Brisbane: Culture, Gardens and Trails
Accommodation in Brisbane
Brisbane can be planned around different travel interests: city history, gardens and trails for outdoor activities each offer a distinct focus. If you’re looking for a hotel in Brisbane, start by deciding which of these themes you’d like to shape your stay. This can help you arrange visits around your interests.
Gardens and cultural history
The City Botanic Gardens are Queensland’s oldest heritage-listed gardens. They feature walking paths and a riverside path. Riverstage, an outdoor entertainment venue, is also located in the gardens. The garden paths and events offer different reasons to visit the same place. If you’re interested in Riverstage, check the event schedule before your trip.
Brisbane City Hall also has strong connections to the city’s history and architecture: the building is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register and by the National Trust of Queensland as culturally, historically and architecturally significant. Brisbane City Hall offers guided tours. As tour schedules may change, check the timetable before your visit.
The Museum of Brisbane is the Brisbane City Council’s leading history and art museum. The museum is approximately a 10-minute walk from both Central and Roma Street stations. This approximate walking time can help you get your bearings if you’re planning your museum visit from either station.
The Brisbane City Centre Heritage Place Trail traces Brisbane’s history from the early colonial period and economic boom through to the city’s role in the Second World War. It includes 25 landmarks in the city centre and Spring Hill. You can complete the full trail or shorter loops. When planning, consider whether you’d like to fit the whole route or a shorter loop into your stay.
Gardens and trails
Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha cover 56 hectares. The Mt Coot-tha Reserve has the short, beginner-friendly Summit Track. The gardens and the track offer different planning considerations: the gardens are notable for their size, while the track is short and beginner-friendly.
The Brisbane Riverwalk can be used for walking, running or cycling and connects New Farm with the city. These three ways of using it give you different options for including the trail in your travel plans. For a park visit of its own, New Farm Park has rose gardens, a rotunda, an adventure playground for children and open spaces.
QAGOMA’s Children’s Art Centre also has a clear focus: it presents interactive artworks for children and families. If you’re travelling with children, the artworks at the centre and the playground at New Farm Park offer two specific ways to plan your visit.
Plan your stay around your interests
City history and architecture, gardens, trails for walking, running or cycling, and activities for children offer different focuses. The places and activities mentioned provide ideas for your daily plans; choose what best suits your travel interests.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Scarborough, Manly, Brighton, Ipswich, Ascot, Macgregor, Redcliffe, Kangaroo Point, Kingston, South Brisbane, Mt Samson, Margate, Middle Park, Eight Mile Plains, Clontarf, Point Lookout, Loganholme, Browns Plains, Caboolture, Mt Glorious, Beaudesert, Jamboree Heights, Woorim, One Mile, Redland Bay, Bald Hills, Robertson, Cleveland, Burpengary, Birkdale, Boronia Heights, Ocean View, Yatala, Springwood, Raceview, Aspley, Dayboro, Darra, Zillmere, North Lakes, Salisbury
For the broader travel overview: Queensland.
