Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge will be illuminated this long weekend as part of the city's growing appeal as a tourist destination. Once overshadowed by Sydney and Melbourne, Queensland's capital now boasts world-class museums, galleries, and hotels, with the Great Barrier Reef and Sunshine Coast on its doorstep.
Visitors can explore the city's cultural riverside precinct and diverse urban villages. The New Farm district features the Brisbane Powerhouse, a former power station turned arts space, while West End offers vintage shopping and live music. South Bank is the cultural hub, home to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, the Queensland Art Gallery, and Streets Beach, Australia's only inner-city man-made beach.
For indigenous history, BlackCard Cultural Tours provide Aboriginal-guided walks along the Riverwalk, including bush tucker trails and didgeridoo performances. Hot air balloon rides over the Scenic Rim offer panoramic views, with flights starting at A$280 (£151) per adult, including breakfast at O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards.
Just seven miles from the city, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world's first and largest koala refuge, with day passes at A$34.20 (£18). North of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast offers beach towns like Noosa, accessible via campervan rentals from A$100 (£54) per day.
Accommodation options include the Emporium Hotel on South Bank, with rooftop infinity pool and doubles from A$299 (£161), and TRYP in Fortitude Valley, a street art hotel with spa rooms from A$170 (£92). For a quieter retreat, Spicers Tamarind Retreat in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland offers villas from A$400 (£216).
