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Brisbane Travel Guide
Buy Australian DollarsBrisbane at a glance
Brisbane, Queensland's capital, is the relaxed, subtropical alternative to Sydney and Melbourne: a river city with a walkable CBD, free riverside parklands and easy access to the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Two or three days covers it, and it pairs naturally with the Gold Coast to the south. There is no nonstop flight from India, so most Indian visitors connect through an Asian or Gulf hub, or fly up from Sydney or Melbourne.
Public transport is the cheapest in Australia: a flat 50 cents a trip on every Translink bus, train, ferry and tram, paid with a go card or a contactless Visa or Mastercard, including prepaid and travel cards. That includes the CityCat river ferries, the best sightseeing ride in town. The exception is the privately run Airtrain from the airport, AUD 23.30 one way, or 15% less bought online before the day.
South Bank's Streets Beach, a lifeguarded man-made lagoon, is free, as are the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art; the Wheel of Brisbane costs about AUD 25. Bus 471 runs from the CBD to the Mount Coot-tha lookout in about 35 minutes, with the last return around 5 pm.
Indian passport holders need a Visitor visa (subclass 600), AUD 250 from 1 July 2026, and since 1 October 2026 card surcharges are banned on eftpos, Visa and Mastercard, so the displayed price is what you pay.
Where to stay
The CBD is compact, and 50-cent ferries and buses reach the rest.
The CBD
Central and walkable, by Queen Street Mall and the river, with CityCat and train links in every direction; the straightforward first-time base.
South Bank
Across the river from the CBD: the parklands, Streets Beach and the museums, a short walk or ferry ride from the centre.
Fortitude Valley
Brisbane's nightlife and live-music district, one train stop from Central, for livelier evenings.
Paying in Brisbane
For the Australian dollar itself, the visa, the Tourist Refund Scheme and how much cash to carry, see the Australia travel guide and our page on the Australian dollar.
Cards and phones work almost everywhere, including markets. Translink takes Visa and Mastercard, including prepaid and travel cards, and no cash on board. Carry AUD 150 to 250 in cash as a backup, and when a terminal or ATM offers rupees, choose Australian dollars.
What Brisbane actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in Australian dollars and Indian rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 3 October 2026, A$1 ≈ ₹66.99, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹3,680 to ₹14,740 per person per day on the ground, excluding flights and accommodation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Airtrain, airport to the city | AUD 23.30, 15% off online |
| Translink bus, train, ferry or tram, any trip | AUD 0.50 |
| Streets Beach, Queensland Museum, GOMA | Free |
| Wheel of Brisbane | about AUD 25 |
| Casual meal for one | AUD 18-30 |
Getting around
Translink's flat 50-cent fare covers every bus, train, ferry and tram in South East Queensland, and changing vehicles on one journey counts as one fare. Tap on and off with a go card or a contactless Visa or Mastercard; there is no cash on board. The CityCat runs along the river from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton, and the council's CityHopper ferry is free.
From the airport, the Airtrain reaches the city in about 20 minutes for AUD 23.30, and two or more adults travelling together pay AUD 17 each. The cheap route, a free terminal bus to Skygate, then bus 590 and a train for one 50-cent fare, takes 60 to 90 minutes and works only in the daytime, as the loop bus stops at about 6 pm.
Common mistakes in Brisbane
Packing Indian food without declaring it
Declare all food on arrival or bin it. Cumin, coriander and fennel seeds, dried chillies and raw rice are not allowed in, ghee and milk sweets are likely to be refused, and fines run up to AUD 7,280.
Expecting a 50-cent Airtrain
The Airtrain is privately run and charges AUD 23.30 even on a go card. Buy online before the day for 15% off.
Treating the Gold Coast as a half-day trip
Surfers Paradise is about 1.5 hours away by train and tram. Give it its own stay.
Skipping the CityCat
At 50 cents, the river ferry is the cheapest sightseeing in the city.
Brisbane FAQs
Two to three days covers the city. It works well before or after the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast.
Yes. Indian passport holders cannot use the ETA or eVisitor and need a Visitor visa (subclass 600, Tourist stream), applied for online through ImmiAccount. The charge is AUD 250 from 1 July 2026. In late September 2026, half of applications were decided within 21 days and 90% within 33. Biometrics are requested only in some cases.
AUD 23.30 one way to any city station, by ticket, go card or contactless card, or 15% less bought online before the day. Two or more adults together pay AUD 17 each.
Yes, in the daytime: a free terminal bus to Skygate, then bus 590 and a train, all for one 50-cent fare. Allow 60 to 90 minutes; the loop bus stops at about 6 pm.
Yes. Translink takes contactless Visa and Mastercard, including prepaid and travel cards, at the flat 50-cent fare. There is no cash on board.
About an hour by train to Helensvale, and about 1.5 hours to Surfers Paradise with the tram, all at 50-cent fares.
On 3 October 2026 one Australian dollar was ₹66.99 at the mid-market rate, so AUD 100 is about ₹6,700.
More guides in Australia
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