Brisbane, Australia 

After having our planned tour along the coast in Western Australia abruptly ended by Cyclone Narelle, we did a quick search to see where we could fly direct from Perth and what the weather was looking like in those locations. We already had departure flights scheduled out of Brisbane, so that was the winner! We decided to spend four nights there, then took the train down to Gold Coast for three more nights. 

Brisbane is a beautiful city that's extremely walkable. We were easily able to walk everywhere we wanted to go. We loved all the outdoor spaces, especially along the water. There are so many options for things to do in the city that are completely free, so if you're on a budget this is a great city to check out!

Where to Stay and Transportation

We took Uber to and from the airport. The cost was 51.24 AUD (approx. 35 USD) to Brisbane from the airport and 54.25 AUD (approx. 37 USD) on the way back. 

We took the train from Brisbane to Gold Coast and it cost 0.50 AUD (0.35 USD). The train felt like a subway in a big city. There weren't seat guarantees, but the cost was so cheap it's hard to complain. The trip was very easy and took just under two hours. It was about a 10-minute walk to the station from our apartment in Brisbane and another 5-10 minute walk to our apartment in Gold Coast. Unfortunately there was a train worker strike on our way back, so we took an Uber From Gold Coast to Brisbane for 122.36 AUD (approx. 84 USD). It cut the time down to one hour, so it's worth the splurge if you're in a rush, the weather's bad, or there's a train strike. 

For our first three nights in Brisbane we stayed at Atlas Apartments by CLLIX. This was a 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment with a large balcony, kitchen, and living room. We loved that it was a short walk to plenty of bars, restaurants, and the South Bank Parklands. The pool and gym were very basic, but the apartment was spacious and comfortable.

Our last night was in the luxurious and extremely comfortable Emporium Hotel South Bank. We wanted to get a good night sleep before the long flight back to the US and we did! The hotel was less than one block to the South Bank Parklands and many bars, restaurants, and shops. They have an excellent pool and gym facilities and an espresso maker with pods in the room which was a lovely treat for our early morning. 

Top Experiences

Free Walking Tour

We love to check out a free walking tour anytime they're available and this one didn't disappoint. The tour guide with I'm Free Walking Tours was from Brisbane and spent three hours telling us about the city's history while showing us some of the key sights. His stories were both informative and entertaining. One cool thing to note is that all the street performers in Brisbane are required to audition with the city in order to get a permit, so you can see some great acts on the streets for free. We tipped 15 AUD (approx. 10 USD) per person. 

Sky Deck at The Star Brisbane

This was another cool free attraction that often comes with a charge in most cities. The Sky Deck is open starting at 6:30 am every day, on level 23 (100 m above the river), and has incredible views of the city and river. You can walk along the deck for free or stop at one of their restaurants for a drink or meal. We just went with the free option and were pleasantly surprised with how uncrowded it was mid-afternoon. However, as we were leaving there was a line for the elevator to go up.

Streets Beach South Bank

Unfortunately you can't swim in the Brisbane River because it has some resident bull sharks. However, the city created a man made beach just a few feet from the river along South Bank. It's free and a nice place to go for a swim or just relax along the beach. 

State Library of Queensland

Aside from being a nice place to read a book, the state library has events and exhibits. While we were visiting, they had a cool exhibit called "Dearly Departed" that focused on rituals around death practiced by indigenous people in Australia. It was free and had a lot of interesting information. 

The Collective Markets at South Bank

This 3-day open air market is open Fridays from 5-9pm, Saturdays from 10am-9pm, and Sundays from 9am to 4pm. They sell local crafts, jewelry, and clothing. This is a great place to pick up some souvenirs or just wander through the market. Just know that it's not very big (a couple dozen vendors). We bought a cute pair of handmade earrings for 35 AUD (approx. 25 USD).

Riverside Sunday Market

Open Sundays from 8am-3pm. This market is just inside the entrance to the Botanic Gardens at the corner of Alice Street and Albert Street. This market was similar in size to the Collective Markets at South Bank, but had more food options. And the Botanic Gardens are beautiful, so it's a nice to shop at the market and then walk through the gardens if you're there on a Sunday. We bought another pair of handmade earrings for 15 AUD (approx. 11 USD).

Where to Eat and Drink 

• Death and Taxes: Fun cocktail bar that has a large menu of speciality cocktails for around 24 AUD (approx. 17 USD) each. We were lucky to get a walk-in spot at the bar, but reservations are recommended. It's a small venue and they don't take reservations, so get there early if you want to avoid a wait. 
• El Camino Cantina: This is a great people-watching spot in the South Bank Parklands area on weekend market days (or any day really, but we happened to be there while the market was set up right next to the restaurant). A large steak burrito bowl with guacamole was 38 AUD (approx. 26 USD).
• Taro's Ramen: So many ramen options for around 23.00 AUD (16.00 USD) each.
• Spaghetti House: The place to go if you're craving homemade pasta. We had two large bowls of gnocchi that were enough for two full meals for two people plus a burrata appetizer for 98.60 AUD (approx. 68 USD)
  
• The Gun Shop Cafe: Excellent brunch spot. Two entrees and two lattes were 68.92 AUD (approx. 48 USD).

Gold Coast

After three days in Brisbane, we took the train to Gold Coast. We still can't believe it only costs 0.50 AUD (0.35 USD) per person for the entire trip! You use your credit card to tap in and out of the station. You'll need to switch lines at the Helensvale station. When you do, be sure to tap in at the outdoor platform before boarding the train. And you'll also need to tap again on the outdoor platform when you exit the train. 

The Gold Coast was exactly what we needed as we wrapped up our two weeks in Australia. It's a cute little beach town with a long walking trail along the ocean, easy access to restaurants and shops, and plenty of excuses to relax and do absolutely nothing. 

Where to Stay 

We chose to stay in another comfortable 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment at Mantra Towers of Chevron. It was centrally located with views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Nerang River, and it had 3 balconies! They had large indoor and outdoor pools and a well-equipped fitness center. The building is part of a larger complex with shops and restaurants, so if the weather is bad you can easily be fed and entertained for at least a day or two without needing to leave the building. 

Top Experiences

Surfers Paradise Beach

This iconic stretch of soft golden sand was gorgeous. It was very windy during our visit and the lifeguards limited ocean access up to your knees only, but the water was warm and surprisingly clear given all the waves. It seems to be a big spot for surfers too. The sand is super soft for most of the beach, but is well packed by the water so great for long walks.

Jubilee Walkway

This 30km walkway hugs the beach along Gold Coast. We only walked a short portion of it, but it's paved and has lovely ocean views.

Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets

This night market is located on the esplanade between the beach and Jubilee Walkway in Surfers Paradise. It's open from 4-9pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. It's an interesting mix of vendors and definitely worth walking through if you're there during one of the days they're open. Other than a few sweet treats, there aren't many food options, so grab dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.

Infinity

This is an immersive indoor maze. This is something we wouldn't normally do, but we're so glad we did. We had a blast walking through this mind-bending maze of lights and obstacles. They don't allow photos or videos, so you're forced to be fully present. Each person/group goes through on their own, so there was a bit of a wait to get in. And do a quick google search for discount codes before buying your ticket online. Regular price is 32.50 AUD (approx. 23 USD), but we paid 24 AUD (approx. 17 USD) with a special Tuesday discount code. And a quick search now shows they have a discount code that offers tickets for 20 AUD on Tuesdays. 

Where to Eat and Drink in Gold Coast

• Sandbar: This is a cute restaurant with beach views and a large menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A salmon entree was 39 AUD (approx. 27 USD).
• El Camino Cantina: We splurged for two margaritas for 26.50 AUD (approx. 18 USD) each. Their margaritas on tap are cheaper, but are extremely sweet, so we went for the more expensive house margaritas that are made fresh using Patron tequila. 
  
• Surfers Club: We spent a couple hours here on our first night. It's a great people-watching spot right along the beach walking path. Pints of beer are around 14 AUD (approx. 10 USD) each. 
• Elk Espresso: This spot was about an hour walk south of our hotel along the Jubilee Walkway. It was such a nice morning walk and the breakfast and coffee were delicious. Filtered coffee is hard to find in Australia, so it was a real treat to see bottomless filtered coffee for 8 AUD (approx. 6 USD) on their menu. We had 2 breakfast entrees, bottomless filtered coffee, and a latte for 71.42 AUD (approx. 50 USD)

Planning your own adventure? Be sure to grab our free travel security checklist and our free packing list to help you stay calm and confident while navigating transportation, tours, and busy beach areas.