10 days of shopping, design and art

Begin your day at the pedestrian-only Queen Street Mall to visit everything from urban fashion boutiques to major department stores. Be sure to check out the historic Brisbane Arcade and its grand art-deco architecture. 

Venture to the city’s heritage-listed City Hall. Here, you can browse boundary-pushing interactive multimedia works at the fascinating Museum of Brisbane. Afterwards, take a tour of the building’s clock tower for sweeping views of the city skyline.

Follow the Kurilpa Bridge to explore South Bank’s vast collection of museums and art galleries. Let your mind wander at the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), the Queensland Museum and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Check into the Palm Springs-esque Calile – Brisbane’s first 'urban resort.' Expect palm trees, plush cabanas, white brick and concrete. Book dinner at the hotel’s in-house restaurant, Hellenika, which serves modern Greek food on the picturesque pool deck.

Settle in for a tipple or two at Savile Row cocktail bar, hidden behind an orange door in the heart of Fortitude Valley. The moody ambience and eclectic decor – which oozes history and tradition – create a memorable late-night experience. 

Get acquainted with the trendy Fortitude Valley this morning. Pick up a golden danish at Agnes Bakery, soak in the laid-back atmosphere along The Lanes and take a riverside stroll to Howard Smith Wharves for brunch at Gigi's.

Fortitude Valley’s James Street is Brisbane’s ultimate shopping precinct. Start at the Calile Hotel, housing renowned fashion labels, then continue along the leafy green street to shop big-name designers, homeware boutiques and independent stores.

It’s not just shops that line this neighbourhood’s streets. Peruse vibrant artworks along Brunswick Street, stopping at inspiring galleries including Philip Bacon, Jan Murphy, and in the upper-class suburb of New Farm, Edwina Corlette.

In New Farm, stop by the Brisbane Powerhouse –  a 1920s power station that’s been transformed into a contemporary art centre on the river's edge. Check out a thought-provoking exhibition or show, then enjoy an alfresco riverside dinner at Mary Mae’s.

Check in to the Ovolo Woolloomooloo hotel on the historic Finger Wharf overlooking Sydney Harbour. This luxury boutique hotel blends heritage with contemporary design, featuring bold interiors, original giant hardwood beams and modern artworks. 

Walk along the harbour’s edge to the historic Rocks precinct, the birthplace of modern Sydney. Roam around cobblestone streets to find colonial buildings, quaint coffee shops and museums. On a weekend, pick up goods from The Rocks Markets.

Discover the story of The Rocks at The Rocks Discovery Museum, where interactive exhibits and artefacts bring history to life. On the waterfront, be inspired by the Museum of Contemporary Art, displaying myriad modern-day exhibitions. 

You’ll find some of Sydney’s most iconic pubs and rooftop bars around The Rocks. Take in postcard views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the gleaming white sails of the Sydney Opera House from the roof of The Glenmore – a local favourite.

Watch a show at the Sydney Opera House. The performance program is wildly diverse, ranging from cabaret and ballet to rock, comedy and opera. End your day with dinner at Bennelong, where cathedral-inspired interiors overlook the harbour.

Head to Sydney’s centre for shopping galore at Pitt Street Mall. Nearby, marvel at the heritage-listed, Victorian-style architecture of the Strand Arcade. Grab a coffee and pick up treats at the Nut Shop, a Strand establishment since the 1900s. 

Walk 20 minutes through the city’s parklands to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, one of Australia's foremost cultural institutions. Browse works by Australian and international artists, as well as colourful galleries dedicated to Aboriginal art.

Spend the afternoon in the picturesque upmarket neighbourhood of Paddington, home to a vibrant art and design scene. Venture along the leafy laneways to explore its galleries: Global Gallery, Saint Cloche and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery.

Paddington is brimming with high-end fashion boutiques occupying Victorian terrace houses. Find the very best at The Intersection precinct, along with cosy cafés. Looking for a new read? Take your pick at Ampersand Cafe’s three storeys of books.

Watch the sunset across the city skyline from one of Paddington’s English-style pub rooftops. Then join the fashionable social set for dinner at 10 William St, a restaurant and wine bar with a brilliant roster of interesting, mostly natural wines.

The urban village of Central Park blends innovative 21st-century design with colonial heritage and high-street shopping. You won’t miss its immense vertical garden – the largest living green wall in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hit Kensington Street for delicious dim sum and fluffy bao burgers at Spice Alley, where Asian hawker stalls sit beneath a canopy of lanterns. Indulge in dessert at KOI, then check out the Kensington Contemporary Art Gallery.

See one of the world's largest and most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art at the White Rabbit Gallery. Join a guided afternoon tour (Wednesday to Sunday), then drop into the gallery’s tea house for a pick-me-up.

If your Chippendale visit falls on a Saturday, swing by the bustling Carriageworks Farmers Markets to sample and shop local produce, from cheese and honey to beautifully buttery pastries and organic fruit and vegetables.

On a warm summer’s day, nothing beats basking next to the rooftop pool of the boutique Old Clare Hotel. Afterwards, feast on a smorgasbord of seafood at the hotel’s hatted Longshore restaurant. It's known for its seasonal, ever-evolving menu.

Check in to the dessert-themed Adelphi – voted Victoria’s best boutique hotel with its bold, out-of-the-box design and luxury finishings. Enjoy a swim in the glass-bottom pool, which juts out over the art-filled Flinders Lane.

Explore Federation Square’s eateries, pop-ups, museums and galleries. The Ian Potter Centre’s National Gallery of Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image – the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest moving image museum – are must-visits.

In the city's heart, you don’t have to walk far to find yourself along a buzzy laneway splashed with street art. Join a Hidden Secrets tour to see Melbourne’s eclectic murals dotted between hole-in-the-wall bars, cafés and boutiques.

Among Melbourne’s network of laneways lie several heritage-listed arcades (a passageway housing shops). Visit the Royal Arcade and the Block Arcade to admire the ornate Victorian architecture framing fashion boutiques and specialty shops.

Crafty cocktails, DJ sets and dizzying city views await at Melbourne's rooftop bars. Check out the award-winning Loop Roof, where the jungle-like decor and a vertical garden echo the artistry of the surrounding laneways.

Coffee isn’t just a part of daily life in Melbourne, it’s an art form. Try one of the coffee capital's best brews from Dukes Coffee Roasters, then pick up decadent croissants from Lune. Alternatively, head to one of the city’s best brunch spots.

Walk or hop on a tram to the northern suburb of Fitzroy. On the way, discover Melbourne’s natural and cultural history at the Melbourne Museum, where the story of Victoria is brought to life through artefacts and immersive exhibitions.

For vintage fashion, pre-loved finds and local artwork, Brunswick and Gertrude Streets are the spots to hit. On a weekend, head to the art-driven Rose Street Market, where you can purchase unique handmade pieces straight from the artists.

Back in the city, head to the 55th floor of the Rialto Building for a fine dining dinner at Vue du Monde. Try the signature Chef’s Tasting Menu, served beneath a ceiling of glowing lamps that mirror the sparkling lights of the city below you.

Chapel Street is the city’s longest fashion strip, spanning several suburbs. Hit the shops, then make a detour to the Prahran Market – Melbourne’s number one food market – for coffee stalls, eateries and delis. 

If you have kids in tow (or are a kid at heart), head to Luna Park. This amusement park has been a fun-filled attraction in St Kilda since 1912. Find your thrills on rides that spin, drop and twirl, grab some carnival treats and enjoy a morning of frivolity.

At St Kilda Beach, you can rent bikes, take a dip and watch the world go by with servings of fresh seafood at the hatted Stokehouse restaurant. Walk off your lunch at Brighton Beach, where brightly coloured bathing boxes line the white sand.

On your way back to the city, catch a performance at the Melbourne Arts Centre – a complex of theatres and concert halls in the centre of Melbourne's arts precinct. You’ll also find the National Gallery of Victoria, housing more than 70,000 works.

On a Saturday, you can browse one of Australia’s most diverse markets: The Salamanca Market. Afterwards, check out the Salamanca Arts Centre, where emerging art galleries and independent stores are set within historic sandstone warehouses.

Stroll to Battery Point to see its historic, often brightly painted cottages steeped in stories of Hobart’s past. Follow the Sculpture Trail featuring nine sculptures, then seek out art houses such as the Colville Gallery and Despard Gallery.

The waterfront Henry Jones Art Hotel bridges the gap between an art gallery and a boutique stay. Check in before 4pm for a free guided tour of its heritage halls adorned with over 400 pieces of contemporary Tasmanian art.

Tasmania’s whisky industry is ever-growing, with over 70 distilleries peppered around the state. In Hobart, Lark Distillery – Tasmania’s first distillery – offers a chance to taste its full range of award-winning single malts at its historic cellar door.

Mona (Museum of Old and New Art) is one of Australia’s most daring museums, and the adventure begins on its quirky, creative ferry. Upon arrival, navigate a maze of staircases, tunnels and towers concealing controversial exhibitions and artworks.

Sit down for lunch at The Source, where art meets fine dining overlooking the River Derwent. Enjoy locally sourced, French-inspired dishes – like wallaby tartare and squid ink linguini – artfully served and inspired by Mona itself.

Venture across the river to Rosny on the eastern shore where Rosny Barn, a contemporary performing arts centre, lies within an 1800s stone building. Rent Artbikes to explore Rosny’s surrounding museums and public artworks along the boardwalk. 

Dine tonight at the renowned Sonny restaurant, where a daily-changing chalkboard menu champions seasonal ingredients and local wines. Expect vinyl tunes, good vibes and an intimate setting. It’s a walk-in-only venue, so arrive early.