, concerts and more.
22. Catch a movie at Brisbane’s only permanent drive-in
The Yatala Drive-in is open every night of the week screening new releases and nostalgic drive-in classics.
23. Dig in with gardening buddies at a nursery cafe
Garden shops that are also eateries are big in Brisbane. Grab lunch or a coffee with friends while picking up plants and accessories at The Nurso, Brookfield Gardens, Soul Pantry, Epilo or Redlands IndigiScapes Centre.
24. Browse the racks at Archives Fine Books
With 1 million books, Archives is one of the largest second-hand bookstores in Australia. Lose yourself browsing rare, arcane and antiquarian books on every topic under the sun.
25. See shipwrecks and more at Moreton Island/Mulgumpin
Snorkelling the 15 sunken wrecks near the Tangalooma Resort is essential. See coral and reef fish, and hand-feed wild dolphins and fish at dusk.
The Museum of Brisbane offers free tours of the inner workings of the City Hall clock tower, built in the 1920s.Credit: Museum of Brisbane
26. Ride the heritage lift to the top of the City Hall Clock Tower
Free tours take place every 15 minutes from the Museum of Brisbane – ride the same lift that was installed in the 1920s and see the workings of the clock plus skyline views.
27. Eat Vietnamese food in Inala
Brisbane’s Little Vietnam is the place for pho, banh mi, banh xeo and more – try Pho An, Chac’s Lang Nuong, Tan Thanh, Tan Dinh Bread Rolls and Pho Ba Nga for starters.
28. Catch a drag show
Longstanding queer pub The Wickham has proudly flown the rainbow flag since the 1970s while The Beat Megaclub and The Sportsman have been in business since 1983 and 1989, respectively. They’re your best bets for hilarious drag shows, drag bingo, drag brunch and more.
29. Have a retro swim in Spring Hill
Choose from the Spring Hills Baths, built in 1886 with coloured change-rooms doors like seaside beach huts, and the 1959 Centenary Pool, with its diving platform and mid-century modern architecture.
The Waterlily Lake at Brisbane Botantic Gardens Mount Coot-tha.Credit: Nick Dent
30. Get bucolic at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha
Nature is good for your mental health, and these gardens are free to enter. Highlights include cacti, the Bonsai House, Tropical Dome, bamboo grove, lagoon and Japanese Garden.
31. Grab a croissant from Christian Jacques in Kangaroo Point
Some of the best croissants in Brisbane, they’re fermented for two days using French butter as learned by Jacques during his childhood in Nimes.
32. Eat prawns on a trawler at The Prawnster
This moored trawler is a place to experience wild-catch seafood in its freshest form. You can also order oysters, salmon, lobsters, bugs, and booze.
33. Shop till you drop on James Street
If you’ve got cash to splash then James Street is the place for you. More than 40 fashion retailers including Sass & Bide, Dion Lee, Venroy and Assembly Label, plus a wealth of good eats, design and health and beauty, make this Valley high street a hip hotspot.
Cycling in South Bank.Credit: SHD Travel
34. Get on your bike
Brisbane’s bike path network is a thing of beauty, with one-third of people in the city living within 300 metres of a bikeway. Download the map, take a jaunt or even make it part of your lifestyle.
35. Take in a concert at Sirromet Winery
If Brisbane didn’t have enough to recommend it, it has an actual winery (in Mount Cotton) that hosts major outdoor concert events such as A Day on the Green with acts like Crowded House, Sting and the Chicks. In good weather there’s no better place to be.
36. View some Indigenous art
QAGOMA offers guided tours of its Indigenous Australian art collection, and Birrunga Gallery in the CBD showcases contemporary artists and serves native ingredients in the cafe.
Bradbury Park in Kedron, Brisbane.Credit: Brisbane Times / Nick Dent
37. Tire out the little tackers at a fancy Brisbane playground
Brisbane’s multimillion-dollar public playgrounds are turning parks into destinations you’d cross the city for.
38. Break something, or throw an axe at it
Rage Cage Smash Rooms give you a sledgehammer and a box of breakables like old plates and electrical goods to vent your anger on. Still mad? Make like a Viking and throw axes at a wall at Maniax. Waivers are required for these shenanigans, naturally.
39. Eat street food at a Night Market
Night markets are the fun way to eat out in Brissie – try the Alien Night Market in Underwood (Friday to Sunday) or Mount Gravatt Street Food Markets (first Saturday of the month) among others.
40. Run the Bridge to Brisbane
October’s 10-kilometre run from the Gateway to the Showgrounds (plus the 4.5-kilometre option) raised nearly $1.2 million for charity in 2022. Joining a fundraising team doesn’t help your cardiovascular fitness but it’s good for the heart nonetheless.
41. Bowl up a storm at Merthyr Bowls Club
Merthyr Bowls Club is a good value going-out option in a ritzy area – only $10 a person for two hours of barefoot bowls – and the menu is also good value considering your rump steak, butter chicken or burger come with a side of river views.
42. Hear rootsy music and eat American food at Lefty’s Music Hall
You’re not in N’Awlins, you’re on Caxton Street, in an intimate chandelier-lit space that shakes to the rafters with rootsy blues and honky-tonk rhythms. With burlesque and poetry nights also on offer, there’s never a dull moment at Lefty’s.
New Farm Park.Credit: Fairfax Media
43. Have a picnic in New Farm Park
If it’s November, the jacarandas make it a dream in purple, but all year round this manicured riverside park is a ripper place to chill out. You’re handy here for New Farm cafes and the Brisbane Powerhouse, and if you have kids, the playground among the giant figs offers hours of fun.
44. Wade into Wynnum Tidal Pool
This huge tidal pool was built in 1932 by unemployed workers during the Great Depression. It’s still a great place to escape the heat and features a small spiral slide for the kids.
Telecommunications equipment from the 1980s is still in working order at the Telstra Museum.Credit: Nick Dent
45. Send a telegram or a telex at the Telstra Museum
This Clayfield museum is free to visit and packed with ancient phones, switchboards and teletype machines that are all functioning and ready to be demonstrated by volunteer guides – it’s a real head trip.
46. Walk, run or fish the Shorncliffe Pier
One of the longest jetties in Australia is great for a morning or evening jog and even better for catching deepwater fish such as garfish, whiting, bream, flathead and tailor.
47. Play pinball and videogames at Netherworld
This Valley game bar is packed with pinball machines and old-school video arcade units including Donkey Kong, Frogger, Space Invaders and Time Pilot. Trash movie double features and live music add to the atmosphere of unabashed retro fun.
High tea is more popular than ever and available at hotels and restaurants across town.Credit: Sofitel
48. Ask “one lump or two?” at high tea
You’re worth it, so why not eat perfect little cakes, sandwiches and scones washed down with excellent tea and champagne in fancy surroundings? Brisbane is mad for a high tea – try the Sofitel, Old Parliament House, W Brisbane, Stamford Plaza, and many more.
49. Beat the clock at a locally designed escape room
If you’ve never gotten a group together and tried pitting your wits against the puzzles and tricks of an escape room, give it a try. Brisbane game designers have built ingenious rooms on various themes – among others we’d recommend the sci-fi-themed Project Immersive in the evocative location of the old Paint Factory in Yeronga, or the beautifully designed Steampunk game at Quest Room in Spring Hill. Tick, tick, tick …
50. Explore South Bank and eat lunch on The Green
Whether the Wheel of Brisbane is your thing, or you’d rather catch some naval history at the Maritime Museum, there’s no doubt South Bank has a wealth of attractions. But what everyone can agree on is that The Green is a wonderful place on the water to eat your takeaway and just absorb the beauty of Brisbane’s skyline.
Did we get it right? Did we forget something? Let us know at nick.dent@nine.com.au.
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