In this paper, we solve one-dimensional SU(3) bosons with repulsive δ-function interaction using the Bethe ansatz method. The features of the ground and low-lying excited states are studied by both numerical and analytical methods. We show that the ground state is a SU(3) colour ferromagnetic state. The configurations of quantum numbers for the ground state are given explicitly. For a finite N system, the spectra of low-lying excitations and the dispersion relations of four possible elementary particles (holon, antiholon, σ-coloron and ω-coloron) are obtained by solving the Bethe ansatz equation numerically. The thermodynamic equilibrium of the system at finite temperature is studied by using the strategy of the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz; we give a revised Gaudin–Takahashi equation which is useful for the numerical method. Thermodynamic quantities, such as specific heat, are obtained for some special cases. We find that the magnetic property of the model in the high-temperature regime is dominated by Curie's law, χ 1/T, and the system has Fermi-liquid-like specific heat in the strong coupling limit at low temperature.