Getting the most out of life shouldn’t have to break the bank. In fact, at Urban List, we’ll wager that some of the best things to do in Brisbane/Meanjin come for free.
Whether you’re on a budget, cutting back on spending, or just feel like keeping your cash in your wallet for once, there’s a myriad of ways to spend a day around our glorious city without forking out the big bucks.
Save your pennies, these are the best free things to do in Brisbane.
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Brisbane again—get us in your inbox here.
Discover South Bank
Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River is a lifestyle and cultural haven brimming with things to do without tapping your credit card. While there’s certainly an array of restaurants, markets, and cultural events taking place every day, skip the queues and venture into South Bank’s pristine Parklands instead. Sprawling over 15 hectares, the Parklands’ features BBQ areas, multiple adventure playgrounds for the kids, and a man-made beach for those in need of a dip.
Check Out Brisbane’s Street Art
Brisbane might not be as plastered in art as Melbourne, but it’s still got some epic work splashed on walls across the city. You can find the bright work of local legends from South Brisbane all the way across to New Farm—it’s just a matter of keeping your eyes peeled. Whether you’re out to simply spot and snap or you’re a street art fanatic, walls are always going to be free to stare at, so why not give your eyeballs a bit of colour to eat up?
Hike Up Mt Coot-tha For City Views
Take a step back (and a few steps up), and you can soak in the sights of Brisbane from afar from the top of Mt Coot-tha. A short 2.4km hike up the Spotted Gum Trail, Mt Coot-tha sits 287 metres above sea level, and boasts one of the best lookout spots for 180 degree views from Moreton Bay to the Sunshine Coast. Of course, you can also drive to the top, but with a mass of eucalypt forest, rainforest gullies, creeks, and 31 kilometres of bushwalking tracks, why would you?
Explore The Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Sitting at the base of Mount Coot-tha you’ll find the Brisbane Botanic Gardens where the plant life is bountiful and entry is free. From Japanese gardens to a cactus menagerie and their iconic Tropical Dome, there’s plantlife to discover in all shapes and forms. Those who prefer planets over plants will find the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium a worthy visit, as it boasts some of the best stargazing in town.
Eye Up Fossils At The Queensland Museum
Whales that hang from the ceiling and a ginormous replica of a Muttaburrasaurus? You must be at the Queensland Museum. Find free exhibitions, wander through history, and uncover a world of prehistoric dinosaurs and extinct creatures that have found a home right here in Brisbane.
Find Inspiration At QAGOMA
Home to an array of art from across the globe, QAGOMA in South Bank offers free entry to their permanent collection, and offers a hands-on experience for kids in the creative centre too. Discover workshops, tours, live music, performance, and more as part of their ongoing program.
Visit The City’s Clock Tower
With clock hands that are three metres long, and a 4.3 tonne bell that rings every hour, Brisbane’s Clock Tower contains some seriously cool stats, as well as the oldest working cage lift in Australia. Best of all, you can see it from a different angle with free guided tours every 15 minutes from 10.45am to 4.45pm daily. Get yourself a different view of Brisbane from the observation deck, with the added bonus of never losing track of time.
You might also like:
Reach New Heights At Kangaroo Point Cliffs
If you’re a rock climbing fan, novice or professional, Kangaroo Point has some of Brisbane’s best natural rock walls to scale, all in the easiest way possible. Simply don your best climbing attire, rock up (pun intended) and start climbing—only across, not up (unless you’re properly equipped with ropes and harnesses). Kangaroo Point is also a notorious city-viewing spot, perfect for watching the sun go down over the water.
Spot Koalas At The Daisy Hill Koala Centre
With daily wildlife officer talks, a large outdoor koala enclosure and interactive displays, the Daisy Hill Koala Centre is a great place to learn about koalas and their conservation. Visitors can take in the koalas from multi-level viewing platforms, as well as the other native animals that call the park home. And yep, entry is totally free.
Trace The Brisbane Heritage Trail
Journey across a range of sites and uncover Brisbane’s early convict history and military presence in World War II as you trace the 26 points of the Brisbane Heritage Trail. Working its way from Queen Street to City Hall, and all through the CBD, you can walk at your own pace, simultaneously learning and discovering Brisbane at the same time. A free afternoon activity and history lesson? Boy, are you spoiled.
Go Chasing Waterfalls
Prefer to spend the day somewhere away from the city? No worries! Brisbane happens to have some of the best waterfalls hidden in the surrounding national parks. So pack the 4WD, grab some snacks, and head on your next great adventure outdoors chasing waterfalls with some close mates. Sometimes all you need is a little nature fix. Hunt them down here.
If you’ve got cash to splash, check out what’s on in Brisbane here.
Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.