Brisbane Australia Travel Guide: Our 3 Day Itinerary with Koalas, Kangaroos, and Coastal Views

Our Australian adventure kicked off in Brisbane on Christmas morning after nearly 24 hours of travel. For this Brisbane Australia Travel Guide, we spent about three days exploring the city and surrounding areas.

Landing on Christmas Day meant we weren’t sure what would actually be open. Thankfully, our hotel let us check in early, giving us a chance to settle in before heading out. With many places closed for the holiday, our options were limited, so we made our first stop at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of the few attractions open with adjusted hours. It ended up being the perfect way to kick off the trip.

Planning Your Visit to Brisbane

• You can spend as little or as much time as you like in Brisbane, but we took three days to explore the city and its nearby highlights.
• Include must-see spots like Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and South Bank.
• Take a day trip to the Gold Coast if you have time.
• Check holiday hours in advance, as some attractions and restaurants may be closed or limited.
• For getting around, we rented a car, but Brisbane also has a good public transportation system.

What to do in Brisbane?

Brisbane has a little bit of everything, from wildlife to city vibes and nearby beaches. We started at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to hang out with koalas, kangaroos, and other Aussie animals. South Bank is perfect for strolling along the river, checking out the markets, and just relaxing. You can also take a day trip to the Gold Coast for sun, surf, and amazing coastal views.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

First we visited the kangaroos and were able to feed them, it was pretty hot that day and most of them just wanted to sleep.

Being a Koala Sanctuary, of course they have Koalas! It actually is the largest collection of Koalas, somewhere around 200+.

Fun fact: Koalas typically sleep between 18 and 22 hours in a day! Here is a photo of this little guy sleeping.

Gold Coast

The next day we took it easy and just did a little shopping as it was Boxing day. Overall I was surprised at how many people were out and about shopping. Then that evening we went to the gold coast, which is south east of Brisbane. We got there a little later then expected, so I don’t have many pictures, but the area has a great surfers vibe and the beaches were lively.

Brooki Bakehouse

We stopped by the famous Brooki Bakehouse and picked up a few desserts to enjoy. The display cases overflowed with tempting sweets, making it tough to choose. We indulged in their signature macarons, unique cupcakes flavors, and perfectly baked cookies. Every bite was sweet leaving us with happy taste buds and made the trip worth it.

South Bank and the Brisbane Sign

Wrapping up our Brisbane trip, we had to visit the famous Brisbane sign located in the South Bank park. You can visit during the day or at night, we really enjoyed the colorfulness of it at night.

Nice view of the bridge glowing and the city skyline in the background.

Additional Recommendations

Although our time was limited, there were a few things we had hoped to do but simply ran out of time for.

• We visited the South Bank at night, which was beautiful, but I’d also recommend experiencing it during the day for a different perspective.
• Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout offers stunning panoramic views of the city and is well worth a visit.
• There is two Koala Santuary’s, we visited Lone Pine Koala which we loved, however If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative, the Daisy Hill Koala Centre offers a great experience free of charge.

Next stops in Australia

While we were based in Brisbane, we also took a side trip to the incredible <todo> Lady Elliot Island. To get there, we drove up to Hervey Bay to catch our small plane flight out to the island. If you’re planning your own adventure, I highly recommend adding it to your itinerary, Lady Elliot Island was one of the highlights of our entire trip. Be sure to check out my full post on it; you won’t regret it.

Conclusion

Brisbane ended up being the perfect place to start our Australian adventure. From meeting koalas at Lone Pine to exploring South Bank and taking in the coastal views nearby, the city offered a little bit of everything. Whether you’re planning a quick stopover or a few full days, Brisbane is an easy, welcoming gateway to some unforgettable Aussie experiences.

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