The Friends Experience: Australia Review

For those of us who wish we could literally step inside our TVs and enter Central Perk and the apartments of Rachel, Monica, Chandler, and Joey, the Friends Experience has arrived in Australia.

You sit on the orange couch in Central Perk, play foosball at Chandler and Joey’s, and sit down at the table in Monica’s kitchen. You can also read Science Boy and Rachel’s 18-page (front and back) note to Ross, play Friends trivia, and see some of their costumes.

I used to live in New York City and loved walking past the building where Friends was filmed. Unfortunately, the Friends Experience didn’t pop up until after I had moved.

When I saw that the Friends Experience would be in Melbourne during our visit, I knew I had to go.

In 2026, The Friends Experience is coming to Brisbane!

If you are curious about what exactly the Friends Experience in Australia is, keep reading.

Purchasing Tickets

Tickets must be purchased online in advance.

All ages are welcome, and the experience is expected to last about an hour. It is a walk-through experience, so you can spend as much time as you’d like in each section.

The Brisbane version of the Friends Experience opens in April 2026 with tickets on sale from mid-March.

Arriving at the Friends Experience

The Brisbane version of the Friends Experience is located at Uptown on Queen Street. The exact location is 91 Queen Street, Level Q.

After pre-purchasing tickets to the Friends Experience, we arrived early and asked if we could enter. A group was beginning their tour. As it wasn’t a full group, we were allowed in at the same time.

As soon as your ticket is scanned, you are sent into a room where clips from the show are played.

We visited the Friends Experience in Melbourne, which is not where we live. Even though it is really just me who is a Friends fan, my husband and kids came along. As my kids were 8 and 9 at the time, they had yet to see an episode of Friends.

They happily sat down, watched the clips, and laughed along with the show. It was a great reminder of what we would be seeing once the doors opened.

Looking for a ticket to the Friends Experience in New York City?  Purchase one now!

The Orange Couch and the Fountain

As soon as the purple door with the gold picture frame opens, you see that famous scene from the beginning of the show. The orange couch is in front of the fountain in Central Park.

Everyone lines up, and there is someone there to take your picture with your camera.

Along the walls, there are quotes from the characters.

Lanie’s Tip: We chose to go last so we could spend more time at each exhibit. At some points, others slowed down, but for the most part, we were the last people in each room.

Behind the Scenes and Making the Show

After getting a photo on the orange couch, we walked into the behind-the-scenes area. There is artwork from the show and the costumes each character wore, along with one of their quotes.

On one wall, there are a few different scripts. You can look through the scripts, along with a sketch of the girl’s apartment.

Pivot! (and the 18 Page Letter)

Though the stairs here are much wider than those in the show, the couch is still stuck. Everyone can get their photo taken trying to pivot.

This location did not have anyone there to take photos. Everyone in our group was helpful and willing to take photos for others.

While you are waiting to get a photo on the stairs, there is a copy of the 18-page letter (front and back!) that Rachel wrote to Ross at the beach house. Though it is clear that there is writing on the back, it is impossible to read the entire letter.

Science Boy, The Rachel, and Other Props

A framed copy of Science Boy is on the wall after the couch in the stairwell. It is fun to read the comic that Ross wrote. We all knew about it, but never really got to see it.

Nearby, there are also a few different wigs and an explanation of “the Rachel,” the popular haircut that Jennifer Aniston had at the time.

The kids much preferred the next wall, which was covered with doodles and sayings on Magna Doodles. Many of the drawings and phrases on Chandler and Joey’s Magna Doodle on the back of their door can be seen as an art exhibit at The Friends Experience.

My kids liked reading the Magna Doodles as much as I did, but they were a little upset that they couldn’t erase them.

You can see inside the big box where Chandler was locked inside, begging for Joey’s forgiveness. They also have a statue of a dog, though you weren’t able to ride on it like the boys do when they win the girls’ apartment.

Who’s Dated Whom?

Anyone who has watched the show knows there is a lot of inter-friend dating. They date many of the same supporting characters as well.

An entire wall at The Friends Experience is dedicated to a graph of who has dated whom. As the show took place in New York City, the graph is designed to look like a subway map.

Chandler and Joey’s Apartment

Though the foosball table is in the wrong spot, the rest of Chandler and Joey’s apartment is spot-on at The Friends Experience.

You enter from the side (where the foosball table should be) and can see the kitchen and the front door with the Magna Doodle on it.

The bathroom and bedroom doors are closed. The living room is all set up with the yellow couch, CD holder, the shelf that Joey built, and toys, including Hugsy.

The lazy boy recliners are set up, and someone is there to take your photo. Most people chose to take a regular photo there, as well as one of them reclining. Some even opted for a video of them trying to recline as fast as they could.

My kids immediately found the foosball table, which is playable. They enjoyed playing while I took photos.

On the way out of the boys’ apartment, there is a headless statue of “wearing all the clothes.” You can stand behind it for a photo.

You can also play Friends trivia on an interactive screen and read about Friends facts, including how many times signature phrases were said and how many coffees each character drank at Central Perk throughout the seasons.

Monica and Rachel’s Apartment

Between the two apartments is the hallway with the friend’s front doors and the stairwell leading up.

Door #20 really does open into the well-known purple and turquoise apartment where 5 of the 6 friends have lived at one time or another.

This was the most popular spot in the entire exhibit. It was the only place where I didn’t get all the photos I wanted without people in them.

Yes, I could have waited longer. We were the last group in and spent a decent amount of time there. Other groups just kept going back to get more photos and explore all of the items in the kitchen.

My kids quickly ran into the kitchen and tried to pick up and touch everything. While there was a staff member in this room, they did not mind. They even helped my kids pose with the trifle.

Central Perk

The front of Central Perk, with Phoebe’s guitar and bicycle outside, is outside the girls’ apartment.

Lanie’s Tip: Sure, take pictures of this version of Central Perk, but the much better photo opportunity is once you have left the Friends Experience. This is the case in Melbourne, but unfortunately, I am not sure about Brisbane.

There were other groups taking pictures in Central Perk when we got there. We did not mind, as it is meant to be a public space.

A staff member is there to take pictures of your group on the well-known orange couch. Coffee mugs are on the table, and they can be used as props.

My family spent a lot of time in Central Perk. The kids went behind the counter and pretended to make coffee. To them, the entire Friends Experience was like a hands-on museum where they could play.

As soon as you leave the Friends Experience, turn around and get a photo of Central Perk. This version does not have the windows papered, and you can see inside.

The Friends Experience Shop

A small shop is located in the lobby of the building. It can be seen on the way in and out of the Friends Experience.

Most of the merchandise says Friends Experience on it, though some items are just well-known jokes from the show.

Hugsy the stuffed animal is available to purchase, as are t-shirts, socks, travel mugs, and the yellow picture frame.

Also in the lobby are tables and chairs as well as a robot coffee machine. I would have gotten a coffee just for the experience, but it was 7 p.m.

The Friends Experience Wrap-Up

As a group of 4, including one massive Friends fan, someone who has watched a few episodes of Friends, and 2 kids who know nothing about the show, we all had a great time at the Friends Experience.

You can walk through the entire experience in less than 30 minutes. It takes about an hour to experience all the exhibits and take all the photos you want.

I have only experienced The Friends Experience in Melbourne. I have a friend who went to the one in New York City. She mentioned they had sticks to poke Ugly Naked Guy, which was not available to us. There may be some differences in exhibits depending on which location you visit, though the Friends Experiences are extremely similar.

No, the exhibit isn’t 100% accurate, but only a super fan can find the differences. The display rooms at The Friends Experience have plenty of similarities to the rooms on the TV show. It is fun to wander around and see all the small details that went into building The Friends Experience.

The Friends Experience FAQ

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