Ideal walking tour through Brisbane

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Brisbane is where we end our extensive Australia explorations all the way from Tasmania coming via the Pacific Coast Way from Sydney. Being a less ‘famous’ Australian city, we arrived with low expectations. However, Brisbane is actually surprisingly fun with lots of beautiful architecture! The well-preserved historic buildings have been completely encapsulated by the modern high-rises, as you will see in the various photos below.

Brisbane seems a great city to live in! Moreover, it will co-host the 2032 Olympics, for which many large infrastructure projects are well underway…

There is no better way to explore Brisbane’s city centre than via this walking tour along its key highlights. After touring thousands of kilometers through New Zealand and Australia in a basic campervan it was time for some luxury, so we stayed a few nights in one of the luxury hotels in the middle of Brisbane’s CBD.

Top Tip: You can start this (loop) walking tour from anywhere!… Just put it in your GPS and connect the dots! Let’s start strolling…

Eagle Street Pier

The Eagle Street Pier building was being demolished/severely renovated when we walked by. However, the walkway on this riverbank has many food outlets overlooking the river and the Story Bridge.

Cathedral of St Stephen

Make your way back into the CBD towards the Cathedral of St Stephen. This is the first historic building you find completely encompassed with Brisbane’s modern high-rises.

Post Office Square

With the General Post Office Building facing the square this is a nice central square to people-watch!… Make your way towards to Anzac Square (connected via an underground passage).

ANZAC Square

When you reach ANZAC square, keep making your way towards Ann Street, where you’ll find the ANZAC memorial statue. When making your way towards the Town Hall you pass various historic buildings, like the Central Station Hotel and the Albert Street Uniting Church.

Brisbane Town Hall

The Brisbane Town Hall is open to the public. Therefore, do take a peek inside the beautiful auditorium! (We even roamed further in the building, but apparently we just were ‘lucky’ that someone left a door open).

Top Tip: Within the Brisbane Town Hall building you’ll find the quaint Shingle Inn Café. Great to enjoy this historic venue for a coffee. (To ensure you enjoy your visit; The service can be messy and slow, so limit your order to drinks and pre-order and pre-pay).

From the Brisbane City Hall Square make a small detour to Queen Street Mall in case of any shopping needs. Otherwise, head onwards…

Brisbane Treasury Hotel & Casino

Nowadays a Casino is housed in the historic Treasury Building. Especially the main casino hall (on the first floor) is surrounded by the old courtyard façade. (Bring a photo ID to get in)

Gallery of Modern Art and Queensland Museum

From the Treasury Hotel & Casino make your way across the Victoria Bridge towards the (free) Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). We found various art works quite interesting! Highly recommended!…

Directly next door you find the Queensland Museum. Most exhibitions are free. Especially the animal section is very interesting where they also showcase a few live animals!…

Explore Brisbane’s South Bank

Staying on the South Bank of Brisbane, walk towards Streets Beach! One of the most fun (and free) urban beach setups I have seen anywhere (with Darwin’s paid urban beach next).

Take the Goodwill walking bridge!

Take the Goodwill walking bridge for great views over the city towards the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Campus

Brisbane Botanical Gardens

Right next to the QUT you’ll find the Old Government House (part of the QUT, which houses a small free museum), Parliament House and the Botanical Gardens.

Top Tip: Keep a lookout for the large iguanas in the Botanical Gardens! Since Ecuador and Singapore, I have always been amazed that these animals always stay so confined within the park areas of busy cities.

From the Botanical Gardens you are almost back from your starting point next to the Riverbank! I told you; this is an ideal walking loop through Brisbane!…

It is here that we end this Ghost around the Globe Brisbane and Australia adventure!… From here we head onwards to Bali!… Follow my posts for more updates and see my other Australia posts below!…