Ever wished you could sprout wings and hop from one Brisbane brewery to the next? Enter Pterodactyl Helicopters. Pick a country pub crawl or a coastal hop, then buckle up for a ride that’s part sightseeing tour, part bar crawl - soaring over Brisbane’s best scenery before touching down in style at vineyards, breweries, pubs and restaurants.

2. Gondola the Brisbane River

Forget flights to Italy, Brisbane’s serving up its own slice of Venice with a gondola ride along the river, thanks to Golden Gondola. Glide past the city’s skyline and set the mood with views that are straight up swoon-worthy. Local tip: Head out at dusk for a candlelit cruise, pop the champagne and let your gondolier serenade you.

Call yourself a casanova? We’ve got more ideas where this came from – check out these Brisbane first date ideas.

3. Walk the plank on Story Bridge

Most visitors and locals alike have heard of the Story Bridge Adventure Climb (one of only three bridge climbs in the world), but did you know you can get even more thrills on a tour? Test your fears on a supported 'lean out' above the city, or show your strength and 'walk the plank' as the sights and sounds of Brisbane loom below. An adventurous finish to one of Brisbane's most iconic adventure activities.  

4. Join the circus

If flipping, flying, and showing off under a big-top tent gets your pulse racing, Circa Academy is calling. Located in Fortitude Valley, this isn’t your average gym, learn from world-class circus performers everything from ground acrobatics and aerials to creative development and fitness with flair.

5. Jet ski along Brisbane River

Looking to sight-see the Brisbane River a little bit differently? Grab your own Jet Ski and hang on tight with Jet Ski Tours Brisbane. Starting at Kangaroo Point, take in the city views alongside an experienced tour guide before heading out to Moreton Bay to meet the local marine life.

6. Take a ghost tour

Toowong is host to Brisbane's largest cemetery, which at 250 acres needs two hours to discover as you wind your way over hills of gravestones, tombs and crypts under the cover of darkness on a spooky ghost tour (the general public are no longer allowed to enter the cemetery after 6pm, so a guided tour is the only way to legally add some fright to your night).

7. Make your own gin

Head to Morningside’s Rivermakers precinct for one of Brisbane’s most hands-on experiences - blending your own gin. At Bavay Distillery, you’ll learn all the insider tricks of the trade, from picking your botanicals to crafting a bottle that’s 100% yours. With loads of botanicals to choose from, plus complimentary drinks along the way, it’s part masterclass, part cocktail party.

8. Sip cocktails in a hidden bar

If sipping cocktails with good company is your idea of a perfect weekend activity, then pay a visit to one of Brisbane’s hidden bars. While we can't reveal all the secret locations, here's some sneaky tips.

• Wander down Fish Lane to find a colourful barbershop: pick up the phone, tell them the secret code, and you'll soon be in RnB bliss. 
• An unmarked, closed orange door on Ann Street in Fortitude Valley leads the way to whiskey-forward cocktails and the sparkling chandelier of Savile Row. 
• Climb through an antique wardrobe on the top floor of a certain Woolloongabba restaurant to enter a 1920's style speakeasy. 

9. Dine in a former brothel

Located in Fortitude Valley, Les Bubbles is a steakhouse with a story, it’s worn many hats over the years, from brothel to illegal casino to bathhouse. Today, it’s all about giving guests a taste of France via steak frites, but the décor doesn’t let its colourful past slip quietly into the shadows. A giant neon sign reading “we regret to inform you we are no longer a brothel” perfectly sums up the cheeky, playful vibe the venue is famous for.

Want to turn dinner into a night on the town? Our guide to Fortitude Valley is your passport to a good time.

10. Kayak between shipwrecks at Mulgumpin (Moreton Island)

If you’re looking for adventurous Brisbane activities to fill your weekend, this is a top contender. Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) is well known for the wrecks off Tangalooma Island Resort, but Australian Sunset Safaris offers a unique experience thanks to fully transparent kayaks, which means you can see directly below as you paddle surrounded by marine life and sunken vessels. Try the night kayaking tour - your kayak will be fitted with LED lights for the ultimate after-dark show. Prefer dry land? Opt for a ATV Quad Bike tour along the sand dunes. 

11. See Brisbane’s most unique apartment

Do real estate reality shows top your most-watched? Get an inside peep at one of Queensland's most curious residences. Built in 1932, Indooroopilly's Walter Taylor Bridge is Australia's only bridge that has a residence built inside the Pylon.

While the apartment is no longer lived in, join Brisbane Greeters for a tour of the bridge and its unique residences, which were designed by Walter Taylor himself in 1936 for the original toll keeper and his family.

12. Get Your Pulse Racing with an Inner-City Abseil

If you’re looking for adventurous Brisbane activities to fill your weekend, this is a top contender. Mulgumpin (Moreton Island) is well known for the wrecks off Tangalooma Island Resort, but Australian Sunset Safaris offers a unique experience thanks to fully transparent kayaks, which means you can see directly below as you paddle surrounded by marine life and sunken vessels. Try the night kayaking tour - your kayak will be fitted with LED lights for the ultimate after-dark show. Prefer dry land? Opt for a ATV Quad Bike tour along the sand dunes. 

11. See Brisbane’s most unique apartment

Do real estate reality shows top your most-watched? Get an inside peep at one of Queensland's most curious residences. Built in 1932, Indooroopilly's Walter Taylor Bridge is Australia's only bridge that has a residence built inside the Pylon.

While the apartment is no longer lived in, join Brisbane Greeters for a tour of the bridge and its unique residences, which were designed by Walter Taylor himself in 1936 for the original toll keeper and his family.

12. Get Your Pulse Racing with an Inner-City Abseil

Who says you need the hinterland for an adrenaline hit? By day, strap in and abseil 25 metres down Kangaroo Cliffs, soaking up epic views of the Brisbane River and city skyline. No experience? No worries, your guide will have you sorted from harness to handhold. Want something extra magical? Opt for a twilight climb and watch the city light up as the sun sets.

13. Step inside the city's iconic clock 

Brisbane’s own Big Ben, City Hall, has been bonging away since the 1930s, but the real fun is seeing it up close. Hop on a Museum of Brisbane tour, ride the old-school elevator up 87.47 metres, and step out onto the observation platform for sweeping city views and a peek inside the clock itself.

Tours run every 15 minutes, depart from level three, are free, so you’ll want do book ahead.

Looking for more free things to do in Brisbane? Check out this guide.

14. Picnic with rescued deer

Nestled in the beautiful Samford Valley, just 30 minutes north of Brisbane city, the Lyell Deer Sanctuary is home to a small herd of rescued red, rusa and fallow deer. This peaceful little hideaway offers a unique and serene experience for adults and children alike. BYO picnic to enjoy as you interact with these gentle creatures.

15. Go glamping on a winery

For a night under the stars, on the doorstep of some of Queensland’s most impressive vineyards, stay at family-owned Sanctuary by Sirromet. Surrounded by pretty paperbark trees and giant gums, unwind in your luxury safari tent, the sounds of nature serenading you to sleep each night. By day, sip your way through the winery’s award-winning tipples and picnic amongst the vines.

To discover other top-notch glamping places in Brisbane, have a read of this luxury glamping list.

16. Learn Quandamooka culture on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island)

Did you know the world's second largest sand island can be found just a short ferry ride from Brisbane? Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) is home to thousands of years of Indigenous culture, and you can join a local elder as they guide you on this historical island trail down the Goompi (Dunwich) foreshore. You’ll hear stories of the Quandamooka People, learn ancient hunting and medicinal practices, as well as taste a little bush tucker from the native garden along the way.

17. Escape to the wizarding world of Harry Potter

Calling all aspiring witches and wizards! From your next wand to a full Quidditch kit, the Store of Requirement in Samford Village has everything you need to feel like you’ve stepped straight onto a Harry Potter set. Hungry? Pop next door to The Owlery Cafe and Tea House for a butterscotch brew spider and a towering waffle stack.

18. Discover the secrets of the universe

Located in the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium will blow your mind with asteroid fragments over 4.5 billion years old, spacecraft models, and one of the world’s most impressive replicas of Neil Armstrong’s lunar spacesuit. Don’t miss the Cosmic Skydome, a 12.5-metre-diameter projection dome hosting educational shows that amaze both kids and adults alike.

19. Become a master of perfume

One of Brisbane’s best-kept secrets? Libertine Parfumerie’s perfume masterclasses. Held at their New Farm store and led by a fragrance guru, these immersive sessions let you dive into the scents, stories, and artistry behind your favourite perfumes, all while sipping a glass of bubbles

20. Pedal into adventure