Your gateway to Brisbane awaits

Brisbane hums with river light, ocean breezes and an easy creativity that makes the city a refreshing launchpad for nature-rich adventures. With a new direct connection between Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane from late November, Queensland’s capital has never felt closer—opening the door to island sands, urban wildlife encounters and a flourishing cultural scene. Think of it as a change of scenery that feeds the senses and restores the spirit.

A river city made for discovery

The Brisbane River is the city’s living thread, curving past sandstone cliffs, riverside gardens and sunlit boardwalks. Ferries and river cruises offer relaxed passages between vibrant precincts such as South Bank and the revitalised wharves, where the skyline glitters after dark. For a thrill with a view, a guided climb on the city’s landmark cantilever bridge elevates you high above the water to sweeping panoramas that take in serpentine bends of the river and distant mountain ranges. Prefer your feet on the ground? Stroll or cycle along the shaded paths beneath Kangaroo Point Cliffs and watch rock climbers scale the peach-coloured face at golden hour.

Close encounters with Australia’s icons

Minutes from the city centre, a long-standing wildlife sanctuary offers intimate, ethical encounters with native species. Well over a hundred koalas doze in eucalyptus-lined enclosures, while open lawns allow visitors to feed kangaroos and wallabies at eye level. Daily ranger talks and free-flight raptor presentations reveal the adaptations of eagles, owls, kites and falcons, and offer an up-close understanding of Australia’s unique fauna. As with any wildlife experience, follow the sanctuary’s guidance on respectful distances and never feed animals outside approved programs—your choices help safeguard their health and natural behaviours.

Culture with deep roots

Inside the heritage grandeur of City Hall, the Museum of Brisbane traces the city’s layered story—past, present and future. Exhibitions highlight local makers and artists, alongside works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives that ground the city’s narrative in Country and connection. Fashion lovers will appreciate the landmark archive from Brisbane design house Easton Pearson, a treasure trove of textiles and inventive silhouettes. Together, these collections add cultural context to the river views and urban energy outside.

Mulgumpin/Moreton Island: sand, sea and songlines

A short journey across the bay brings you to Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), part of Quandamooka Country and among the largest sand islands on Earth. Here, clear shallows lap against windswept dunes, and the sea is alive with turtles, dolphins and gentle dugongs grazing on seagrass meadows. Offshore shipwrecks form artificial reefs where snorkellers drift over schools of fish and corals in glassy water. Birdlife flourishes too: during the migratory season, tens of thousands of shorebirds touch down to rest and feed, while raptors patrol the sky and forest birds chatter in coastal woodlands.

To keep this delicate ecosystem thriving, travel lightly. Choose reef-safe sunscreen, stick to signed tracks to protect nesting sites, and give marine wildlife ample space. Mulgumpin’s quiet beauty is an invitation to slow down and listen—to wind through casuarinas, to shorebirds on the flats, to the long continuity of Indigenous stewardship.

From city heat to rainforest cool

South along the coast, golden beaches roll into chic neighbourhoods and a lively dining scene. Between surf breaks and headland walks, venture inland to subtropical rainforests where waterfalls thread through ancient valleys. These Gondwana-descended forests shelter glow-in-the-dark fungi after rain, giant strangler figs and a chorus of whipbirds. Boardwalks and lookouts make it easy to explore without disturbing the understorey; dawn and dusk hikes reward patient observers with wallabies on the move and birdsong building to a crescendo.

Adventures on, in and above the water

Brisbane rewards both gentle wandering and full-tilt play. Paddle a kayak at twilight as city lights soften across the river. Sail on the bay when sea breezes fill the canvas. Or take it slow on a picnic beneath hoop pines in the City Botanic Gardens, where water dragons bask on sun-warmed paths. However you explore, the common thread is proximity: wild encounters are never far from a good coffee, and a gallery visit can lead to an evening by the water under a sky banded with fruit bats.

Getting here, going lightly

A new direct route connecting Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane brings the journey down to a single hop. When you fly, consider carbon-conscious choices: pack light, bring a refillable bottle and utensils, book the most direct itinerary you can, and use public transport at your destination. Brisbane’s network of trains, buses, ferries and riverside bike paths makes car-free travel simple—and adds to the pleasure of seeing a landscape at human pace.

Respect for place

Brisbane and its islands are home to living cultures and exceptional biodiversity. Support local guides and Indigenous-led experiences, choose operators with strong conservation credentials, and follow Leave No Trace principles. Small acts—keeping to trails, carrying your litter out, lowering your voice around wildlife—have large effects. They’re also a way to participate in the city’s unfolding story: one that balances celebration with care.

The gateway is open. Come for the sunshine and the river breeze; stay for the pelicans skimming the bay, the koala blinking from a eucalypt limb, the museum room that lingers with you long after you step back into the light. Brisbane is ready to welcome you—naturally.