Local Secrets from our Brisbane Airport Team!

Our Brisbane Airport East Coast Car Rentals team has put together a list of their favourite things to do and places to visit around Brisbane. With so much to see and everything to do, we hope this list helps guide you to the best of Brisbane making sure you make the most out of your time!

Elaine Barber, Rental Sales Agent

Best way to spend a three-day weekend in Brisbane:

If you feel the need to get out of the city and have 3 days to do it in, do yourself a favour and head to Mt Tambourine. Located 72kms from the Brisbane CBD, Mt Tambourine is nestled amongst rainforests and national parks: it is the perfect place to relax, enjoy some fresh clean air, and the drive up is absolutely breathtaking.  Your accommodation can range from cottages, hotels, Airbnb homes or even glamping. The famous Gallery Walk is a street where you can park your car and stroll along both sides of the road where you will find an abundance of local shops filled with arts and crafts, nick knacks and plenty of food and drink stores.

If you enjoy a glass of wine, its worthwhile visiting the many wineries including Mason Wines, Cedar Creek Winery, and Witches Falls, and do not forget the Mt Tambourine Distillery. The Skywalk is quite breathtaking, especially the beautiful butterflies that fly around in one specific area of the walking track and just around the corner from the Skywalk is Thunderbird Park, where the kids will have lots of fun. Wherever or whatever you do whilst staying at Mt Tambourine, you will not regret going there.

Have the day free before your flight?

If you have a day spare, the Sir Thomas Planetarium is located on the grounds of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha and is located just over 8kms from Brisbane airport. The Planetarium is a cosmic sky dome, where you can enjoy an informative Astronomy Live show which includes an amazing display of Brisbane’s night sky. Totally mesmerizing. Entry is free to the exhibit and very affordable for the show. A stroll around the Botanic Gardens is just beautiful and relaxing. After your visit here, head up to the Mt Coot-tha Summit, the lookout is the highest point in Brisbane where the view on a clear day is amazing and even better during the night. Enjoy lunch, dinner or just an ice cream at the Summit Café/Restaurant and sit back and enjoy the breathtaking views of Brisbane.

Michael Whiley, Rental Sales Agent.

What do you get up to when a three-day weekend rolls around?

I pack up and make my way up to Noosa Headlands to spend a weekend relaxing in the tropical paradise. Just a 2-hour drive North of Brisbane, Noosa Heads has everything you need to enjoy a long weekend. Lush, protected rainforests, world-renowned surfing, cafes and restaurants – my personal favourite being the Noosa Boat House to enjoy fresh seafood. What more do you need?

Shawn Fyfe, Assistant Branch Manager

How would you spend a day off in Brisbane?

Firstly, I’d start by heading to the Cedar Creek Estate. Located approximately 73km from Brisbane airport, you’ll head south and take Exit 57 – Oxenford-Tambourine Road. Cedar Creek Estate is a vineyard and winery offering a perfect wedding venue, restaurant and functions located in the heart of Mount Tambourine. Pop in for lunch and relax with an amazing trio of dips with Turkish bread and a glass of Revelation Red. An estate-grown Chambourcin blended with Syrah delivers a delicious, soft, fruit-driven wine. Cedar Creek Estate also has its very own glow worm cave located onsite. Here you get the chance to meet a glow worm up close and see their sticky strands and glowing bums! Because their site is not a natural area, glow-worm sightings are guaranteed.

James Gockel, Branch Manager

Where is your favourite Brisbane Café?

One of my favourite cafés is VEND marketplace in Virginia only a 15min drive north of Brisbane City. VEND has a great outdoor seating area which also has a large playground for the kids while you enjoy the lovely food and coffee. What makes VEND even cooler is the micro market stalls which have some pretty cool stuff, you can always find something unique here to bring home.

Your friends are in town, where are you taking them to eat?

One of my favourite bars is the Belvedere Hotel at Woody Point. Fantastic place to enjoy the sunset over the water and the mountains. Woody Point is a 40min drive to the north of Brisbane Airport and while you are in Woody Point there is some lovely walks around the beach. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the beauty of the natural surroundings.

What is your favourite thing tourist thing to do on your day off? Why?

I love to head over to the Southbank Parklands to spend the day at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA). The gallery and the parklands are both very close to the city and there is plenty of parking. While at Southbank, there are waterparks, pools, and plenty of restaurants and bars to enjoy.

What does your ideal 3 Day weekend look like in Brisbane?

I enjoy heading up to Noosa and Tewantin, just north of Brisbane by 2 hours, there is more than enough here to keep you occupied for a long weekend. The vibes are laid back with plenty of water sports to keep you busy, and miles of coastlines to enjoy a long walk along the beach. Hidden away in the town side are micro-breweries perfect to cool off after a day out in the sun – my favourite is Land & Sea, the neighbourhood brewery has established itself as a local favourite in Noosa. Make sure you take the extra drive out to Boreen Point. Only a 30-minute drive up the road from Noosa at Boreen Point is the Apollonian Hotel – by no means is this your standard hotel pub. The Apollonian is one of Australia’s oldest pubs.

What is the best way to spend the day in Brisbane?

To keep close to the airport, head into DFO Brisbane Airport – there are outlet shops for clothing and homeware. While at DFO you can do a spot of mini golf or use their driving range. After all this, there are multiple restaurants at DFO to fill you up before your flight. Also, there is a public bus stop at DFO which will take you directly to the terminal.