Walking Tours Brisbane

This walking tour explores how and why the river is such an integral part of our identity, as you learn about the arrival of convicts and free-settlers, the transformation of the river itself, floods, urbanisation and expansion, through to the city's arrival on the world stage. Explore the people, stories and places that made Brisbane the complex and beautiful Australian city that it is today.
Start your tour at Kurilpa point in front of the beautiful Gallery of Modern Art, then wander into South Bank to immerse yourself in an inner city rainforest before crossing the Neville Bonner Bridge to the city where tough convict beginnings make way for prosperity and change.

On past some of our most iconic buildings as we delve into the river's ebbs, flows and floods, then through the Botanic Gardens to hear about some of the crazy inhabitants and how we have altered the shape of the river over time. We end our tour taking in the breath-taking views from the Kangaroo Point bridge, looking out to the cliffs and the iconic depression-era Story Bridge.

Walk with our expert guide through the centre of Brisbane to discover the history of General Macarthur and the American and Australian Forces commanding the Pacific theatre of War from Brisbane. Learn about Brisbane’s coming of age through local political riots, two World Wars, and the extraordinary stories of goodwill and immense tension between these two great Allies during World War Two.
A tour not to be missed.

This walk begins with the incredible views from Skydeck, atop Queens Wharf, where we will introduce the history of Brisbane and the country town that it still was in the 1940’s, when war came to the South Pacific and the Japanese threat was imminent.
We will then explore the CBD, stopping at key points of Brisbane war history, controversy and tension between the Australian and American allies, before proceeding to City Hall to discover its role in the wartime stationing of American forces.
Making our way down Queen Street, we will hear about chemical warfare and the vital role the famous Brisbane decoders played in the war effort, then onto General Macarthur's wartimes Headquarters before proceeding to the site of the infamous 'battle of the Allies' – World War II’s secret and devastating battle on home soil.
We will conclude at Anzac Square, a stunning greenspace that commemorates the many battles fought by Australian men and women.


Start Location: Skydeck, Level 24, Queen's Wharf (in front of the Cicada Blue Bar)

Tour Language: English


Tour Duration: 2.5hrs


Tour Grade: Easy


Tour Distance: 2.8 kilometres.