Discover the 10 Brisbane day trips – from islands, to waterfalls, beaches, rainforest and even a foodie’s paradise – there are so many accessible places just a day trip away from Brisbane waiting for you to explore. Before you discover the 10 of the best Brisbane day trips, be sure to tick off the best of the inner city: 10 awesome things to do in Brisbane inner city, and if you’re ready to venture further afield, read on.
1. Purling Brook Falls
An icon of the Gold Coast hinterland for a reason, Purling Brook Falls turns from trickle to thunder each time there is a substantial period of rain. That means if you’re visiting Brisbane after considerable weather, there’s no reason why your Brisbane day trips should be put off – if it’s safe and fine to do so, head straight to Purling Brook Falls! A moderate hike will get you to this spot and you can find out more here: How to get to Purling Brook Falls.
2. Mt Ngungun
One of the easiest (and therefore, one of the most popular) hikes near Brisbane is Mt Ngungun. Less than 2 hours from Brisbane inner-city (Google Maps directions here), Mt Ngungun makes for one of the fantastic Brisbane day trips.
And while Mt Ngungun is beautiful from the top, you can also experience the beauty Mt Tibrogargan from the road below at the Instagram famous road: Looking for that Instagram road at Mt Tibrogargan, Sunshine Coast? to complete one of your Brisbane day trips.
3. Moreton Island
A place you’d hardly believe to be accessible from Brisbane, but on a clear day you can even see the Brisbane city sky-risers from Moreton Island. Less accessible than North Stradbroke Island (more on there later), you can visit Moreton Island by private boat or join one of the many Brisbane tours that visit the island. Moreton Island is one of the best Brisbane day trips.
4. Buderim Falls (Serenity Falls)
One of the absolute must do Brisbane day trips, Buderim Falls (also known as Serenity Falls) is a popular waterfall tucked away on the Sunshine Coast hinterland. A top tip is to get to this spot early, as it can get very crowded. Suggested read: How to get to Buderim Falls (Serenity Falls) on the Sunshine Coast.
5. O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat waterfalls
Where do I even begin? Tucked away on the Gold Coast hinterland, O’Reilly’s is one of the best Brisbane day trips for natural environments and stunning scenery. My two favourite waterfalls are Elabana Falls and watching the sunset over Moran Falls. If you can’t get enough of this place (understandable), you can book to stay for a night, a week or more! Suggested reads: How to get to Elabana Falls & How to get to Moran Falls
6. North Stradbroke Island
Another beautiful island just off the coast of Brisbane, North Stradbroke Island is a must do for those wanting to experience a different side of the Brisbane region on their Brisbane day trips. Visiting North Stradbroke Island can be done as a Brisbane day trip or by staying a night or so. Most people bring their cars over to explore the island, but it is possible to explore sans car with the passenger ferry and bus: Getting to North Stradbroke Island by passenger ferry.
7. Noosa Fairy Pools
Instagram famous for a good reason, the Noosa Fairy Pools are a real crowd pleaser and one of the best Brisbane day trips. You can find this spot here: How to get to Noosa Fairy Pools.
Don’t leave Noosa without treating your tastebuds to a few of the delicious restaurants and cafes on offer (The Ultimate Noosa Foodie Guide) or ticking off a number of things to do in and around Noosa.
8. Summer Land Camels
Ready for something a little bit different? Shake up your Brisbane day trips with a trip to Summer Land Camels. They offer camel rides, camel feeding and farm tours making for a very wholesome Brisbane day trip out!
9. Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm
If you’re looking for a Brisbane day trip with a little bit of luxury and romance, I’d recommend visiting Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm. A popular spot for weddings, the surrounding landscape is drop dead gorgeous and you can also treat yourself to a delicious meal while you’re here.
10. Twin Falls
Last, but certainly not least on this list of the best Brisbane day trips, we have Twin Falls. A two hour drive from the centre of Brisbane, this waterfall is certainly worth the effort. Enjoy the easy to moderate hike down to the waterfall before continuing on to explore more of the surrounding National Park and rainforest. Again, popular waterfalls get crowded quickly (especially on weekends) so you may have to set your alarms early to capture this waterfall without the general population around. Suggested read: Things to do on the Gold Coast
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