Brisbane gets most of its rain in summer, in short, loud afternoon storms rather than grey all-day drizzle. December to March are the wettest months, and it's not unusual to watch a storm roll across the river at 3pm and be back outside by five. But when it does settle in, this is a good city to be stuck in, because its best indoor attractions are free and sit a few minutes' walk from each other.
Here's how I'd spend a wet day, starting with the obvious answer.
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The South Bank Cultural Centre: four free venues, minutes apart
If it's raining, go to the Cultural Centre at South Bank. Four of the state's big cultural institutions sit in a row along the river, all free to enter, with only a few minutes' dash between their doors.
- Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA): open daily 10am to 5pm, free, with some special exhibitions ticketed. The two buildings are just 150 metres apart. GOMA's Children's Art Centre is always free, and it's one of the best rainy-day spots in the city for kids.
- Queensland Museum Kurilpa, on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets: open daily 9:30am to 5pm, free, no booking needed. Dinosaurs, Queensland's wildlife, and the excellent SparkLab science centre (ticketed, see below).
- State Library of Queensland, between the two galleries: free, with exhibitions, a café, and great river views from the reading rooms. Its children's space, The Corner, is for under-8s and open daily 9:30am to 4pm.
You could easily fill a whole wet day here. Start at the museum when it opens, lunch at the library or one of the gallery cafés, then spend the afternoon at GOMA.
The CBD on a wet day
Cross Victoria Bridge (bring an umbrella) and the city has plenty of covered ground.
- Museum of Brisbane, inside City Hall: free, open daily 10am to 5pm, with exhibitions on the city's history and culture.
- The City Hall clock tower tour is my favourite free thing in Brisbane. It's a 15-minute trip up the old lift to the observation level behind the clock faces, near the top of the 64-metre tower. Tours run every 15 minutes from 10:15am to 4:45pm. They're free, but everyone needs a ticket, so book ahead online or call (07) 3339 0800.
- Brisbane Arcade, between Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street: the city's oldest and grandest arcade, opened in 1924 and heritage-listed. Pair it with the Wintergarden and the other Queen Street Mall centres for a covered wander.
- A movie: Event Cinemas Brisbane City is upstairs in Uptown, the centre formerly known as the Myer Centre.
Our City Essentials heritage walk passes City Hall, if the rain clears.
Indoor fun for kids
- SparkLab at Queensland Museum Kurilpa: a hands-on science centre aimed at ages 6 to 13. Timed tickets cost $16.50 for adults, $13.50 for children aged 5 to 15, and $50 for a family of four.
- The Children's Art Centre at GOMA: free, with changing interactive exhibitions.
- The Corner at the State Library: a play and learning space for under-8s.
- Bouldering at Urban Climb: indoor climbing gyms in West End and Milton, plus a dedicated kids' bouldering gym in Newstead. Recommended from age five, with adult supervision for under-13s.
Getting around is cheap: Translink fares are a flat 50c, children aged four and under ride free, and kids aged 5 to 14 travel free on weekends with a child go card.
Tours and tastings
- The XXXX Brewery tour, at Milton: a tour of Queensland's most famous brewery, with a tasting at the end. Tours run Wednesday to Sunday, cost from $41, need booking and are for over-18s only. It's next to Milton station, one stop from Roma Street, or a 1.5 km walk from the city.
- Queensland Maritime Museum, at the southern end of South Bank: ships, models and a WWII frigate you can explore, partly under cover. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am to 4:15pm.
- A pottery or paint-and-sip class in the CBD, if you'd like to make something.
- The Brisbane Opal Museum, in Windsor, just north of the city: open daily, $10 entry.
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XXXX Brewery tour and beer tasting
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Ride the CityCat in the rain
A rainy day is a good day for the river. Sit inside a CityCat, by the windows, and ride from South Bank out to Northshore Hamilton and back. It costs 50c each way, takes you under the Story Bridge and past the Kangaroo Point cliffs, and the city looks moody and wonderful under storm clouds. Our Brisbane river cruises guide has a stop-by-stop guide to what you're looking at.
Brisbane's wet season: what to expect
- When: December to March is the wettest stretch, with around 140 to 170 mm of rain a month. September is the driest month, with less than 30 mm.
- What it's like: mostly hot, humid days with afternoon or evening storms. Mornings are often clear, so do your outdoor walking early.
- Storm safety: Brisbane storms can bring hail, lightning and flash flooding. Never walk or drive through floodwater, and check the Bureau of Meteorology for warnings.
- The upside: everything is green, the storms are spectacular from a covered balcony, and the galleries are quieter on wet weekdays.