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The Brisbane art galleries to lose yourself in

Kristie Lau-Adams Kristie Lau-Adams
Whether you’re an art connoisseur or simply craving fresh inspiration, the best Brisbane art galleries curate eye-opening creativity.

In my opinion, a trip to any big city isn’t complete without stickybeaking through its artistic epicentres, and Brisbane flows with treasures. I love its major art galleries the most, with many found at South Bank in the centre of town, but there’s also outdoor installations and more low-key exhibits that reliably entertain. Here, my guide to the best Brisbane art galleries to pave a path of wide-eyed wonderment.

In short

If you only visit one of the best Brisbane art galleries, make it QAGOMA, the South Bank double-header. The modern facility (Gallery of Modern Art) reminds me of one of New York City’s soul-stirring art hubs, while the Queensland Art Gallery’s grand lobby instils deep tranquillity.

The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)

a woman admiring artworks at The Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
QAGOMA features revolutionary exhibitions. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

QAGOMA collectively labels two riverside galleries sitting a mere 150 metres apart in South Bank’s Queensland Cultural Centre – and I can’t get enough of either of them. The Queensland Art Gallery offers more of your traditional art experience (with the bonus of a staggeringly grand lobby and a quaint sculpture garden), while the Gallery of Modern Art is, you guessed it, the modern one and home to incredible contemporary artists including Danish-Icelandic Olafur Eliasson whose ‘Presence’ exhibition will light up the end of December 2025 and the first half of 2026. Together, they hold more than 20,000 works of historical, modern, and contemporary art, including iconic Indigenous and Australian collections. Both Brisbane art galleries are open daily from 10am until 5pm and both are incredibly mindful of visitors with access needs – think loanable wheelchairs, sensory kits, assisted hearing services, disabled parking spots and more.

Admission: Free, but certain exhibitions and events are ticketed

Address: Stanley Pl, South Brisbane

Birrunga Gallery

artworks displayed at Birrunga Gallery & Dining, Brisbane
Birrunga Wiradyuri’s creative works span diverse mediums. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

An incredible spot to spy some of the most moving First Nations artwork in the city, Birrunga Gallery is owned and run by Wiradyuri man Birrunga Wiradyuri, an artist himself. His passion creates a special space as creative works span so many different mediums including painting, dance, music, performance, storytelling sessions and more. Step inside to immerse yourself in the history of our beautiful land while an on-site cafe dishes up plates that embrace native ingredients and fresh local produce. It’s open from Monday to Friday, 7am until 5pm, and you’ll need to find street parking as there’s no car park attached to this Brisbane art gallery.

Admission: Free, but certain exhibitions and events are ticketed

Address: 19 Cribb St, Milton

Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery

artworks by Greg Chambers at Brisbane City Council’s Outdoor Gallery
The vibrant artworks of Greg Chambers liven up the entertainment precinct of Fish Lane. (Image: Brisbane City Council)

Move over, Melbourne. Brisbane embraces its sun-drenched outdoor spaces by dotting them with vibrant artworks for all to enjoy. I especially love the big cheesy ‘Brisbane’ sign on the Brisbane River at South Bank (as do my kids who climb through the letters to find impromptu hidey holes). The Brisbane City Council Outdoor Gallery was created to transform traditionally unexpected canvases, like laneways and car parks, into imaginative, curious and engaging spaces. From time to time, the council even stages exhibitions throughout its streets with ‘Amplify Me!’ unveiled in November 2025 and running until October 25, 2026.

Admission: Free

Address: City-wide

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Museum of Brisbane

a family admiring artworks inside the Museum of Brisbane
Admire multiple exhibitions at the Museum of Brisbane. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

A totally hidden gem, despite its loaded title. The Museum of Brisbane is located on the third floor of Brisbane City Hall, an unsuspecting spot I love to escape to when the hustle and bustle of the city (or heat alone) proves too much. One of the best Brisbane art galleries, it’s filled with multiple exhibitions at a time, in addition to tours of the iconic Clock Tower that run every 15 minutes from 10:15am until 4:45 pm. Up your alley? Just make sure you book in advance because spots are limited – the views across the city are that good. It’s open from 10am until 5pm daily and the museum itself welcomes visitors with access needs, but please note that the Clock Tower is not accessible.

Admission: Free

Address: Level 3, Brisbane City Hall, 64 Adelaide St, Brisbane

Brisbane Powerhouse

Brisbane Powerhouse as seen from above
Perched on the waterfront, Brisbane Powerhouse has long been a creativity hub overlooking the Brisbane River. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

The Brisbane Powerhouse is a hub for creativity, art and innovation, set in digs that stare straight out over the Brisbane River. While not exclusively an art gallery, the space is home to a large collection of permanent creative works and temporary installations. It also dons a bunch of heritage-listed graffiti from artists including Lister, Blek le Rat, Kasino and Ben Reeves. Touring big-ticket exhibitions include the World Press Photo Exhibition and the Brisbane Portrait Prize so you can expect huge crowds when something’s in town. The cherry on top? This Brisbane art gallery is also home to Bar Alto, one of the best restaurants in Brisbane, so lunch is sorted. It’s open daily from 9am until late and there’s an on-site car park with paid spaces.

Admission: Free, but certain exhibitions and events are ticketed

Address: 119 Lamington St, New Farm

QUT Art Museum

Installation view of 'Thinking into Being' at QUT Art Museum
‘Thinking into Being’ installation by Emma Coulter at QUT Art Museum.

The Queensland University of Technology’s artistic centre, QUT Art Museum, exhibits more than 2000 objects, including paintings and sculptures, predominantly from Australian artists. The exhibitions are mostly contemporary, technology-enabled or in relation to future tech and innovation so you can expect some mind-blowing action. In December 2025, the space was undergoing repairs due to storm damage, so check the website to see if they’re open during your next Brisbane visit. In much better news, QUT Art Museum’s sister gallery, the William Robinson Gallery, is proudly dedicated to the works by Australia’s pre-eminent landscape artist, William Robinson, so it’s also worth a steady gander.

Admission: Free

Address: Queensland University of Technology 2, George St, Brisbane

Metro Arts

Metro Arts exhibits both visual art and performance, offering a closer look at experimental boundary-pushing schools of thought. Throughout the year, the Brisbane art gallery plays host to guest artists in residence as they extend and experiment with their practice to create new contemporary masterpieces. There are also a series of exhibitions put on over the year. It’s open from Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm, and there’s ample parking within West Village, where the gallery is located.

Admission: Free for art exhibitions, while live events are ticketed

Address: 97 Boundary St, West End

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Woolloongabba Art Gallery

artworks displayed inside Woolloongabba Art Gallery, Brisbane
Woolloongabba Art Gallery’s ethos is steeped in cultural appreciation.

The Woolloongabba Art Gallery is dedicated to a stylistically varied selection of local and Australasian art. The message, overall? Deep cultural appreciation, where sourcing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art is only done through 100 per cent owned and operated systems in and around Brisbane. Inside, there are three exhibition spaces to explore, spanning a multitude of mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture and beyond. It’s open from Tuesday to Friday from 10am until 5pm, plus Saturday from 10am until 3pm. There’s a small car park located right behind the gallery but if it’s full, it’s not too hard to find street parking.

Admission: Free

Address: 613 Stanley St, Woolloongabba

Judith Wright Arts Centre

A performance space for visual arts, and a thriving centre for the development of original contemporary works, the Judith Wright Arts Centre celebrates all styles including cabaret, circus, dance and more. Some of the organisations within the arts centre that regularly stage performances include the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, BlakDance, Circa and the Institute of Modern Art (more on that beauty just below). Visitors should note there’s no on-site parking, but several external parking lots are located within walking distance.

Admission: Free, but performances are typically ticketed

Address: 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley

Institute of Modern Art

Inside the Judith Wright Arts Centre, the Institute of Modern Art in Fortitude Valley is a totally interactive art space that demands its own special mention. Home to genuinely groundbreaking exhibitions, it showcases works that strive to push the boundaries of everything we think we know. It’s a great spot for discovering underrepresented artists that might just shake up your perspective entirely. There’s no on-site parking, but you can leave your wheels in a nearby parking lot.

Admission: Free

Address: Ground Floor, Judith Wright Arts Centre, 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley

Jan Murphy Gallery

artworks on display at Jan Murphy Gallery, Brisbane
See contemporary art of the highest calibre. (Image: Jan Murphy Gallery)

Looking for a traditional art gallery with white walls and rotating painting exhibitions? Jan Murphy Gallery is the spot, opened in 1995 as a dedicated seller of contemporary art of the highest calibre. Large windows facing Brunswick Street showcase the newest exhibitions, luring passers-by through an always fascinating peek before opening their eyes to serious gems. It’s open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am until 5pm.

Admission: Free

Address: 486 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley

Kristie Lau-Adams
Kristie Lau-Adams is a Gold Coast-based freelance writer after working as a journalist and editorial director for almost 20 years across Australia's best-known media brands including The Sun-Herald, WHO and Woman's Day. She has spent significant time exploring the world with highlights including trekking Japan’s life-changing Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage and ziplining 140 metres above the vines of Mexico’s Puerto Villarta. She loves exploring her own backyard (quite literally, with her two young children who love bugs), but can also be found stalking remote corners globally for outstanding chilli margaritas and soul-stirring cultural experiences.
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7 wellness experiences on Hamilton Island for complete rejuvenation

(Credit: Riley Williams)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    Conjuring calm and active adventure in equal measure, Hamilton Island is a tropical tonic for body and mind.

    Hamilton Island knows a thing or two about indulgence. There are long lunches to linger over, seafood towers to savour and poolside loungers designed for guilt-free idling. But for health-minded travellers wanting to feel energised inside and out, this sliver of the Whitsundays takes wellbeing just as seriously. Think yoga mats rolling out at dawn, kayaks skimming turquoise water, state-of-the-art fitness facilities and spa therapists working tropical magic. These Hamilton Island wellness experiences promise to restore, rebalance and leave you feeling brand new.

    1. E-Mountain biking

    mountain bikers on Hamilton Island wellness
    Follow Hamilton Island’s mountian biking trails. (Credit: Harry Gruttner)

    For travellers with an appetite for adrenaline, Hamilton Island’s new self-guided e-mountain biking experience is worth carving out a morning for. Start at HI Trails HQ, where you’ll be fitted with a full-suspension, pedal-assisted e-mountain bike and given a run-through of a nine-kilometre section of the island’s 25-kilometre trail network. The electric boost makes the ride more accessible (and the climbs more manageable), though an intermediate level of fitness is still recommended.

    As a first-time mountain biker, I start off wobbly – taking my time to get used to switching gears and electric modes – and wonder if I’ve overestimated my coordination. But soon something clicks. Suddenly we’re zooming through pockets of eucalyptus and out onto ridgelines with sweeping views of electric blue waters, catching our breath at hidden bays with barely another soul in sight. More than 70 per cent of the island remains untouched, so witnessing these lesser-explored pockets feels like a blessing. It’s the kind of adventure that leaves you buzzing, accomplished and blissfully tired out.

    2. HI Fitness Club

    HI Fitness Club reformer pilates
    Stretch out with reformer pilates.

    If mountain biking isn’t quite your speed, there are plenty of other ways to stay active on the island. One of the newest Hamilton Island wellness experiences, HI Fitness Club now has 24-hour access, offering a fully equipped modern gym, group classes spanning HIIT to yoga, plus two bubbling spas and a sauna waiting to loosen sore muscles.

    I drop in for a Reformer Pilates class. Each of the four machines has its own mini screen with a wide selection of high-quality virtual classes, meaning I can select one that suits my level and mood that day. Beyond Pilates, the virtual library is like a choose-your-own adventure for fitness enthusiasts: dance, Body Pump, Body Combat and GRIT Cardio are among the options. Or perhaps challenge a family member or friend to a hit of tennis at one of the three courts.

    3. Walking trails

    runners on hamilton island
    Get the blood pumping on a morning run.

    We set out early. By 6:45am, we’re halfway up Passage Peak, the highest point on Hamilton Island and widely considered its most impressive vantage point. From the Scenic Trail Entrance, the viewing platform takes around an hour to reach by foot, with moderate inclines that will get your heart pumping without feeling too punishing. The payoff at the top is immediate. Bush-clad Whitsundays islands scatter across the horizon in every direction, the sunrise brushing the scene with soft melon and gold tones. I take my time soaking up the 360° panorama, remembering how powerful an active start in nature can be for clearing the mind and energising the day ahead.

    While Passage Peak is one of the most popular hikes on Hamilton Island, Flat Top Hill Lookout and the longer Southeast Head Trail are also excellent choices.

    4. Spa wumurdaylin

    Spa Wumurdaylin on hamilton island wellness experiences
    Feel your worries melt away at Spa wumurdaylin.

    In a tranquil treatment room at Spa wumurdaylin, the world disappears. The space is all brown stone tiles, bamboo racks and lush garden views, setting the tone for my Soul Temple treatment. My therapist, Kass, begins with a full-body, exfoliating orange buff sugar scrub that feels divine. Next comes the vertical Vichy shower and underwater massage to knead out muscle knots. The sound of cascading water is reminiscent of a tropical rainstorm, and stress becomes a distant memory.

    It’s a prime example of the transportive power of the island’s spa, where guests can come to reset the mind and loosen tension in the body. The menu spans radiance facials to deep release rituals and mud wraps, all using products from pH-balanced skincare brand LaGaia Unedited. Concluding with herbal tea, I leave in a blissful daze.

    5. Sunrise yoga

    sunrise yoga session at the sundays on hamilton island wellness experiences
    Start your day on the right foot.

    Morning movement doesn’t get more surreal than sunrise yoga on The Sundays’ seaside terrace. As we roll out our mats, morning light spills across Catseye Beach below, turning the water into a sheet of molten gold. But the setting only does half the healing. I match my breath to the rhythm of the waves and feel my body gradually lengthen and wake as instructor Tyla Rae guides us through a slow, mindful flow.

    Available exclusively to guests of The Sundays, this session captures the spirit of wellness on Hamilton Island – immersion in nature, slowing down by the sea, recalibrating both body and mind. To round out the experience, the perfect ocean cool-off awaits just steps away.

    6. Getting out on the water

    people on sup boards at the sundays hamilton island
    Try your hand at a host of watersports.

    Speaking of ocean delights, Catseye Beach’s host of watersports delivers spades of fun and rejuvenation. Glide over the crystalline water in a kayak, test your sailing skills in a mini catamaran, spot schools of fish (and a turtle if you’re lucky) from a stand-up paddleboard, or slip into an underwater wonderland when you snorkel off the beach.

    Out here, the water is so clear it feels like floating in glass, and the green silhouettes of the Whitsunday Islands rise on the horizon. Half an hour on the water here is all you need to reset your entire mood.

    Guests staying at qualia, Beach Club, The Sundays, Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows and Hamilton Island Holiday Homes have complimentary access to all these water activities, making it easy to dive right in.

    7. Take a swing

    Dent Island Golf course
    Enjoy incredible views with a swing of golf.

    For others, mindfulness comes from calm concentration – and golf fits the bill to a tee. Designed by five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson, Hamilton Island Golf Club is perched along the scenic ridges of Dent Island. It’s Australia’s only golf course on its own island, making it one of the most scenic golf courses in the world. The experience is suitable for golfers of all skill levels, with spectator bookings also available for those simply wishing to take in the views. Follow the game with a well-earned lunch at the Clubhouse restaurant.

    Find out more ways to unwind in the Whitsundays at hamiltonisland.com.au.