The 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, the blockbuster summer exhibition series at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), showcases the work of 70 artists, collectives and projects from more than 30 countries. This epic event brings compelling new art to Brisbane that highlights the creativity of First Nations, minority and diaspora cultures. The free show runs from 30 November to 27 April 2025.

Idyllic North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) is just a 25-minute ferry ride from Toondah Harbour in Cleveland, about 50 minutes’ drive from the CBD. You can explore the world’s second-largest sand island – affectionately known as “Straddie” – via the recently completed 400-metre walkway from Point Lookout, between Snapper Street and Frenchmans Beach. Part of the Minjerribah Panorama Coastal Walk, its platforms are ideally placed for unobstructed Coral Sea views. Discover the island’s rich First Nations heritage on a four-hour 4WD adventure with Yura Tours (including seafood picnic on the beach) then sip a craft brew while overlooking the water at Straddie Brewing Co before jumping on the ferry back to the mainland.

Base yourself at the elegant Pullman King George Square, where comfort meets style in the heart of the city. Book via Qantas Hotels & Holidays to save 43% and get a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, daily buffet breakfast for two guests, guaranteed room update to an Executive King Room with late checkout until 1pm. Book two nights for two adults from $549 (and earn 1,647 Qantas Points).^

A 15-minute drive from the CBD, Mt Coot-tha offers walking trails, hidden waterfalls, picnic areas and panoramic views (visit at sunrise or sunset to see the city skyline bathed in a golden-pink hue). The 1600-hectare forest reserve is also home to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, where dazzling shows are projected in the Cosmic Skydome theatre nearly every night.

If you visit Brisbane and don’t stay at The Calile, can you say that you’ve even been to the city? With its Palm Springs-style glamour, candy-coloured rooms and 28-metre Instagram-famous pool, this chic retreat is the place to be seen.. Located on buzzy James Street in Fortitude Valley, the 175-room oasis is set amid some of the city’s most popular eateries, including onsite Greek restaurant Hellenika and sleek trattoria Biànca in adjacent Ada Lane.

Housed in a sunbathed, heritage-listed building in Fortitude Valley, minimalist Short Grain channels maximum energy via a menu brimming with vibrant, fragrant Thai and South Asian flavours. Dine in to sample Longrain maestro Martin Boetz’s palate-pleasing dishes (the duck-egg caramel custard tart with salted pork-fat pastry was an early highlight) or pluck a jar from the attached food store, which sells all the hits – including chilli jam and yellow soybean dressing. Be sure you leave room for a postprandial sweet treat – viral internet sensation Brooki Bakehouse and its chunky cookies are just 35 metres away.

The Martinis at Midtown, an intimate South Brisbane venue, may evoke a Manhattan vibe but the food is all Brissie. Pull up a stool at the 20-seat bar, fashioned from a slab of spotted gum and order a signature Vesper (dry gin, vodka and Lillet Blanc) before deciding on dinner. Will it be a feast of Kilcoy eye fillet tartare or mini lobster croissants with hollandaise mayo? Two private dining spaces (cosy Uptown, for six to eight people, and the alfresco Downtown for larger groups) are also available.

Escape to Brisbane and enjoy expertly crafted cocktails in chic, stylish settings. Plan your getaway today.

Nothing says “up and coming” like craft breweries, a gin and vodka distillery and a WWII air-raid shelter repurposed as a café – historic inner-west suburb Milton has all this and more. First, order a caffeinated brew at Bunker Coffee. Later, try a Calm Spirits Co. gin at Warehouse 25, before tucking into one of the modern European dégustation menus at Deer Duck Bistro. Milton also boasts a weekly farmers’ market, a heritage trail and even a replica Eiffel Tower.

Discover a new side of Brisbane and uncover its hidden gems. Book your adventure today.

Gold Coast-born Jonathan Barthelmess, owner of Sydney’s Cho Cho San and The Apollo, is also the man behind Greca – a 160-seat Greek taverna at Howard Smith Wharves. With a focus on Queensland produce, expect knockout dishes such as saganaki drizzled with honey and oregano, chargrilled octopus with pickled chilli and meltingly tender oven-baked lamb shoulder.

Explore Meanjin (Brisbane) and learn about the history of the local Turrbal people with BlackCard Cultural Tours. Led by First Nations guides, walks range from 90 minutes to three hours and include introductions to public artworks as well as bush-tucker tastings, traditional weaving sessions and didgeridoo demonstrations.

Australia’s only man-made stretch of sand in the inner city, this South Bank attraction is a popular spot to cool off. Take a dip in the turquoise lagoon – it’s free to use and patrolled by lifeguards all year round – or wander the bougainvillea-lined walkways in the surrounding parkland. Kids will love the interactive water play park and sprawling on the grass nearby.

Indulge in your favourite craft beers and savour mouthwatering Greek cuisine on your next visit to Brisbane. Book your experience today.

This boutique- and café-lined boulevard in Fortitude Valley is a must for shopping and eating. Enjoy an afternoon of retail therapy at the likes of Lee Mathews and Mecca Cosmetica, before dining at one of the hotspots in Ada Lane (adjacent to The Calile Hotel). Think elevated Thai at sAme sAme or classic steak and seafood in perfect unison at SK Steak & Oyster.

Towering over the city’s iconic river, W Brisbane packs a ton of personality into its 312 rooms, with bright pops of colour, outback-style bathtubs and graphic carpets. The hotel also features a kaleidoscopic pool, two bars and the Away Spa with aromatherapy steam rooms.

Go graffiti-hunting in the suburbs or visit Brissie during the annual Brisbane Street Art Festival in May, when you can join workshops, listen to talks and watch large-scale murals being created across the city. If sculpture is more your style, follow the Art and the River Public Art Trail for works including Peter D. Cole’s giant red figures, Man and Matter, commissioned for World Expo 88.

Explore vibrant new neighbourhoods and discover local street art on your next Brisbane getaway. Start planning today.

For the best views in town, tackle the Story Bridge Adventure Climb. It takes about an hour to reach the summit, rewarding participants with a 360-degree panorama of the city and its surrounds. 

Set an afternoon aside to hop between breweries and bars on a craft beer crawl of the city. Make sure you grab a crisp lager and woodfired pizza at Felons Brewing Co on Howard Smith Wharves – one of Brisbane’s liveliest precincts – and sip on a Brouhaha Hinterland Pale ale at the heritage-listed Gresham Bar.

Street food meets millions of fairy lights at the Eat Street Northshore, a fun hive of activity every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Located on a disused wharf in Hamilton, about a 10-minute drive from Brisbane city, the riverside venue offers everything from American-style burgers and freshly shucked oysters to waffles. There’s also live music and dance performances.

Elevate your next getaway by booking an unforgettable trip to Brisbane. Start planning your escape today.

Families are well catered to at the sleek Westin, situated at the southern end of the CBD and just a short walk to the Botanic Gardens, Queen Street Mall and riverside restaurants. Large suites and interconnecting rooms, inflatable pool toys, activity packs and kid-friendly menus await.

Take a drive to Gardners Falls, about a 90-minute drive north of Brisbane in the stunning Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Follow a short, easy path from the car park and you’ll find a beautiful waterhole surrounded by forest – the perfect place for splashing around, sunning yourself and, if you’re feeling brave, trying out the rope swings.

Brisbane’s coffee scene is booming, with plenty of established favourites and brunch hotspots to try out. Highlights include Industry Beans in Newstead and The Maillard Project, an ultra-modern cafe, roastery and community training centre in the CBD.

Savor the flavors of Brisbane like a local and keep the kids entertained on your next getaway. Book your adventure today.

At Lone Pine, the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, you can get up close with the sleepy marsupials – just a 20-minute drive from the city centre. Learn all about wildlife conservation, snap a selfie and meet the other residents, including barn owls, platypus and kangaroos.

Brisbane’s much-loved Maya is a chic open-air Mexican restaurant, overlooking Fortitude Valley from its rooftop perch. Order guacamole with traditional blue tortilla chips, select from the extensive cocktail menu – complete with nine types of Margarita – and drink in jaw-dropping views of the city.

Even if you’re not shopping for produce, exploring one of Brisbane’s many marketplaces is ideal for whiling away a couple of hours. On Saturday mornings, head to West End Markets in Davies Park for a coffee and Artisan Bread Box croissant or visit Brisbane City Markets, held every Tuesday (8am-2pm) at St Stephen’s Cathedral, Wednesday in Reddacliff Place (8am-6pm) and every Thursday in Cathedral Square (8am-2pm).

Discover more of Brisbane and meet its charming furry locals while taking a dip in crystal-clear waterholes. Start planning your getaway today.

You can ride your bike out there on the dedicated cycleway and, when you arrive, use the pool, gym and tennis courts or take a run around one of the country’s most beautiful campuses.

From the crime and sci-fi titles at Pulp Fiction to the million second-hand volumes at Archives, Brisbane has some great independent booksellers in the CBD and inner suburbs. Avid Reader’s in-the-know team also hosts lots of interesting author events, panels and open book clubs.

Hire a kayak or join a guided tour to paddle past the Story Bridge, Howard Smith Wharves, Kangaroo Point Cliffs and many more iconic sights along the Brisbane River. For particularly gorgeous views of the city, book a Friday or Saturday twilight session with Riverlife.

Immerse yourself in books and take to the water on your next Brisbane escape. Start planning your escape.

^ Qantas Frequent Flyer members will earn 3 Qantas Points per A$1 spent unless otherwise specified, for hotel stays booked through qantas.com/hotels, except Classic Hotel Rewards and Airbnb bookings. Points Club members will earn 25% more Qantas Points, and Points Club Plus members will earn 50% more Qantas Points. Qantas Points will be credited to your account at least 8 weeks after check-out. Qantas Points can be earned on cash only purchases and the cash component of Points Plus Pay purchases on eligible bookings and will not be earned on cancelled or refunded bookings. Qantas Points may be earned by the member in whose name the booking is made. Members will not be able to earn points on additional charges paid to the accommodation provider for extras (including cots, breakfasts and other incidentals) on check-in or check-out (as applicable). Deposit Pay is available on selected properties that offer a free cancellation window that is 21 days or more in the future from the date of booking. Visit our FAQ page for more.

Pullman King George Square Offer ends 11:59pm (AEDT) 20 December 2024, unless sold out prior. Valid for stays from 16 November 2024 to 30 September 2025. A 2 night minimum stay applies. Blackout dates apply. From price available for stays 16 November 2024 to 30 September 2025. Surcharges may apply to other dates. Offer is subject to availability, which may be limited during weekends, school holidays and major events. Flights and transfers are not included. Booking cancellations and changes are permitted up to 24 hours prior to check in, after this time, you will be charged the rate for all nights unless you are entitled to a refund or other remedy under the Australian Consumer Law. This offer may be extended, changed or cancelled without notice. Prices correct as at 16 November 2024.