Having a high old time in Brisbane

With everything from abseiling off a cliff to soaring above the clouds in a fighter jet on offer, you'll find plenty of natural ways to have a high old time in Brisbane.

What's more, with so many activities concentrated around the city centre, you can cram as much heart-pumping, adrenaline-racing action into the day as you like. Start with mountain biking in the morning, go kayaking in the afternoon and round your day off with a climb to the summit of the Story Bridge as the sun goes down. Perfect!

Climb an icon

The newest and most spectacular way to discover Brisbane is to climb the city's iconic Story Bridge. Along with the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb is one of only three such experiences in the world (the third is Auckland Harbour Bridge in New Zealand). On the two-and-a-half hour climb you'll scale to the top of the famous steel latticed bridge in single file and cross metal catwalks to discover the city from a spectacular bird's-eye perspective. Here at the highest point of the bridge, some 80 metres above the Brisbane River, you'll be rewarded with uninterrupted 360 degree views of Brisbane, the river and the surrounding mountains. Just be sure to stop and drink it all in.

Details: Guided tours, which can be experienced day and night, depart from Wednesday to Sunday from the head office of Story Bridge Adventure Climb on Main Street in Kangaroo Point.

Find out more: Story Bridge Adventure Climb

Discover a river adventure

Want to experience the thrill of height and gravity and have an adrenaline rushing view of the city at the same time? Then step off the edge of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and into the vertical world of abseiling. Before you can say ''nice view'', Riverlife Adventures will have you strapped in and dangling off the 20 metre-high rock face. Once you've gotten the hang of things, you can race back up the cliff and abseil down again as many times as you like within the session. For an extra buzz you can even try abseiling at night. If you've still got some energy to burn afterwards, take to a kayak and paddle along the Brisbane River past the CBD's skyscrapers and under the Story Bridge.

Details: Riverlife Adventure Centre offers abseiling sessions seven days a week, guided by qualified instructors. Each session includes a safety briefing and equipment check. The company also offers a range of other activities including kayaking, rock climbing and rollerblading.

Find out more: Riverlife Adventure Centre

Get on your bike

Now you've seen the city's skyline from up high, you can admire it from street level on Bushranger Bikes' 15km loop cycling tour of the city which explores the many bikeways and pathways that lace it together. If off-road mountain biking is more your style, the company can also arrange mountain bike rides through the national parks and mountains around Brisbane.

Details: Bushrangers' tours are focused on small groups for maximum adventure and are guided by experienced, endurance cyclists. They also offer bike hire and sales, and sell cycling equipment and adventure clothing.

Find out more: Bushranger Bikes

Leave everyone in your wake

If you've always wanted to try your hand at water skiing but don't own a boat, then the next best thing is Cable Ski Logan. Just thirty minutes from the city centre you can indulge in a range of water skiing activities starting with kneeboards all the way up to wakeboards. Pulled by an overhead cableski system, this is definitely the coolest way to master one of the world's favourite extreme sports.

Details: The cost includes all basic ski equipment — life vests, knee boards, double skis, trick skis — and instruction. Just don't forget your swimsuit and towel.

Find out more: Cable Ski Logan

Become a top gun

Do you feel the need for speed? For a real Top Gun-style adventure, take to the skies aboard a bona fide WWII fighter jet. Dressed in full flight suit and helmet for maximum Tom Cruise appeal (and safety, of course!), you'll climb aboard your fighter jet and be guided through start up procedures. Then, before you know it, it's off into the blue yonder where, with your heart pounding a mile a minute, you'll experience the full range of aerobatics and tactical manoeuvres. Once you're back safely on terra firma, if your legs haven't turned to jelly by now, wander over to the onsite museum where you can view classic aircraft being restored to fully operational condition.

Details: Flights depart from Archerfield Airport, around 20 minutes from Brisbane.

Find out more: Flying Fighters

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