The accessible travel guide to Brisbane

Looking for a city escape? We’ve got just the place, where you can soak up culture and embrace nature by day, then dine the night away under city lights.

The River City is also one with a vision to be open to all. Home to world-class accessible facilities, Brisbane is striving for even more greatness, working towards an "accessible, connected city" plan to 2031.  

From where to stay to what to do, use this Brisbane accessible travel guide to plan your holiday.

Getting to Brisbane

Flying into Brisbane Airport? Travel with confidence thanks to award-winning accessible airport facilities, from wheelchair-accessible and mobility friendly amenities to a Hidden Disabilities program for those who might need a little extra assistance along the way.

Discover essential information about getting around Brisbane Airport here. 

Getting around Brisbane

Getting to know Brisbane’s biggest sights and hidden nooks is easy, thanks to wheelchair and pram accessible CityCat ferries and buses. There’s also a braille trail to help people with vision impairment navigate the CBD, running from Reddacliff Place down Queen Street Mall to Anzac Square; along with tactile street signs across the city. Plus, seniors can travel off-peak for free with the senior go card.

On the ground floor of Brisbane City Hall is the Mobility Centre which provides free loans of mobility devices for use within Brisbane's CBD, South Bank Parklands and the South Bank Cultural Precinct. Wheelchairs, wheeled walkers and single prams can be borrowed for long or short periods, depending on availability. Brisbane also offers an accessible maxi-cab network.

Where to stay: accessible accommodation in Brisbane

Brisbane city is bursting with accessible accommodation and wheelchair friendly places to stay. There’s 5-star boutique hotels like Gambaro Hotel in Paddington, or luxurious inner-city digs including Hilton and Capri by Fraser. Stay riverside at Howard Smith Wharves' Crystalbrook Vincent, check into Fortitude Valley’s funky The Constance (which offers free parking and a roll-in shower for the accessible room), or base yourself in South Bank at the Mantra or Rydges. There are plenty of mid-range hotel options too.

An hour’s drive from Brisbane lies Ipswich, a city rich in heritage and things to do. Quest is one of the best accessible hotels in the area, boasting two accessible apartments with safety features and service dog provisions, as well as a wheelchair access pool. Springfield Lakes Hotel and Country Motel also offer accessible rooms with onsite restaurants.

Exploring the wider Moreton Bay area? BIG4 Sandstone Point Holiday Resort, Eatons Hill Hotel and Sebel Margate are among the best spots to rest your head.

But if you’re after an island getaway, Mulgumpin's (Moreton Island) Tangalooma Island Resort is the cream of the crop: nestled into the spectacular sand island, the resort offers accessible facilities and rooms, and the ferry can accommodate wheelchairs.

Where to play: accessible activities in Brisbane

Explore the city 

The are endless all-abilities activites throughout Brisbane City to discover. 

See the sights from heights on the Wheel of Brisbane: two of these sky-high gondolas have been designed for wheelchairs and staff are well trained in providing additional assistance to those who may require it. 

Discover one of Brisbane’s architectural wonders – City Hall – then take the lift up to the Museum of Brisbane to learn more about our river city. The building and museum are wheelchair accessible, (note: there is no wheelchair access to the clock tower). Museum of Brisbane exhibits have a QR code that links to an audio description or Auslan interpretive information, while the museum’s website provides a Social Story to help prepare patrons for a visit in advance of arrival, along with a sensory map available for download.

One of the city’s most popular attractions, South Bank, is designed with accessibility at its heart. With 17 hectares of lush parkland, an inner-city beach, al fresco restaurants and year-round events, you’ll find as many locals here as travellers come the weekend. Facilities and access to the parklands are designed to accommodate wheelchairs, and wheelchairs (including pool and beach wheelchairs) can be hired from the Visitor Information Centre. Highlights include wandering underneath vibrant bougainvillea flowers at The Arbour, exploring the Rainforest Walk, soaking up the sights or sounds of Brisbane River from the Clem Jones Promenade and enjoying the peaceful Nepalese Pagoda. 

You'll also find accessible picnic tables at South Bank's River Quay Green, Riverside Green and Picnic Island Gren. 

Have an animal encounter

From July to November each year, humpback whales visit Brisbane waters on their migration. To witness nature in all its glory, jump onboard with Brisbane Whale Watching: this tour company is well equipped to accommodate guests in wheelchairs, with accessible bathrooms and special procedures to ensure everyone gets to see these frolicking giants.

Want to meet a koala? Head to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, which is wheelchair accessible and has disabled facilities for visitors with limited mobility. There are some hilly areas to manage, however there are accessible viewing platforms, and if you can get a little off-road you can access the kangaroo and wallaby area, and even help feed them. Certified guide, hearing or assistance animals are permitted too (you must notify the park in advance).

South of Brisbane lies Daisy Hill Conservation Park, home to the wheelchair accessible Daisy Hill Koala Centre, the Paperbark nature trail to explore, and accessible day use area with picnic tables and barbeques.

Travel 40 minutes from Brisbane to Trevena Glen, an NDIS approved animal farm experience. Meet the animals in a calm environment centred on capacity building and special needs’ education, with the opportunity to learn to horse ride too.

White Ridge Farm is located in Elimbah, only a few minutes north of Caboolture. With bitumen pathways leading to all animal encounters as well as an accessible toilet close to the main amenities, the farm layout accomodates for wheelchair accessibility. The crew offers inclusive programs and activities to ensure every guest can participate, along with clear signage and communication throughout the facility and quiet, low-sensory spaces for those who might need a break during their visit. If you want some extended time with the friendly farm residents, they also run a volunteer program for people to assist with caring for the animals and maintence of the farm.

Seek adventure on Bribie Island 

Home to national parks, surf beaches and calm, protected swimming spots and bursting with native wildlife, Bribie Island is the perfect day trip from Brisbane (or longer getaway if you have the time).

Explore untouched pockets of the island that you can only reach by 4WD with G’day Adventure Tours. Windows down, learn the history of the island from the front seat as you drive up the white-sand beach to see World War II fortifications and tea-tree stained lagoons. Or take to the calm waters of Pumicestone Passage on board a pontoon boat with Bribie Island Boat Charters, which are accessible for electric wheelchairs.

Wander into a world full of butterflies at Bribie Island Butterfly House, where you can explore an accessible outdoor sanctuary and watch as they fly from flower to flower. Wear bright colours and they may just land on you too!

Get in touch with Brisbane's cultural scene

Looking to immerse yourself in culture? Your first stop should be South Bank, the city’s cultural epicentre.

Feel inspired by a visit to Australia’s largest modern art gallery, GOMA. Rotating exhibitions have featured everything from the Marvel universe to Andy Warhol and Yayoi Kusama – and the gallery has disabled facilities, ramps and lifts throughout, plus wheelchair hire. QAGOMA offers a variety of access programs, including tours for low vision, hearing loops, headphones and neck loops for cochlear implants, as well as a program for people living with dementia. On the last Sunday of every month between January and November there are guided tours of the gallery by Auslan trained guides.

Next door to QAGOMA, Queensland Museum has mind-bending exhibits on lost creatures, dinosaurs, interactive Sparklab amd Sciencentre. It’s also equipped with wheelchair hire, hearing loops, large print guides, sensory equipment and step-free access.

Watch one of the latest theatre, ballet or orchestra performances as QPAC. There’s wheelchair accessible seating and facilities, and all QPAC theatres are equipped with Sennheiser Infra-Red Sound Reinforcement which can assist guests with all levels of hearing impairment including hearing aids. Auslan interpretations are also available on selected performances.

Take the accessible CityCat ferry to New Farm where Brisbane Powerhouse - a former power station turned creative hub - offers a range of exhibitions and performances throughout the year. Wheelchair accessible walkways and lift access connects visitors to the different levels throughout the building, while performance spaces offer accessible seating spaces and hearing loop services, while there are select Auslan performances too. 

Combine Indigenous art and bush tucker at Birrunga Gallery and Dining, one of the many accessible Indigenous experiences here in Queensland. Or journey from the Dreamtime to the 1800s through song, dance and storytelling at Spirits of the Red Sand, a moving Aboriginal live theatre experience that’s fully wheelchair and stroller accessible (note: temporariily closed due to venue relocation). 

Other accessible cultural attractions in the region include:

• Caboolture Historical Village
• Redcliffe Museum
• Bribie Seaside Museum
• Redcliffe Art Gallery
• Caboolture Regional Art Gallery
• Pine Rivers Regional Gallery
• Bribie Island Community Arts Centre
• Old Fire Station Art Gallery
• Old Petrie Town
• Woodford Museum and Art Gallery
• Abbey Museum of Art & Archaeology
• Heritage trails in Deception Bay, Bongaree and Redcliffe

Hit the beach

Brisbane's iconic inner-city lagoon beach, Streets Beach, can be found along the riverside at South Bank Parklands. The beach is free to use, is lifeguard protrolled, and has ramped access into the water from its western side, while a beach wheelchair is available from the Visitor Information Centre. Aquativity is a fun interactive water play area that features activities for the whole family and people of all abilities.

Travellers can also clock up beach time and enjoy Brisbane’s golden sands thanks to beach matting at Woorim Beach and Suttons Beach. Or, take in the views from oceanfront pathways that stretch along our glistening coastline. Check out Bongaree Foreshore on Bribie Island, take your choice of picnic areas as you explore the visual historical trail along Deception Bay Foreshore, and get some of the best views of Moreton Bay while exploring Redcliffe Peninsula Foreshore and Scarborough Foreshore.

Go fishing

Want to throw a line in? There’s accessible fishing spots at some of Moreton Bay’s best, including Bongaree Jetty, Hornibrook Pier, Redcliffe Jetty and Woody Point Jetty.

Wander our nature trails

Hit the pavement all across Brisbane to seek out the best views and fresh air. Moreton Bay Cycle Way is one of the region’s most spectacular seaside pathways, stretching 11km from Scarborough Beach to Ted Smout Memorial Bridge. Be sure to check out the Redcliffe Markets if you’re here on a Sunday morning, or the wheelchair accessible Settlement Cove Lagoon.

In North Lakes, pristine Lake Eden is surrounded by parks, playgrounds and accessible boardwalks to explore. For something a little longer, explore the rail trails with Out There Cycling in Somerset, with a range of adaptive bikes for hire.

Enjoy our parks, playgrounds and green spaces

With endless parks to explore, over 40 all-abilities playgrounds (many with liberty swings) and accessible pools to cool off in, there’s never a dull moment in Brisbane.

In the heart of the CBD you’ll find 16 hectares of stunning gardens to explore on wheelchair accessible pathways at Roma Street Parkland. The lower parkland offers the most accessible gradients, while the picnic area by the lake is equipped with accessible picnic tables and BBQs. The gardens also offer pre-booked sensory walks throughout the month. 

Of course, there's all the riverfront beauty and energy waiting at South Bank Parklands, and another 56 hectares of sub-tropical gardens and displays at Mt Coot-tha’s Botanic Gardens, along with an all abilities playground for the kids. Download the mobility map for more information.

A few of our other favourites include:

• Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks
• Leslie Patrick Park, Arana Hills
• Caboolture Region Environmental Education Centre (CREEC)
• Capalaba Regional Park, Redlands
• Pine Rivers Park, Strathpine
• Settle Cove Lagoon, Redcliffe
• Petrie Mill Adventure Playground, Petrie
• Queens Park, Ipswich

Hang out in Ipswich

There’s so many accessible travel adventures waiting in Ipswich.

Get up close to Australian native wildlife at Ipswich Nature Centre, a free zoo in Queens Park (this park also boasts an all-abilities playground with a liberty swing). Travel back in time at The Workshops Rail Museum, where historic train carriages and one of the largest model train exhibits can be found. Along with wheelchair accessible spaces, the museum offers noise cancelling headphones and sensory kits from the ticket office, as well as sensory-friendly sessions during school holidays. 

Catch a show at Ipswich Little Theatre or Ipswich Civic Centre, or indulge in a little self-care at Ipswich Masssage and Herbal Spa; there's wheelchair access and electronic tables, as well as options for a chair throughout treatment.

Eat & Drink

You’ll find Queensland flavours served up at accessible restaurants around every corner in Brisbane, from the CBD to the suburbs.

Dine at one of Brisbane’s finest, GOMA Restaurant. Tucked into the museum, floor-to-ceiling glass windows offers sweeping city views while you taste your way through the creative, contemporary menu with a focus on sustainable ingredients. Nearby in South Bank, Bacchus offers innovative fine dining and a quintessential high tea experience, alongside an award-winning wine list.

Love to dine with a water view? Howard Smith Wharves will put you in the shadow of the Brisbane skyline and Story Bridge with your pick of 13 restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces - all of which offer level entry and seating options for those with mobility challenges. Or, savour the Queensland sunset from wheelchair-accessible rooftop bars like Valley Hops Brewing or Cielo Rooftop.

Elsewhere around the city you’ll find breakfast at neighbourhood café Goodness Gracious, the perfect cuppa at Joey's Cafe perched by Kangaroo Point cliffs, upmarket pub grub at local watering hole Hope and Anchor, divine pasta at Italian Street Kitchen, and beer and food pairings at West End’s Catchment Brewing Co. Tuck into a seafood feast at River Quay Fish in South Bank, or nab a spot beside the river at Mary Mae’s by Brisbane Powerhouse.

Even our much-loved global outdoor food market Eat Street is wheelchair accessible, with a portable wheelchair ramp, disabled toilet facilities, wide, accessible sealed pathways throughout and PWD parking onsite. Assistance animals are welcome in all areas and there’s free entry for carers – though it’s worth noting that this is a popular (and crowded) spot.

Travel a little further afield and you’ll discover even more. Sitting right on the waterfront overlooking Bribie Island and the Pumicestone Passage, Sandstone Point Hotel is one of the best places to spend a sunny day. The bistro menu is packed with fresh seafood, and local produce features across the menu, with plenty of entertainment too. 

Settle in for lunch, high tea or a candlelit degustation dinner at Ipswich’s charming Queenslander, The Cottage Restaurant. Chef Mark Naoum whips up seasonal, local cuisine with Mediterranean flair and the restaurant is accessible with wheelchair lift and ramps. Prefer casual bites and beer? Head to the 88 Limestone Precinct where 4 Hearts Brewing offers fully wheelchair accessible dining at Pumpyard Bar and Dovetails. Nearby in Springfield, Ballistic Beer Co is an accessible brewery, bar and restaurant. 

Ready to explore more of Queensland? Discover these incredible accessible experiences.