Steps from the Queensland Performing Arts Centre is Brisbane's slightly more modest version of the giant observation wheels now common in cities from London to Melbourne. The enclosed gondolas rise to nearly 60m, which, while not spectacularly high, still offers a revealing, 360-degree panorama of the skyline. Rides last 10 to 15 minutes and online bookings enjoy a nominal discount.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Brisbane attractions

1. South Bank Parklands

0.06 MILES

Should you sunbake on a sandy beach, saunter through a rainforest, or eye-up a Nepalese peace pagoda? You can do all three in this 17.5-hectare park…

2. Queensland Art Gallery

0.24 MILES

While Brisbane's main art museum includes numerous international works, its forte is its Australia collection. This includes works by heavyweights like…

3. Queensland Museum & Sciencentre

0.24 MILES

Dig deeper into Queensland history at the state's main historical repository, where intriguing exhibits include a skeleton of the state’s own dinosaur…

4. Queensland Cultural Centre

0.25 MILES

On South Bank, just over Victoria Bridge from the CBD, the Queensland Cultural Centre is the epicentre of Brisbane’s cultural confluence. Surrounded by…

5. Commissariat Store Museum

0.25 MILES

Built by convicts in 1829, this former government storehouse is the oldest occupied building in Brisbane. Inside is an immaculate little museum whose main…

6. Stanley St Plaza

0.25 MILES

Home of the weekend Collective Markets South Bank, this renovated, touristy section of historic Stanley St is flanked by mainstream cafes, restaurants, a…

7. Treasury Building

0.31 MILES

At the western end of the Queen St Mall is the magnificent Italian Renaissance–style Treasury Building, dating from 1889. No tax collectors inside – just…

8. State Library of Queensland

0.34 MILES

Sandwiched between the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane's pre-eminent library hosts free, often fascinating exhibitions…