I’ll stay for several weeks in Brisbane and I’m looking for recommendations for day trips during the weekends in and out Brisbane. Apart from Sydney, what’s a must? Recommendations in Brisbane itself are also welcome.
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Exciting!! I lived in Gold Coast for 4 years, Brisbane for 2 and now Sydney for 3 so let me know if you want more details! Great Day/Weekend trips from Brisbane: Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Island, Mount Tamborine, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary If you have time I would highly recommend getting up to Far North Queensland as well! (great barrier reef, pristine islands, lots of hiking spots!) Other great Aussie stops would be in Western Australia (my fav beaches in the world) and Tasmania (more great hiking!) if you have time! Let me know if you need any Sydney recs as well!
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Aaawh that is so exciting!! There are so many great day trips from Brisbane, Jules already mentioned a heap of them. So for coastal places I would like to add Stradbroke island is wonderful! There are also so many amazing national parks around that I would highly recommend. (Great if you are into walking, hiking and nature - do you know if you will be renting a car?) Lamington national park (one of my faves, so many walks and so beautiful) Spring brook national park Glasshouse mountains Girraween national park (this is further than the above mentioned - about 3.5 hours drive from Brissy) And more if you are interested let me know. Excited to have you visit!!
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Hey Bruno, repeating Jules said when I was visiting, I also spent a weekend at the Goldcoast and in the Noosa Nationalpark (we did lovely walks in and around Noosa Heads!) and we visited the Lone Pine Koala sanctuary which I can also highly recommend if you want to see and pet Koalas & Kangaroos
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Noosa is well worth a trip. Also the beaches around Byron Bay are great, and not too far from Brisbane. You should surf while you’re there - whether you do already surf, or are a total beginner, you’ll find something suitable. If you get time, I’d also recommend making your way to K’gari, aka Fraser Island; you can rent a 4x4 to explore the island and drive along the beaches. It’s 250km north of Brisbane and you generally have to get a ferry from Hervey Bay.
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Thank you all for the recommendations
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I definitely recommend Stradbroke Island - you can get a ferry from Brisbane outskirts and stay one night.
It is the most reliable place I have found to see Koalas in the wild (Amity point) - and who wouldn’t want that!
It also has many resident kangaroos you will no doubt see, and a beautiful cliffside walk where you can often see Giant turtles congregating in the ocean below, diving down and bobbing back up (they just seem to like it there) plus you could see manta rays if you’re lucky!
It’s not so great for swimming at the beaches, but there is a huge lake - Tea Tree lake - where you can safely swim, and often monitor lizards hang out there (very big lizards).
So if you want a huge wildlife fix, and a true Aussies experience, I recommend it!
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Hi @traveler_878338!
I lived in Brisbane for a few years and did many weekend trips!
Here are the top spots I recommend:
Noosa: Although it is very popular and can get busy, this is still my favourite beach in Australia! Make sure to check out the Noosa Headland Walk for a chance to spot koalas in the wild (check the notice board in the car park for the most recent sightings!)
Springbrook National Park: Beautiful ancient rainforest, impressive waterfalls, and many hiking options (I recommend the shorter Purling Brook Falls circuit, where you can swim at the bottom of the falls). If you can stay in the area overnight, you can also see glowworms at the Natural Bridge (make sure to take a headtorch for the path there!)
Moreton Island: A ferry trip from Brisbane with resort accommodation, great for kayaking, snorkelling the ship wrecks, and seeing the resident dolphins. A great place to relax!
Have an amazing time on your travels!
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