Cheers the weekend with a 3-day road trip around Brisbane

It’s an exhilarating melting pot of entertainment and culture, and with a set of wheels, Brisbane’s charms only intensify. Weekend road trips from Brisbane allow you to deep dive the capital and its surrounding beauty at your own pace, uncovering the best of Brisbane’s urban playground and the highlights of its countryside.

Our top tip is to allow three full days to soak up the standouts. From Brisbane River cruising and glamorous waterfront dining to farmland villages filled with eateries and boutiques, weekend road trips from Brisbane underscore its unrivalled diversity.

Pack your daypack and bookmark this page — it’s time for an all-new Queensland adventure.   

Day one

Morning

The best weekend road trips from Brisbane are fuelled in style. Ease into your itinerary with breakfast along James Street in Fortitude Valley, one of the city’s most sophisticated locales dotted with upmarket restaurants and cafes.

Follow your nose to The Green where Middle Eastern cuisine spices up your morning feed. The breakfast menu, with dishes like smashed lamb kofta patties and baklava French toast, swings into gear from 7:30 AM. Craving something simple? There’s also King Arthur Cafe on Arthur Street, right off James, which nails even the most complicated of coffee orders and spins deliciousness out of seasonal ingredients.

Once you’ve set your day up, it’s time to indulge in a retail smorgasbord of homewares, fashion and accessories. Sartorial stars can tick off Molton Store, Aje, Silk Laundry and Zimmermann while devoted nesters will appreciate the likes of Pottery Barn, West Elm, Dinosaur Designs, St Barts and Jardan.

Whatever your poison, save some boot space for later as the opportunity for spoils has only just begun.

Midday

The sun is shining, and you’ve got all the time in the world — let’s ditch the car (momentarily) and hit the water. Tap Brisbane Powerhouse (a cultural destination worthy of its own dedicated exploration) into Maps and power up those sea legs. The New Farm hot spot provides instant access to New Farm Park Terminal where you can jump on board a CityCat to cruise the Brisbane River. 

Take in the architecturally astounding Story Bridge, which dates back to 1940, as well as that unmistakable skyline, before bobbing into Eagle Street Pier where lunch o’clock is calling. Set next to the city’s financial district, and right near the sparkly new Queen’s Wharf entertainment precinct, it’s a high-flying destination for sleek waterfront feasts.

Sink into a seat at Bar Miette, where European-inspired dining excels and river views stream from every angle. It’s an Instagram-friendly alfresco destination to flow your inner-city antics into sunset.

Evening

While the buzz of the CBD is alluring, you’ll need to kiss those million-dollar views goodbye before night falls as it’s time to return to your vehicle to seek out tonight’s digs — Miss Midgley’s on James Street. One of Brisbane’s best pet-friendly accommodation offerings, the boutique hotel boasts historical sandstone bones and just five chic, self-contained rooms.

You’re steps away from dinner as Fortitude Valley’s thriving dining scene takes centre stage again. For a look at the latest picks to make waves in the area, check out our list of the best new restaurants in Brisbane.

Once your pillow and crisp sheets start calling, the hotel’s spacious bathrooms, fully equipped kitchens and plush amenities will ensure you’re plenty rested ahead of doing it all over again tomorrow.

Day two

Morning

But first, coffee. Throw some clothes on and make a beeline to Agnes Bakery, one of the best bakeries in Brisbane. You’ll find it on an unassuming corner of James Street, snaked with a queue around the building, delivering creamy caffeine and baked good magic. Don’t try and resist — this is an overachieving road trip supply station so holding back is highly discouraged.

Once you’ve stocked up, it’s time to motor. Punch Elderflower Farm into your directory and drive one hour or so into the magnificent World Heritage-listed Scenic Rim. It’s home to this pretty-as-a-picture flower farm and florist where guests are invited to pick their own blooms and even take a guided tour of the idyllic grounds on select weekend days.

Don’t miss Elderflower Farm’s Farm Shop either, where that leftover boot space will make a great home to one-of-a-kind homewares, jewellery, farm products, garden accessories and more. 

Midday

Lunch won’t require any driving at all given the Scenic Rim Farm Shop & Cafe is adjacent to the Elderflower Farm’s retail space and about 100m from the flower field. Its grounds, which house Elderflower Farm, are splashed with Jacaranda trees to create a soothing oasis.

And then there’s your meal itself. Homemade and firmly focused on showcasing local produce, the food is abundant and globally inspired. Choose from the likes of nachos, noodle salads, frittatas with salad, chicken salads and more — the menu evolves with the seasons.

Yet to flex your plastics? Explore the region’s largest collection of antiques at The Emporium on George St in Kalbar, which is less than five minutes’ drive from lunch. Spilling over with handcrafted oddities, unique pieces for the home and other delicate gems, it’s a shopping haven no matter your style. 

Evening

Before hunger strikes, make your road trip truly memorable by checking into Ketchup’s Bank Glamping in the Scenic Rim. It’s camping but not as you know it, with a range of accommodation options that scream luxe.

Our pick of the bunch is Baya Eco Retreat, a tiny house set amid the property’s 100 acres of privately owned eucalypt forest that offers utter tranquillity and privacy thanks to its positioning on a secluded ridge. Views over misted mountains, a firepit, a hammock, a private deck, Sheridan linens and a Weber BBQ provide all your creature comforts and so much more.

Peel yourself away for dinner at Blume Restaurant, a romantic and highly acclaimed fine dining destination in Boonah, just 20 minutes’ drive from your accommodation. There are just 20 seats inside, so you’ll need to book in advance, but ensure you do because Brisbane-born chef Jack Stuart harnesses the beauty of the region via masterful culinary wizardry that shifts with the seasons.

Day three

Morning

Embrace slow mornings on a weekend road trip from Brisbane by asking Ketchup’s Bank Glamping to drop a deluxe breakfast hamper into your tiny house. The team have two styles of hampers (one pantry breakfast variety and another BBQ essentials option) and they both facilitate far more time spent enjoying your final day on the road.

Time to check out? Don’t despair because something transformative is on its way. You’ll need to journey about an hour south to reach Mount Barney National Park where the wonderful Lower Portals Walk is going to prove a sensory illumination. One of the Scenic Rim’s most-loved walks, this 3km trail winds you through rich forest to land you at a rock pool where languishing swimming and carefree dives into divine waters are non-negotiables.

Trekkers’ tip: You’ll need to follow the Boonah-Rathdowney Rd for about 39km to find the Lower Portals Walk. Make a right turn at Barney View-Upper Logan Road to roll a further 12km onwards and follow every sign to the Lower Portals until you find it.

Midday

Feel free to skip over lunch and float through that rock pool aimlessly, but if adventure’s your middle name, there’s plenty more to see within Mount Barney National Park.

Mount Barney itself is Queensland’s second highest peak and its mountains were formed after an ancient volcano erupted 24 million years ago. Get lost in the park’s meandering creeks and vibrant flora and fauna or seek out Yellow Pinch picnic area for a slice of easy-to-navigate natural immersion. If you’re there long enough, you’ll likely spy the park’s native kingfishers skimming nearby waters. There’s also a Yellow Pinch lookout offering lovely views across the region.

Evening

All good things must come to an end. Make the most of your journey out of the Scenic Rim and back into Brisbane, which takes about 1.5 hours, by returning in time for dinner.

From suburban holes in the wall to world-class dining destinations, the culinary genius of Brisbane has never tasted this good. Check out our list of the best restaurants in Brisbane right now to make sure you don’t miss your ultimate final supper.