A Go-To Guide To South Bank, Brisbane

Glass ceiling-smashing creativity and all-day play make South Bank an absolute Brisbane must-visit.

You’ve seen the man-made beach and you know a few of the restaurants, but have you ever deep-dived South Bank? Brisbane’s cultural heart is home to a handful of the country’s leading artistic institutions, markets brimming with local produce and artisanal delights and a colossal array of waterfront indulgence. Here, we break down the highlights for you to start ticking off.

Top reasons to visit South Bank

It’s not just a scenic spot to stroll. South Bank, located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, is home to an overwhelming mix of galleries, museums, eateries and family-friendly attractions.

Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)

the building exterior of QAGOMA, Brisbane — Step into Queensland’s renowned contemporary art gallery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located 150 metres away from one another, the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) is a two-pronged package of considered food for thought.

At the furthest end is GOMA, home to contemporary art. No matter what exhibition is showing, it’s guaranteed to be a melting pot of intoxicating creativity.

Stroll down the path, past the bus interchange, to QAG for similarly captivating curations. When you’re not buried in its exhibitions, you’ll be soothed by the building’s central ‘watermall’ (you need to see it to appreciate its beauty) and sculpture courtyard.

Streets Beach

The inner city’s genius answer to relentlessly hot Brisbane temperatures? Throwing a sandy beach and multiple swimming spots right in the action. Streets Beach is a man-made saviour, cooling locals and visitors through its lagoon-style beaches, flowing creeks and shaded chill zones in the middle of South Bank. Plus, it’s fit for families as a professional lifeguard patrols the area every day of the week.

Queensland Museum Kurilpa

a little girl getting her hands on an interactive exhibit at SparkLab — Kids can enjoy all things science, technology and space at SparkLab. (Image: Markus Ravik)

Offering free entry and highly engaging exhibitions, Queensland Museum Kurilpa is a South Bank institution that pays tribute to the state’s historical roots.

From prehistoric predators at the kid magnet Dinosaurs Unearthed to SparkLab , an interactive mecca of science, space and technology, there’s always something to excite and delight.

The Collective Markets

If you’re a sucker for a souvenir, you’re in luck. Stretching right along South Bank’s Little Stanley Street from Friday to Sunday, The Collective Markets collates artisanal treasures, fresh local produce, hard-to-find homewares and more. One of the best Brisbane markets to explore, it’s also dotted with live music and entertainment, creating even more of a buzz throughout the district.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

The Wheel of Brisbane

Brisbane’s very own London Eye is The Wheel of Brisbane , a Ferris wheel that soars 60 metres above ground level. Providing a 360-degree view of the entire city, each air-conditioned (thank goodness) gondola seats up to eight people and operates every day of the week. Food and drink packages are also available to pre-purchase to make a real occasion of the experience.

Nepalese Pagoda

Offering quiet serenity amid the chaos, the Nepalese Pagoda can be found within South Bank’s parklands, between Clem Jones Promenade and Rainforest Walk.

The beautiful three-level structure was built using more than 80 tonnes of Nepalese timber, hand-carved with extreme intricacy. You can step inside the bottom level to see every inch of its grandness up close.

South Bank restaurant and bars

From delicious seasonal produce and international fare to utterly electric bars, the wining and dining scene at South Bank is flat-out fabulous.

Baba Ganouj

Send your tastebuds soaring at Baba Ganouj , an energetic South Bank restaurant at the southern end that champions the flavours of Lebanon. Traditional dining, including all your favourite dippable starters, falafel and shawarma plates, is nailed with contemporary flair and warm, welcoming service.

Bar Rosa

Soak up the high life at Bar Rosa , a lovely spot for vino o’clock and a bite to eat. Inspired by flavour-rich Italian cuisine, the South Bank wine bar is located at the start of Fish Lane, an entertainment precinct within an entertainment precinct.

Slick black timbers, soft lighting, epic handmade pasta and top-notch international drops make it a winner from every angle.

Terrace Rooftop Bar at Emporium Hotel South Bank

the building exterior of Emporium Hotel South Bank — A stay at the Emporium Hotel South Bank will let you luxuriate in its superb amenities.

The wonderfully positioned Terrace Rooftop Bar has been attracting a stylish crowd of after-work revellers and weekend partygoers for years, as its views across the river and Brisbane CBD are exceptional.

You can visit for breakfast and lunch, and even stay at the hotel beneath (more on that later), but sunset and after-dark drop-ins offer the ultimate good times as the city twinkles elegantly below.

Weekly travel news, experiences
insider tips, offers, and more.

Soleil Pool Bar

Keen to let your hair down? Head to Soleil Pool Bar , located on the podium level of Rydges South Bank, for poolside glamour.

Fruity cocktails, private booths, an impressive grazing menu and that all-too-inviting pool provide all the ingredients for a great time.

South Bank accommodation

There’s too much to experience in one day at South Bank, so do the smart thing and rest your head at one of the precinct’s luxurious overnight stays.

Emporium Hotel South Bank

View from the Emporium hotel pool in Brisbane — In addition to a range of onsite bars and restaurants, there is also the incredible rooftop pool.

The most luxe option is Emporium Hotel South Bank , an award-winning, five-star stay. Situated on Grey Street right near the South Bank train station, it’s got all the amenities your adventure could need while placing you at the foot of everything worth exploring.

Multiple bars and dining experiences, a rooftop pool, gym, sauna and steam room are all onsite, and if you’re staying in one of the premier suites, they can even arrange for a chauffeured Maserati to zip you around the city.

Rydges South Bank Brisbane

A consistently comfortable choice, Rydges South Bank Brisbane offers a prime location on Glenelg Street, basically bang in the centre of South Bank, a range of rooms and suites including family-friendly choices, private balconies, easy access to Soleil Pool Bar, a gym, a sauna and solid dining options.

Mantra South Bank Brisbane

Located on Grey Street, just a few steps away from Ridges, Mantra South Bank Brisbane is another plush accommodation option. Choose from a range of self-contained stays and break up your South Bank wandering in favour of the hotel’s 20-metre lap pool. There’s also a spa, multiple dining options and undercover parking to take advantage of.

Unlock more of Brisbane’s best experiences before you visit with our travel guide.

Under wide-open outback skies, discover a fossicking gem that’s managed to slip under the radar.

While the name Clermont may feel new to even the most intrepid traveller, its gilded history stretches back centuries. You’ll find it just off the highway, humming quietly under the hazy veil of Queensland’s outback sun. It’s here, hemmed in by mountains and perched atop soil heavy with the earth’s treasures, that one of Australia’s most accessible outback adventures awaits.

Thanks to deposits of gold, copper and gemstones – souvenirs left by exploding supernovas and the heave of tectonic plates – Clermont became a centre point of Queensland’s Gold Rush. And now? Australia’s fossicking capital is yours to discover.

Getting there

car driving along Capricorn Way in queensland — Take a drive through Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. (Image: Sean Scott/ TEQ)

You’ll find Clermont in Queensland’s Mackay Isaac region. To get here, it’s an easy three-hour drive over sealed roads from Mackay. Or, if you’re heading from the Sapphire Fields of Emerald, the drive will carve out just over an hour from your day.

Whether you’re road-tripping through outback Queensland or just tracing your way through all that Australia has to offer, Clermont is remote but easily accessible.

Best accommodation in Clermont

Theresa CreekDam in clermont — Camp by Theresa Creek Dam. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

All accommodation comes with a generous helping of country hospitality here. The choice is yours between modern hotels, parking up the camper or pitching a tent.

Theresa Creek Dam lies just outside town. Begin each day with crisp country air and bright outback sunrises. Spend the night under the sparkling country stars and your days out on the dam fishing or kayaking. Even if you aren’t camping, be sure to save space in your itinerary for an afternoon on the red dirt shore.

To stay closer to town, opt for a central hotel to base yourself between exploring and fossicking, like Smart Stayzzz Inn and Clermont Country Motor Inn .

Things to do in Clermont

three people on a tour with Golden Prospecting — Join a tour with Golden Prospecting.

One does not visit Clermont without trying their hand at fossicking. There are strict rules when it comes to fossicking, so stick to areas dedicated for general permission and make sure you obtain your license beforehand. Try your luck at McMasters , Four Mile , Town Desert, McDonald Flat and Flat Diggings . To increase your odds, sign on for a tour with the expert team at Golden Prospecting . They’ll give you access to exclusive plots and expert advice along the way.

Once you’ve tried your luck on the gold fields, head to the Clermont Township and Historical Museum . Each exhibit works like an archaeologist’s brush to dust away the layers of Clermont’s history. Like the steam engine that painstakingly relocated the entire town inch by inch to higher ground after it was decimated by flooding in 1916. See the tools that helped build the Blair Athol mine, historic fire engines, shearing sheds and all sorts of relics that make up Clermont’s story.

The historic Copperfield Chimney offers a change of pace. Legend has it that fossickers found a solid wall of copper here, over three metres high, kick-starting Queensland’s first-ever copper mine.

Bush Heli Services flying over clermont queensland — See Clermont from above with Bush Heli Services. (Image: Riptide Creative/ TEQ)

For hiking, nearby Dysart is the best place to access Peak Range National Park. Here, mountainous horizons stretch across the outback as if plucked from another world. Set off for a scenic drive along the Peak Downs Highway for access to countless geological wonders. Like the slanting rockface of Wolfang Peak. Summit it, and you’ll find yourself looking out across a scene surely conjured up by Banjo Paterson. Dry scrub dancing in the warm breeze, grazing cattle, eucalypts and the gentle creak of windmills. Don’t miss visiting Gemini Peaks, either, for one of the park’s best vistas, and a blanket of wild flowers after rain.

Then, take to the skies with a scenic helicopter tour with Bush Heli-Services . Shift your perspective and cruise above all the sights from your trip. Spots like Lords Table Mountain and Campbell’s Peak are best viewed from the skies.

Before you head home, be sure to explore the neighbouring townships. Spend a lazy afternoon in the shade of Nebo Hotel’s wrap-around verandahs . The hotel’s 1900s dance hall has since been replaced with one of the area’s biggest rodeo arenas, so consider timing your trip to line up with a boot scootin’ rodeo. Or, stop by a ghost town. Mount Britton was once a thriving town during the 1880s Gold Rush. It’s been totally abandoned and now lies untouched, a perfect relic of the Gold Rush.

Best restaurants and cafes in Clermont

meal at Commercial Hotel — Stop into the Commercial Hotel Clermont.

Days spent fossicking, bushwalking and cramming on history call for excellent coffee and hearty country meals. Luckily, Clermont delivers in spades.

Lotta Lattes Cafe is beloved by locals for a reason. Start your days here for the best caffeine fix in town and an impeccable brunch menu.

For a real country meal, an icy cold beer and that famed country hospitality, head straight to the town’s iconic hotel: the Commercial Hotel (known endearingly to locals as ‘The Commie’). It’s been a staple in Clermont since 1877. The hotel even survived the flood of 1916 when it was sawn in two and moved to higher ground.

Naturally, time spent in the outback must include calling into the local bakery. For delicious pies and a tantalising array of sweet treats, make Bluemac Bakehouse your go-to while in town.

Discover more of The Mackay Isaac region, and start planning your trip at mackayisaac.com.

A go-to guide to South Bank, Brisbane

Glass ceiling-smashing creativity and all-day play make South Bank an absolute Brisbane must-visit.

Top reasons to visit South Bank