Brooke Maddison

Australia is home to thousands of very special waterfalls that we reckon everyone should go and chase at least once. However, if you don't have endless waterfall-seekin' time on hand, we understand. To make things easier, we've picked out the most incredible waterfalls that you should visit in Australia in your lifetime. Whether it's marvelling at a thundering plume of water that's hundreds of meters tall, frolicking beneath a silver sparkly cascade, or getting a free shoulder massage in the middle of the wilderness, we can promise that you won't be bored. Now, all you've got to do is blast some TLC and hit the road.  ☀️ The dreamiest hot springs Down Under👙 The best natural pools in Australia🏄 Australia's top surf beaches

Compiling a list of the best Indian restaurants in a city, let alone a country, is no easy task. Every region, city and family have their own specialties, offering a diverse line-up of comforting curries, crunchy pakoras, fluffy naan bread, tangy pickles and cooling lassis. Time Out Australia has enlisted its team of well-travelled editors and writers to bring you this list of must-try Indian restaurants in every capital city. In Melbourne, a tiny at-home restaurant presents one of Melbourne’s most singular degustations, taking diners on a journey through different regions and seasons. In Sydney, a vibrant late-night eatery serves up colourful curry plates and roti wraps until 2am on the weekends. Meanwhile, a beloved Adelaide institution has been dishing up crowd-favourite butter chicken and beef vindaloo curries for almost 50 years. Wherever you are, your next spice fix awaits. 🍽 All the best restaurants in Australia🍱 The best Japanese joints in Australia🍕Where to find the best pizza in Australia

Brisbane is spoilt for choice when it comes to the flavours of India. Whether you crave the smoky flavours of the tandoor, the fiery heat of a North Indian curry, a South Indian delicacy or some lip-smackingly good street food, we’ve got the place for you.   Round up your curry-craving pals and start working your way through this list of the best Indian restaurants in Brisbane.  🥩 The best steaks in Brisbane🍣 The best Japanese restaurants in Brisbane 🍽 The best restaurants in Brisbane right now

If there was any lingering doubt that Queensland's capital is a world city, it was put to rest with the announcement that the 2032 Olympics would be hosted right here in Brisvegas. And truth be told, for a long time the River City has been much more than just a pit-stop on the way to the Gold Coast. In QAGOMA, the city has two of the best-designed art galleries anywhere in the world, and blockbuster art to show in them. We have great barbecue spots, sure, but there are also some great high-end, fine dining experiences too. With an incredible climate (although slip, slop, slap please, we implore you) and a great set of river walkways and public transport connections, it’s also easier than ever to get around. Whether it’s a family adventure, a romantic weekend or a spare 24 hours at the end of a business trip – here is our pick of the best attractions in Brisbane right now. 🌳 Got no money? Here are the best free things to do in Brisbane🚗 The best day trips from Brisbane🥐 Where to find Brisbane's best bakeries

The Sunshine Coast truly does have it all – sparkling beaches, peaceful national parks, exhilarating adventures and delicious dining. This tourist haven in Queensland stretches from the super-chill beach town of Caloundra through the resorts and national parks of Noosa, all the way up to the postcard-perfect Great Sandy National Park.  Adventurous travellers flock here to swim in the wild with whales and go hiking in rainforests – but there’s no need to work up a sweat if you’re here to wind down. You can also explore the region’s food trails, hunt for treasures at charming markets or enjoy a sunset dinner with an ocean view. Dive into our guide on the best things to do on the Sunshine Coast right now. ☀️ The best things to do in Noosa🍹 All the greatest restaurants on the Sunshine Coast🌴 Australia's top beach towns in Australia

We Aussies are a real lucky bunch. Just drive an hour or so from any major city and you’ll wind up in some of the most beautiful spots on Earth. However, with so many options, picking which road to venture down first can be quite a challenge. To make life easier, we've cherry-picked a selection of the best day trips around Australia – featuring heritage-listed towns, coastal hangouts and mountain escapes. All that’s left for you is to load the car and hit the open road. Here are the ultimate day trips to tick off in Australia. RECOMMENDED: The most incredible places to visit in Australia at least once in your life.

With its golden sands and laid-back holiday vibe, the Gold Coast has always been a favourite destination for those seeking a relaxed seaside escape. However, this famous Queensland holiday spot offers more than just a day at the beach.  With its rich Indigenous heritage, vibrant markets, heart-pumping adrenaline activities and thriving live music scene, there is plenty to keep you entertained along the coastal strip. For a change of pace, head to the naturally beautiful Gold Coast hinterland where you’ll find an oasis of calm and stunning scenery. Bring your swimsuit and your sense of adventure. It’s time to discover a different side of the Gold Coast. RECOMMENDED: These are the most luxurious hotels and resorts on the Gold Coast.

You know the landmarks and the laid-back culture, but there are plenty more things to do in  Australia than kissing koalas and yelling ‘g’day mate’. Australia is a nature lover’s paradise, with highly sought-after food experiences and an impressive cultural heritage to boot. Whether you want to get amongst art parties in small coastal cities, see fairy penguins scurry across sandy beaches or watch the sunrise over Sydney Harbour from a kayak, there’s so much to explore across this incredible country. You’ll no doubt find something to inspire a holiday Down Under with our guide to all the best things you need to do right now in Australia. 🇦🇺 The top tourist attractions in Australia🌈 Australia's most beautiful destinations🌊 The best beaches in Australia

You’ll have plenty of reasons to rise and shine in Brisbane. With an array of the Sunshine State’s finest cafés and some of Australia’s highest calibre coffee roasters, choosing where to go first is an unexpected (but fun) challenge.  To help you navigate the city, we’ve collated this guide to Brisbane’s best cafés. From hidden laneway gems and suburban corner stores to a quirky Vietnamese spot and a completely gluten-free doughnut shop, we've got you covered. All that’s left for you to do is eat your way through it. 🍽 Best restaurants in Brisbane🥐 Brisbane's best bakeries☕️ Brisbane's top coffee spots

When it comes to good coffee, Brisbanites don't have to look far. We’ve got it all: cool inner-city haunts, highly awarded local roasters, chic espresso bars, coffee-tasting experiences, plus enough espresso and cold brew to power the city. From a not-so-secret bunker to a 24/7 joint serving up killer coffee and tunes, these are the best places to get your cup of joe. 🥐 Brisbane's best bakeries☕️ Brisbane's best cafés🍕 Brisbane's best pizza joints

There is plenty to do in Brisbane itself, but the city is also perfectly positioned for a range of one-day adventures. You can get away to the beach, the mountains, an island or a picturesque country town, and still be back home in time for a backyard barbie dinner.    Here are the best day trips to take from Brisbane. Please note: many sacred sites are of great cultural significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders throughout Australia. Always check if it is appropriate for you to visit specific areas. For example, the Traditional Owners of the Glass House Mountains, the Jinbara and Kabi Kabi people, request visitors do not climb Mount Beerwah or Mount Tibrogargan. Prefer to stay in the city? These are the best things to do in Brisbane.

Not to toot our own horn, but Australia’s coffee scene is unbeatable. Our laid-back culture is underpinned by vast caffeine consumption, with nine in ten of us saying we enjoy a cup of Joe. Our thriving industry of roasters and baristas earns international acclaim year after year, and Sydney and Melbourne have been named among the top ten cities for coffee worldwide.  We have curated this list of Australian roasters who excel in every part of the process: from sourcing and roasting beans to ultimately brewing them expertly. Check out the best coffee roasters in Australia. Prefer the hard stuff? Get your liquid fix at the best bars in Australia.

What is it? The Brisbane River snakes through the heart of the city, and there are several tour operators who will help you get out on the water and show you the ropes, like Riverlife Adventure Centre. Why go? Paddle Brisbane's scenic waterways and see the city from a new perspective as you take in sights from the water, including the Story Bridge, mangroves and the Myora shipwreck. Riverlife Adventures offer guided tours and kayak hire, so it doesn’t matter how experienced you are. Want more? If you're not keen on kayaking, jump on a CityCat or CityHopper. The larger CityCat ferries cruise up and down the river from the University of Queensland to Northshore Hamilton. The smaller CityHoppers are a free inner city service that will ferry you across the river to major attractions.

The Elizabeth Picture Theatre brings a touch of opulence to Brisbane’s cinema scene. Seeing a movie here is as much about checking out the historical surroundings as it is about watching the movie. Housed in a heritage-listed former ballroom in the heart of the CBD, at this cinema you’ll find all the trappings of a bygone era. Take the spiral staircase up to the foyer, where you’ll find stained glass windows, vintage chairs and the original wooden bar - perfect for a pre-screening drink. The two theatres are housed in the former ballrooms and still boast all the original ceiling finishes. Playing a range of arthouse, indie and mainstream movies, this cinema is a must-do Brisbane experience.  Find more of Brisbane's best cinemas.

The New Farm Cinemas are a pillar of Brissie culture. On the scene since 1921, this student and indie fave is a great place to catch a movie after a bite to eat on Brunswick Street. The six theatres have been designed around individual colour schemes, the highlight of which is the Purple Room – an original 1970s vintage delight restored to its former glory but with the addition of state-of-the-art technology. Along with Bronze, Blue and Red rooms, there are also two intimate Gold Class theatres. Chuck in some front-row beanbags, vintage glass chandeliers, eclectic movie memorabilia, retro arcade games and signature cocktails, and you’ve got the perfect cinema-going experience.  Find more of Brisbane's best cinemas.

Local favourite Cinebar plays the latest releases in super luxe surroundings. Right at home in the buzzing dining hub of Rosalie, Cinebar tempts movie lovers with an array of gourmet pizzas and Asian-inspired eats, all of which can be delivered directly to your seat. You can even order a cheese board to go with your wine or signature cocktail. With five theatres screening the latest blockbusters, as well as Bubs in Arms and open caption screenings, all that’s left to do is pick your movie and kick back in the super-comfortable reclining seats. Find more of the best cinemas in Brisbane.

The Red Hill Cinemas are the coolest cinemas in Brisbane. It's big call, but we're making it! The heritage-listed site dates back to the 1920s and has been home to the Pop Picture Palace, a club, and most recently, a skating rink. Forced to close in the early 2000s due to fire, the vacant building became a haven for local graffiti artists. When the Sourris Brothers (whose great-uncle ran the original theatre on the same site) opened the cinema in 2019, they made sure to include some of the street art from the original building. The cinema is home to four intimate Gold Room theatres, featuring reclining chairs and bar service, as well as a traditional larger theatre.  Find more of Brisbane's best cinemas.

OK, so Yatala isn’t technically Brisbane, but as a much-loved local landmark, we couldn't leave this quirky venue off our listings of the best cinemas. Yatala Drive-In is all about old-school fun. Think back to childhood visits to the drive-in in your PJs, where you’d fill up on popcorn and choc tops as you watched the latest blockbusters on the outdoor screen. Bring along chairs and a picnic blanket if you want to sit outside, and visit the 1950s-style diner for hot food and snacks. If you really want to make a night of it, there are special discounts for double screenings. And if you have a pooch that's partial to Polanski, Peckinpah, Pasolini or Payne, you can even bring your pets. Find more of Brisbane's best cinemas.  

Nestled in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Kondalilla Falls is one of Montville’s hidden gems. Just an hour north of Brisbane, a day trip to Kondalilla National Park is an excellent way to escape the heat of the city. Kondalilla means ‘rushing waters’ in the local Aboriginal language, and the falls more than deliver on this promise, especially after big rains. The main waterfall boasts a drop of over 90 metres into a lush rainforest valley, and there is also a smaller four-metre waterfall with a deep pool for swimming in. With plenty of picnic tables nearby, make sure you take refreshments as the 45-minute circuit walk has over 300 stairs and can be tiring, especially for little legs. 

Mount Tamborine has something for everyone - accessible waterfalls, picturesque views, great walking tracks, and plenty of activities for the whole family. Only a one-hour drive from Brisbane’s CBD, Cedar Creek is extremely popular, so make sure you go early to find a park. The lookout near the car park offers stunning views of the falls and the gorge below and is wheelchair and stroller friendly. Head down the track for 900 metres and you’ll find the only swimming holes in the area. Curtis Falls can be reached via a moderate one-kilometre walk through lush rainforest. The falls are stunning, and you can get pretty close via the viewing platform at the end of the walk. Swimming is not allowed at Curtis Falls, but if you’re lucky you might spot a platypus or even some glow worms.  

Cedar Creek is a favourite swimming destination among Brisbanites, especially during the sweltering summer months. The drive to the falls will take you through Samford Village, where you can pick up picnic supplies before driving through the picturesque rolling hills of Cedar Creek Road. At Andy Williams Park you’ll find picnic tables and a large grassy area to spread out on. There are plenty of options for swimming, from easy-access rock pools to more secluded spots the further you walk along the creek. To reach the falls, follow the creek away from the road, but be mindful that it will involve some rock scrambling as there are no roads or walkways to the waterfall. It should take about thirty minutes to reach the falls from the end of the road, and when you get there you’ll feel like you’ve found a hidden paradise.

If you want to hit up some waterfalls without leaving the city, check out the Mt Coot-tha Reserve. The reserve is home to two spectacular waterfalls and is just a 15-minute drive from Brisbane’s CBD. The uphill hike to the falls follows Ithaca Creek and along the way, you’ll see plenty of native flora and fauna. If you’ve worked up a sweat you can have a dip when you reach the falls, but that will depend on how much rain Brisbane has had - the falls are more impressive after a big storm. If you’ve worked up an appetite you can make use of the nearby barbeque and picnic facilities, or head up to the cafe at the lookout which boasts some of the best sunset views over Brisbane.

North Stradbroke Island, also known as Minjerribah, is home to some of the best beaches in the world, and luckily for us, it is only a 50-minute ferry ride away from Brisbane. Crowds flock to Cylinder and Main Beach year-round, but there are plenty of other options worth checking out on the island. Local secret Adder Rock boasts some of the best sunset views on the island - grab some fish and chips, scramble up the rock and settle in for an evening show as the last of the sun’s rays light up the long stretch of beach. On the other side of the rock, Home Beach is a dog-friendly delight, as well as being the access point for diving trips (see the nearby Manta Lodge for details). During whale-watching season (May-Nov), walk up to the highest point of the rocky outcrop (to the left of the small car park near the entrance to the campground) for unrivalled views of whales and dolphins. If you feel like staying the night there are plenty of nearby accommodation options, including Adder Rock campground.

For postcard-level perfection, this secret Gold Coast cove takes some beating. Just 90km south of Brisbane, this secluded beach boasts calm, turquoise waters surrounded by subtropical rainforest. To find Echo Beach, head to the southern end of Burleigh Heads National Park near Tallebudgera Creek, and you’ll find a 300m walkway leading straight to paradise. Tallebudgera itself is hugely popular - it’s not hard to see why - but Echo Beach is relatively quiet compared to Palm Beach on the southern side of the creek. To complete your trip to the beach, check out the nearby Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, the region’s only dedicated Aboriginal cultural centre fully owned and operated by the local Aboriginal community.