Brisbane: From river to coast
From sophisticated restaurants and art galleries to island adventures and bush activities, this three-day itinerary offers a uniquely Australian experience that blends the best of city, coast and country.
What to know
- Three-day program
- 13 experiences across three destinations
- Brisbane Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre
Day 1: Explore Brisbane by air, land, and water
Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane, Queensland © Tourism and Events Queensland
Morning
To get your bearings in Queensland’s capital, take a ride on The Wheel of Brisbane in the South Bank Parklands. Accommodating groups of up to 250 at a time, the wheel takes you 60 metres (197 feet) above the ground in air-conditioned gondolas, providing 360-degree panoramic views of the city. Once you’re back on the ground, meet up with a volunteer Brisbane Greeter who will take you on an educational walking tour, where you will learn about the history and stories of the city. These tours can be delivered to varying group sizes in more than 20 languages.
Afternoon
Transfer to Eagle Street Pier, home to some of Brisbane’s best dining venues. Enjoys views of the Brisbane River from City Winery, where you can host a wine and food pairing experience. Spend the afternoon taking in the city from a different perspective as you charter the 39-metre (131 foot) luxury floating superyacht, YOT Club, and cruise under the historic Story Bridge. Next take a tour of Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA). After viewing contemporary pieces and Indigenous fibre art from across the country, head to the GOMA Roof Terrace for drinks and canapés as the sun sets
Evening
Finish off your night with dinner at Brisbane City Hall, catered by EPICURE. Built in 1930, this elegant heritage building features 14 event spaces, including the main auditorium, which boasts a 23-metre-high (75 foot) central lantern and can accommodate up to 800 guests for a banquet or 2,000 for a cocktail function. Or, for a memorable evening outdoors, apply to hold a private function on Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge, and even light it up in your corporate colours.
Day 2: Enjoy an Australian bush adventure
Spicers Hidden Vale, Queensland © Spicers Hidden Vale
Morning
Charter a helicopter for an early-morning flight to Spicers Hidden Vale, located on 4,800 hectares (11,600 acres) of bush to the southwest of Brisbane. The property features 34 rooms designed in the style of a traditional Australian homestead. Start the day with a team-building activity such as the Aircraft Adventure Challenge, where teams compete against each other in challenges of survival and skill. After determining the winning team, head back to the property for a shared lunch of local produce on the lawn of the homestead.
Afternoon
Spend a relaxing afternoon at Spa Anise or organise a team yoga class followed by sparkling wine and fruit platters by the pool. If you’d rather explore the great outdoors, take a Wildlife and Livestock four-wheel drive tour, where you can view local wildlife in their natural habitat and get up close to the retreat’s livestock. Other options include a guided hike or mountain-bike ride through the bush, or a Segway challenge complete with obstacle course and team games.
Evening
Homage, the retreat’s award-winning on-site restaurant, is the perfect setting for dinner. The paddock to palate focussed menu features fresh produce straight from the property’s market garden. The restaurant can host 90 guests for a seated dinner or 150 for a cocktail function. For a more rustic experience, book the 100-year-old Barn, where chefs prepare dinner on an open fire, to the delight of your guests. The Barn can seat 70 people for a barbecue buffet, and also features a private bar and pool table. After dinner, gather around the campfire to toast marshmallows and learn how to play the didgeridoo.
Day 3: Get up close with koalas, kangaroos and dolphins
Tangalooma Wrecks, Moreton Island, Queensland © Tourism Australia
Morning
After breakfast, arrange car transfers for the one-hour drive back to Brisbane. The next stop is Riverlife at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane, where you’ll find a range of adventurous team-building activities including rock climbing, abseiling, Segway tours and kayaking along the Brisbane River. Then travel 30 minutes to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. The world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, Lone Pine is home to more than 130 koalas and 150 free-ranging kangaroos and wallabies. The sanctuary offers various wildlife encounters, including getting up close with a koala, handfeeding the kangaroos and getting up close to a dingo.
Afternoon
Transfer back to Brisbane for lunch at the South Beach Social located in the heart of Southbank. Inspired by a holiday beach shack, with a Brisbane City twist – enjoy a relaxed coastal atmosphere from the convenience of the city. With multiple entertaining spaces this venue can accommodate large groups for sit down or standing events. After a relaxing lunch, charter a helicopter to Moreton Island, 20 minutes from Brisbane, where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at Tangalooma Island Resort. Guests can take a sea scooter safari to nearby shipwrecks, or spy dugongs, turtles and manta rays during a marine discovery tour. Between June and October, you can even join a whale-watching cruise to spot migrating humpbacks.
Evening
As dusk arrives, wade into the shallow waters just off the shore for your chance to get up close with the wild bottlenose dolphins that visit the island each night. For dinner, Tangalooma offers a range of dining options, including seafood feasts on the beach, roaming food market stalls for casual outdoor events, and banquets for up to 300 people in a waterfront pavilion. Once you’ve finished your meal, take an evening boat cruise back to Brisbane via the Brisbane River.
