10 Of The Best Brisbane Lookouts | Australian Traveller

Whether you want water views, panoramic vistas, adrenaline-fuelled adventures or lazy days on relaxed islands, Brisbane is packed with activities and sights you’ll love.

At sunrise, sunset, and all points in between, catching a stunning view in Brisbane is easy. In a city blessed with plenty of hills, high points and river vistas, there’s a plethora of the best lookouts in Brisbane to choose from.

The best views in Brisbane? Well, everyone has their favourites. Here are a few of ours.

1. Climb the Story Bridge

Story Bridge Adventure Climb in Brisbane — Climb the iconic Story Bridge. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

For two amazing hours, you can take in incredible views of Brisbane from atop the Story Bridge, 80 metres above the Brisbane River.

Sunrise and sunset are terrific times to look out on the expanse of the city on one of only three bridge climbs in the world. But don’t limit yourself to the climb itself, as there are many experiences available through Story Bridge Adventure Climb , including bridge abseiling.

Cameras are banned on the climb, but the guides will capture your big moments along the way, and the memories will last forever.

2. River views from Howard Smith Wharves

Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane — Drink in the view (and maybe a brew or two) from Howard Smith Wharves.

Enjoy a craft beer from Felon’s Brewery on the boardwalk at Howard Smith Wharves, taking in the view from a curve in the river beneath the Story Bridge.

Watch the rivercraft pass by, gaze up at the bridge and take a stroll or cycle along the floating Brisbane Riverwalk to New Farm.

The lift or stairs to the top of the cliffs give you a higher vantage point, or you can head to Fiume Rooftop Bar at Crystalbrook Vincent for cocktails with a view.

3. Kayak Brisbane River

kayak Brisbane River for best views in Brisbane — Find the best views in Brisbane from the water level. (Image: Kenny Smith)

Getting out on the river gives an entirely different perspective on the city. Paddle a kayak with Riverlife by day or night for a water-level viewpoint as you glide under some of Brisbane’s many bridges.

Depending on the tide, you might even see the shipwrecked Myora clinging to the riverbank among the mangroves. Twilight tours reveal reflections of the skyline on the water, and some include a grazing platter beside the Kangaroo Point Cliffs – perfect for date night.

GoBoat Brisbane — Grab your friends and skipper your own boat around the river.

For a different pace, grab your friends and skipper your own picnic boat from Go Boat (no licence required) to explore the river. BYO food and drinks – and as a bonus, canine companions are also allowed aboard.

If you want someone else to do the driving as you take in the views, combine a river cruise with visits to some of the city’s best cocktail bars or craft breweries aboard a River to Bay tour .

On a budget? Hop aboard a CityCat ferry and travel from the University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton for just a few dollars.

4. Hike to Mt Coot-tha lookout

Mt Cootha Lookout — Find the perfect Brisbane skyline views from Mt Coot-tha’s summit. (Image: BEDA)

Brisbane’s best-known lookout is at the top of Mt Coot-tha, with sweeping panoramic – if distant – views back to the city.

The expansive observation deck has telescopes for a closer peek at city life, and it’s a great place for a selfie or two. Take a picnic or grab a bite at the casual Summit Cafe for a meal with a view.

For energetic visitors, there are walking and mountain biking trails leading to Mt Coot-tha’s summit, many starting at JC Slaughter Falls at the foot of the mountain (for those who’d prefer to drive, there’s parking at the top).

And don’t miss the 52 hectares of glorious sub-tropical Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.

On Brisbane’s south side, the Mt Gravatt lookout is tucked away in bushland with views to the city, Moreton Bay and Mt Coot-tha, with a social enterprise cafe, playground and native garden on the grounds.

5. Find Brisbane’s best rooftop bars

Celebrate the lush Mexican Riviera-inspired surroundings and sensational views at MAYA Mexican. (Image: Jake Roden)

Stylish and sophisticated rooftop bars are all around Brisbane. The Terrace at Emporium Hotel South Bank boasts mesmerising views over Southland Parklands, across to the CBD and along the river. With a retractable ceiling and glass roof to deal with any weather, it’s open from 7 am until late for everything from breakfast to post-show cocktails.

In the heart of the city, Sixteen Antlers , atop Pullman Brisbane King George Square, is a great space to sip and enjoy a birds-eye view of the City Hall clock tower next door.

On the city fringe, vibrant Fortitude Valley is bristling with rooftop bars. Valley Hops Brewing above Cloudland is for beer lovers, while Brisbane’s newest rooftop bar, Soko in Jubilee Place, where the menu lists Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

For margaritas and more, head to Ann Street, where MAYA Mexican offers lush Mexican Riviera-inspired surrounds and sensational views from the 11th floor.

6. Walk to Kangaroo Point Cliffs lookout

Kangaroo Point, best views in Brisbane — Watch as the sunset transforms the city skyline at Kangaroo Point. (Image: Kenny Smith)

The towering cliffs at Kangaroo Point provide a gorgeous backdrop to the river opposite Brisbane Botanic Gardens and are popular with rock climbers and abseilers. Get your thrills with Riverlife’s adventure experts, or take the 107 steps to the top for fantastic views.

For a gentler experience, book a cliffside table at Joey’s on Riverside Terrace for tapas, pizza and cocktails.

7. Snorkel Moreton Island/Mulgumpin

Tangalooma wrecks, Moreton Island — Snorkel around the Tangalooma wrecks.

From above, below or dry land, the views from Moreton Island/Mulgumpin are hard to beat.

Take a helicopter joy flight as part of a day trip with Tangalooma Island Resort , or snorkel around the Tangalooma wrecks to spot turtles, dugongs and other aquatic wildlife.

The resort offers a host of activities, from whale watching to sand tobogganing and quad biking; at the end of the day, enjoy a drink from one of the few locations in Brisbane where you can watch the sun sink into the sea.

If you’re keen to stay on island time, Tangalooma Island Resort offers a wide range of accommodation options.

8. Explore more of Moreton Bay

Bribie Island, Moreton Bay — Cross the bridge to Bribie Island for more spectacular views.

Gaze out over the vineyards of Ocean View Estates as you unwind beyond the city in the beautiful Moreton Bay region, or take in the view of southeast Queensland’s largest lake from the Lake Wivenhoe Lookout .

You can also cross the bridge to Bribie Island for spectacular views of Pumicestone Passage and the Glasshouse Mountains.

For something completely different, take in the sights from a Venetian-style gondola with Island Gondolas . Look out for dolphins.

9. Sail to North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah

kangaroo on North Stradbroke Island — Enjoy never-ending views in Brisbane’s North Stradbroke Island.

North Stradbroke Island/Minjerribah offers many great views, but one of the best is from the North Gorge Walk at Point Lookout, where you can look down into the gorge to spot turtles and manta rays and marvel at the power of the ocean at the Blow Hole.

Another top vantage point is on the headland next to Point Lookout Surf Life Saving Club, where you can see along the expanse of the 32-kilometre-long Main Beach.

To connect with the island’s Quandamooka people, join Elisha Kissick from Yura Tours for a walkabout or drive-about. For a cold craft brew or dining with an ocean view, head to Straddie Brewing Co .

10. Discover the Scenic Rim

Mount Tamborine sky walk Scenic Rim — Catch your breath with unbelievable rainforest views along the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk.

With boutique gin distilleries, wineries, rainforest walks and picturesque villages, the Scenic Rim lives up to its name.

Just over an hour’s drive from Brisbane, this region offers plenty to discover. Look out on fields of lavender from Kooroomba Vineyard & Lavender Farm as you enjoy tastings or a lavender gelato, or drop in for a tipple at Tamborine Mountain Distillery or Cauldron Distillery .

Burn some energy on the Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk , which takes you 30 metres into the canopy for breathtaking views of the rainforest below. Serious hikers might prefer to tackle the multi-day Scenic Rim Trail through Main Range National Park.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

Brisbane’s 10 best viewpoints and lookouts