Brisbane
Australia
South BankPhoto: willislim · CC BY-SA 2.0
Lone Pine Koala SanctuaryPhoto: Fry72 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Story BridgePhoto: MagpieShooter · CC BY-SA 3.0
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Mount Coot-thaPhoto: Brisbane City Council · CC BY 2.0
About Brisbane
Brisbane, near Australia's east coast on the winding Brisbane River, is the capital of Queensland. Its subtropical climate means life is lived outdoors for much of the year.
The South Bank parklands with their man-made beach, the museums of the cultural precinct, the Story Bridge and the lookout on Mount Coot-tha are its landmarks. The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches are within day-trip range.
Natural phenomena and seasons
- Jacaranda blossoms (October–November) — From October–November, the city's streets turn purple with jacaranda blossoms.
How many days do you need?
Two or three days is enough: one for South Bank, the cultural precinct and the riverside, one for Lone Pine and Mount Coot-tha, and optionally one for the Gold Coast or the Moreton Bay islands.
Where to stay
- CBD — Close to stations, shopping streets and ferry terminals.
- South Bank — Next to the museums and riverside parklands.
- Fortitude Valley — Restaurants, bars and live music, on the Airtrain line.
From the airport to the city
Brisbane Airport (BNE) lies north-east of the city. Airtrain services run from the domestic and international terminals to central stations including Fortitude Valley, Central and Roma Street in about 20 minutes, and some continue to the Gold Coast. Taxis and shared shuttles are also available.
Getting around
Trains, buses and ferries on the Translink network accept the go card or contactless bank cards. The CityCat ferries on the river are both practical and a good way to see the city.
Good to know
- Summers are hot and humid, with frequent afternoon storms.
- The sun is very strong; carry a hat, sunscreen and water.
- Traffic drives on the left in Australia.
Useful links
- Queensland (official tourism site) queensland.com
- Translink (South East Queensland public transport) translink.com.au
- Brisbane Airport bne.com.au
- Airtrain airtrain.com.au
When to go?
Best time to visit for the weather: April–November. The warmest month is January (average high 84 °F); the wettest is February (6.2 in).
Monthly climate
| Month | Avg. high °F | Rain in | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 84.0 | 5.82 | Good |
| February | 83.3 | 6.24 | Good |
| March | 81.1 | 5.44 | Good |
| April | 77.5 | 3.20 | Ideal |
| May | 73.0 | 3.08 | Ideal |
| June | 68.7 | 3.22 | Ideal |
| July | 68.2 | 1.67 | Ideal |
| August | 70.9 | 1.59 | Ideal |
| September | 75.0 | 1.60 | Ideal |
| October | 78.4 | 3.18 | Ideal |
| November | 81.1 | 3.69 | Ideal |
| December | 82.9 | 5.03 | Good |
Source: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), 2005–2024 monthly averages of daily high temperature and total rainfall. Values are estimates for an area of about 50 km and may differ from the city-centre weather station.
Public holidays 2027
- New Year's DayJanuary 1
- Australia DayJanuary 26
- Good FridayMarch 26
- Easter SaturdayMarch 27
- Easter SundayMarch 28
- Easter MondayMarch 29
- Anzac DayApril 25
- Christmas DayDecember 25
- Boxing DayDecember 26
Sources: date-holidays and python-holidays open data projects; for Northern Cyprus, its public holidays law.
Practical info
- CurrencyAustralian Dollar ($)
- Dialling code+61
- Plugs & voltageType I · 230 V · 50 Hz
- Emergency000
- DrivingOn the left
Sources: IEC plug types, Wikidata, Wikipedia; unverified details are left blank.