Where to find fairies in Brisbane City
Hunting for fairies in Brisbane? Find secret fairy doors, enchanting (beer) gardens, magical fairy lights, and hidden nooks in The City.
Whether you’re looking for a fun, free activity to do with the kids, somewhere sparkly to grab a drink or need the perfect backdrop for your next picture, you’ll find a tiny oasis around every corner.
Discover the entrance to fairyland
Enter the City Botanic Gardens adjacent to the Goodwill Bridge to find two large fig trees covered in fairy lights. The sparkling canopy welcomes you into the historic gardens. Chase fairies through Brisbane's lush, inner-city haven, meet the wildlife and explore the fig trees. This is a top spot with students, tourists and locals alike, seeking that #instaworthy snap.

Source: Lady Brisbane. Follow Lady Brisbane on Instagram.
If the fairies at the City Botanic Gardens are playing hide and seek, try and track them down on 118 Eagle Street. Here you’ll find another large Brisbane tree adorned in fairy lights that is a hot spot for fairy sightings.
Uncover a hidden fairy door

Artwork and photograph by environmental/guerrilla artist Mace Robertson. Follow Mace Robertson on Instagram.

Felix for Goodness, Burnett Lane.
Stroll down Burnett Lane, a hidden laneway in Queen Street Mall, and you’ll find a little red fairy door. Take a break at one of the hideaway cafes, Felix for Goodness or Brew, along the way.
For the big kids
Love the magic of fairy lights but prefer to do it with a bevvy in hand (glitter wings optional)?

Riverbar and Kitchen is one of The City’s favourite beer gardens with sparkling fairy lights and waterfront views. Tuck into bar snacks and keep an eye out for water fairies. Or head to the Pig & Whistle riverside location and park up outside under a canopy of fairy lights.
The Grand Central Hotel gets lit every evening with cascading fairy lights hanging down the face of the heritage building. Dine al fresco to soak up the magic and do a spot of people-watching.
Find more light installations across The City
Check out Brisbane City Council's Creative lighting strategy and map to seek out evening lighting installations that are active across The City.
Discover the entrance to fairyland
Enter the City Botanic Gardens adjacent to the Goodwill Bridge to find two magical fig trees covered in fairy lights. The sparkling canopy welcomes you in to the historic gardens. Chase fairies through Brisbane's lush, inner-city haven, meet the wildlife and explore the fig trees.
Uncover a hidden fairy door
Stroll down Burnett Lane, a hidden laneway in Queen Street Mall, and you’ll find a little red fairy door. Take a break at one of the hideaway cafes, Felix or Brew, along the way.
Artwork and photograph by environmental/guerrilla artist Mace Robertson. Follow Mace Robertson on Instagram.
Felix for Goodness, Burnett Lane.
For the big kids
Love the magic of fairy lights but prefer to do it with a bevvy in hand (glitter wings optional)?
Sip on apertivi and snack on Sicilian fare at Bar OTTO, complete with a ceiling of twinkling fairy lights and a city view overlooking St John’s Cathedral.
Head to the Stock Exchange rooftop bar and sit beneath a canopy of fairy lights and hanging plants while enjoying the city skyline.

Riverbar and Kitchen is one of Brisbane City’s favourite beer gardens with sparkling fairy lights and waterfront views. Tuck into bar snacks and keep an eye out for water fairies.

The Grand Central Hotel gets lit every evening with cascading fairy lights hanging down the face of the heritage building. Dine al fresco to soak up the magic and people-watching.
City of Lights
Brisbane City Council's City of Lights project is seeing creative lighting installed across Brisbane City and wider Brisbane. You can find a map of lights around Brisbane and the City of Lights strategy here.
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By Penny Massey
When Penny’s not brunching on chicken waffles at Kettle & Tin or hanging out with her cat, she’s probably in @BrisbaneCity buying shoes or channelling her spirit animal, Annabel Crab. If you happen to catch her outside the suburb of Paddington, it’ll likely be at Doo Bop dancing to free jazz, eating the award-winning degustation at Urbane or immersing herself in Brisbane’s startup ecosystem. Either way, hand her a champagne saber and see what happens next.
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