For couples · Brisbane · Australia
Romantic things to do in Brisbane
Ideas for a couples' trip, from small moments to a special day out.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Brisbane's romance is about the river: sunset ferries, skyline views from the cliffs and dinners beneath the Story Bridge. Couples tend to stay in South Bank.
Key facts
- Romantic ideas
- 5
- Couple-friendly sights
- 4
- Area for couples
- South Bank
- Best months
- April–June, August and October
Romantic ideas
1.Sunset CityCat
Ride the CityCat downstream at sunset, past the CBD towers and under the Story Bridge.
2.Dinner at Howard Smith Wharves
Riverside restaurants and bars beneath the illuminated Story Bridge.
3.Kangaroo Point after dark
Watch the city lights from the clifftop park as climbers rope down the floodlit cliffs.
4.Mount Coot-tha at sunset
Drive up to the lookout for the city and Moreton Bay glowing at dusk.
5.Tamborine Mountain winery
A day of rainforest walks and cellar doors in the hinterland.
Sights couples love
Park · South Bank
South Bank Parklands and Streets Beach
Swim in the lagoon on a weekday morning; on hot weekends it is crowded by mid-morning.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Couples
Experience · Brisbane River
CityCat river ferry
Ride the whole route once, sitting on the outside deck at the front, and stop off at New Farm Park or Howard Smith Wharves.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
Waterfront · Fortitude Valley
Howard Smith Wharves
Book a riverside table for sunset, when the Story Bridge lights come on overhead.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- After dark
- Couples
- Views
Park · New Farm
New Farm Park and Brisbane Powerhouse
Time a visit to the Saturday market and stay for a picnic under the jacarandas in spring.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Food
- Outdoors
- Couples
Where couples should stay
$$$ · Best for families, first-timers, culture and couples
South Bank
Built on the site of World Expo 88, South Bank Parklands run along the river opposite the CBD, with the free Streets Beach lagoon, a bougainvillea-covered arbour, the Wheel of Brisbane and restaurants on Little Stanley Street. At its northern end, the Queensland Cultural Centre holds the art galleries, Queensland Museum, the State Library and the performing arts centre.
- Good
- Galleries, lagoon and parks on the doorstep; Riverside views of the city; Good for families
- Watch out
- Busy on weekends and school holidays; Hotels are mostly large chains
- Nearby
- Streets Beach, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Museum, Wheel of Brisbane
Romantic day trips
- North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) (About 1.5–2 hours by train and ferry) — Surf beaches, the North Gorge Walk at Point Lookout — where turtles, dolphins and, in season, whales are often seen — and freshwater lakes make Straddie the city's favourite island escape.
- Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) (About 75 minutes by ferry) — A sand island with huge dunes for sandboarding and the Tangalooma Wrecks, a line of scuttled ships close to shore that are popular for snorkelling among reef fish.
- Tamborine Mountain (About 1 hour 15 minutes by car) — A rainforest plateau in the Gold Coast hinterland with short walks to waterfalls, a treetop skywalk, wineries and the craft shops of Gallery Walk.
- Noosa (About 2 hours by car) — An upmarket beach town on the Sunshine Coast with the coastal walk through Noosa National Park, where koalas are sometimes seen in the trees, and Hastings Street's restaurants by Main Beach.
For dinner
Share local specialities such as Moreton Bay bugs, Mud crab and Greek food in West End. Beer gardens and pub bistros offer good-value meals, with weekday specials in many suburbs.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Brisbane romantic?
Brisbane's romance is about the river: sunset ferries, skyline views from the cliffs and dinners beneath the Story Bridge.
+What is the most romantic thing to do in Brisbane?
Sunset CityCat: Ride the CityCat downstream at sunset, past the CBD towers and under the Story Bridge.
+Where should couples stay in Brisbane?
South Bank: Riverside parklands, Streets Beach lagoon and the Queensland Cultural Centre.