Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA

The Queensland Art Gallery opened in 1982 as part of the cultural precinct at South Bank, and the Gallery of Modern Art opened alongside it in 2006, a long low building with wide overhangs designed for the subtropical light. Together they hold the state collection and run one of the more distinctive programmes in the country, focused on contemporary art from Asia, the Pacific and Australia rather than on European names. The Asia Pacific Triennial, first held here in 1993, is the anchor of that reputation. GOMA also puts serious effort into work children can touch and use, which makes it unusually easy to visit with a family. General entry is free.

What to look for

• The Asia Pacific Triennial - the recurring survey of contemporary art from the region that made the gallery's name.
• The GOMA building - long horizontal volumes and deep shade facing the river, built for the climate.
• The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection - strong holdings including work from Cape York and the Torres Strait.
• The children's art centre - hands-on commissions built into the main programme rather than tacked on.

When to go

Open daily and free, so it works as a drop-in. Brisbane's dry winter, roughly April to October, is the comfortable season for walking the South Bank precinct either side of a visit. Summer afternoons bring heat and storms, which makes the air-conditioned galleries appealing. Triennial years, held roughly every three years over summer, are the busiest and the most rewarding.

Good to know

The permanent collection is thinner than in Melbourne or Sydney, and between major exhibitions there can be less on show than the buildings suggest. The two galleries are joined by an outdoor walk that is unpleasant in summer heat. Some visitors find the contemporary programme demanding without much explanatory material. Weekend crowds in the children's spaces are loud enough to carry into adjoining rooms.

Nearby

The South Bank parklands, the state library and the Brisbane River walk are all adjacent.