Audio Tour of Brisbane: From Convict Colony to Modern Metropolis

About this tour

Brisbane’s transformation from a harsh penal settlement into a vibrant river city is a fascinating story. On this self-guided audio tour, you’ll discover how Queensland’s capital grew from its tough convict roots to become Australia’s third-largest city. Its colonial past is still etched into the cityscape through the heritage buildings – some built by convicts themselves. Starting at the Visitor Information Centre in Queen Street Mall, you’ll walk along what was once a dusty dirt track surrounded by convicts, the soldiers guarding them, and the odd settler. As you wander, you’ll notice reminders of Brisbane’s evolution – from dramatic flood markers to a curious safety net installed to catch falling windows from a high-rise building! The tour ends at Brisbane’s exciting new Queen’s Wharf Development, featuring The Star Brisbane and the stunning Sky Deck with its breathtaking views.

Why we list this tour

We're an independent backpacker guide to Byron Bay. This tour is part of the broader Viator catalogue we list to give you a complete picture of what's bookable in the region — beyond our hand-picked editorial directory of local operators we know personally.

When you book through the link on this page, the price you pay is the same as booking direct on Viator or via the operator. We earn a small commission from Viator (currently 8%), which funds the site without changing the price for you. We don't pick tours based on commission — we list them based on whether they're relevant to backpackers visiting the region.

For more context on tour-booking economics + how we work with operators, see our operator partnership page. For the local-operator alternatives we know best (Soul Surf School, Go Sea Kayak, Cape Byron Kayaks, Sundive, Aunty Delta Kay's Bundjalung walks), see our editorial things-to-do directory.