Take a walk with Brisbane Greeters

Brisbane Greeters is made up of over 100 proud local volunteers who dedicate their time to introducing visitors to the sights, sounds and stories of this vibrant city. It’s part of the International Greeter Association which began in New York City in 1992, and has grown here in Brisbane to offer daily walking tours of the CBD plus a range of tours of some our most historically significant precincts, such Teneriffe/New Farm, Kangaroo Point, and Paddington.

This is your chance to see Brisbane through the eyes of a local, as they introduce you to their favourite spots and hidden secrets. You’ll gain insight into the city’s history, how to use Brisbane’s public transport, top entertainment venues, great food and shopping locations, and where to find the most vibrant cultural nightlife.

The icing on the cake? All tours with Brisbane Greeters are free (though bookings in advance are essential), and you’ll only pay for public transport used during the program, any food and drinks tasted or admission and hire fees if applicable.

What tours can you take? 

Step off the mainstream tourist path and into a city full of surprises with your local guide.

If this is your first visit, the Brisbane Greeter’s Choice tour is a great place to start – but there are adventures for all interests. Discover many of Brisbane’s original buildings, from Old Government House and heritage-listed shopping arcades to City Hall’s Italian influence (the white marble staircase is marble from Carrara in Italy, the iconic bell tower was inspired by St Mark’s in Venice, while the dome took influence from the Pantheon in Rome).

Be introduced to the rich cultural heritage, the ever-growing food scene, the many green spaces that wrap around Brisbane’s sparkling riverfront, and sink your toes into the sand of the city’s very own beach.

You can also take a tour of flourishing mural-filled Fish Lane to get in touch with Brisbane’s world class arts scene. On the 21st Century Brisbane tour you will find iconic pieces that are a little less public, like Yayoi Kusama’s Eyes Are Singing Out in the open space between the Magistrate’s Court and the Supreme Court. Or maybe you’ll meet a kangaroo right in the city. These scrap-metal masterpieces by artist Christopher Trotter take pride of place on George Street near the entrance to Burnett Lane.

Got your eye on a particular local icon or neighbourhood? Take a tour of Teneriffe and New Farm or Paddington, and even the heritage-listed Walter Taylor Bridge in Indooroopilly, which opened in 14 February 1936. Not only is it the longest span suspension street in Australia, it’s the Southern Hemisphere’s only habitable bridge. You could be one of the lucky people who get to explore the apartment suspended high above the river, and get a taste of what life might be like living inside a bridge.

Who can go on the tours?