Spend an afternoon at Howard Smith Wharves
Enjoy a laid-back afternoon of food, drinks, live music and river views on the Main Lawn at Howard Smith Wharves. Family, friends and furry pals welcome.
Pop over to Betty’s Burgers for lunch or dinner and grab a gelato at Good Times Gelateria – both family friendly food outlets at Howard Smith Wharves.
Head to the theatre
There’s always something on at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) – from musicals, to the ballet, comedy acts, opera and stage shows. There’s something for everyone with a constant line up of international and local shows.
Become a Brisbane foodie
Brisbane has come into its own when it comes to wining and dining. Top foodie precincts include: Howard Smith Wharves, James St in Fortitude Valley, riverside dining at Eagle Street in Brisbane CBD, South Bank, West Village in West End and Eat Street Northshore in Hamilton. There are too many top restaurants to name dotted throughout the city and suburbs of Brisbane – some old favourites and some new ones ensuring locals and visitors can enjoy the very best menus and outdoor dining in Australia. Some of our favourite’s include:
- Gerard’s Restaurant
- Hellenika at The Calile Hotel
- Mosconi Restaurant
- Opa Bar & Mezze
- Mr Percival’s Bar
- Otto Restaurant
Catch a movie under the stars
Throughout Summer it’s quite the thing for a number of pop-up outdoor cinemas to land at various locations around the city including Victoria Park, Roma Street Parklands and the Botanical Gardens. On a permanent basis there is now a new outdoor cinema at Dendy Powerhouse in New Farm Park and alongside Brisbane River showcasing films year-round. With a massive screen, 350 outdoor lounge chairs and wireless headphones this unique experience can be topped off with a glass of wine and cheese box or choc top.
Explore South Bank
Always a popular spot for families or those keeping fit, South Bank, is Brisbane’s premier destination. With 17 hectares of parklands, eateries, river views, a city beach and ongoing events a trip to South Bank is the perfect place to relax, take in a lovely river walk or catch the city cat and explore.
Get arty
Whether it’s modern art or traditional art, you will be spoilt for choice at QAGOMA. Here are Brisbane’s two riverside galleries, Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art at the Queensland Cultural Centre. Both galleries have a year round program of permanent and touring exhibitions ensuring there is always something on for everyone.
Explore the city and Brisbane River
Choose your own adventure: walk or scooter the river loop or jump on a boat and explore the city by river. Boating options include: CityHopper (free ferry), CityCat (fast caterman) GoBoat (electric picnic boat) or book a cruise.
Enjoy nearby beaches
Some of Queensland’s best beaches are just a hop, skip and jump away from Brisbane – up at Moffat or Noosa Beach or down the Coast at Burleigh. There are dozens of beautiful beaches to choose from on the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast so why not make a day of it with your family.
Get out to Brisbane’s parks and playgrounds
If you have children we understand just needing t to get out for an hour or so and enjoy Brisbane’s weather an outing to a local park or playground is an easy and fun thing to do. These parks are often busy with locals so checking them out now is a great thing to do in Brisbane. Check out our article on the Best Parks and Playgrounds in Brisbane for Kids that we prepared earlier.