30 things to do this spring in Brisbane
Updated: 27 September 2021
Blue skies and balmy, sun-kissed days make Brisbane the place to be in Spring. As one perfect day extends into the next, the city is abuzz with excitement and activity.
Indoor or outdoor, rooftop bars or football stadiums, shopping or strolling, there are so many options, but here are some of the 30 best ways to spend your Spring in Brisbane.
By the river
Spring is a blooming good time in Brisbane’s premier riverside parkland precinct. Take a stroll or a bike ride through the parklands and see the gardens and natural features coming to life as the warmer weather begins. Spring is arguably the parkland’s prettiest time so it’s perfect for exploration. Then stop by one of the many restaurants where spring menus are now on offer. Also check out the refurbished Nepalese Peace Pagoda. Surrounded by lush rainforest, it’s a cool and calm space to chill.
Staying with the riverside city experiences, the City Botanic Gardens are a stunning place to reconnect with nature right in the heart of the city. The Riverside Sunday Markets are a fabulous excuse for a visit allowing you to shop for local craft, fashion and food as well take in the natural surrounds of the parklands.
This local favourite is one the best places for a Springtime lunch or picnic in true Brisbane al fresco style. There is no better way to spend a warm spring day then sipping a freshly brewed beer and tucking into a burger, steak or pizza from the Felons Brewery Co menu. Or visit one the many restaurants in the precinct to find your perfect lunch.
Stunning river boardwalks are easily accessible along many stretches of the Brisbane River – take a stroll or jump on an electric bike or scooter to take in all the Brisbane river has to offer. Along the boardwalks, you’ll find fun for the whole family from plenty of waterside cafes and restaurants to refurbished playgrounds and exercise equipment.
School Holidays, long weekends…if you have a special occasion to celebrate or some time to fill, the team at Riverlife have the perfect experience for you. While the spring weather is here learn how to abseil, kayak, bike, or rollerblade along the banks of the Brisbane River. For those with adventure experience, Riverlife is the easy way to get active as you can hire everything you need to do your own thing.
Festivals & Fiestas
Enjoy an ocean of things to see and do at The Oyster & Seafood Festival! The waterfront at Sandstone Point Hotel will come alive with a fresh seafood market including prawns, bugs, sand crabs, calamari and more to indulge in! Join in oyster eating competitions, prawn peeling competitions, celebrity chef demonstrations and live entertainment! Grab your tickets!
Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of Regional Flavour’s Global Fiesta in Southbank this October. During this two-day celebration revel in roving entertainment and immersive performances, a colourful street party, cooking demonstrations, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing international fare.
Brisbane’s biggest street party, the Teneriffe Festival celebrates the rich heritage and kaleidoscopically diverse community that is Teneriffe, by erupting in a fabulous fiesta of the best eats, beats, art and drinks the area has to offer.
The ultimate street festival is returning! Head to Fortitude Valley 28 – 30 October to watch over 150 artists performing in 21 of Brisbane’s most beloved music venues.
Brisbane’s own International Film Festival, BIFF, is back for 27th year of showcasing and celebrating the best of international and Australian contemporary cinema. The line-up includes new-release features, documentaries, short films and curated strands, with a focus this year on movie experience and local creatives.
City adventures
Change of season means a change of wardrobe…right? Shop BNE means Brisbane Queen Street Mall is open for business with exclusive deals from fashions stores, restaurants, and more. Make a day of it and enjoy the open-air shopping experience in the heart of the city. Check out our guide to the Queens Street Mall.
This international experience at Queensland Art Gallery is must-see for art lovers! European Masterpieces from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York covers 500 years of amazing art with works that rarely leave permanent display. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see paintings by Fra Angelico, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Turner, Van Gogh, Monet and more.
13. Gigs and picnics | Last Saturday of every month
Stock up the picnic basket and grab a blanket for an afternoon in the City Botanic Gardens in Alice Street. From midday to 4:00pm on the last Saturday of every month, the gardens come alive with food trucks and music amidst the lush landscape.
South of the river, Fish Lane has all the wine bars, restaurants, and cafes you need to create a choose-your-own dining and drinking adventure with friends. Read our comprehensive guide and arrive hungry.
The warmer weather is coming, so what better to reinvigorate your exercise routine with some brand-new walking trails. Go too hard too soon and you’ll fall off the wagon faster than you jumped on it – so ease into it with one of these light urban wanders, taking regular rest breaks at the various local craft breweries. Doctor’s orders.
Brisbane’s dining scene is abuzz with renewed energy and new openings. Stroll the city to discover the latest dining gems but don’t forget to check out hotspots such as Albion, West End and James Street in Fortitude Valley. As well, there are new suburban standouts to discover in Manly, Stafford, Coorparoo and Redcliffe.
Soak up the sunshine and raise your glasses to drinking up high at the best rooftop bars in Brisbane. While our winters are mild, there’s nothing quite like clinking glasses outdoors with views of the CBD skyline in the springtime air.
Brisbane’s bustling market scene is in overdrive. View our guide to the best farmers markets in Brisbane – from farm-fresh food and vegetables to picking up vintage and homemade gems.
Suspended over Queensland Art Gallery’s Watermall entry are 270,000 crystal pieces combined to create Boomerang 2006, shaped after the iconic throwing tool. This dreamy work by Ai Weiwei is a monument to consumption and display and was gifted by the artist to the gallery. First installed during ‘The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art’, it fills the soaring space above the Watermall with reflected light.
Go regional
The early bird gets the worm, and by worm we mean breakfast. Take our advice and destroy one of these trails in the morning hours, followed by one of top suggestions for breakfast or lunch nearby. Work up an appetite in the fresh air this spring.
From the salty sea air by the bayside at Redcliffe to the lush rainforest greens of the D’Aguilar range, Moreton Bay Region is an area rich with diversity. Get an adrenaline rush from the air, experience one of its world-class events, explore the environment and more. Discover the 34 must-do activities in the Moreton Bay Region.
With the weather getting a little warmer, now is the time to plan your camping adventure in Brisbane. Surrounded by stunning displays of natural beauty, the Brisbane region is home to national parks, beaches and lakes worth digging the old tent out of storage for.
Ipswich is bursting with spring time fun so plan a visit to some of the region's stunning playgrounds and waterparks. You can also get up close and personal with native wildlife and friendly farm animals at several locations.
Take the perfect day trip to Somerset. Visit historic pubs, quirky cafes and enjoy a splash of wine tasting all within an easy drive from Brisbane.
Get some fresh country air and just picked farm produce on the Scenic Rim Farm Gate Trail. All just an easy one-hour drive from Brisbane, choose from 15 stops to visit and see camels, shop for local produce, walk through the flower fields, taste wine, and try local schnapps.
Best of the rest
Check out the cutest spring babies at Brisbane’s loved Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The warmer weather means many of the furred, feathered and fanged residents are up and about. Take one of the many tours to get up close with the wildlife and learn about how you help with conservation of our treasured Australian fauna.
Have you ever seen Brisbane erupt in a sea of purple Jacaranda trees? Late October or early November is the best time to pack the camera and set out around the city.
Get up close and personal with majestic humpback whales as they pass by the South East Queensland coast to the warm, tropical waters of Queensland. Check out our guide to the best whale-watching tours and spots along the coast where you can catch a glimpse of these deep blue sea creatures.
29. Barefoot bowls
Grab a patch o' green at your local bowls club and embrace the thrill of being a barefoot bandit. If being sans shoes is not your style - we find this unbeliveabowl - then head on over to the bar where you can cheer on your mates and delight in some Aussie pub grub. Book your lane at Merthyr Bowls, Coorparoo Bowls Club, New Farm Bowls Club or The Boo in Newstead.
There’s something extra-special about watching the sky light up in every shade of pink, purple and orange from the water. Hop on a Kookaburra Queen River cruise, rent an electric GoBoat, book lunch or drinks at the Yot Club, or do it your way with River to Bay. Whether it’s cruising up and down the winding Brisbane River or putting about on the expansive blue of Moreton Bay, being out on the water is a real treat.
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