Beside the City Botanic Gardens in central Brisbane, many visitors to the city walk or drive past Parliament House. Still, it’s also possible–and encouraged–to take a closer look inside. Free guided tours run in the afternoons, and when parliament is in session, members of the public are allowed to observe the politicians at work. If you’re not interested in going inside or the tour timings don’t align, you can admire the building from the outside, independently or on a walking tour of Brisbane.
Bookings are not required to take a guided tour and are free of charge. They take about 30 minutes.
Guided tours depart from the visitor information area of the Parliamentary Annexe Building. Head to the Legislative Assembly Chamber public gallery on the second floor to watch parliament in session.
You’ll need to show a government-issued photo ID to take a guided tour or visit the public gallery.
Parliament House is located in central Brisbane, and you can get there quickly on foot, by bus, train, or ferry. The nearest bus stop is on Alice Street, on the western side of the City Botanic Gardens. It’s very close to Parliament House. The nearest train station, Roma Street, is about a 20-minute away. To get there by ferry, alight at the QUT Ferry Terminal and walk a short distance north.
Parliament House is open Monday–Friday, except on public holidays. Guided tours operate on weekends on the hour in the afternoons. When parliament is sitting, only one guided tour is offered in the mid-afternoon. You can check when parliament is sitting on the Queensland Government website.
Parliament House is right beside Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens, so combining visits to both places makes sense. The heritage-listed gardens were first established in 1825 and contain many mature trees and plants, including rare and unusual species. They’re free to enter, and there are many attractions to stroll between, including a Bamboo Grove, a Weeping Fig Avenue, and ornamental ponds.
