Everyone who comes to Brisbane has to visit South Bank. It directly overlooks the city, is on the riverfront and has a good mixture of everything (beach, rainforest, fountains, the Wheel of Brisbane, cute shops, restaurants and cafes). Friday - Sunday there are cute markets open and there always festivals hosted at South Bank.

I recommend taking a nice walk along the river, people watching, renting an electric scooter and zooming on the riverfront. Visit the Epicurious garden (community garden) and pick your own fruits, veggies and herbs. Go for a swim at the beach, visit the peace pagoda, get some ice cream, people watch and sit and enjoy just being in nature whilst in the middle of the city.

Mt. Coot-Tha (koo-thuh) is a gorgeous lookout that I have taken all my visiting friends to. "Coot-Tha" is a local Aboriginal name for the bees which used to occupy the mountain.

It is the highest point in Brisbane and has stunning views of the entirety of Brisbane. You get a full view of Brisbane stretching out from the airport all the way to the southern suburbs.

There is a lovely cafe and bar at the top where you can chill, get some coffee and enjoy the views. I recommend going for sunset or seeing the city at night with all the lights.

At the bottom of the mountain there is also the Mt Cootha botanical gardens which is a gorgeous rainforest which you can visit. There are many water dragons which like to sunbathe out on the paths, you can see many locally growing veggies, fruits and plants and the local bees.

Lone Pine is the oldest and largest Koala sanctuary in the world. There are a range of Australian animals to see here including, of course, Koalas. Koalas are an endangered species so the chances of seeing them out in the wild are extremely slim.

When we went we really enjoyed the bird show and feeding the Kangaroos which laze around the place.

If you are only in Australia for a short amount of time then visiting Lone Pine is great way to see Koalas and feed Kangaroos.

This is a paid sanctuary, please book tickets prior to going.

Public transport does run to the Sanctuary. Please ensure you have a GoCard with sufficient funds.

I love the West End Markets! The food here is awesome with loads of Vegetarian and Vegan options.

The markets are on on Saturday mornings from 6a.m. They are held next to a park so we always have a little stroll, grab something to eat and chill at the park with our food. The markets overlook the river as well.

The markets have 150 unique vendors including farm-fresh produce, delicious healthy fast food, boutique fashion and handcrafted gifts. The markets proudly boast local suppliers. They're just a great vibe!

Eat Street is on this cool abandoned docking site and it has been transformed into a lively food and entertainment destination.

There are over 150 shipping containers which are fitted out to be food stalls. Cuisine ranges from Japanese, Korean, Mexican to European, American and plenty of desserts. There is also lots of live entertainment and super family-friendly.

You can easily get there via the CityCat ferry.

There is a $6 entry fee. It is open Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 10pm, and Sundays from 4pm to 9pm.

North Stradbroke Island is a gorgeous island off the coast of Brisbane. It's the world's second largest sand island.

Straddie has crystal clear beaches, untouched native Australian terrain and so many native animals to spot.

To get to Straddie you catch a ferry from the harbour to the island. Make sure you prebook your ticket.

If you do not drive, you can take the local bus on the Island to the lookout and go on a gorgeous scenic promenade looking for whales, dolphins, turtles and fish over the cliffside. You can then go swimming at the beaches and get some lunch at the cafes and restaurants.

Taking a car, you can do all this and visit Brown Lake, Blue Lake and other areas of the island that are not accessible via public transport.

Please note you must prebook tickets for the ferry.

World famous New Govardhan is an ISKCON temple, farming community and Gurukula.

Visiting New Govardhan is a 2 hour drive from Brisbane and can be coupled into a day trip with visiting close by beaches, Govindas restaurants and exploring the 400 hectares that is the New Govardhan farm.

The presiding deities are Gaura Nitai, Radha Govardhanadhari, Krishna Balaram. There is a goshala you can visit, Krishna village (WWOOFERS community) and the farm land itself.

Please note darshan times follow as per regular ISKCON times. There is no public transport to New Govardhan.

If you have a car this is a must visit - I love visiting Springbrook. Make sure you bring your swimmers and are ready to hike.

Springbrook is part of the Gold Coast hinterland and is perfect to see some of Australia's beautiful mountains, rainforest, waterfalls and swimming holes.

There are a number of walking circuits which are accessible for people of all mobility ranges. There are easier walks and more advanced walks for you to choose from. Please do your research via the website.

I recommend either doing the Natural Bridge circuit or going to the Springbrook plateau and seeing Canyon lookout, Purling Brook Falls, Best of All Lookout and the Twin Falls circuit. You are able to do multiple circuits in one day.

Make sure you wear comfy hiking clothes, appropriate shoes, insect repellent, drinking water and swimmers if you plan on swimming.

Springbrook is not accessible via public transport.

There are many beaches you can visit along the coast. When you research lots of people will tell you to go to Surfers Paradise. Surfers is the most crowded beach and is super touristy.

I prefer going to Burleigh Beach instead. More locals come this way, it's a lot more chill with more parking options available. The best part is that there is a Govinda's about 10 minutes walk from the beach.

It is possible to get here by public transport but it may take about 2 hours.

If you're not into going to the beach and the big waves, Tallebudgera Creek is a lovely in between. It's family friendly and has a long creek that isn't too deep with less waves.

There is plenty of parking but this creek is not accessible by public transport.