Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Brisbane City

"If you’re looking for a quintessential Australian experience, then no visit to Brisbane can ever be complete without stopping by the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Located 12 kilometers from the city center, the sanctuary is home to all kinds of Ozzie critters, with koalas and kangaroos on show alongside wombats, dingoes, and platypuses. Besides learning all about them at one of the park’s talks and presentations, you can also feed kangaroos, pose for a photo with a koala, or be a keeper for a day."

"Cuddle a cute l’il Koala Bear at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and then head to the city centre to climb City Hall’s bell tower before finishing off the day with one of 200 beers from the Brews Brothers Microbrewery. One of my favourite places to stay in the city is Brisbane City Backpackers, which has its own onsite pub and a rooftop swimming pool with views across the entire skyline. All this from 21 bucks a night."

"Lone Pine has way more than just koalas, but it also has a lot of koalas – over 130 apparently – ready and waiting to be cuddled and..."

"erfect as the launching pad for anything you can imagine; this spot is already a favourite with locals – but is worth travelling for. With nearly eight hectares to play around in, it’s the perfect park for young minds to create their own adventure. There’s a main playground with a double-slide, flying fox, spinning poles and swings – maybe not so good for toddlers, but perfect for the primary school set."

"General Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Commander of Allied forces in the South West Pacific, this museum focuses on Brisbane's role during World War II. It is a small but fascinating peek into a little known part of Australia's history when a million U.S. military personnel stopped over in Brisbane on their way to the front line. Opened in 2004, the MacArthur Museum has three main exhibits, respectively highlighting the war effort in Brisbane, the South-West Pacific campaign and General MacArthur himself. However, the museum is only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays."

"Few who pass the glass doors of MacArthur Chambers Hotel would know that it was from this building that General Douglas MacArthur directed the Allies in holding back the Japanese invasion."

"After taking a sabbatical from butter, eggs and flour, Brisbane’s dessert doyenne Jocelyn Hancock returned to the city’s sweet treats scene with Cake & Bake. Given the store’s West End location, it seems only fitting the brownies are a little bit hippie with swirls of halva and Tahini, but this only makes you love them more. There is a menu featuring desserts such as light-as-a-feather Paris Brest and a honey soaked and toasted almost slice or you can ogle the glass cabinet and take home a treat."

"It’s hard not to get sidetracked in a bakery that so effortlessly does it all (we’re talking preserves, pastries, and irresistible counter treats), but keep your eye on the prize, because Cake & Bake’s display cabinet is chock-a-block with masterfully-crafted cakes. Take our word for it: nothing will win more brownie points than a dense chocolate and hazelnut cake sprinkled with dried rose petals."

"Cake & Bake presents the best of Brisbane in a take-home offering, using produce sourced from Jocelyn Hancock (the owner of Cake and Bake)’s childhood home of Braeside, as well as a network of local farmers. Her new shop showcases an ongoing commitment to quality, care and attention to detail with fantastically looking and tasty cakes."

"Within the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is one of the city's hidden gems. The Cosmic Skydome, a 40-foot-diameter projection dome, is the main attraction, along with some interesting traditional displays and an observatory. The planetarium's namesake built Australia’s first astronomical observatory in Sydney and charted the Southern Hemisphere’s stars during the early 1800s."

"If your little ones are interested in all things astronomical, then this is the place for them. You can view regular shows in the Cosmic Skydome which are projected onto the dome.These shows are recommended for different age groups, so check that detail when deciding which show to go to. There is also the Galaxy Gift Shop where you can buy all things cosmic."

"Set your eyes to the skies at The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium: the perfect place for the whole family to learn about stars, planets and all things space. Check out recreations of the night sky in the cosmic skydome, see fragments of asteroids and spacecraft models, and watch educational and entertaining feature shows."

"While we're poking around university art galleries, QUT Art Museum is another vibrant Brisbane gallery that is always well worth a visit. From June to August, they'll be exhibiting the work of 2016 Archibald Prize winner Louise Hearman. This will be Hearman's first major museum survey featuring paintings and drawings from across her 25-year practice."

"This is an intimate university gallery where you can enjoy viewing contemporary and modern works of art. These are brought to you by Australian artists. You can find this art gallery conveniently located at the QUT Gardens Point Campus."