The Best Brisbane Activities

Brisbane activities cover the river, the sky and Moreton Bay, plus indoor games for wet days. You can climb the Story Bridge, jet ski past the city, balloon over the Scenic Rim or spend a day on Moreton Island, then fill the gaps with more things to do in Brisbane.

Story Bridge climbs and cliff climbing in Brisbane

Guided Story Bridge climbs run from dawn through to night, with a Climb Leader taking you over Brisbane's heritage-listed bridge. The Story Bridge day climb is a popular choice.

Kangaroo Point Cliffs, 300m south of the Thornton Street ferry terminal, has rock climbing and abseiling. The Kangaroo Point cliff abseil drops down 20m cliffs, and no experience is needed.

Jet skis, kayaks and boats on the Brisbane River

Guided jet ski tours in Brisbane head upriver past the city or out into Moreton Bay, and the river tours need no licence. The 2-hour sunset jet ski tour leaves from Murarrie and passes Kangaroo Point Cliffs and the Story and Gateway bridges, while the 70-minute river jet ski tour runs from Breakfast Creek down to South Bank. Longer Moreton Bay tours reach the islands and suit riders with some experience.

Slower options include guided kayaking from Kangaroo Point and electric picnic boats from Newstead, which need no licence.

Skydiving, ballooning and flights in the air

Skydiving near Brisbane means a tandem jump over Byron Bay with pick-ups from the city, or a wind tunnel at Chermside. The indoor skydiving session is two 60-second flights, and skydiving from Brisbane covers the outdoor jumps too.

Hot air ballooning lifts off around sunrise from Ipswich, a 30-minute drive west of the CBD, and from the Scenic Rim. The Scenic Rim balloon experience ends with breakfast at O'Reilly's Vineyard. Scenic and helicopter flights sit under flying in Brisbane.

Moreton Island and Tangalooma activities

Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island is just over an hour by boat from Pinkenba on the Brisbane River. The Tangalooma day trip with a quad bike tour finishes with wild dolphin feeding at sunset, and the Tangalooma snorkelling day takes you over the shipwrecks. Divers have snorkelling and scuba diving at the same wrecks.

From June to mid-October, whale watching cruises leave from Redcliffe, the Brisbane River and the Gold Coast.

Animal experiences near Brisbane

The Lone Pine nocturnal wildlife tour uses red light and thermal cameras to find Tasmanian devils, bettongs and Rocky the tree kangaroo. Animal experiences in Brisbane also include a camel farm tour at Harrisville, under an hour from the city, and hands-on farm tours.

Indoor and group activities in Brisbane

The VR escape room on Edward Street is a 45-minute team game in the CBD, and Hijinx Hotel at Chermside has challenge rooms with five collaborative games each. Interactive gaming in Brisbane also takes in laser skirmish at Mt Cotton, and Holey Moley mini golf has venues in the city, Chermside and Mt Gravatt. Most of the indoor options suit rainy days in Brisbane.

Go karts and V8 laps

Kingston Park Raceway, a 30-minute drive south of Brisbane, has a 605m Monte Carlo track for go karts, and V8 drives run at Queensland Raceway and Norwell Motorplex. Both belong to driving and motorsports in Brisbane.

Choosing a Brisbane activity

River activities take an hour or two, ballooning fills the morning, and a Tangalooma trip takes the whole day. Families can start with things to do in Brisbane with kids, and the Story Bridge night climb, Segway night tours and VR escape rooms keep running after dark.

Frequently asked questions

What activities can adults do in Brisbane?

Adults in Brisbane can climb the Story Bridge, jet ski the river, abseil Kangaroo Point Cliffs, balloon over the Scenic Rim or drive V8 laps at Queensland Raceway.

What Brisbane activities suit kids?

Kids can join Holey Moley mini golf, the Trevena Glen farm tour for ages 6 and up, Tangalooma day trips and humpback whale watching cruises in season.

Do you need a licence to jet ski in Brisbane?

The guided river jet ski tours in Brisbane don't require a licence, and each starts with a safety briefing.

What can you do in Brisbane on a rainy day?

Indoor activities in Brisbane include VR escape rooms, Holey Moley mini golf, axe throwing and indoor skydiving at Chermside.

What Brisbane activities run at night?

Night activities in Brisbane include the Story Bridge night climb, Segway night tours, nocturnal wildlife tours at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and VR escape rooms open until 9pm.

How long does it take to get to Moreton Island from Brisbane?

Tangalooma day trips reach Moreton Island in just over an hour by boat from Pinkenba on the Brisbane River.

From a bridge climb in the city to a day out at Tangalooma, Brisbane activities fit a free afternoon or a full weekend, and there's more to plan around Brisbane.