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Brisbane is a vibrant metropolis on Queensland’s sunny coastline and is packed with fascinating cultural, historic, and natural sites. For those who prefer to venture off the beaten path on their travels, Brisbane’s best-known attractions might feel too crowded.
Instead, check out some of these fantastic hidden gems that will help you get to know a different side of the city.
1. BlackCard Cultural Tours
- Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane, QLD
- Website: theblackcard.com.au/cultural-tours
BlackCard’s Aboriginal tour guides share authentic cultural insights on their guided tours of Brisbane’s most popular sights. You’ll learn about the history of the land of central Brisbane and get the chance to see indigenous public art installations and live cultural performances. There’s no better way to learn about Queensland’s Aboriginal history.
Walking tours are easily one of the best things to do in Brisbane but if you want to get off the beaten path, we highly recommend BlackCard’s.
2. Hidden Street Art Gems
If you’ve already seen the fantastic art on offer at Brisbane’s well-known art galleries, head out on foot to discover the city’s street art gems. Burnett Lane in the Central Business District (CBD) has some cool public art installations alongside its bars and cafes. If you decide that the CBD is the best area of Brisbane to stay, you’ll have plenty of art right outside your door.
There are several murals to discover in Fortitude Valley when you head from Brunswick Street to James Street. From there, go to New Farm, where you’ll find a range of bright and colorful murals matching the neighborhood’s laid-back vibe. There are many hidden artworks all over the city, so be sure to check out as many narrow laneways and quiet corners as possible to discover them.
3. Underground Opera Spring Hill Reservoir
- Address: 226 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill, Brisbane, QLD
- Website: undergroundopera.com.au/the-spring-hill-reservoir
Spring Hill Reservoir was once responsible for Brisbane’s water supply, having been built in the late 1800s. It was decommissioned in 1960 and lay dormant for decades until it became a live music venue in 2014. The Underground Opera Company pioneered performances here, and now a range of live events take place, including Broadway musicals and theatrical shows.
4. Shorncliffe Pier
- Address: Park Parade, Shorncliffe QLD 4017
- Open hours: 24/7
Shorncliffe Pier is an 1148-foot timber structure that was built in 1872 when Shorncliff’s seaside tourism was in its heyday. It is the longest timber pier in Brisbane and one of the longest in all of Australia. Its white railings and colonial lamps make it truly iconic — do a day trip out to Shorncliffe to admire it and take the opportunity to visit nearby Brighton and Sandgate which are also popular Brisbane beach towns.
5. Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy
- Address: Electric Avenue, 23 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102
- Website: electricavenuejr.com.au/mrs-j-rabbits-speakeasy
- Opening hours: 5:30 pm – 10 pm Wednesday – Thursday & Sunday / 5.30 pm – 12 am Friday & Saturday
Woolloongabba, which lies south of Kangaroo Point, is renowned for its eclectic stores, cafes, and bars, and Electric Avenue is one of its best venues.
Mrs J. Rabbits Speakeasy is an old-world style pub with antique oddities and furniture, but its lesser-known hidden gem is a secret speakeasy that lies up a flight of stairs and inside an antique wardrobe. Mrs. J. Rabbits speakeasy specializes in luxury whiskeys, gins, wines, and beers, and it has a menu filled with tasty Narnia-themed cocktails.
6. Cedar Creek
Cedar Creek runs from Mount Glorious in D’Aguilar National Park’s peak to Moreton Bay. It’s an incredibly beautiful waterway dotted with waterfalls and rock pools. You’ll also get the chance to see a range of wildlife, including kookaburras, wallabies, and platypus here.
7. Flightless Skydiving
- Address: 395 Hamilton Rd, Chermside QLD 4032
- Website: iflyworld.com.au/locations/ifly-brisbane
- Opening hours: 9 am – 6 pm Saturday / 8 am – 6 pm Sunday / 11 am – 9.30 pm Monday to Friday
Most adrenaline junkies know about Brisbane’s Kangaroo Point Cliffs climb and Story Bridge Adventure Climb, but fewer are familiar with iFlyWorld. Here, you can enjoy the thrill of skydiving without having to leap from a plane. The wind chamber blasts air from below you so that you float much like you would if you were freefalling from 12,000 feet.
8. St. Helena Island Penal Settlement
- Location: St Helena Island, Moreton Bay, Brisbane, QLD
- Website: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/st-helena-island
- Opening hours: Sunrise – sunset
St. Helena Island was the first penal settlement in Queensland, and it is now a National Park where you can get fascinating insights into what life was like for the prisoners who lived there between 1867 and 1932. Your tour guide will show you around the remains of the prison’s stockade fence and the wardens’ building, and explain how the prison functioned.
9. Netherworld Arcade Bar
- Address: 186 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
- Website: netherworldarcade.com
- Opening hours: 12 – 11 pm Tuesday to Thursday / 12 pm – 1 am Friday & Saturday
Grab a craft beer, order some vegan food, and get set to play your favorite retro video game. This unique bar has a host of consoles, board games, and arcade machines — some of which date back to the 70s. Netherworld is a great place to visit with a group of friends, but its friendly atmosphere makes it easy to strike up conversations with other game enthusiasts.
10. Manta Bommie Dive Site
- Address: North Stradbroke Island, Redlands Coast Area, QLD
- Website: stradbrokeisland.com/manta-bommie-dive-site
Manta rays are gentle, friendly creatures, and you can find yourself surrounded by them when you dive at Manta Bommie. This is considered one of the best dive sights in Australia, particularly in the warm summer months.
In addition to the mantas, you might get a chance to see stingrays, eagle rays, sea turtles, and leopard sharks.
11. Brisbane’s Hidden Laneways
The heart of Brisbane is home to many narrow laneways where you can discover fantastic eclectic stores, eateries, cafes, and bars. Burnett Lane, near Queen Street Mall, is one of the oldest and best-known, but look out for some of these lesser-known options:
- Ada Lane off James Street, Fortitude Valley
- Bakery Lane off Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
- Winn Lane off Winn Street off Ann Street, Fortitude Valley
- California Lane off McLachlan Street, Fortitude Valley
- Fish Lane off Merivale and Cordelia Streets, South Bank
- Eagle Lane off Queen Street, CBD
- Albert Lane off Albert Street, CBD
12. Bunya Crossing Reserve
- Address: Off Dugandan Road or Banks Crescent, Albany Creek, Bunya, QLD 4055
- Opening Hours: Sunrise – sunset
Bunya Crossing, also known as Bunya Riverside Reserve, is an accessible portion of the South Pine River with a deep waterhole that’s ideal for fishing, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. Families flock to the area to cool off on hot days. You can also cycle or walk along the riverside path to appreciate this peaceful slice of nature.
13. Les Bubbles Former Bathhouse & Brothel
- Address: 144 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006
- Website: lesbubbles.com.au
- Opening Hours: 5 pm – 8.30 pm Monday to Wednesday / 11.30 am – 2  pm, 5 pm – 8.30 pm Thursday to Sunday
Les Bubbles is a fantastic French-inspired steakhouse, but it lives in a building with a fascinating past. The property once served as an illegal casino, bathhouse, and brothel, and its walls are lined with photographs hinting at its colorful history.
14. Coochiemudlo Island
Moreton Island and North Stradbroke Island are the two most popular islands that lie off the coast of Brisbane, but Coochiemudlo is a hidden gem. It’s a small island, just over half a mile wide, and the perfect spot for a peaceful day at the beach. There’s a food kiosk, barbecue facilities, public toilets, and showers.
15. Nerima Gardens
- Address: Queens Park, Goleby Ave, Ipswich, QLD 4305
- Website: ipswich.qld.gov.au/nerima-gardens-queens-park
- Opening hours: 9 am – 3.45 pm Tuesday to Friday / 9 am – 5.45 pm (4.30 pm in winter) Saturday & Sunday
If you’ve already explored the beautiful City Botanic Gardens in CBD and Brisbane Botanic Gardens on Mount Coot-tha, two of Brisbane’s top attractions, be sure to visit Nerima Gardens in Ipswich’s Queens Park. They were designed to imitate traditional Japanese zen gardens, and they feature peaceful winding paths, towering fir trees, an ornamental lake, and a traditional Japanese tea house.
16. Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre
- Address: 60 Mount Nebo Rd, Enoggera Reservoir, QLD 4520
- Website: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/walkabout-creek-discovery-centre
- Opening hours: 9 am – 4 pm daily
Many people flock to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to learn about native Australian wildlife, but Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre is a lesser-known alternative. Native wildlife is housed in enclosures that perfectly mirror real habitats, and you can even help the park rangers feed some of the animals.
17. Gondola Rides on Brisbane River
- Address: 40 Ross Street, Newstead, Brisbane, QLD 4006
- Website: gondola.com.au
You’ll soon get used to zipping up and down Brisbane River via ferry, one of the city’s best modes of public transport. For a more unusual and relaxing experience, take a romantic Gondola ride along the river instead.
18. Victoria Park
- Address: 309 Herston Road, Herston QLD 4006
- Website: victoriapark.com.au
- Opening Hours: 6 am – 10 pm
South Bank and Roma Street Parkland are two of Brisbane’s most popular green spaces, but Victoria Park is not to be missed. This 111-acre parkland has a driving range, a golf simulator, a putt-putt mini golf course, a restaurant, extensive picnic facilities, and swathes of lawns and pretty gardens to walk and relax in.
19. Daisy Hill Conservation Park
- Address: Daisy Hill Rd, Daisy Hill, QLD 4127
- Website: parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/daisy-hill
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 6.30 pm
Daisy Hill Conservation Park is committed to protecting the natural habitat of koalas and other native species while allowing humans to enjoy the gorgeous outdoor space. Extensive trails let you explore eucalypt forests and melaleuca wetlands on foot, on bike, or even on horseback.
You might spot koalas in the tree canopies, or you can visit the Daisy Hill Koala Centre to meet the koalas the sanctuary takes care of.
20. Hidden Street Food Gems
Foodies love Brisbane’s top-notch cuisine scene, which takes inspiration from all over the world to deliver punchy flavors and creative fusion dishes. You might be familiar with Eat Street Northshore, a street food market that runs every weekend, but be sure to check out some of Brisbane’s hidden street food gems.
Kreamed serves creamy, refreshing gelato with crazy toppings in South Bank Parklands. My Latino Fusion creates unique South American dishes from its food truck, which travels between various locations in the city center.
Gung Ho Dumpling on Bakery Lane in Fortitude Valley serves delicious dim sum and dumplings, and you’ll find many other fantastic Asian eats in this area, where Brisbane’s Chinatown is based.
The West End has a thriving Greek community and this is the place to go for excellent Greek eats. There’s also the annual Paniyiri Greek Festival that takes place in Musgrave Park each May, where you’ll find plenty of tasty Greek food.
Discover Brisbane’s Best-Kept Secrets
Now you’re clued up on the best secret spots in Brisbane; you can start planning a trip with a difference. Which hidden gems will you check out on your visit to this region of the Gold Coast?
