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How many days in Brisbane? 4 days, by CityCat along the river
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Brisbane is built along a river that loops through the city like a snake, and the best way to see it is from the water. Give it four days: two along the river between South Bank, the CBD and Fortitude Valley, one for koalas and the mountain lookout, and one for the sand islands of Moreton Bay. Public transport fares are a flat 50 cents in Queensland, which makes this one of the cheapest Australian cities to explore.
Short answer
Two days covers South Bank, the galleries, a CityCat ride and Lone Pine. Four lets you add Kangaroo Point at sunset, Mount Coot-tha and a full day of beaches and whale-watching on Straddie.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: South Bank, GOMA and the Cultural Centre
Morning. Start at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), two free buildings on the riverbank, where GOMA's Australian and Pacific contemporary collections fill two floors. Next door the Queensland Museum (free general entry) covers dinosaurs and Torres Strait culture.
Afternoon. Walk 10 minutes south through the South Bank Parklands, under the bougainvillea Arbour, to Streets Beach, a free lifeguard-patrolled lagoon with sand and city views. The Wheel of Brisbane (about A$25) turns nearby.
Evening. Cross the Goodwill Bridge to the City Botanic Gardens and walk the riverside past Queen Street Mall, or stay in South Bank for dinner on Little Stanley Street, with mains around A$28-40.
Many of the riverside walks are shaded, but Brisbane's sun is strong all year: hats and SPF 50 even in winter.
Day 2: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary by river cruise
Morning. Take the Mirimar cruise from the Cultural Centre pontoon, about 75 minutes upriver (around A$90 return including sanctuary entry), or bus 430 for 50 cents. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, open since 1927, has some 70 koalas, free-roaming kangaroos you can hand-feed and a platypus house; entry alone is about A$60.
Afternoon. Watch the sheepdog show and the lorikeet feeding, then return downstream. Get off at West End to walk Boundary Street's cafés and op shops; on Saturday morning the Davies Park Market sells local produce until about 14:00.
Evening. Eat in West End, where Greek, Vietnamese and Ethiopian restaurants sit side by side; a main costs A$20-35.
Koala holds are no longer offered at many Queensland parks; check Lone Pine's current photo options before you go, and book cruises a few days ahead in school holidays.
Day 3: CityCat, Story Bridge and Fortitude Valley
Morning. Ride the CityCat ferry the length of the river, from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, about 1 hour end to end, for 50 cents. Get off at New Farm Park and walk to the Brisbane Powerhouse, a former power station turned arts centre.
Afternoon. Climb the Story Bridge (about 2.5 hours, from roughly A$150), the 1940 steel cantilever bridge, or watch rock climbers and abseilers on the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, free, across the river from the CBD.
Evening. Eat at Howard Smith Wharves, a set of restaurants and a brewery under the bridge, then walk 10 minutes to Fortitude Valley for live music on Brunswick Street and the bars of the James Street precinct.
Kangaroo Point Cliffs face west towards the city, so they are Brisbane's best free sunset spot; arrive 30 minutes before dusk.
Day 4: Day trip: North Stradbroke Island
Morning. Take a train or bus to Cleveland (about 1 hour) and a fast ferry or vehicle barge to Dunwich on North Stradbroke Island (about 25-50 minutes, roughly A$20-30 return for foot passengers). A local bus runs to Point Lookout at the north-east tip.
Afternoon. Walk the North Gorge Walk, a 1.2-km boardwalk where you often see turtles, dolphins and manta rays below the cliffs, and from June to October migrating humpback whales. Swim at Cylinder Beach, patrolled by lifeguards.
Evening. Have fish and chips at Point Lookout before the last ferries back from Dunwich in the early evening; check times, as services thin out after 18:00.
Moreton Island is the alternative: the Tangalooma ferry from Pinkenba (about 75 minutes) takes you to the sand dunes and wrecks, with day packages from about A$100.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 and spend Day 2 at Lone Pine in the morning with Kangaroo Point and the Valley in the evening. You lose the island and the Story Bridge climb.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to Mount Coot-tha, 15 minutes west, for the summit lookout and the Botanic Gardens and Planetarium, the Gold Coast (about 1 hour by train) for surf beaches, or Australia Zoo (about 1h15 north). The Sunshine Coast hinterland around Montville and Noosa makes a good 2-3 day extension.
Where to stay in Brisbane
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Fortitude Valley / Roma Street | Hostels and cheap hotels near the train stations; the Valley is loud on weekends. | A$90-160 |
| Mid-range | CBD | Walk to the river, CityCat stops and South Bank. | A$180-290 |
| Mid-range | South Bank | Next to the galleries, Streets Beach and the Cultural Centre ferry pontoon. | A$190-300 |
| Comfort | Howard Smith Wharves / riverside towers | River and bridge views, rooftop pools and the best restaurants nearby. | A$350-650 |
Getting around
TransLink buses, trains and ferries cost a flat 50 cents per trip with a Go Card or contactless bank card, one of the cheapest systems in the world. The CityCat and the free inner-city CityHopper ferry cover the river. The Airtrain from the airport to Central takes about 20 minutes and is not part of the 50-cent deal (about A$20-25); a taxi is about A$50-60. The CBD and South Bank are walkable, linked by four pedestrian and road bridges in 10-15 minutes.
What to eat in Brisbane
Brisbane eats outdoors most of the year. Try Moreton Bay bugs, a sweet flat slipper lobster, grilled with garlic butter, and Queensland mud crab at seafood restaurants for A$45-90. Breakfast is a serious meal: smashed avocado on sourdough and a flat white for about A$25. The Eat Street Northshore night market in Hamilton (Friday-Sunday, entry about A$5-6) gathers dozens of food stalls in shipping containers. Mango season runs November to February. Local beer comes from XXXX's brewery in Milton and dozens of craft breweries in Newstead.
Best time to visit
May to October is the dry season, with sunny days of 21-26°C and cool nights, the most comfortable time to visit; whales pass offshore from June to October. Summer (December-February) is hot and humid at 29-32°C with afternoon storms and occasional floods. Brisbane is fine year-round; book ahead for the Brisbane Festival in September and for school holidays.
Month-by-month weather for Brisbane →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | A$55 | A$120 | A$250 |
| Food & drink | A$45 | A$90 | A$170 |
| Sights & tickets | A$15 | A$60 | A$160 |
| Local transport | A$3 | A$10 | A$50 |
| Total per person, per day | about A$120 | about A$280 | about A$630 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Australian dollars; the 50-cent public transport fare is a Queensland government policy that may change, and there is no city tourist tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Brisbane worth visiting or should I go straight to the Gold Coast?
Brisbane is worth two to four days. It has free world-class galleries, the CityCat river, a city beach at South Bank, koalas at Lone Pine and easy access to Moreton Bay's islands. The Gold Coast is about an hour away by train and suits travellers who want surf beaches and theme parks. Many visitors base themselves in Brisbane and do the Gold Coast as a day trip.
Where can I hold or see a koala near Brisbane?
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket is the classic choice, reached by river cruise or bus, with around 70 koalas. Rules on holding koalas have tightened in Queensland, so check the sanctuary's current options for close-up photos. Australia Zoo north of the city and Daisy Hill Conservation Park also have koalas, and wild ones live on North Stradbroke Island.
How do the 50-cent fares work?
Since 2024 the Queensland government has charged a flat 50 cents for every trip on TransLink buses, trains, trams and ferries, including the CityCat and Gold Coast light rail. Tap on and off with a Go Card or a contactless bank card. The Airtrain to the airport is privately run and charges its own full fare.
Can I swim in Brisbane?
Not in the river, which is brown, tidal and home to bull sharks. Swim at Streets Beach in South Bank, the free lagoon with lifeguards, or the heritage Spring Hill Baths. For the sea, go to North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Island or the Gold Coast, and always swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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