Brisbane bound: Where to stay and what to do in Australia’s sun-soaked river city
I’ve only been in Brisbane a few days and I’ve already adopted its affectionate colloquialism ‘Brissie’ into my vocabulary. There’s something about this city that exudes a laid-back, trendsetting charm – and I want to fit right in.
Sun-warmed streets are lined with open-air cafes, matcha latte-dotted tables spilling onto the pavements. Kayaks bob lazily on the glassy surface of the vast, looping river that weaves through the heart of the city. Music drifts from abundant trendy rooftop bars, buoyed by the confidence of Brisbane’s year-round blue skies.
These scenes sprawl across the city, yet each pocket has its own personality, like pieces of an eclectic jigsaw. Fortitude Valley’s leafy, immaculate James Street is brimming with designer boutiques and chic wine bars, while across the river South Bank bursts with energy from galleries, theatres, markets and even an inner-city beach.
Endless opportunities for entertainment and a host of new developments popping up across the city mean visitors are no longer seeing Brisbane as merely a pit-stop en route to the Gold Coast. In fact, in 2024 international holidaymakers spent 12 nights on average soaking up the city’s charms, and room nights for UK visitors – Brisbane’s second-largest source market – has jumped by 40% since 2019. It’s clear that Brisbane is no longer just a gateway, but a city worth lingering over.
Why sell it
And Brisbane’s appeal is only rising. The capital of the Sunshine State is gearing up to host the 2032 Olympics and has ambitious plans to elevate its tourism offering ahead of the influx of sporting enthusiasts and global jetsetters.
What’s more, Australia’s selling potential is hard to ignore.
Naturally, high-net-worth Brits making the 20-hour-plus journey to the other side of the world are seeking the utmost comfort and exclusivity, so business-class upgrades and extended, tailor-made itineraries are almost a given. And Brisbane is the perfect springboard for further exploration of Queensland’s treasures: the pristine beaches of the Gold Coast, spellbinding Great Barrier Reef and wine-rich Granite Belt, to name just a few.
What’s new
A raft of dazzling developments is elevating Brisbane’s cosmopolitan atmosphere. The multi-billion-dollar Queen’s Wharf Brisbane precinct began its phased opening in August 2024, ushering a fresh wave of high-end addresses to the city’s central business district.
At its core is lifestyle and entertainment hub The Star Brisbane, home to five-star hotel The Star Grand, the chic, palm-fringed Isoletto Pool Club and the spectacular Sky Deck, a rooftop terrace suspended above the city. Dining is a headline act here too: Aloria blends European cuisine with Australian flair, Sokyo reimagines Japanese fine dining, Black Hide Steak & Seafood by Gambaro delivers indulgence in spades, while Pompette is an elegant champagne bar made for leisurely lunches that linger long into aperitif hour.
South Bank is also set for a major revamp, with new green spaces – including a treetop walkway – and fresh al fresco dining spots planned.
The Glasshouse Theatre, South Bank’s fifth performing arts venue, is also expected to open next year.
Meanwhile, buzzy riverside playground Howard Smith Wharves continues to evolve. Already home to craft breweries and a string of stylish eateries tucked beneath Story Bridge, the area is expanding with bold dining concepts and improved interconnectivity between Brisbane’s cultural hotspots.
When to go
With around 280 days of sunshine each year, there’s scarcely a bad time to visit the capital of the Sunshine State. But the city’s packed events calendar can help time a trip perfectly.
Culture seekers should look to September, when the Brisbane Festival – Australia’s largest international arts event – lights up the city, while foodies should plan to visit in October as Brisbane Powerhouse transforms into a culinary playground with its month-long pop-up Night Feast.
Sports enthusiasts are spoiled too: the Brisbane International brings world-class tennis each January; the Squash Australian Open lands in March; and in May, the National Rugby League Magic Round takes over Suncorp Stadium.
Where to stay
There are a handful of luxury hotels scattered across Brisbane, but the undeniable standout is The Calile on James Street in Fortitude Valley.
A 175-key design icon, it oozes effortless elegance with interiors dressed in soothing pastel hues of rosé pink, sky blue and sage green, offset by marble, oak and subtle gold accents. The Instagrammable pool deck channels a Miami beach club, while its roster of restaurants – from the moody Sushi Room to decadent sharing-style Thai venue Same Same – draws a fashionable crowd of A-listers and tastemakers.
For those seeking a more boutique touch, Ovolo The Valley – a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World – offers playful sophistication, with eclectic artwork, bold pops of colour and whimsical design details characterising its 103 rooms and suites.
Elsewhere, W Brisbane delivers contemporary style across its 280 rooms and 32 newly revamped suites, which were unveiled in June. Guests can now tailor their stay with themed suite set-ups: Turn it Up for music lovers, Turn it On for couples or Turn it Down for wellness-focused travellers.
There’s also Crystalbrook Vincent, perfectly positioned for spectacular views of Story Bridge, and the centrally located Hyatt Regency, which features an outdoor infinity pool, lively terrace bar and refined restaurant offering private dining and afternoon tea.
What to do
Brisbane’s charm lies in its versatility. Every type of traveller – from families and active adventurers to arts enthusiasts and those craving a slower pace – will find something to love among the many corners of this dynamic city.
Bluey’s World, the interactive experience celebrating Australia’s beloved blue heeler puppy, which has become something of an icon among tots since bounding onto UK screens in 2021, delights both little ones and parents alike. And of course, no trip Down Under feels complete without meeting its most famous furry residents: at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, guests can get up close with koalas, kangaroos and even dingoes.
Brisbane also delivers for those with an appetite for adventure. See the city from new heights by scaling Story Bridge, which launched the world’s first wheelchair-accessible bridge climb in April. Or rise early and lace up for a dawn hike to the Mount Coot-tha Reserve viewpoint to watch the skyline unfurl in the soft morning light.
Meanwhile, culture lovers can dive into Brisbane’s thriving arts scene.
The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) host world-class exhibitions and insightful talks year-round, while the Birrunga Gallery – the city’s only Indigenous-owned art space – pays homage to the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, the traditional custodians of the land.
When the city’s pace calls for a change of scene, Brisbane’s stunning surrounds beckon. Just a short ferry ride away, Moreton Island offers powdery sand dunes and shipwreck snorkelling, while nearby North Stradbroke Island – or ‘Straddie’ to the locals – is home to surf-sure beaches and an easy-going island vibe. Inland, just an hour away, the lush hinterlands of the Scenic Rim unfold in a patchwork of vineyards, mountain trails and quaint country towns.
Pair it with
Recommend clients save time in their itinerary to visit Spicers Hidden Vale for gourmet dining, breathtaking landscapes and authentic Aussie wildlife encounters.
Trading city streets for sweeping skies, we hopped in an Elite Helicopter and soared over Brisbane to make the short, 20-minute flight to Spicers Hidden Vale, a luxury lodge nestled within 12,000 acres of rolling hills. With just 34 rooms and suites, the property blends rustic charm with refined comfort, offering the perfect escape from the city’s buzz.
Our day began with a garden tour, where we explored the vegetable plots, smokehouse and fermentation room that fuel the lodge’s paddock-to-plate restaurant, Homage. Lunch here was a feast of inventive Aussie flavours: smoked and shaved emu, coffee-crusted wagyu brisket and minted lamb belly with fig jam.
To top off the day, we roared off on an ATV tour across the vast grounds, spotting kangaroos grazing and koalas tucked in the treetops.
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