Corey Oates top 7 tips for exploring Brisbane

Broncos winger Corey Oates gave us the inside scoop on what he likes to do off-field around Brisbane. Describing Brisbane as a laid-back city, with lots to do he said: “living here is easy because of the outstanding weather, it's sunny for 90% of the year”. Check out Corey’s top seven things to do below. 

A view from the top

Brisbane undeniably has some striking views and vantage points. To get the lay of the land and catch an amazing sunrise, Corey recommends Mt Coot-tha Lookout. “It’s the best place to see the city”. Catch that dreamy golden shot in the morning or the obligatory selfie with the sprawling city behind you. Why not make your way here before the first Magic Round kick-off?

Big into brekkie

Corey and the team are a big fan of breakfast, arguably the most important meal of the day. Brisbane has a lot on offer and with so many tasty brunch spots it can be hard to choose. Corey said, “the team keep exploring a bunch of different places and like to change it up”. He and the team last tried the breakfast at The Brass Barrel in Rosalie. 

Where to grab dinner

Corey's favourite place to go with his wife Tegan for dinner is Cha Cha Char. This signature steakhouse is multi-award winning and features over ten different cuts of quality pasture and grain fed steak cooked the way you like it. Corey’s choice for “a great bit of steak”, is the 250g Wagyu Rump Cap with marbling 9+. Not only is the food 5 star but “it’s a great spot along the river there, with good atmosphere and excellent staff”, says Corey. 

Take a swing

Get your swing on with a game of golf. Brisbane is an outdoor city and with lush surrounds, there are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from. On his days off, Corey loves to play golf. His pick is Indooroopilly Golf Club – “it has two courses, one is a challenging course and one is a bit more open, so there’s a course for every type of player”.   

Go for a day trip, or longer 

Escape from the city and make your way to Moreton Island where you can fish, snorkel, swim and explore the third-largest sand island in the world. Corey goes fishing or, as his teammates say, “boating, as I don’t catch anything” out the back of Moreton Island. “Afterwards I go to Tangalooma for a relaxing swim and tell myself I am not a good fisherman”. For more fun activities in the sand, sun and surf on Moreton Island check out our guide.

Grab a beer

Brisbane has a bunch of epic new bars and amazing venues to grab a cold one... or two. It can make it tough to visit just one place. If you can’t decide, take your pick from our list of best bars in Brisbane or you can visit Corey's excellent recommendation of Mr Percival’s. “Its a really nice place to go for a drink, it's got an unbelievable view of the river”. This overwater bar sits under the Story Bridge and is part of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct.

Get outdoors

Brisbane is perfect for camping adventures and offers lots of options from national parks to beaches and lakes. Coming from Central Queensland, Corey is a fan of the outdoors and camping. He said his next camping adventure would be “to go to Straddie and take the fishing boat”. Stradbroke Island, or Straddie, as the locals know it, is a spectacular island famous for its scenic headlands, rolling surf and endless sandy beaches. So grab your camping gear and prepare to slumber under the stars.