Logan City
Introduction
Logan sits in South East Queensland, in the south of Greater Brisbane, with the City of Brisbane to its north and the City of Gold Coast to its south. It also borders the Scenic Rim Region, the City of Ipswich, and Redland City, which makes it a natural stopover point if you are moving between the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas.
The city is divided into 70 suburbs spread across 12 divisions, so expect a patchwork of distinct local areas rather than a single concentrated centre. That layout rewards you for exploring by suburb, whether you are passing through or basing yourself in the region.
Before you go
Logan City sits between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so it works well as a base for exploring the wider region rather than as a standalone stop. Plan your trip around the fact that you'll likely be moving between the two larger cities nearby.
Getting there
Getting to Logan is straightforward by air or road. The nearest airport with regular scheduled flights is Brisbane Airport (BNE), which puts you within easy reach of the city. By car, Logan sits roughly a 15- to 30-minute drive from Brisbane via the M1 Pacific Motorway. From Ipswich, allow about 30 minutes using the M2 and M6 Logan Motorway, and from the Gold Coast the trip takes around 45 minutes along the M1 Pacific Motorway.Getting around
Logan City is a sprawling urban area, so plan your movements around its train and bus networks rather than expecting to cover it all on foot. The rail corridor runs through the city on a roughly central north-south axis, linking Logan to Brisbane in the north and the Gold Coast to the south, which makes trains a convenient way to reach major destinations without driving. Buses fill in the gaps, with extensive coverage of the city's suburbs and commercial hubs, and they integrate with the train network so you can combine the two for local trips.
If you prefer point-to-point travel, taxis operate throughout the city and ride-hailing services are also available. Logan also has a well-developed network of cycle and walking trails: walking suits exploring a local neighbourhood where you're staying, while the cycling trails let you cover more ground actively. Arriving from Brisbane Airport, the nearest airport with regular scheduled flights, expect roughly a 15-to-30-minute drive via the M1 Pacific Motorway, with car rental, taxis and ride-hailing all options for the final leg. By car, the city's position between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and its motorway network make it a regional transport hub, with Ipswich around 30 minutes away via the M2 and M6 Logan Motorway and the Gold Coast around 45 minutes via the M1.
Where to stay
Logan offers a wide selection of accommodation to suit different travel styles. You can choose from high-rise hotels and apartments, or opt for a quieter stay in a B&B on one of the suburban streets. If you prefer camping or travelling by recreational vehicle, several self-contained parks in the area are completely free to use.
- Hotel Gloria, 14 Carol Ave
- Springwood Tower Apartment Hotel, 9 Murrajong Rd
Food & drink
Logan's food scene reflects the many cultures and ethnicities that call the city home, so you can count on a diverse spread of tastes and cuisines. Among the places to eat, you'll find Grandma's Kiwi Kitchen and the popular Berlin Bistro, both worth seeking out. For something quick, Carl's Jr. has a branch in Eagleby on River Hills Road. When it comes to drinking, many of the local hotels double as pubs, but the signature experience is at the Beenleigh Artisan Distillery, Australia's oldest distillery. Known for its rum, a legacy of British settlement, its Visitor Centre has been refurbished, and a visit can include tastings, history and even a tour of the vats. You'll find it just off the Pacific Motorway at the exit to South Beenleigh.What to see and do
Logan rewards those who look past its suburban surface. The city sits between the Logan and Albert rivers and spreads across a huge network of waterways, rural and semi-rural land, and more than 950 parks, so there is plenty of open country to explore. Its heritage stretches back tens of thousands of years across four Aboriginal countries, and its more recent history is just as layered, shaped by the many cultures and ethnicities that call the city home. Start with the wildlife. At the Daisy Hill Koala Centre, in Daisy Hill Conservation Park, you can walk the boardwalks and see koalas that have been taken in from the wild after injury or illness. For something more active, head into the Daisy Hill State Forest, where over 400 hectares of gum forest are crossed by marked trails ranging from short walks to routes of almost 10 km; koalas appear sometimes and kangaroos are common, especially late in the day, and night tours can be arranged. Beyond the forest, you can visit the Chung Tian Temple in Priestdale, wakeboard at the Cable Ski Park in Carbrook, bungy jump at one of only two such jumps in Australia, or mountain bike on the area's trails.When to go
Logan City has a humid subtropical climate, so the season you choose shapes your trip. Summers are warm and humid, with the heaviest rainfall of the year, so expect frequent showers and thunderstorms and pack for sticky, wet conditions. Autumn brings easing heat and humidity, with rainfall gradually tapering off and days that remain pleasant for outdoor activities around the city and its parks.
Winters are mild and comparatively dry, with cooler nights and low humidity, making this a comfortable time to visit, though mornings and evenings can feel chilly. Spring warms up steadily as humidity and rainfall begin to climb again, giving mostly fine days with occasional showers as the wet season approaches.
Three days in Logan City
Day one: Arrive in Logan City and settle into your base. If you are coming by air, Brisbane Airport (BNE) is the nearest major gateway, and the Pacific Motorway connects the city to Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast. From Ipswich, the Logan Motorway brings you in, and buses serve the city for those arriving without a car. Among the places to stay are Hotel Gloria on Carol Ave and Springwood Tower Apartment Hotel on Murrajong Rd. Once you are settled, take an easy first look around the city before finding dinner.
Day two: Spend the day exploring Logan's character and its food. Stop for a meal at one of the local kitchens - Grandma Kiwi Kitchen and Berlin Bistro are among the options - and take your time over lunch. In the afternoon, head out towards Eagleby and River Hills Road for a change of scene. Logan sits within South East Queensland, with the Scenic Rim Region, Ipswich and Redland City as its neighbours, so the surrounding countryside is never far away.
Day three: Use your last day for a taste of the area's craft tradition with a visit to Beenleigh Artisan Distillery. Afterwards, plan your onward travel: Brisbane and the Gold Coast are both within reach, and the Pacific Motorway makes leaving straightforward whether you are heading back to Brisbane Airport or continuing south.