Your ultimate 3-day Brisbane itinerary for a luxurious getaway

Lara PiconeBy Lara Picone
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Discover city sights and island delights on this three-day itinerary showcasing the many sides of a Brisbane getaway.

Brisbane’s riverside enclaves and lively neighbourhoods are sun-drenched, welcoming and angled to an outdoor lifestyle, but the city is also home to idyllic tropical islands just an hour from the city centre. Accessed swiftly by ferry, the islands of Moreton Bay – including Minjerribah/North Stradbroke and Mulgumpin/Moreton Island – make easy daytrips for adventures on white-sand beaches, crystalline waters and natural beauty.

Paired with a showreel of luxe city eateries, stays and entertainment, this itinerary proves Brisbane is the ultimate destination for summer escapes.

Brisbane city aerial shot
Explore Brisbane’s riverside enclaves and lively neighbourhoods.

Day 1

Begin your morning with a meandering riverside stroll to Joey’s , perched on top of Kangaroo Point Cliffs, for an al fresco breakfast or brunch. It can’t help to add a little rejuvenation to your minibreak, so next book yourself a session at the popular Soak Bathhouse , where you can soothe body and mind in the mineral baths, cold plunge pool and steam room.

Howard Smith Wharves, Mr Percivals
Make your way to Howard Smith Wharves for lunch.

Afterwards, make your way to Howard Smith Wharves for lunch. This vivacious precinct has been designed to showcase Brisbane’s convivial spirit with fabulous dining, bars and all-round entertainment. Book ahead to dine at the beloved contemporary Greek taverna Greca , or, for a more casual vibe, settle into Felons Brewing Co .

Spend the afternoon wandering QAGOMA (Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art), where you can contemplate the incredible permanent collections or slip into a temporary exhibition, such as the Brisbane-exclusive ‘Fairy Tales’, showing from 4 December this year, to 28 April 2024

Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Fairy Tales exhibition
See the Brisbane-exclusive ‘Fairy Tales’ exhibition at QAGOMA.

After an intake of cultural musings, find a collection of rooftops poised to drink in the warm-hued sunsets in Fortitude Valley. Raise a glass to toast your minibreak at Mexican bar MAYA , Spanish oasis Iris or Cielo Rooftop before heading to dinner.

After a few libations you needn’t go far to find some of Brisbane’s best dining options. Settle in for fire-cooked flavour at moodily lit and highly-awarded Agnes , or visit the much-loved institution Gerard’s Bistro , which is just about to emerge from a renovation.

Post-dinner, head back to your accommodation to spend the night in absolute luxury at the ultra-cool W Brisbane .

W Brisbane Marvellous Suite Living Room
Stay at the ultra-cool W Brisbane.

Day 2

Your second day of Brisbane discovery unlocks the city’s island playgrounds. While there are a handful to explore that certainly warrant return trips, for this minibreak, choose from two of the most popular: Mulgumpin/Moreton Island or Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island.

Arise early to make the most of your island escape and cruise to Tangalooma Island Resort on Mulgumpin/Moreton Island. Departing from Holt Street Wharf in Pinkenba, you’ll arrive at Tangalooma Jetty in just 75 minutes (for those who prefer a gentler start to the day, catch the 10am transfer). With activities including snorkelling wrecks, kayaking, paddleboarding, quad-biking, sand tobogganing and Segway tours, you’re bound to find something to do that will match your energy and excitement levels. It’s a good idea to select one or two tours to ensure you get the most out of your daytrip; you can also opt into one of Tangalooma’s cruises, such as the Marine Discovery Day Cruise or the Snorkel the Wrecks Day Cruise  before returning to Brisbane at 7pm.

Tangalooma wrecks on Mulgumpin/Moreton Island
Snorkel around the iconic Tangalooma wrecks.

Alternatively, catch the Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island vehicle ferry as it starts its run from Cleveland in Brisbane’s Redlands Coast region, departing at 7am with a trip duration of 50 minutes. You can also take the passenger ferry, which starts at 4.55am and runs hourly, taking only 25 minutes to make the crossing. At this year-round marine playground you can dive with manta rays at Manta Bommie , wave to dolphins from Amity Point Jetty , follow the 1.2-kilometre North Gorge Walk to meander along the headlands, or simply splash about in the translucent turquoise waters.

Escape the midday heat and stop by Straddie Brewing Co for a locally crafted cold one and some seafood-inspired bites, or keep an eye on the twinkling sea as you tuck into a casual meal at Sealevel 21 .

dolphins at Amity Point Jetty
Wave to dolphins from Amity Point Jetty.

After lunch, explore the incredible talent of First Nations artists at Salt Water Murris’ Quandamooka Art Gallery or Delvene Cockatoo-Collins to pick up a special memento of your island escape and connect with the island’s rich First Nations culture.

Spend the afternoon slipping beneath glassy waves at Main Beach or the protected South Gorge, head to Cylinder Beach for a surf, or enjoy a beach picnic with Straddie Tipis before catching a ferry back to the city. For a different view, travel to Brisbane in style on a private chartered flight with Elite Helicopters .

Upon your return to Brisbane, check into the much-lauded The Calile Hotel . Recently awarded 12th place in the World’s 50 Best Hotels list, this is a must-stay for lovers of design and refined luxury.

The Calile Brisbane hotel pool
Relax by the pool at iconic The Calile Hotel.

Day 3

Ease into the day with a stroll through West End and breakfast at the bright and breezy Morning After , where you can sample their famed breakfast carbonara. A range of Brisbane markets are also extremely popular with locals and visitors alike for breakfast treats and local crafts.

Next up, peruse the James Street shopping precinct . Here you’ll revel in beautifully curated boutiques, from local fashion designers to of-the-minute homewares and furniture stores, as well as luxury international brands.

James Street shopping precinct, brisbane itinerary
Peruse the James Street shopping precinct.

Of course, no Brisbane sojourn is complete without a riverside lunch. Make your way to Eagle Street for watery vistas and cocktails sipped with a view out Storey Bridge at Opa . Return to The Calile Hotel and go directly to the hotel bar, Hellenika , for a cocktail overlooking the pool.

After a refreshing drink, head to Bianca to recount your trip highlights. This contemporary, Italian-centric eatery in James Street has a soft, terracotta-pink hue, chic styling and the relaxed ambience of Brisbane herself. Toast to a wonderful three days, and start planning your return visit.

pasta dish from Bianca restaurant, brisbane
End your Brisbane itinerary with Italian delights from Bianca.

Extend your stay

If you’re not quite ready to end the holiday zen, Brisbane’s surrounding regions are brimming with adventures. The Moreton Bay Region just north of Brisbane will fuel your nature and foodie wanderlust; think hinterland hikes, picturesque wineries and award-winning restaurants.

Located 45 minutes from Brisbane, discover the Scenic Rim , aptly named with its sweeping valleys and ancient heritage-listed rainforests. For history buffs, head south of Brisbane to Logan and Ipswich . Both are renowned for their rich Queensland heritage and cultural diversity, along with popular craft distilleries and breweries.

Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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What it’s really like to stay on the world’s largest sand island

    Kassia ByrnesBy Kassia Byrnes
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    Exploring the world’s largest sand island starts with the perfect K’gari homebase.

    The morning light is still soft, but it’s already a perfect sunny day. We left our K’gari homebase at Kingfisher Bay Resort  with our guide, Peter Meyer, at 9 am to make the most of our time to explore all that the world’s largest sand island holds. The size of K’gari is hard to grasp until you arrive here. This is no sandbar. Stretching 120 kilometres, unique lakes, mangrove systems, rainforest, 75 Miles of beach, historic shipwrecks, small townships and even one of Queensland’s best bakeries are all hidden within its bounds.

    But first, one of the island’s most iconic sights: the pure silica sand and crystal clear waters of Lake McKenzie.

    Laying eyes on it for the first time, I’m finally able to confirm that the photos don’t lie. The sand is pure white, without the merest hint of yellow. The water fades from a light halo of aqua around the edges to a deeper, royal blue, the deeper it gets (not that it’s particularly deep, six metres at most). The surface remains surprisingly undisturbed, like a mirror.

    Arriving with our guide before 10 am means that no one else is around when we get here. Which means we have the pleasure of breaking the smooth surface with our own ripples as we enter. As a self-confessed wimp with chilly water temperatures, my fears are quickly assuaged. Even in the morning, the water stays around 23 degrees – perfect for lazing about all day. But we have more sights to see.

    Exploring K’gari

    ariel of in lake mckenzie on k'gari fraser island
    Relax in the warm waters of Lake McKenzie. (Image: Ayeisha Sheldon)

    This was the Personalised 4WD tour offered by Kingfisher Bay Resort, and my absolute top pick of experiences. Over the course of the day, we had the freedom to create our own bespoke itinerary (plus a provided picnic lunch along the way), with an expert guide who had plenty of stories and local expertise to give context to what we were looking at. From the history of the SS Maheno shipwreck, which survived the First World War only to be washed ashore by a cyclone in 1935, to a detailed description of how an island made of sand could sustain such diverse flora.

    If it’s your first time to K’gari, the Beauty Spots Tour is another great option. Departing daily from Kingfisher Bay Resort (you’ll start to notice a trend, as many of the tours do start and end here), an air-conditioned, 4WD bus takes guests to the island’s most iconic locations, including the best places to swim, like Lake McKenzie and Eli Creek. The latter offers a gentle current, perfect for riding with a blow-up tyre out towards the ocean.

    The next day, for a look at a completely different side of K’gari, I joined one of Kingfisher Bay Resort’s Immersive Ranger-guided tours to kayak through the mangroves of Dundonga Creek. This long, snake-like stretch of creek winds its way inland from the ocean outlet we entered by, at times too narrow for three kayaks to be side-by-side. Small insects buzz from leaf to leaf, while birds call overhead. Occasional bubbles indicate we’ve passed some fish that call this place home.

    kayak tour through the mangroves at k'gari island
    Learn about the island’s mangroves from your Ranger. (Image: Reuben Nutt/ TEQ)

    If kayaking isn’t for you – or if, like me, you simply want more – other ranger-led experiences include nature walks and a dedicated Junior Eco Ranger Program for kids ages five to 12 (these run every weekend, and daily over the peak December holidays). Just ask for a timetable of upcoming tours when you check in.

    While during whale season, Hervey Bay Whale Watch & Charters operates tours from the hotel’s jetty to get up close to the famous Humpback Highway of Hervey Bay, from 7 November to 31 May, attention turns to the Aqua Oasis Cruise . Departing from the resort every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for resort guests, adventure along the island’s remote western coast, pointing out wildlife like dolphins, turtles, flying fish and eagles along the way.

    The cruise drops anchor so guests can jump into the water using the boat’s equipment – from SUP boards to inflatable slides and jumping platforms. Then refuel with a provided lunch, of course.

    Unwind at sunset

    two people drinking cocktails at sunset bar, kingfisher bay resort
    Unwind at the Sunset Bar. (Image: Sean Scott)

    As much as days on K’gari can be filled with adventure, to me, the afternoons and evenings there are for unwinding. Sunsets on K’gari are absolutely unbelievable, with Kingfisher Bay on the west side being the best spot to catch the colours.

    The Sunset Bar , located at the start of the resort’s jetty and overlooking the beach, is the ultimate location for sundowners. Let chill beats wash over you as you sip on cool wines, beers and cocktails in a relaxed, friendly vibe. Personally, a cheese board was also absolutely called for. As the sun sinks, the sand, sea and horizon turn a vibrant shade of orange, with the jetty casting a dramatic shadow across the water.

    When the show is over, head back to the hotel for dinner at the Asian-fusion Dune restaurant, or the pub-style Sand + Wood. But if your appetite is still whetted for more lights and colours, the evening isn’t over yet.

    Settle into the Illumina stage for Return to Sky, an immersive light and sound show leading viewers on a captivating journey through K’gari’s stories and landscapes.

    Indulge and disconnect

    woman setting up massage room at kingfisher bay resort Island Day Spa
    Find bliss at Island Day Spa. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Of course, there is a type of traveller who knows that balance is important, day or night. While Kingfisher Bay Resort offers more than one pool for guests to spend all day lounging by (they’ll even serve you food and drinks while you do it), you’ll find me at the Island Day Spa.

    The masseuses could match the magic hands of any big city spa, and I felt the warm welcome as I walked into the light, breezy reception. Choose from a range of botanical facials, beauty treatments and soothing massages using traditional techniques (obviously, I couldn’t go past a relaxing massage). All products used contain organic, native botanical ingredients with nutrient-rich plant extracts to soothe skin and mind. To really indulge, try out one of the packages, couples treatment or even a pre-wedding day offering.

    Getting there

    kingfisher bay resort 4wd tour driving passed ss maheno on k'gari island
    The world of K’gari awaits. (Image: Jessica Miocevich)

    Getting to K’gari is shockingly easy. Find daily flights into Hervey Bay from Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Kingfisher Bay Resort offers a shuttle bus between the airport, their headquarters in Hervey Bay and the ferry to take you to K’gari.