Poor little Brisbane.
Ripped on by Sydneysiders and Melburnians for decades, Brisbane had a reputation for being a sleepy wannabe capital with nothing to offer, bar tired old South Bank.
But, South Bank is tired no more.
Not only has Brisbane drastically developed in just the last few years, but South Bank has hardly faded into obscurity. What makes me qualified to assert such claims, you may ask? Well, I’ve actually held three separate jobs in South Bank on the very same street! Somebody make me the mayor of Grey St!
Though much has changed in Brisbane in the past five years, South Bank continues to score in the top three spots of ‘Best Things to Do in Brisbane’ guides. It’s likely that if you are visiting Brisbane, finding some great things to do in South Bank is high on your radar.
So, let me put my years spent in South Bank to use and share the best cheap things to do in South Bank, Brisbane!
1. Street’s Beach
Street’s Beach (above) is not just for families.
Many a lunch break I’ve escaped the office and wandered out into the sunny shores of Street’s beach only to find scores of Irish and Brazilian backpackers sunning themselves in large groups, speakers blaring, having the time of their lives.
If the weather is good, this is one of the best free things to do in South Bank.
If you’re desperate for a bit of beach vibes whilst in Brisbane and can’t make your way further ashore to the Gold or Sunshine coasts, Street’s Beach can absolutely get you your sun fix. It’s free to access during daylight hours and lifeguard patrolled, and is Australia’s only city beach!
There is tropical vegetation surrounding to really give you that oasis vibe. Just ensure that you do stock up on sunscreen, even if you don’t usually burn. The Australian sun is extremely harsh. Take a little bag of goodies and a towel with you, and enjoy a relaxing day by the water.
Did you know: South Bank cultural precinct was actually created in its current form for Brisbane’s World Expo ’88 in 1988, but wasn’t opened to the public until 1992. It has since become a hotbed of dining, accommodation and cultural activities and is an excellent spot to base yourself for a short stay in Brisbane OR spend a day with everything you need at your fingertips. South Bank is centrally located with quick and easy ferry, train and bus connections all over South East Queensland (just make sure you get a Go Card first), and has amazing views of the river precinct. The Cultural Centre, Museum, GOMA, and Wheel of Brisbane are all located right here, and hipster West End is just next door.
2. Eat South Bank!
Eat South Bank basically manages the pavillion, so they are the ones in charge of ensuring that the precinct is loaded full of amazing dining, accommodation, lifestyle and cultural options.
This screams good news for those that are short on time and/or cash, and don’t want to waste any messing about on transit in between lodging, activities and dining.
Everything you need is right here in a super walkable distance.
The restaurant game in Brisbane has seriously levelled up. It’s hard to find a bad dining experience these days! Eat South Bank’s dining precinct is chock-full of a MENTAL amount of cafés, restaurants, take-aways and everything in between. It would be almost ridiculous to try and list them all, as the entire area is basically one big restaurant pavilion. Flanked by massive hotels including Rydges, Mantra South Bank, and Emporium, this makes South Bank a prime location if you’re heading for a quick city break.
If you do want to head into the CBD or Fortitude Valley, you can even walk across the Goodwill Bridge (pedestrian and cycle bridge) or take a city cat with ease.
In terms of food, there are plenty of options to suit all budgets. Browse until you find something you like! Siam South Bank does a delicious Thai lunch meal deal and is a great option for just $12.
For a budget friendly activity, align your stay with the start of the weekend to avail yourself of the free local markets. They run along Little Stanley Street every Friday (5-9pm), Saturday (10am-9pm) and Sunday (9am-4pm). They’re plenty quaint to wander through and get a night time vista of the precinct.
Browse the entire South Bank precinct offering here.
3. Get Walking
South Bank is home to an iconically beautiful arbour walk (pictured above), complete with winding purple florals. It makes the picture perfect background all year round, and is an instantly recognisable symbol of South Bank that’s both beautiful and hard to miss.
The South Bank boardwalk (below, actually called the Clem Jones Promenade) is a long, winding riverfront walk where you can feast your eyes on the ever-developing shoreline. One of the best ways to spend a few hours is to walk up and done the river banks taking in the sights!
The building under construction in the below image is Queen’s Wharf Precinct, a first of its kind lifestyle, dining and shopping precinct set to open at the end of 2023. Brisbanites have been following along with construction of this bad boy as it’s expected to signify a huge shift in Brisbane’s future – keep a lookout for it!
The riverwalk stretches the whole length of South Bank, and it goes without saying that you could pack a couple snacks in a bag, head on your way and make a picnic out of it! It’s a really pleasant walk, and there’s loads to see if it’s your first time to the city.
4. See the last Expo ’88 Exhibit
Missing Asia?
Hobby woodworker?
Love visiting sites with unusual claims to fame?
Look no further than the Nepalese Peace Pagoda – again, situated perfectly in the midst of the action along the riverwalk, just under the wheel of Brisbane (you can’t miss it).
This Pagoda is actually pretty wild, because it is one of only three genuine Nepalese pagodas in existence outside of Nepal. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you to head over for a squiz, it is also the last standing exhibit from World Expo ’88, which was hosted in our very own South Bank back in 1988.
The pagoda took over two years to build and was crafted with over 80 tonnes of Nepalese timber, by 160 families.
It’s certainly worth a stop on your stroll to admire the craftsmanship and abstract historical claim to fame.
5. QAGOMA
Who doesn’t love art?
QAG (Queensland Art Gallery) & GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) are always free to enter, with art exhibitions showcasing daily from 10am to 5pm. Though some specific exhibitions will have a ticketed entry, general admission is free for all, 363 days of the year. If you’ve been cursed with some average weather, this could be an excellent choice to keep content and ride out the worst of the rain.
The galleries are both located riverside, just 150 metres from each other.
Talk about convenience.
If you are a fan of brutalist architecture, the actual building itself is a great example of brutalism and the most famous work of architect Robin Gibson. Read more about the history of the building here.
6. Epicurious Gardens
This is a slightly more unusual suggestion – but so unique that it deserves a mention it. Plus, it is located smack bang in the middle of the action, next to Streets Beach and mere steps off the riverwalk trail.
This new installation is an educational and ornamental herb garden, maintained full time by a team of dedicated staff and gardeners.
It’s pretty cool, because the aim of the garden was actually to help locals learn how to grow a sustainable and successful herb garden in the subtropical environment of South East Queensland.
Stop by and browse the basil – they often give out free samples of produce too!
Bonus tip
Keep an eye out for the Confucius statue right next to the gardens.
7. A Million Dollar Rooftop Panorama
Who doesn’t love a rooftop?
This one slays pretty hard in my humble opinion.
If the budget can stretch for but a single beverage to close out the day, stroll on in to Emporium Hotel (located at the top end of Grey St, near the Woolworths) and direct yourself towards the Terrace Bar.
Head over to the lifts and experience one of the best elevator journeys you’ll have in Australia.
Once you’ve arrived at the top floor, you’ll see what I mean about the view.
Complete with a convertible OPEN AIR ceiling, Terrace supplies unobstructed panoramas of Bris Vegas, just next door to the private penthouse suite. With the suite going for a totally chill AUD$10000 – $25000 per night, $10 on a schooner sounds like a bargain to score that same view if you ask me.
If you can stretch for a cocktail, I can vouch that the menu produced by the team there is A+.
TL;DR
So, how should I spend my day without spending my life savings in South Bank?
Top activities
1. Take a sightseeing stroll down the riverwalk, and stop in at the Nepalese Peace Pagoda (last standing Expo ’88 exhibit)
2. Catch some sun on Street’s Beach, the world’s only City Beach!
3. Visit GOMA and gaze at modern and classic arts
4. Sift through the markets (FRI – SUN)
5. Activate green thumb mode at the Epicurious Secret Garden
6. Head up to Terrace Bar at the top floor of Emporium Hotel for a penthouse view of the city
All in all, the vast array of cheap and free things to do in South Bank make it a worthy stop on your itinerary, and in my opinion, you won’t be short of activities in this little pocket of Brisbane.
Have you ever visited South Bank? Let us know about your experience in the comments below!
