Brisbane is a lovely city, whether you are visiting the parklands or shopping on James Street, you can always find an adventure to fill your weekend with. Sometimes, though, you want to get away for the weekend and experience a new city or town. Through my travels, I have found some great Queensland weekend getaways, some are hidden gems while others are well-known. Keep reading to find the best spots to book for a short getaway from Brisbane.
1. Hamilton Island, The Whitsundays
You probably knew this would be on the list, but the Whitsundays are truly one of the most marvellous places to visit, and not only for the weekend. Hamilton Island in particular has something for everyone. Whether you want to play golf at the Island’s renowned golf course, receive a massage at Spa Wumurdaylin, or visit the Wildlife Park for an up-close viewing of koalas and crocodiles, there is no shortage of activities to keep you both relaxed and amused.
Additionally, even if you have seen it before, marvelling at one of the greatest ecosystems to ever exist – the Great Barrier Reef – is always a good choice of how to spend a few hours. Personally, I take every opportunity possible to visit the Great Barrier Reef as it very well could not be available to view in all its glory in a decade.
If you plan to fly to the Whitsundays, which I recommend as it’s only an hour and ½ flight, you can find budget-conscious, secure Brisbane Airport Parking with Flyparks. Simply type in the dates you wish to travel in their search console and book a car park for your journey in under two minutes – it’s that simple! If you don’t plan to fly to Whitsundays this time, they do offer off-site airport car parks all over Australia and New Zealand, so keep them in mind if you ever find yourself in need of Melbourne airport parking, or any other airport parking for that matter.
Click here to book hotels on Hamilton Island
2. Tamborine Mountain
If you are a nature lover or simply want to escape the hustle and bustle that comes from living in a city, I recommend planning a weekend getaway to Tamborine Mountain. Only a 45-minute drive from Brisbane, you can reconnect with yourself, or with nature, by visiting Queensland’s oldest national park to hike to one of the park’s many waterfalls.
Curtis Falls is one of the most popular waterfalls to visit and is only a 3.2 km round walk from the car park to the waterfall. If you would rather not prepare your hiking boots, however, consider taking a walk on the Tambourine Skypark, it’s only a 20-minute trek, primarily on a boardwalk, and allows you to walk beside the treetops, instead of under them! After a day of visiting the national park hopefully with great Tamborine mountain weather, head for a glass of wine, liquor, or beer at Witches Falls Winery, Tamborine Mountain Distillery, or Fortitude Brewing Co (depending on your choice of drink).
Finally, If you are feeling adventurous and luxurious, consider taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride on your last day in town – doing so will include a champagne breakfast and views of the entire scenic rim. P.S. if you want to be in awe twice, visit the Tamborine Mountain glow worm cave – morning or night!
Click here for hotels at Tamborine Mountain
3. Noosa, Sunshine Coast
Noosa is only a 2-hour drive away from Brisbane, and in my opinion, is never a bad idea. In Noosa, you can find yourself hiking through the town’s national park, kayaking through Noosa Everglades, or taking a dip in the Noosa’s Fairy pools. In fact, the Noosa Everglades are the only Everglades in the world safe enough to swim in and are one of Australia’s most diverse ecosystems, so I would highly recommend checking it out whilst there!
If you want to spend more time in nature after your excursions to the national park or Everglades, consider camping out at Lake Cootharaba. Here you can sleep on the lakefront and walk right into the ocean for a swim. There are two separate locations for camping at the lake, so no matter if you plan to camp in a tent or a campervan, you may do so with ease.
If you would rather not camp, perhaps consider booking a room at Seahaven Beachfront Resort Noosa, a four-star rated hotel with charm and exceptional service. The resort has direct access to Noosa Beach and is right in the heart of town. From the resort, you can visit the famous Hastings Street, which has been voted the ‘Best Main Street in all of Australia.’ The streets are lined with restaurants, local shops, and art galleries.
If you are in town on a Sunday, the Noosa Farmers Market is especially worth a visit for handmade goods and farm fresh produce. After that, consider visiting Eumundi Market, initially built in 1979, it is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays for those who’d like to peruse more local, artisan-made goods and indulge in various food stalls.
Click here to book hotels in Noosa
4. Stanthorpe, Queensland
Located in the soul of the Granite Belt, the journey from Brisbane to Stanthorpe is 3 ½ hours by car and 40 minutes by plane. Stanthorpe may not have been on your radar before but is very much worth exploring as it is a rural small town known for some of Australia’s finest vineyards, locally owned boutiques, fruit orchards, and home to the French Black Perigord Truffle that is so popular, it has an entire discovery centre dedicated to it.
Visiting here is a must if you are a wine fanatic. Stanthorpe’s wineries are some of the best in Australia, and one of the most popular and oldest wineries in the Granite Belt is Ballandean Estate Wines, located in the Southern Downs Area. For five generations, the Puglisi family has harvested some of the finest wines in Eastern Australia since 1932 to offer wine lovers a variety of wines ranging from a sweet Moscato to a Shiraz Durif, which carries aromas of black fruit and a back-end flavour of pepper.
If you are looking for a stay close to some of the region’s various vineyards, check out Barrel View Luxury Cabins. They are rooms made to reflect wine barrels with the interiors designed with a kitchenette stocked with fresh produce, a king-size bed, and astounding mountain views.
If you are looking for things to do in Stanthorpe, visit Stanthorpe’s Regional Art Gallery or Pottery Club. Or, for a little shopping, Pink Poppies is a beloved homeware and accessory store, as well as Ruben and Flax, a shop that carries everything from antiques to cookware. For berry picking, try out Eastern Colour to take home fresh apples and strawberries, and later, drink your apples and strawberries in the form of beers at Granite Belt Brewery!
There are so many orchards that you can even take a bike tour through the roads that lie in between the orchard farms, eating and drinking your way through as you go. Finally, before leaving, make a stop at the Truffle Discovery Centre Stanthorpe for free tastings of gourmet cheeses and a range of jams, kinds of honey, and coffees.
Click here to book accommodation in Stanthorpe
5. Mackay
The flight from Mackay to Brisbane is only an hour ½, and well worth including on your list for Queensland weekend getaways. Mackay has a lot to offer visitors in the form of stunning beaches, delicious sweets, luscious rainforests, wildlife sightings to leave you fulfilled for days, and generally great Mackay weather. Whether you want to try deep-sea fishing and head out towards some of the city’s island neighbours, or appreciate the 1920 and 1930s architecture present throughout downtown, you can make your time in Mackay as peaceful or adventurous as you desire.
While staying in Mackay, you may venture to Cape Hillsborough for a ‘Sunrise Wallaby Tour’ that starts at 5 am and finishes whenever you are ready to leave. Get ready to see kangaroos and wallabies walk onto the beach to gather seed pods for breakfast, with some possibly coming close enough to you to try and feed from your hand.
After finishing your tour, head to Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens to surround yourself with some tropical, indigenous flora, and take a guided tour if you’d like to learn more about what you are seeing through the eyes of an expert. If you fancy Italian food, definitely try out Il Bacco Italian dining or Sorbello’s Italian restaurant, both located centrally in the town.
Craving Asian cuisine? Go to Jim-Me Kitchen, a Malaysian restaurant located right before you get on the Mackay connector. For weekend stays, we highly recommend booking with Illawong Beach Resort or Mantra Mackay for cozy, clean, and affordable Mackay accommodations.
By now we hope to have provided you with a few great options to choose from when planning your Queensland weekend getaways from Brisbane. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and plan your flights well in advance if you plan to travel via plane instead of driving to the destinations listed above. No matter where you choose to go, I hope you have a fabulous time and get the relaxation or excitement you deserve!
Click here to book hotels in Mackay
Last words on Queensland Weekend Getaways
Queensland has so many other places to enjoy for weekend getaways, from bustling cities, tropical rainforests, or island playgrounds to diverse outback towns. We hope we have inspired you to explore of what QLD has to offer.
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