Best Museums in Queensland

"Situated in Stanley Place on the South Bank of the Brisbane River, the Queensland Art Gallery is the state’s major visual arts institution, housing more than 15,000 Australian and international paintings, sculptures and decorative art. It’s worth letting a Volunteer Guide share their knowledge and take you on a 30-40 minute tour of the gallery to get some perspective of the huge range of works that make up the expanding collection. Address: South Bank, Stanley Place, Cultural Precinct, Brisbane, 4101Telephone: +61 7 3840 7303.Opening times:"

"Lovers of arts and culture will want to have the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) top of their list of things to do in Brisbane. Not only is it the largest museum of art in Australia, but it is also one of the preeminent institutions in the Asia-Pacific, contributing a range of compelling modern and traditional art experiences that will move and astonish you. The main building is the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG), established within the Queensland Cultural Centre in South Bank."

"These two galleries at South Bank, jointly referred to as QAGOMA, form the centerpiece of Brisbane's cultural precinct. Holding more than 17,000 artworks by national and international artists, QAGOMA has a particular focus on contemporary Asian and Pacific art. Recent exhibitions include a collection of painted car hoods from a Western Desert community known as the Kayili artists and a selection of video art by Indigenous Australians."

"The Queensland Maritime Museum has real ships such as the warship Diamantina and the lugger Penguin as well as classic ship models, marine memorabilia, photographs, paintings, lighthouse equipment and many other historic items. It is a hands-on museum run by passionate volunteers, many of whom are retired ship masters, marine engineers, and ex-naval personnel. Cnr Stanley & Sidon Streets, South BrisbaneDaily 9.30am to 4.30pmAdmission charge"

"With the variety of large and fascinating exhibits on offer, the whole family will be sure to enjoy a visit to the Queensland Maritime Museum. The museum allows visitors to explore and discover plenty of historic vessels for themselves, with popular showcases being the ‘Diamantina’ warship, ‘Penguin’, and more. For more information or to plan your visit, head to the Queensland Maritime Museum website."

"A hidden gem of Brisbane that many locals don’t seem to know, the QUT Art Museum is located on the edge of the City Botanical Garden and is an intimate university gallery showcasing rotating internally curated exhibitions, commissioned projects and touring exhibitions of modern and contemporary works by Australian artists. Always thought-provoking, entry is typically free and visiting only takes around an hour. If you make it here, you should combine it with a visit to their sister gallery nearby in the stately Old Government House dedicated to the works of Australia’s pre-eminent landscape artist, William Robinson."

"Queensland University of Technology’s Art Museum is located at the Gardens Point campus and shows off a range of modern and contemporary art. They display a diverse suite of in-house curated exhibitions drawn from the university’s own art collection, commissioned art projects and touring exhibitions. The exhibitions are generally technology enabled or in relation to future tech and innovation."

"This fine collection of 2000 plus contemporary works encompasses sculpture, painting and decorative arts and as such has a strong showing of Australian art from the 1960’s onwards."

"On the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetariumis a fun destination for up-and-coming astronomers and curious kids of all ages. The planetarium displays fascinating exhibits, including a life-size replica of Neil Armstrong's Apollo spacesuit, images from the Hubble Space Telescope, and interactive exhibits of the Milky Way and the moon, among others. The excellent shows in the Cosmic Skydome, a projection dome measuring 12.5 meters in diameter, feature topics such as cosmic collisions, moons, and black holes."

"Within the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is one of the city's hidden gems. The Cosmic Skydome, a 40-foot-diameter projection dome, is the main attraction, along with some interesting traditional displays and an observatory. The planetarium's namesake built Australia’s first astronomical observatory in Sydney and charted the Southern Hemisphere’s stars during the early 1800s."

"Just outside the CBD, you’ll find Mt Coot-tha – the closed mountain to the city, which from the top offers amazing panoramic views of the city. There is a range of activities for families to enjoy here, including bushwalks, picnics and even a planetarium. For brilliant views of Brisbane city – it is highly recommended to go to the observation deck where on a clear day you can see all the way out to Moreton Bay."

"Enter the dazzling world of LightPlay where children can explore their artistic potential in an interactive space created especially for them!. Play with overhead projectors and illuminated light boxes and discover what happens when light is cast on different materials. Explore transparency, reflection and shadow as well as other properties of light."

"As a Covid safe compliance measure, visitors to Ipswich Art Gallery must currently pre-book their 90-minute sessions in advance. Ipswich Art Gallery is one..."

"One of the most visited regional art galleries in Queensland, the Ipswich Art Gallery is set in a handsome heritage building that was once the Town Hall"

"The RAAF base at Amberley is the largest Air Force base in Australia, with an incredible 5,000 personnel employed there. At the base's Aviation Heritage..."

"Queensland's most important heritage building, this 1862 showpiece was designed by estimable government architect Charles Tiffin as a residence for Sir George Bowen, Queensland’s first governor. The lavish innards were restored in 2009 and the property now offers free podcast and one-hour guided tours; the latter must be booked in advance. The first floor houses the William Robinson Gallery, dedicated to the great Australian artist and home to an impressive collection of his paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and ceramics."

"When Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859, it needed a new building to house its independent government. Today, you can learn about colonial life in Queensland by taking a tour of this building, Old Government House, and its grounds, including the drawing room, storeroom, and servant's hall. The museum also has a variety of historical artifacts, as well as video and multimedia exhibits."

"Level one of the Queensland Museum in South Bank hosts the SparkLab, ScienCentre, a fun collection of interactive exhibits that keep busy brains buzzing. Children can spend hours here, learning about their body by taking their vital statistics; engaging in activities related to weight, space, time, sound, and energy; figuring out puzzles; and discovering how things work at the action stations. Bring your camera for fun photos of the kids in the optical illusions corner."

"Located within the Queensland Museum is the SparkLan Science Centre, an interactive science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) space aimed at 6 to 13 year olds. I went here as a parent helper on an excursion when my daughter was in grade 3 and let me tell you the kids just loved it here – they could have easily spent the entire day here!. While the space seems quite small when entering, there is actually so much to do here."

"There’s nothing dusty or musty about this slick little timber building on the edge of the Old Petrie Town car park."

"And parents will enjoy the history behind the significant building. It’s open every Sunday and most public holidays with free entry, and its regular re-enactments and cannon-firing."

"Come and learn all about Queensland most notorious prison – Boggo Road Gaol. Via a guided tour, you will learn all about the inmate’s crimes, their daily prison life, as well as about the various officers that worked here. There is a range of different tours available at Boggo Road, with options to suit kids of all ages."

"Step right up because Industry Beans is the dine-in experience for all you die-hard coffee fanatics. The coffee roastery, café, coffee education hub, and events destination, they offer unique food, all whilst giving you a front-row seat to their full working coffee roastery and greenhouse. Their brunch menu offers everything from exquisite porcini nests to your classic bacon and egg breakfast rolls."

"Specialty coffee accompanies a seriously impressive brunch menu at the Brisbane branch of Industry Beans. Coffee is this cafe’s forte and you’ll find it infused in several menu options. Meat lovers will be salivating over the Ginger Beer Pork Belly or Espresso Glazed Beef Rib while vegetarian friends can choose from Fruit Sashimi, Evergreen Omelette and Beetroot Brioche Bowl."

"Melbourne siblings Trevor and Steven Simmons are behind this luminous, statement-making cafe-roastery, complete with coffee-plant greenhouse. Beyond its meticulously brewed single origins and blends are some..."

"The Gambaro family are a well-known dynasty in the Brisbane foodie scene. Originally starting with a humble fish and chip shop in the 1950s, they now run one of the top seafood restaurants in the state. The family’s Italian heritage shines through in their menu, with fresh seafood and classic Italian flavours on offer."

"Established in 1972, Gambaro on Caxton Street is the oldest established restaurant in Brisbane, setting the benchmark for fine dining. For more than 60 years, the restaurant’s name has been synonymous..."

"Gambaro is one of Brisbane’s oldest seafood haunts, having started as a fish and chip shop in 1953. The establishment has considerably upped the ante..."

"It's time for Bulimba diners to don a bib, choose a weapon and crack a crab leg at King Crab Co on Oxford Street. This bold new crab den is ready to liven up the local foodie scene with its bright and..."