Centre stage: accessible art, music, and cultural experiences

Whether you’re a Brisbane local or here to visit, inspiring, cultural activities are wide-ranging and many across this creative city. For accessible experiences and attractions that centre on art and leisure, look no further than these venues.

Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art

The Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) is a celebration of art, creative ideas and activities. This forward-thinking venue is cleverly designed to ensure all visitors are welcomed in with ease and can enjoy the exhibitions and art-fuelled experiences on site. QAGOMA offers wheelchair access and free hire, a hearing loop system, free sensory kits, guide dog allowance and hidden disability sunflower lanyards. In addition, the last Sunday of every month offers guided tours by an Auslan trained guide.

Channel Seven Wheel of Brisbane

For those comfortable with great heights , the Channel Seven Wheel of Brisbane offers an accessible experience, and unmatched views over South Bank and the Brisbane River. Staff are trained to assist those with a mobility disability to access the loading platform which is ramped from the ticket office. The fully enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas ascend to 60 metres above the parklands below and allow the option to play an audio guide to the sights beyond your windows.

Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is home to some of the world’s best and most entertaining productions – from musicals and plays to live music shows and comedies, and the inspirational works of Opera Queensland. QPAC works to ensure guests of all abilities can enjoy their experience, by implementing hearing assistance with Listentech and ListenRF, accessible seating options, and are welcoming of guide dogs and more.

Brisbane City Hall and The Museum of Brisbane

A homage to all things Brisbane, Museum of Brisbane (MoB) sits hidden within the iconic City Hall. MoB offers a historical retrospective of the city while celebrating the emerging creatives of today.. The museum has applied accessibility initiatives, welcoming assistance dogs, wheelchair access, access to a sensory map and more.

Fortitude Music Hall

All fans of live music and comedic performances are given an experience to remember at Fortitude Music Hall in Fortitude Valley. The wheel-chair accessible venue ensures all guest are comfortable and have a great view of the live performances at this purpose-built venue.

Appetite for gastronomic adventure? Here’s where to eat and drink

From casual marketplace eats to sophisticated, contemporary culinary fare, the accessible dining and drinking destinations in Brisbane are many, and deliciously varied.

Howard Smith Wharves

Your biggest challenge at Brisbane’s shining riverside dining and drinking precinct is choosing which of its enticing venues to try first. Accessible by elevators from both the neighbouring clifftops and the underground carpark, this spacious district allows people with all mobility to get around with ease. All restaurants along this stretch have level entries and seating options for all. This means everyone can enjoy delicious food and drink from the large array restaurants and bars. Howard Smith Wharves offer it all with a front-row view of the Brisbane River.

Rivermakers

A little further down the river in Morningside, bustling neighbourhood gourmet hub Rivermakers is home to a collection of accessible experiences and attractions. Nestled within its reimagined Heritage Quarter (HQ) is popular beer-sipping spot Revel Brewing Co. and Bavay Distillery, where you can make your own take-home spirits on site or enjoy tasting housemade gin and rum. And, once you’ve refuelled (we recommend sampling a classic pub meal at Revel), you could visit Mas & Miek ceramic workshop to unleash your inner ceramicist.

South Brisbane restaurants

South Bank has an abundance of restaurants, cafés and bars that are easily accessible by all types of mobility. The majority of these venues are on ground level and have seating options for all, so why not take your taste buds on a trip around the world? A shor distance from South Bank you will find Fish Lane, another incredible food precinct that provides a lot of level access to each venue. The first two blocks have the easiest access of the precinct where you can enjoy drinks at Maker, Bar Brutus and Saccharomycers Beer Café or delicious Asian inspired eats at Southside and Hello Please. It should be noted that the last two blocks have narrow footpaths and limited curb cuts to be aware of.

There are also accessible restaurants, bars and cafés throughout Brisbane that ensure people with all mobility can enjoy the culinary delights that Brisbane has to offer. Book a spot at La Vue Waterfront Restaurant, Blackbird Bar,  Malt Dining, and Alchemy Restaurant in Brisbane City, C'est Bon Restaurant & Le Bon Bar in Woolloongabba, Chu The Phat in South Brisbane, and Lefka’s Taverna and Bar Francine in West End to get you started.

Wide open spaces: accessible parks in Brisbane

For those in need of some fresh air and a spot of nature and greenery in the city, Brisbane’s sprawling parks and gardens offer a peaceful place for reprieve.

Roma Street Parkland

Abundant plant life, landscaped gardens, ideal picnic spots and accessible pathways makes Roma Street Parkland a tranquil spot to while away a day. The park has ensured that it beautiful parklands are accessible to all through its gentle gradients on the boardwalks and paths that go throughout the whole gardens. There is also accessible picnic tables barbeques and bathrooms available. Additionally, the gardens offer pre-booked sensory walks, Auslan interpreter walks and group walks for those with special needs. Although they must be booked in advance, these services are free of charge.

South Bank Parklands

South Bank continues to offer more experiences for all, including through its public parklands. Visit the famed Streets Beach swimming pool that has ramped access as well as a beach access wheelchair available for hire. Getting around South Bank is also easy and beautiful as there are concrete pathways, many shaded beneath the blooming bougainvillea flowers.

City Botanic Gardens

Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens always has something to see, the Bamboo Grove, Weeping Fig Avenue and ornamental ponds, are just some of the crowd favourites. The gardens has ensured that everyone can enjoy these beautiful sights with gentle sloping on boardwalks, paths and concrete, picnic tables suitable for wheelchairs and a playground that offers a number of ‘all-abilities’ elements.

Riverlife Tandem Bike Hire

Unsure on the best way to explore Brisbane’s beautiful parks? Riverlife, located in Kangaroo Point, has a tandem bike for half-day, full-day or weeklong hire that comfortably fits a rider and a wheelchair on the back. This choice of transport lets you and a friend or a loved one explore the parklands at your own speed whilst creating unforgettable memories.

Explore (a little) further afar

You needn’t travel far to uncover these picturesque destinations just beyond the city limits. Beautiful beachscapes, vineyards and old-world charm are just around the corner – better yet, they’re accessible for all day-trippers.

Scenic Rim

The Scenic Rim is bursting with accessible activities which allows everyone to enjoy the lush and picturesque scenery. Tamborine Mountain have some incredible accessible locations, the Botanic Gardens is mostly accessible for wheelchairs as well as a garden guide app downloadable on Apple and Android devices, the Gallery Walk is completely level with all shops either being level or accessible through ramped access. The Tambourine Rainforest Skywalk has the upper walkway and cantilever lookout that are step free and of gentle gradients, caution should be exercised as the deck is made of expanded metal grates with small holes. The Summer Land Camel Farm, although is outside, can be accessed with suitable wheelchairs and the attached café is also accessible by all.

Sirromet Winery

A popular spot for wine enthusiasts and active wildlife alike, Mount Cotton’s Sirromet Winery combines many of life’s greatest pleasures in one accessible location. Sip top-notch wines outdoors with a view over the sprawling vineyards, while wallabies hop through lavender fields, enjoy a wine tasting, visit Restaurant Lurleen’s for a spot of sophisticated dining, and book a staycation at the luxurious Sanctuary by Sirromet.

Tangalooma Island Resort

Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island/ Mulgumpin is an ideal trip just off the coast with clear waters, white sand, endless activities to keep you occupied. The resort aims to make as much of its offerings available to everyone as possible. There is wheelchair access hotel rooms, wheelchair access for boat transfers, submersible wheelchairs, beach wheelchair hire, buggy hire and beach access ramps.

Ready to access more of Brisbane? Plan your visits to the best Brisbane accessibility experiences and attractions today.