Why Visit Brisbane in Winter?

Beautiful all year round but arguably best explored when the weather is at its coolest, Brisbane is absolutely heaving with things to do in winter — if you thought the River City was all scorching hot summer days and beating the heat with a swim or a cool spot in the shade, think again!

With the cooler weather comes the opportunity to get out and explore more, and perhaps visit places you may have rushed through or missed when touring the town on a hot and humid summer day. From ice skating to food festivals and sports events to whale watching, Brisbane in winter is a time for celebration not hibernation and there’s no shortage of things to see and do for locals and holidaymakers from interstate and overseas alike.

So, if you’re looking for events and activities in Brisbane this winter, you’re sure to find yourself spoiled for choice! 

Cool and comfortable climate

One of the big draw cards to visiting Brisbane in winter is the cool and comfortable climate at this time of year. If you have a love of the outdoors, there’s no better Australian capital city to visit in winter than Brisbane.

There's a wealth of outdoor attractions around the city, including South Bank Parklands, Kangaroo Point, Story Bridge, Brisbane City Botanic Gardens and the lookout, walking trails and botanic garden at Mount Coot-tha. Along with making visiting attractions in and around the city more appealing than in the summer months, the cooler days deliver drier weather and crisp, clear skies that make this the best time of year to discover our local national parks and the plethora of hiking and camping options they offer.

Brisbane’s 300+ days of sunshine make dining alfresco possible all-year round and when those cool winter days with their clear blue skies set in, wining and dining outdoors in the Queensland capital is nothing shy of heavenly. James Street and New Farm are home to some of the best cafes and restaurants in Brisbane, but you’ll find a multitude of great options across all of its vibrant precincts, including Fish Lane, South Brisbane, West End, Woolloongabba and Fortitude Valley.

Boasting spectacular views thanks to its amazing location below the Story Bridge overlooking the Brisbane River, Howard Smith Wharves is a top candidate for a locally-brewed bevvy and a bite to eat on a sunny winter’s day, as is Southbank where you’ll find a wealth of wining and dining options from the casual and relaxed to far more upmarket options.

Brisbane’s winter festivals and events

Winter is the perfect time of year to hook into something warm and comforting, and during the cooler months of the year, Brisbane delivers big time. 

The ‘Ekka’ (The Royal Queensland Show) will be back bigger and better than ever for nine days from 6 to 14 August in 2022 after a disappointing cancellation due to COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021. Held annually at the Brisbane Showgrounds since 1876, the Ekka is a celebration of Queensland agriculture and attracts over 20,000 entries across a range of categories. The Brisbane exhibition is absolutely packed full of fun things for attendees of all ages — especially youngsters — with thousands of animals on show, live entertainment, competitions and, of course, heaps of carnival-style rides and showbags! 

And be sure to check out Brisbane Festival, running from 2 to 24 September. A nearly month-long celebration of the arts, theatre, music, dance and activities for young and old – the city’s best side is on show here. And this year there’s over 580 shows to catch. Here's everything you need to know about Brisbane Festival. 

And there are more winter festivals and celebrations within a 2-hour drive of Brisbane, including Stanthorpe’s biennial snow festival, ‘Snowflakes in Stanthorpe’ — next held in 2023. 

Whale watching season in Brisbane

While the annual humpback whale migration is experienced by most in Hervey Bay, Brisbane is a great place to witness the first pods as they make their migration to warmer waters north. Whale watching season in Brisbane is from September to November, and you have a few options when deciding which tour to join.

Brisbane Whale Watching has a purpose-built whale watching vessel departing from Redcliffe daily, while Tangalooma Whale Watching Cruises offers tours departing from Brisbane and Tangalooma Resort on Mulgumpin (Moreton Island). Yalingbila, Australia’s only Aboriginal whale watching tour operator, offers ‘yalingbila’ (whale) watching tours departing from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).

Surf’s up north and south

Without the northerly winds that often deliver choppy waves, the surf breaks at the Sunshine Coast to the north and the Gold Coast to the south of Brisbane are smoother, more rideable and often bigger in the winter months. For keen surfers chasing big  swells, Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast, Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast with its amazing right-hand point break and Main Beach at Point Lookout on North Stradbroke Island are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to surfing hotspots where you can catch winter breaks near Brisbane. 

If you feel like getting out on the water without getting wet, the winter months deliver greater water visibility, making it the perfect time of year to explore the sunken shipwrecks at Tangalooma on Moreton Island — from a completely transparent kayak. Australian Sunset Safaris have a fleet of clear kayaks that enable you to get excellent views of the wrecks and the myriad marine life that inhabit the reefs that have formed over time here.

Brisbane’s best beaches are beautiful in winter months, with dog-friendly haven Nudgee Beach, Suttons Beach in Redcliffe and Woorim Beach on Bribie Island among the top beaches to visit and warm yourself as you walk in the winter sun with the sand between your toes.

Escape to luxury accommodation with fireplaces

Winters may be mostly mild in Queensland, but if you’ve got your heart set on escaping to luxe digs with a fireplace when the mercury drops, Brisbane and the surrounding areas, especially the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterland and the southern countryside, don’t disappoint. Perched on the mountains by Ravensbourne National Park with spectacular views, Ravensbourne Escape offers a selection of winter getaway accommodation for couples and groups, including luxury chalets with roaring fireplaces.

The spa suites at Spicers Peak Lodge have massive open fireplaces and stunning vistas overlooking the mountains of the Scenic Rim, and there are many opportunities to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for luxurious accommodation with fireplaces across the rolling hills of the hinterland regions of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.