This 11-acre wildlife reserve is a great place to see some of Australia’s most well-known and unique animals, like kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, and of course, koalas! There are more than 130 koalas that live in the sanctuary, making it a great place to see and learn about these fascinating animals. Some special programs at that sanctuary even allow you to hold a koala.

Brisbane has two amazing botanic gardens for you to explore! The City Botanic Gardens is just a short 20-minute walk from the ILSC campus and offers a 49-acre oasis of nature right within the city. Just 45 minutes away by transit, you’ll find the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens which includes collections of native and exotic plants, and a variety of themed gardens.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge, which is just one of the 15 major bridges that cross the Brisbane river, connects Fortitude Valley with Kangaroo Point. The bridge has pedestrian and cycling paths, but for a real adventure, try a 3-hour Story Bridge climb to take in fantastic city views and get your adrenaline pumping, then abseil your way down into Captain Burke Park below.

Nature and culture meet at Southbank! This top spot for visitors includes a city beach, walking and cycling paths, lovely picnic and BBQ spots, and a mix of excellent restaurants, cafes and bars. Southbank also overflows with arts and culture, offering galleries, theatre, comedy, music, dance performances and more. Be sure to go for a ride on the iconic Wheel of Brisbane for breathtaking 360° views of the city.

The winding river that meanders through the heart of Brisbane is the city’s most defining feature, and what better way to explore it than by boat. River Cruises offer a guided tour experience and take you past iconic sights like the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, the Story Bridge, and more. River Cruises are a great introduction to the city – make some notes of places you want to see up close later in your visit.

Enjoy a day trip, or a weekend camp on Moreton Island, the world’s third largest sand island. Just a ferry ride away from Brisbane, Moreton Island is filled with fun things to do. Go whale watching, swimming or parasailing. At popular Tagalooma Island Resort, you can also feed dolphins, explore sand dunes, and snorkel through 15 shipwrecked vessels that are filled with local marine life.

Hop on the train, and head south for a sunny weekend getaway on the Gold Coast. Just an hour and a half away from Brisbane, the Gold Coast is one of Australia’s most well-known tourist destinations, and beach-lovers will adore its 52km of sandy coastline. “Surfers Paradise” is the heart of all the action, filled with great shopping, hotels, night markets, amusement parks, and glittering nightlife.

QAGOMA, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, sit across from each other in Southbank, and together house more than 17 000 artworks by Australian and worldwide artists. The gallery has a large collection of contemporary Asian and Pacific art, as well as collections of indigenous Australian art including works from local aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.