TBJ TRAVELS BRISBANE 4: Free Things To Do In Brisbane + Itinerary

Brisbane may be the most affordable destination between Melbourne and Sydney, but Australia as a vacation destination, is relatively expensive.

I may have featured tons of tours and shopping trips on my social media and here on the blog about my Melbourne-Brisbane tour, but in between those days, I'm scrimping as well!

That said, here are some of the free things to do around Brisbane.

1. VISIT ROMA STREET PARKLANDS

- Roma Street is one of the known streets in the city because it is a pick- up location for most tour agencies and you will find here one of the major train station interchanges in the city.

You will also find here Roma Street Parklands, one of the breathing spaces in the city. This park has an average size compared to some parks I've been to in other countries (like Lumphini Park of Bangkok Thailand).

At Roma Street Parklands, you can hang out, have a cook out, read a book, take smashing photos, and just admire this small yet well- managed and beautifully- styled garden.

How to get to Roma St. Parklands? Best starting point is Brisbane City Hall which is parallel Queen st. Mall. Queen st. Mall is a long stretch of stores, like BGC High Street, so if you start here, it may take you around 15-20 minutes to get to the Parklands. You won't miss the city hall; it's a huge open space with a tall building with a huge clock!

2. ENJOY THE VIEW AT MT. COOT-THA

- Mt. Coot-tha is a quick getaway from the city; it's a recreational area that sits on top of a small hill and offers a great view of the city. People love going here for lunch, especially a quiet one because the city can be too crowded with tourists.

You can access Mt. Coot-tha either by taxi, bus, or train. According to some guides online, you can take bus 471 from the city (please verify this though); it goes all the way to the Botanic Gardens and Mt. Coot-Tha lookout. If you want to go somewhere outside the city for a change without spending a lot, go to Mt. Coot-Tha!

3. VISIT MT. COOT-THA BOTANIC GARDENS

- There are a lot of things to do at Mt. Coot-Tha aside from lounging around, enjoying the view, and dining; there's also Mt. Coot-Tha Botanic Gardens that showcases various plant species across Australasia. Entrance is free!

4. HANG OUT AT SOUTHBANK

- Southbank is one of my favorite spots in the city because of the sheer number of recreational things to do in here that don't require money.

You can have a cookout at the free grills. Read a book or chill by the riverside. Catch a free exhibit or show. Swim at the man- made beach pools. Exercise or stroll around the Cliffs Boardwalk, which is the path going towards one of the famous lookouts by Brisbane River, Kangaroo point.

5. HIKE ALL THE WAY TO KANGAROO POINT

- Speaking of Kangaroo Point, it's our final free destination in this post! If you're in for a good exercise via walking and a little hike, then check out Kangaroo Point. You can access it via The Cliffs Boardwalk; entrance to the boardwalk is accessible via Southbank; when you reach the end of Southbank's tunnel garden, then the path of the boardwalk begins.

The Cliffs Boardwalk offers a stunning view of the river and there's an ample amount of benches around the area in case you need to take a break; lots of birds live in the area as well so that's an additional treat to visitors. I actually thought that it was going to be boring, but it's such a refreshing break from the city, plus I appreciated the serene moment.

Walk for about 30 minutes until you get to the steep steps going up to Kangaroo Point (the steps have railing so don't worry about that). If you have some budget, reward yourself with pastry and coffee at Bar Spritz, a restaurant sitting on the edge of Kangaroo Point.

Kangaroo Point is also a premier neighborhood so go around and check out the beautiful houses in the area to end your trip.

That's our last day in Brisbane; I hope you found it informative and it inspired you enough to visit Brisbane soon!

Check out my Brisbane itinerary and costs:

Click to enlarge view

**Please be reminded that this itinerary reflects 80% of our trip in Brisbane; other mini trips have not been included

**Incidentals such as food, drinks, lodging, shopping, transportation, tips, and other miscellaneous expenses are not part of the costing.

**Total expense depends on the PHP-AUD conversion during my time of visit. It will vary from time to time.

Check out my other Brisbane travel diaries:

TBJ TRAVELS BRISBANE 1: Hello, Brisbane + City Tour + Southbank Tour + Itinerary

TBJ TRAVELS BRISBANE 2: Gold Coast + Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary + Movie World

TBJ TRAVELS BRISBANE 3: Sunshine Coast + Noosa Everglades + Itinerary