4 Unique Things To Do In Brisbane Right Now

Are you ready to explore the sunny and vibrant city of Brisbane? With its rich history, diverse culture, and stunning natural beauty, this Australian city has something for everyone.

The city is unofficially known as ‘Brisvegas’ due to its immaculate replication of nightlife, food scene, and attractions, to that of Las Vegas. Now, the city is not only a popular tourist destination but also a popular getaway spot for Australians looking for a fabulous city break.

As a Brisbanian myself, I’m sharing my top picks of things that you need to do or see at least once if you are in Brisbane. Whether you're a solo traveller, a couple on a romantic getaway, or a family on vacation, there's something for everyone in the Brisbane Central Business District (CBD).

Explore the city through the river

Running right through the heart of the city, the Brisbane River is the longest in South East Queensland and acts as a hub of fun and unique activities. When you’re in the city, you’ll probably find yourself somewhere with a great view of this river, but to make it more worthwhile, I suggest you get out onto it.

Brisbane River cruises are a popular and easy way of exploring the inner sights of the city, giving you an on-water spectator experience of the city’s most premier attractions. A 2-hour kayak on the river is also a fun option, if you're not afraid of getting wet! While other attractions like ferries are cheaper alternatives to the cruises, the experience offered on a cruise is unparalleled and you get an overview of some of the city’s most iconic attractions – Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Botanical Garden, Story Bridge and plenty more! It’s a great start if you're looking to explore them later on foot! You can never go wrong with these Brisbane cruises!

Space out!

One of the most bizarre and out of this world things you can do in the capital is head to Sir Brisbane Planetarium, located at the foot of Mt. Coot Tha. Named after the legendary astronomer and governor, this planetarium features a skydome theatre where you can sit down to enjoy different talks, audio-visual experiences and educational programs.

The exhibits here showcase some of the country’s leading Aboriginal elders who have shared their star knowledge for the very first time! For a unique stargazing experience, head to the observatory at night and join the astronomers from the planetarium. Every Friday, you can settle in here and watch the official NASA visualisations of the world above and beyond us, through Bella Gaia, a visual and musical spectacle!

Man up and conquer the ‘story’

Conquering one of the world's only five bridge climbs should be atop your bucket list if you’re visiting Brisbane for the very first time. Scale the 74-metre high giant and enjoy a 360° panoramic view of Brisbane, from the Glass House Mountains, down to the astounding Scenic Rim.

They offer climbs from dusk till dawn, but I’d recommend the Twilight Climb as it lets you ascend under the multi-colored illumination of the bridge lighting! And if you’re an adrenaline junkie, you can opt for the extra thrill of abseiling down 30 metres into Captain Burke Park beneath the bridge!

Locate this elusive bar

Transport yourself to the flapper era in this elusive bar, Jack Rabbits, one of Brisbane’s best kept secrets. Its cosy vintage furniture and old-school couches, topped with oriental rugs and the peculiar antique souvenirs on the wall, are sure to be the perfect setting for your cocktail evenings.

The highlights of the bar includes an impressive range of fine wines, whiskeys, gins and craft cocktails, along with a decent range of bar snacks like smoked almonds, chicken pate with Turkish bread and more. Jack Rabbits sits on the upper level of the Electric Avenue building in Woolloongabba - that’s all the clues you get to locate the bar!