In the midst of our busy lives, where jobs, bills and stress can topple us over the edge, it’s important to surround yourself with people you love and appreciate. There’s nothing like spending quality time with your best gal pals to remember what’s important and reawaken your zest for life. With Tay Tay and co. and the Sex and the City women giving us serious #squadgoals, its time to phone up your best girlfriends and book a girly trip away.
One of the best places to have a girl’s trip is the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane. This sunny city has everything required for the ultimate in femme travel, from fantastic brunch spots to world-class shopping, beautiful hikes and funky nightlife. Below is a guide of some of the tried and tested places ideal for a girl’s weekend.
Food & Drink
Let's be real; a proper girls weekend just revolves around good food and great company. Below are just some of the best places in the city to go, but don’t just stick to this list, there are plenty more on offer if you search!
Eat Street Night Markets – Imagine a small city of old shipping containers, transformed into mini-kitchens that produce fun and delicious food such as Salted Caramel Cronut Cones, Mac n Cheese Burgers and Brownie Ice-Cream Sandwiches and you’ll have a fair idea of what Eat Street has to offer. Open Friday and Saturday nights, Eat Street is the perfect place to go with your girlfriends and gorge yourself on all the delicious goodies while listening to local bands.
Delicious treats from the Dancing Girls Famous Funnel Cakes at Eat Street Markets.
Eat Street Markets are the perfect place for a girl's outing and to get some Insta-worthy snaps!
West End – Brisbane’s ‘hipster’ neighbourhood hosts a huge range of cafes and restaurants, suitable for any palate. Mediterranean restaurant Ouzeri is perfect for a group outing, with delicious Greek share plates and BYO alcohol. For after-dinner drinks, head to the Jungle Room or Cobbler for fabulous cocktails with the ‘cool crowd’.
New Farm – This suburb is filled with historical houses and plenty of homeware shops to ogle over. Brunswick Street offers many delicious choices of places to eat and shop, guaranteed to burn a hole in your wallet. For an Instagram worthy breakfast visit, head to Little Loco for meals that are as tasty as they are pretty.
Fortitude Valley – More commonly known just as ‘the Valley’, this thriving suburb is the place to go to get a taste of Brisbane nightlife. Start at one of the rooftop bars such as Eleven or Limes and then boogie into the early hours of the morning at Cloudland or the Met - two of the most popular nightclubs in the Valley.
City – Fridays or Riverbar are perfect places to cheers to the sunset with good friends. Situated on the riverfront, these places are popular to start the night off.
Espresso martinis are essential for a girl’s weekend!
What To Do
If you and your gal pals want to do something other than eat and drink (excuse me while I pick my jaw off the ground) then don’t worry, Brissy has heaps of activities to do that doesn’t involve extra calories.
River Walk – Because activewear isn’t just for wearing to brunch. A jaunt along the Brisbane River with your girlfriends is one of the loveliest ways to get your heart rate up and earn that morning coffee and cake. If you don’t fancy a walk, there’s always the River Cat that floats along the river daily, which is a great way to get from A to B.
Stop in at Streets Beach, Southbank's artificial beach on your morning walk by the river
Theatre & Arts – Brisbane has no shortage of culture, with a rampant music and arts scene throughout the city. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) always has an array of brilliant shows on offer, from musicals to ballet to music concerts - there is still something to see. The Queensland Museum and Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) have free entry to permanent exhibitions and are often host travelling exhibits as well. For live music, head to Fortitude Valley or West End to check out the latest local bands. For a more international flavour, the Brisbane Entertainment Centre and Suncorp Stadium often hose acts from around the globe, to Taylor Swift or Flume.
Get dressed up and see one of the many shows or musicals playing in Brisbane
Get Back to Nature - Mountain Coot-tha and Mount Gravatt are two great hikes close to the city that can be done in an hour or two. Offering spectacular views, it a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city below. If you fancy meeting some native Aussie wildlife during the weekend, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is a mecca for Aussie animals. Famous for being the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, the sanctuary has over 130 koalas to see and an assortment of other native animals.
Shopping – What girls trip doesn’t involve a bit of retail therapy? From Queen Street Mall for the latest fashions or Edward Street for high-end fashion, the City Centre has you covered. For more unique buys, try West End or Paddington for vintage goodies. If markets are more your scene, every weekend there is something new to rummage through.
Every weekend market stalls pop up all over Brisbane
Where to Stay
There's no shortage of places to stay in Brisbane. With huge hotels lining the Brisbane River, such as the Meriton, Ibis, Oaks Casino and Mercure you will have no trouble securing a room with a view. For a more homely stay, try Airbnb or Stayz and find a place in the neighbourhood of your choice. West End, Kangaroo Point and New Farm are all great places to search for as they are close to the city and have a vast range of shops and restaurants nearby.
Wine, cheese and a view! Airbnb has so many great places to stay in Brisbane!
Best Time to Go
Being the capital city of the Sunshine State, Brisbane has good weather almost all year long. However for a girl’s weekend when you have heaps of things to do and see, you don’t want the weather holding you back. The best time to visit is in the spring and summer months, where you can enjoy the sunshine and warmth.
Why not plan your girl's weekend around an annual event such as Riverfire in September?
Whatever you’re after for your girl’s weekend, guaranteed you will find it in Brisbane. The city is easily accessible by car, public transport and by foot and has a big country town feel that other bigger cities don’t have but still cosmopolitan enough to feel like a city getaway. So get your best girlfriends together and have a fabulous weekend in the sunny state!
Jess Buchan is an Aussie travel blogger who has lived in Europe and loves to share her travel stories on her blog http://ablondeandherpassport.com Instagram: @ablondeandherpassport Twitter @ablondeandher
The views, opinions and positions expressed by the author and those providing comments are theirs alone, and are meant as travel inspiration only. They do not reflect the opinions of Cover-More Insurance. You should always read the PDS available from your travel insurance provider to understand the limits, exclusions and conditions of your policy and to ensure any activities you undertake are covered by your policy.