From Story Bridge to Tangalooma Island: a journey into the heart of Brisbane

Brisbane - the capital of Queensland, Australia - in spring is full of Wunya - a friendly greeting in the Yuggera and Gubbi Gubbi languages. It is an invitation to connect with the land of rivers, forests and clear skies.

Albert Street Uniting Church - one of Brisbane's oldest and most historically significant churches and Brisbane City Hall (built 1920-1930) with its iconic Clock Tower standing approximately 87 metres above ground level. It was the tallest structure in Brisbane until the 1960s - Photo: QN

In Brisbane, the city is not confined by concrete, but stretches down to the river, interwoven with nature. A CityCat ferry ride is enough to show you that Brisbane is a city that is both modern and close, where urban life blends with the waves.

After an 8-hour direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Brisbane, we had three days without a single minute wasted, immersing ourselves in bustling areas, enjoying adventures in the heart of the city both ancient and modern, discovering world- class events, experiencing great art and culture.

Explore Brisbane from city life to stunning views on Story Bridge

Story Bridge is a historic steel bridge that connects the banks of the Brisbane River, and is also one of three bridges in the world that allows visitors to climb to the top (along with Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia and Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand). Climbing up the stairs, following the 80-meter-high steel arch, you will feel your heart beat faster with each step. When you reach the top, a 360-degree view opens up before your eyes: the Glass House Mountains to the north, the Gold Coast Hinterland to the south, and below is the winding Brisbane River, dividing the city into vibrant pieces - Photo: SBC

On your first morning in Brisbane, take a leisurely stroll around James Street - a trendy street with boutique shops, small cafes hidden in alleys, and a "village in the city" atmosphere. It is both modern and peaceful enough for you to feel the slow pace of life of the locals.

Among the many high-rise buildings in the central area, the City Hall and the churches with bold 19th-century European architectural style on the surrounding streets will certainly attract the eyes and "hold the feet" of tourists.

And if Sydney has the Opera House, Brisbane has Story Bridge - a classic steel bridge that has become a symbol of the city. People come to Brisbane not only to admire it from afar, but also to climb it.

The Story Bridge Adventure Climb takes you from the heart of the city to the top of the soaring bridge, where the wind caresses you and the panoramic view of Brisbane unfolds before your eyes. It's a heart-pounding moment, as if you've just crossed the line between everyday life and adventure.

From above 80m, the Brisbane River shimmers like a green silk ribbon across the city. You realize that this place is both modern and peaceful, both energetic and full of life. A moment that makes every long flight worth it.

Felons Brewing Co. - a modern brewery, neatly located at the foot of Story Bridge, right on the banks of the Brisbane River - is a suggestion for you to watch the sunset. This is an open space where everyone, from family, friends to even dogs (pets) are welcome to enjoy fresh brews, delicious food and bustling music - Photo: QN

After finishing the "bridge climbing" journey, following the riverbank, you will come to Howard Smith Wharves - a vibrant riverside complex. Restaurants and bars are located right on the water, where you can sip cocktails and watch the river change colors at sunset.

From here, hop on the CityCat ferry - Brisbane's unique public ferry system. On board, you'll see the city through its bridges, riverside parks, and green residential areas.

Brisbane residents often use the CityCat as their daily means of transport, a kind of water bus. Tourists often combine hop-on/hop-off: get on - off to explore famous places such as: South Bank, West End or University of Queensland... for only 50 cents for all ferry routes!

CityCat ferry - Brisbane's special public ferry system takes you along the river, watching each bridge, to Queen's Wharf to watch the Skylore Drone Show. Hundreds of drones paint the story "Spirit of the Whale" in the sky, recreating the whale legend associated with indigenous culture - Photo: QN

We were lucky to be in Brisbane during the festival, and the Skylore Drone Show at Queen's Wharf - a new complex of modern architecture, parks, and riverside shops - was a brilliant end to the day. Hundreds of drones flew over the river, lighting up the sky, telling the story of the Spirit of the Whale - a legendary whale associated with Queensland's waters.

The ocean, the desert and "the friends you meet every sunset"

Early on the second morning, I took the express train from Brisbane, surfing the deep blue sea to Tangalooma Island on Moreton Island. In just over an hour, I was in a completely different world - where untouched nature is evident in every grain of sand, every wave, every forest.

And happily, this is the time when humpback whales migrate through Queensland (including Brisbane and Moreton Bay). So visitors often have the opportunity to see whales breaching, flapping their fins... while gazing out at the vast ocean on the high-speed ferry to Tangalooma Island.

One of the must-do activities on the island in the morning is snorkeling around The Wrecks. The waters off Tangalooma are home to 15 old ships that were deliberately sunk in the 1960s to create a breakwater.

Over the years, nature has transformed them into a "coral kingdom" with colorful tropical fish, sea turtles and even giant rays. Diving in the crystal clear water, you will feel like you are swimming in a giant aquarium created by nature.

On land, Tangalooma offers another challenge: sand tobogganing. Standing on top of towering red sand dunes, holding a wooden board, you rush down at speeds that can reach over 40 km/h. The sand is flying everywhere, the wind is whistling in your ears, but when you stop at the foot of the hill, all that remains is laughter and the feeling of "I just touched a wild part of nature".

Pied cormorants and pelicans roam freely and are your friendly companions throughout your stay on Tangalooma Island. Driving off-road through the sandy desert, through rough roads, from green forests straight to white sand beaches, where nature displays interesting contrasts, is one of the memorable experiences here before stopping to enjoy a cocktail and watch the orange sunset on the island - Photo: QN

If you want to explore further, you can join a 4WD tour across the island. The off-road vehicle takes visitors from lush green forests to dry red deserts, from soft white sand dunes to roaring beaches. Moreton Island is like a "microcosm" of Australia - where nature displays all the contrasts but always connects together in balance.

As the sun sets, sitting by the beach with a cocktail in hand, watching the sun sink into the ocean, you will understand why Brisbane and its surrounding areas are often called “nature at your fingertips”. This is not just a trip to see the sights, but to touch, to feel and to remember.

Clip of feeding wild dolphins on Tangalooma beach - Video: Glen

At night, Tangalooma Beach becomes magical with dolphin feedings. As the sun sets, wild bottlenose dolphins swim close to shore, glistening in the moonlight. Tourists line up, each gently placing small fish in their hands as an offering to the dolphins.

The feeling of being up close with an intelligent wild animal, seeing it leisurely catch its dinner and swim away, is a special experience that can only be found in a few places in the world. Here, dolphins are not kept in captivity. They roam freely in the sea, but have bonded with humans for generations, becoming "sunset companions".

Forests, animals and riverine life

Back in Brisbane after our island hopping trip, we embarked on the third day of our exciting journey. In the morning, the "river cruise + koala" took us along the Brisbane River, lined with lush greenery and million-dollar homes reflecting on the sparkling water.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is one of the most iconic and attractive destinations in Brisbane, Australia. It is famous for being the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the world (established in 1927). You can hand-feed the animals on the vast lawn, watch sheepdog shows, watch birds of prey shows...

The destination is Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary - considered the world's largest "koala paradise". Here, you can see koalas sleeping in eucalyptus trees, gently hold a koala for a photo, feed kangaroos on the vast grass or listen to the kookaburra birds. The feeling of being close to the native animal world brings a sense of relaxation that is hard to find in any urban area.

In the afternoon, it's time to stop by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) to see contemporary art and works by indigenous artists, or simply sit at a small riverside cafe, listening to the rhythm of Brisbane life blend with the sound of water.

Our final journey of the day took us back to the city centre and stopped at South Bank Parklands - the green heart of Brisbane. This is not only a riverside park, but also a "beach in the heart of the city".

Streets Beach - a public swimming pool designed like a beach, Brisbane Wheel, BRISBANE sign and Arbour Walk - a purple bougainvillea dome road... are destinations not to be missed.

The must-see destination of this area is Streets Beach - a public swimming pool designed as a long stretch of white sand, clear blue water, palm trees and artificial waterfall, creating a cool oasis in the middle of the modern city. Children play in the sun, families stroll on tree-lined streets, tourists spread out towels on the grass to read books, all creating a lively and warm picture of Brisbane life.

On weekends, it becomes Brisbane's outdoor 'living room': family picnics, craft markets, street food stalls, outdoor music performances and street art shows.

Along Arbour Walk - the purple bougainvillea dome - you can stroll and admire the spring colors stretching out. And when the sun sets, the Wheel of Brisbane (The Wheel of Brisbane is 60 meters high, including 42 cabins) becomes especially attractive when lit up by more than 65,000 LED lights, creating a brilliant highlight in the night sky of South Bank.

At the end of a short three-day tour, Brisbane is present in the memories of visitors as a city not only with rivers, bridges and skyscrapers but also with sea, sand, forests and a full community life. If you want to find a youthful, green and experience-rich Australian city, Brisbane is a destination worthy of being on your "wish list".

QUYNH NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tu-story-bridge-den-dao-tangalooma-hanh-trinh-cham-vao-trai-tim-brisbane-20251004225827469.htm