(Image source: Bowen Hills FB) 

#1 Welcome to Bowen Hills!

Fulfil your foodie fantasies at Welcome to Bowen Hills, a series of food trucks which have come together in Bowen Hills (opposite the RNA showgrounds, the home of the Ekka). You can take your taste buds on an adventure thanks to the everchanging themes (like vegan night and dumpling night). Expect crowds – weekends draw over 1,000 people who treat their stomachs to themes like Everything Bacon and Chicken Wings & Tins.

#2 The Story of A Bridge

Follow the neon lights to the top of the Story Bridge with a night climb, where you ascend 74 metres (close to the height of a 22-storey building) for sweeping Brisbane views and a history lesson dished up at great heights. Once you reach the top, standing on 12,000 tonnes of structural steel, you’re rewarded with 360 panoramic views of the bridge, looking straight into the skyline of the city out as far as the Gold Coast and Moreton Bay. Plus, nothing makes a selfie ‘pop’ like a grey onesie, safety harness and gigantic carabiners clipped around your midsection.

#3 Explore The Laneways

Move over Melbourne, the once dingy alleyways of Brisbane have been transformed into hipster heaven, with enough hidden gems to fill this guide. Packing some of the best Italian food, live music, eclectic homewares and op-shops, seek and you shall find inside Brisbane’s twinkle-lit laneways after dark.

#4 Dance All Night

If you’re feeling like Leo Sayer and want to dance the night away, feel Brisbane’s beat at one of the city’s live music venues. From swaying to a blues number at Brooklyn Standard to headbanging to a rock concert at the Triffid or Tivoli, music lovers will find the perfect soundtrack to their night in the city that brought you Powderfinger, Bee Gees and The Go-Betweens.  

(Image source: Cork and Chroma Brisbane FB) 

#5 Unleash Your Creativity
If you thought Brisbane’s West End couldn’t get any more artistic, think again. The creative district welcomes Cork & Chroma to its stomping ground, and the order of events is simple: hold a paintbrush in one hand and a glass of Pinot Grigio in the other.  

Get your creative juices flowing (no, we aren’t talking about your wine, although you can do that too) at their relaxed painting classes. Everyone is given a picture to replicate under the guidance of a professional artist but expect lots of laughter, especially if your end product still resembles a stick figure.

#6 Pub Crawl

Gone are the days of walking from pub to pub, the Brisbanites have discovered something better – a CityCat pub crawl, ferrying you from one location to the next. Grab your mates, save your legs and set off for a night along the Brisbane River, hopping from one waterfront watering hole to the next. P.S. Not recommended for those with a weak stomach.

#7 Cocktail On Top Of The New World City

What do you do when you have a balmy tropical climate all year round? Drink outside of course! You’ll find these best bars 30 storeys high, complete with pool terraces, hot tubs, and even a fake Aussie backyard (set with fake turf and beach umbrellas) to charge your glass.

(Images and content source: Queensland.com) 

Interested in visiting Brisbane? Do make sure to compare your flight tickets here first before booking to get the cheapest deals!