Top 5 Brisbane Car Tours: Your Ultimate Guide

Planning to visit Brisbane? Forget, almost, the usual tourist traps, and think about hitting the road! There’s very much nothing like cruising around, is that so, to find those hidden gems, discover spots that most visitors never even hear about, and do it all at your own speed. To start with, the problem, as you might have guessed, is choosing where to go. Don’t worry too much, yeah? This guide, in some respects, will help you decide on five awesome Brisbane car tours that turn a regular sightseeing day into a story you will retell over and over. Ready? Let’s explore Brisbane’s scenic drives!

1. Brisbane City Highlights Tour

First, want, perhaps, to get a feel for the heart of Brisbane? So, this tour focuses on the city’s main points of interest, blending history, culture, and some really impressive views. You can kick off with the iconic Story Bridge, one of Brisbane’s best recognized spots, or perhaps even plan a climb if you are very keen on seeing the city from above. I’m thinking the next stop might be the South Bank Parklands, basically, Brisbane’s playground with its pretty gardens, beaches (yes, a beach in the city!) and cool cafes. And later, the cultural heart of the city is worth seeing too it’s almost like a string of museums and galleries along the Brisbane River will let you get an closer peek into Queensland’s history and art. Then it is on to a quick stop at the City Botanic Gardens for a wander through nature, which surprisingly sits very happily next to the business district. See Brisbane through a relaxed lens and see places that leave others behind as they struggle to use public transport.

2. Mount Coot-tha Scenic Drive

Looking, like your average person would be, for a great view? Mount Coot-tha, naturally, is where it’s at. Driving up to the lookout is, at the end of the day, a relatively short drive from the city center, and it brings some seriously rewarding panoramic sights. You get to see Brisbane sprawled out, then seemingly reaching all the way to Moreton Bay. Take time, anyway, at the top, and get the most out of it: stroll the gardens or stop for refreshments at the café, perhaps just simply enjoying the sweeping views. If you feel active (very active, perhaps), the surrounding Brisbane Forest Park features heaps of walking tracks with various options that range in effort from simple trails to tougher hikes. It really does make it a perfect break from the urban scenery without heading that far out. It tends to be somewhere visitors forget and leave only to Brisbane residents.

3. Moreton Bay Coastal Cruise

Okay, okay, technically it might be slightly more of a driving-and-ferry kind of tour, Moreton Bay, apparently, has to be experienced. Get your vehicle to the Cleveland or Toondah Harbour, then take a vehicle ferry to either North Stradbroke Island (“Straddie” to locals) or perhaps even Moreton Island. Straddie is popular for it’s laid-back vibes, with fantastic surfing beaches such as Cylinder Beach or Point Lookout where the views and beaches stretch as far as you can see. In winter, keep an eye on the water, as you could well see humpback whales in migration. Moreton Island, however, is really something, yeah? Home to the Tangalooma Wrecks, it makes a fabulous place for snorkelling and diving as there is some seriously incredible marine life. The desert interior has towering sand dunes where it’s extremely hard not to find enjoyment tobogganing down the sand at full speed, which I recommend if you are in anyway capable! Moreton Bay tours usually involve a ferry trip so you might as well pack swimmers and sunblock.

4. Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (Sections)

This is, kind of, for those looking for something more than just tarmac. The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail actually uses the path of a disused railway line that stretches a long, long way – think about around 161 kilometres – out into the countryside. What most people do is drive to certain access points and afterwards walk, cycle or even go horse riding for sections of the path. Pretty popular starting spots can be found at Fernvale or Esk, giving access to some extremely picturesque areas. You’re probably looking at passing farmland, wooded regions, and there are places to catch sights of native wildlife. Make sure, so, that your vehicle suits the route as the access roads can be unpaved, although not always difficult, but certainly rough if you pick the wrong places. Make this journey, if at all, about what’s outside the city, with opportunities along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail that offer an engaging mix of leisure and being outdoors, which you can explore using various transportation.

5. Tamborine Mountain Day Trip

You’re planning a drive up into the Gold Coast Hinterland. That, that would be something, wouldn’t it? Tamborine Mountain gives an escape to a cooler climate and some lusciously green scenery. The drive up there involves quite a few hairpin turns, so pay attention to the traffic and your own driving! And also you’ll pass the scenic views, though, which is really the point. Once you’re at the summit, well naturally, you get rainforest walks, botanic gardens and a cool little shopping area on Gallery Walk, with the potential to spot local arts and crafts. Don’t be hasty, yeah? Sample some locally made treats, with some coffee and fudge places that seem especially appealing. The Tamborine Mountain route lets you see another side of the area round Brisbane; and what is better is that it shows, in some respects, how close Brisbane sits next to fantastic natural environments that are easy to drive to.