Brisbane’s riverside hotspot is going bigger, bolder and better ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Few places capture Brisbane’s laid-back lifestyle quite like Howard Smith Wharves. Sitting pretty beneath the Story Bridge, it’s a go-to for sunset cocktails, long lunches and good times. And now, it’s gearing up for its biggest transformation yet.
Recently approved by the Brisbane City Council and state government, a $500 million redevelopment dubbed HSW 2.0 is bringing a boutique hotel, over-river pool and brand-new public spaces to this beloved riverside destination.
What to expect from HSW 2.0
Howard Smith Wharves wasn’t always the thriving lifestyle precinct it is today. Once a neglected stretch of land along the Brisbane River, it remained largely overlooked until 2015, when Artemus Group recognised its untapped potential and acquired the site.
The redevelopment includes a 106-key luxury hotel, over-river pool and upgraded outdoor spaces.
Following three years of extensive work, Howard Street Wharves opened in 2018, joining the Australian real estate development and hospitality group’s growing portfolio. Today, it’s one of Brisbane’s biggest drawcards.
But just over a decade on from its purchase, the iconic hub is preparing for a bold new chapter. With permission to proceed now secured, fresh insight into the ambitious redevelopment has been revealed – and why its completion date is no coincidence.
“The timing of this approval could not be more significant," says Howard Smith Wharves founder, Adam Flaskas.
“With Brisbane set to host the world for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, HSW 2.0 positions Howard Smith Wharves and the Brisbane River as a centrepiece of the city’s global moment. This is not just for Brisbane today, but for the world that will be watching in 2032."
Brisbane’s new boutique hotel will boast uninterrupted views of the Story Bridge.
Among the redevelopment’s most anticipated additions is a 106-room boutique hotel overlooking the Story Bridge, with unparalleled views across the Brisbane River and CBD.
While details remain under wraps, including the hotel’s design, amenities and eventual operator, it’s expected to raise the bar for luxury accommodation in Brisbane. The capital city’s first over-river pool only adds to the excitement, providing relief from the sweltering Queensland heat in spectacular style.
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More room to roam along the river
Beyond the new hotel, a range of expansive outdoor spaces and upgraded public infrastructure promise easy access to the river and an enhanced visitor experience.
Infrastructure across the precinct will be upgraded to improve the visitor experience.
Seamlessly meander between Howard Street Wharves and the water's edge.
Revitalised outdoor spaces encourage weekend walks along the river.
Chief among the additions is two new cliffside lifts, which will improve access to Howard Smith Wharves and create seamless connectivity between the precinct and the CBD. A huge set of riverfront steps will then cascade down to the water’s edge, making it easier than ever for locals and visitors to enjoy the river.
The redevelopment also includes an additional 8,500 square metres of public outdoor space, a 30 per cent increase on existing capacity. That means more room for weekend strolls, riverside picnics and community gatherings.
Felons Barrel Hall, one of Brisbane’s best breweries, will also undergo upgrades to accommodate an expanded music and entertainment line-up.
Visitors can soak up the sun at Brisbane’s first over-river pool.
A brand-new pontoon will support greater river-based tourism efforts, with infrastructure for private vessel mooring and improved water transport. Backed by the Queensland Government, it will be specifically designed and built to withstand flood conditions.
As Brisbane prepares to welcome the world in 2032, the redevelopment will ensure Howard Smith Wharves is ready for the spotlight. While an exact opening date has not been confirmed, CEO Luke Fraser says the project’s vision extends far beyond the Olympic Games.
“Every decision we’ve made in designing Howard Smith Wharves has been guided by asking: how do we create something that Brisbane will be proud to show the world in 2032 – and for decades beyond."
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Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.
One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.
Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.
If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.
Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.
It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.
2. Escape to the Hinterland
Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)
You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.
In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.
The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.
3. Taste the best of the dining scene
Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)
The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.
Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.
Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.
For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.
4. Recover with wellness & relaxation
Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.
The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.
One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.
Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.
And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.
