In Brisbane for the footy finals? Here's what you need to do.

Updated: 24 September 2021

If you're in town for the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final, you'd be mad not to make a long weekend of it. From top-notch food to cold brews and poolside chills to adventure and thrills, there's a stack of things to do both before and after the final whistle sounds.

GRAND FINAL WEEK

From Sunday 26 September – Sunday 3 October, King George Square in Brisbane City will be transformed into 'King Wally Square'. Capture your #NRLFinals moment with a pic on an actual King Wally throne, and settle in to watch the Brisbane City Hall, King George Tower and the Hilton Brisbane light up with a montage of season highlights and iconic moments throughout NRL history.

THURSDAY & FRIDAY | 2021 NRL FAN FEST 

When: 

• Thursday 30 September (10:00am - 6:00pm)
• Friday 1 October (10:00am - 8:00pm)

Where: King George Square

Welcome to Brisbane! Once you’ve checked into your hotel (if you haven't booked your stay yet, score a deal here), head to the city to get amongst footy finals fever long before the on-field action starts at 2021 NRL Fan Fest. Enjoy a range of festivities including a spin to win prize giveaway, skills and drills activities, NRL legend appearances, food trucks, bars, live entertainment and much more!

SATURDAY

Fun for everyone 

It’s Saturday morning and time to head to South Bank  to explore the 17 hectares of lush parklands, stunning river views, and world-class museums and cultural centres.

For lunch choose from a wide range of delicious eateries available along the river, from quick eats the whole family will enjoy to world-class fine dining experiences.

Then head to Victoria Park Putt Putt for a few rounds of mini golf. Don’t miss out on the spooky Halloween decorations during October.  

Head to the races

Don't miss the The NRL Premiership Trophy at Brisbane Racing Club on Grand Final eve from 12 - 3pm. Grab your mates and nicest pair of dress shoes and head to race day at Doomben Racecourse - Brisbane Racing Club is offering FREE GA entry to those who wear their NRL team colours! Giddy up. 

Explore Brisbane's breweries, wineries and distilleries 

Book in for a 90-minute tour of the heritage XXXX Brewery to explore the story of beer and gain an insight into the 135-year history of a Queensland icon. View how beer is made, from the raw ingredients through to the state-of-the-art packing hall, then learn how to pour the perfect beer and taste it like a brewer.

Check out River to Bay’s day brewery tour and cruise along the river stopping off at Brisbane's most-loved breweries. Step it up a notch with a helicopter pub crawl through Greater Brisbane with Elite Helicopters. Hop between three to five classic country pubs, sinking a beer at each and stopping for lunch along the way.

If land-based tours are more your thing, let Queensland Day Tour’s Brisbane Brewery Tours show you around Brisbane’s best microbreweries with a comprehensive range of tours to choose from. Thirsty work!

If beer is not your cup of tea, Brisbane is also home to wide range of distilleries and wineries.

Check out:

- Brisbane distillery sell hand crafted artisan gin, vodka and rhum. While sipping on local spirits made with Australian botanicals why not book in for a class at the Gin School?

- Head to Granddad Jacks Distillery to enjoy an intimate afternoon sitting with friends and family while enjoying award-winning spirits and liqueurs or sipping on delicious craft beers made by this family-owned distillery.

- If you're keen to stay close to the action, jump over to Milton Run Distillery to check out this group of passionate distillers working together to refresh the rum scene in Australia by creating craft spirits with a mix of traditional and innovative distilling techniques

- A local treasure located at Mount Cotton, Sirromet Wines, is a family owned and run winery with state-of-the-art facilities for food and wine lovers. If you want to escape the city and take in stunning views, this is the winery for you.

- City Winery is a working micro-winery in the heart of the city. Book a winery tour and have a delicious meal in the cellar.

- Take a scenic drive out to Canungra Valley Vineyards for wine tastings, picnic baskets, stone-baked pizzas, cheese boards, and the Alpaca Farm.

- Kooroomba Vineyard and Lavender Farm is the perfect destination lunch spot. Nestled in the Fassifern Valley, take in the breathtaking view of the scenic rim's mountains while indulging in boutique wines from the cellar door and treats from the lavender shop.

SUNDAY 

Grand Final Day

Before kick-off, join in on Brisbane brunch culture and head to Harvey’s on James St to sample their popular Potato and Feta Roesti, then take a stroll down the high street to stop (or window shop) at designer boutiques and leading Australian brands like sass & bide and Gorman.   

Not interested in shopping? Take a leisurely wander down the beautiful streets of New Farm to New Farm Park. October marks not just footy final season but also jacaranda season, so you’ll be guaranteed to see Brisbane’s oldest and largest collection in full bloom.

Head down to Caxton Street to enjoy the pre-match atmosphere and visit the iconic venues for a craft brew, a cheeky burger and live entertainment. The iconic Caxton Hotel carpark beer garden is back for Grand Final day, with a big screen for all the action and a live DJ for Caxton Classics post-match. Don’t miss out on special deals including unlimited beer and wings from Fritzenberger for just $48.

Choose how the evening will pan out 

After the final whistle dive into post-game action, it’s back to the bustling Caxton Street to keep the party rolling. If you’re keen for a change of scenery a short Uber away, you can find yourself at Howard Smith Wharves, the ultimate riverfront precinct. Or, if you want to experience the bustling nightlife of Brisbane, explore Fortitude Valley’s trendiest spots to drink and hang out. Visit Cloudland for a boutique bar experience, The Tivoli for a live gig, or have a cocktail at one of Brisbane’s most popular rooftop bars – Maya Mexican.

MONDAY

Adventure on the river 

After a sleep-in, it’s now time to make the most of your long weekend. Pack a picnic and book an afternoon cruise on GoBoat self-driven electric boats. These boats can be rented for up to 3 hours and don’t require passengers to have a boat licence. 

If you’re up for something a little more adrenaline-inducing, try abseiling down the Kangaroo Point Cliffs or kayaking on our Brisbane River. Riverlife Adventure Centre has it all for the active enthusiast. 

Stay a little while longer 

If you’ve got time to kill, here are a few more suggestions for things to do.

- Race your mates at one of Australia’s most famous race kart courses, Kingston Park Raceway.

- Who doesn’t love the thrill of a chase? Place a bet and visit one of Brisbane’s grandest heritage buildings, the Treasury Casino.

- Take the ferry across to Moreton Island and enjoy a day of sun, sand, and snorkelling.

- Visit the “brewmuda triangle” in Newstead. Brisbane has a number of inner-city craft breweries set within walking distance of one another.

Share your moments on and off the field using our hashtags, #thisisbrisbane and #visitbrisbane