Brisbane: A tourist’s guide to the river city
Brisbane, despite being a city without a beach there is still so much do and so much to see. We stayed here for three days, so here are my top tips to see Brisbane in a short amount of time.
Where to eat
Poppies
Set back from the river this adorable and affordable eatery on the Southbank has the perfect brunch menu. I honestly thing that the coffee here was some of the best we had up the entire east coast - almost be best meal of the entire 6 week trip!
The menu is perfect with a huge range of authentic Aussie brunch options so it was difficult to choose just one thing. I settled on the Morning Fritters, and they were incredible (I could have it all over again a thousand times).
Local’s tip: download the EatClub app to get the most out of eating out out in Australia. They offer discounts at tons of restaurants in most major cities!!
Where to drink
Felon’s Brewery
Located just underneath Story Bridge, Felon’s is the perfect place to enjoy a casual drink with friends. With a location in Manly also, this bar/pub still has a certain local charm due to its small scale. The beer here is brewed on-site and they do a tasting flight for the beer lovers, but their alcoholic ginger beer is a must-try.
Mr Percival’s
This is the perfect bar to come an watch the sunset, with views of Story Bridge, The City and The Brisbane River you really do have the opportunity to take the entire city from Mr Percival’s panoramic decking. Inside features a boho-chic fit out including circular bar, complete with a disco ball on the ceiling. Their menu is fairly well-priced, considering that they have opened recently and their prime location over the water. Mr Percival’s is defo one to add to your Brisbane list!
What to see
Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point
The iconic story bridge of course cannot be missed. It can be seen from Mr Percival’s or on the river ferry. To walk across the bridge takes about 10 minutes. To loop around to Kangaroo Point
Australia Zoo
Steve Erwin the man you are! Australia Zoo should be on everyone’s bucket lists. A scenic two hour train ride from Brisbane, the zoo more than worth the journey. A full day is most definitely needed here to fully experience everything there is to offer, with the vast amounts of wildlife they have here on site.
My top moments would be the croc show at their dedicated crocosium, the tiger show and watching the elephants play in their lake. This zoo is so dedicated to animal welfare, just like Steve and Robert Irwin, so their animal hospital is also worth visiting too. At any age, a day at Australia Zoo is always a good idea.
The Brisbane sign
Of course, to be a true tourist you have to visit all of the photo-worthy spots. This blog wouldn’t be complete without a mention of The Brisbane Sign. Located a short walk down the Southbank from Streets Beach, this colourful art piece is a must see landmark and a great photo opp.
Where to relax
Streets Beach
Although Brissie doesn’t have any natural beaches, there is Australia’s only inner-city manmade beach on the Brisbane Southbank, I present to you Streets Beach! The city has created a slice of paradise in between the hustle and bustle of urban life. Lined with palm trees, this white sand lagoon is the perfect place to come and to relax and tan. You could spend an entire day here or just come for a few hours to cool off whilst exploring the city.
Brisbane is a fab city, it is super easy to get around using the river ferry or simply by walking, there is always something to do. I only went for three days which does provide a great whistle stop tour of the city, but to delve into the real Brisbane that the locals know and love I would go for a little longer.
