Travelling with the family can be expensive, but you don’t need a big wallet to enjoy Brisbane - sometimes known as ‘BrisVegas’, even to locals!
While Brisbane is booming, it is also affordable which is one of the things that makes it a good place to visit. And once you've seen everything the city has to offer, you can go north or south either to the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast which are both between 1 and 2 hours away.
Take a look at the list of the top things you can do in Brisbane on a budget - or even for free - put together by Airtrain and Motherpedia.
1. On arrival at Brisbane Airport, hop on Brisbane’s Airtrain which is the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective way to reach the city from the airport, with great discounted group fares online, a 10% discount for all online bookings and a Kids Travel Free policy for kids of 14 years of age and under when accompanied by a paying adult. It also takes you right to the city centre, close to the Convention Centre, hotels and shops so you can get straight into the action, and there is a new iPhone app allowing you to plan your journey.
2. Get creative at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), one of the country's most exciting art galleries and innovative artistic spaces offering free programs for kids to create their own mini-masterpieces at The Children’s Art Centre. Embark on a journey of discovery at the ‘Journey to Fantastic Lands’ exhibition from 8 November until 20 May 2015 or help transform Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s wildly popular installation The obliteration room with hundreds of brightly coloured dots from 6 December until 22 March 2015.
3. Cruise along the iconic Brisbane River on a CityCat Ferry. It’s one of the cheapest and most pleasant ways to experience the city. To enjoy the full experience, board at the University of Queensland and wind your way along past the City and South Bank to Brett's Wharf. You can hop on and off along the way and do all this for around $5.
4. Explore the coolest spots in the city on a free guided tour with the Brisbane Greeters – no one knows Brisbane better! The 2-4 hour walking tours are run by passionate volunteers and open to everyone including families and kids.
5. Grab a bite at Eat Street Markets. Brisbane has a family-friendly Southeast Asian-style night market every Friday and Saturday from 4-10pm with tasty street food that is sold from repurposed shipping containers. Situated on the riverbank at Hamilton, it’s a place to browse, enjoy live performances and get the kids a gelato.
6. Enjoy a family picnic with a twist at New Farm Park and afterwards catch a free performance next door at the Powerhouse. This arts and cultural icon used to supply electricity to Brisbane's entire tramway system, but now hosts live music and shows, weekend farmers’ markets and beautiful moonlight cinema during summer.
7. Unwind at South Bank. Streets Beach - a man-made beach built on the river - is a favourite of Brisbane locals as well as visitors. At certain times of the year, you can lounge on the sand and watch a free movie. The Feel Good program is also back until 8 November offering free exercise classes for men and women of all ages and fitness levels.
8. For adventurous families looking for a brush with nature, check out the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens’ Hide ’n’ Seek Children’s Trail. The purpose-built walk through stunning landscaped gardens and luscious rainforest is a fantastic free day out for children to learn more about their natural environment. With 17 steps along the trail, kids will discover something new and interesting at each stage including Stingless Bees, Birds, Frogs and plants like Bamboo and the Weeping Fig.
9. It's not quite a budget activity - but it's still relatively inexpensive for the hours of enjoyment. Visit the Sciencecentre where fun hands-on displays bring science and nature to life. Experience holograms, robots, virtual reality, body challenges, fossils, planets, pendulums and more from only $14.50 per adult and $11.50 for children under 15. Family tickets are also available from $44.50.
10. Another popular attraction with locals and visitors is the famous Riverside Markets between the Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier , held every Sunday from 7am - 3pm. These are large markets with every conceivable things to buy of varying quality and price range. You'll find some real treasures, beautiful hand-made arts, crafts, jewellery and clothing as well as the usual market fare. There's also a variety of food options as well as the precinct's many cafes being open. It's a great place to just stroll and enjoy - and you can get there by ferry also!
The popular beach at South Bank
Agree (0)
Disagree (
__small.png)
