13-day itinerary for foodies and design lovers

Drop your bags at one of the visually arresting hotels in Fortitude Valley. The Constance, Brisbane’s only street art hotel, makes for a unique boutique escape, while the chic Hotel X invites you to soak up city views at its luxe rooftop pool.

Head to The New Black on the bustling Bakery Lane for brunch. As the flagship roaster for Brisbane’s Black Lab Coffee Co, you’re guaranteed a top-notch brew. Can’t get enough? Try the espresso waffle or the Chilli Scram, a crowd favourite.

Walk off your food along the suburb's network of laneways. Soak up the creative vibe of Bakery Lane’s incubator studios, which allow designers to stay and network among the neighbouring bars and record stores.

Immerse yourself in Fortitude Valley and New Farm’s art scene on the Art Trail, including the Institute of Modern Art, the oldest of its kind in Australia. If time permits, join Brisbane Greeters to discover street murals and their stories.

Built in 1846, Newstead House is Brisbane’s oldest standing European residence, and it’s open for the public to explore. Take a self-guided tour to feast your eyes on old-world architecture and hear tales of Brisbane’s colonial social scene.

Riverside views, pretty rose gardens and vast green lawns are just a few things you’ll love about New Farm Park. Pack a picnic with artisan goods from the Powerhouse Farmers Markets (on Saturdays), or have treats delivered from the New Farm Deli.

Visit the Brisbane Powerhouse, a reimagined 1920s coal station that now hosts over 1,250 performances every year. Explore its heritage-listed graffiti, art exhibits and the Powerhouse Store, which showcases unique handmade and design-focused pieces.

Vertigo, Brisbane’s first vertical restaurant, takes modern dining to new heights – literally. Don your harness to dine on the edge – four stories above ground – for an evening of adrenaline-inducing adventure, fine dining and cutting-edge design. 

End your day on a high – really high. On the Story Bridge Adventure Climb, you’ll pull on a harness and scale the iconic bridge for the best view of Brisbane. You can even see all the way to the Glass House Mountains and Moreton Bay.

Wander the innovative galleries of South Bank’s Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), which feature a collection of more than 19,000 works. Fancy a bite to eat? Enjoy creative, farm-to-fork fare at the onsite GOMA restaurant.

From the man-made Streets Beach to the 60m (200ft) Wheel of Brisbane and parklands popping with flower gardens and intriguing designs, it’s easy to spend your whole afternoon exploring South Bank’s attractions. Discover these must-visit sights.

Fancy a spread of finger-sized sandwiches and decadent desserts? This 18th-century high tea tradition is a popular pastime in the city of Brisbane. Try South Bank’s opulent Bacchus or sip your Champagne riverside at the heritage Customs House. 

Walk off your afternoon tea with a spot of shopping. Among modern fashion retailers, luxury stores and boutique shops, you’ll find beautifully designed 19th-century arcades at Queen Street Mall, Brisbane’s biggest shopping precinct. 

Back in Fortitude Valley, sit down at Gerard's to delve into an international menu that will take your tastebuds anywhere from Africa to Europe. Its unique three-dimensional interiors are just as spectacular, winning Best Restaurant Design in 2024.

Check in to QT Sydney, a boutique hotel that’s as quirky as they come. Within the two former heritage buildings, you’ll find 200 funky designer rooms, a day spa and Gowings restaurant, led by creative chef and culinary mastermind Sean Connolly.

Walk a few steps to Sydney’s main shopping district on Pitt Street to the Victorian Strand Arcade. Find the stunning resin wares of Dinosaur Designs, the luxurious fabrics of Jac+Jack and classic Australian designers like Leona Edmiston and Scanlan Theodore.

Make your way to the pretty suburb of Paddington to browse esteemed art galleries among its wide, leafy streets. On Saturdays, you can swing by the Paddington Markets to browse over 150 stalls selling everything from jewellery to homemade chocolates.

Let your creative (rum) juices flow at Surry Hills’ urban rum distillery, Brix. Join a tour to dive into the artistry of distilling, wake up your taste buds by sampling the Core Range Flight or blend your own rum at a Rum Spicing Class.

Test your skills in the kitchen at a traditional pasta-making class run by Pasta Emilia, a celebrated restaurant, cooking school and organic pasta producer. The class concludes with a meal featuring your creations and a glass of organic wine.

Explore Sydney’s streets – their wonderful mix of architectural styles, histories and fascinating laneways – with local Sydney architects and designers who love to share the architecture of their city. Choose from a range of tours available.

Hop on a ferry to taste fabulous French fare at L’Heritage. The elegantly designed bistro sits within a heritage-listed 1800s building, enveloped by a national park and the Sydney Harbour. Expect classic French dishes from bouillabaisse to escargots.

Design-lover or not, the Sydney Opera House will take your breath away. Dine inside the famous “sails” at the renowned Bennelong restaurant, join a Sydney Opera House Tour to discover its history or sip cocktails at the Opera Bar.

Take a stroll into the nearby Royal Botanic Gardens where you can join an Aboriginal Bush Tucker Tour. While roaming the harbourside gardens, you'll learn about the world's oldest living culture as you gather, prepare and taste bush foods.

One of Sydney’s most spectacular architectural feats is hard to miss. You’ll see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from miles away, but there’s nothing quite like climbing to the summit. Admire its vistas, history and design on a BridgeClimb experience.

Top off your evening with yet another awe-inspiring view of the Sydney Harbour. Head to Quay in the historic Rocks district to taste your way through an exquisite six or eight-course menu, celebrating flavour and design with every dish. 

Stroll the art-splashed streets of Marrickville to discover street murals and StirrUp Gallery, a community-run space in a historic 19th-century army depot. Keep your eyes up to spot Ces Cemilleri’s quirky steel sculptures perched atop shopfronts.

Fancy a craft beer? Good news; you’ll find more breweries in Marrickville than any other Australian suburb. Follow the Ale Trail to taste paddles lined with eye-popping sours, chocolate-infused stouts and refreshing summer ales. Cheers to that.

Take a taxi to Darling Harbour and wander along the waterfront to Barangaroo. Start at the enchanting Chinese Garden of Friendship before dipping your toes in the ocean at Marrinawi Cove and finishing up with dinner at Oncore by Michelin-starred Clare Smyth.

After dinner, walk to Bar 83 for a nightcap that’s anything but ordinary. Located at the top of the city’s sky-high Sydney Tower, this retro-inspired bar has jaw-dropping views that will stun you just as much as the bar’s bold red and gold decor.

Take a short walk to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, where exhibitions showcase Aboriginal, Australian and international artwork. Next, find Australia’s greatest collection of modern art on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Learn of Sydney’s convict past at the World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks, originally built in 1819. Experience immersive exhibits that bring history to life through cutting-edge audio and an extraordinary collection of over 4,000 artefacts.

Fly over Sydney to Berowra Waters Inn, located in a 1920s sandstone teahouse on the Hawkesbury River. Graze on a six-course degustation menu at this exclusive restaurant hailed for its food, design and location – only accessible by boat or plane. 

Sydney Harbour is peppered with beautiful beaches and calm coves. Get your dose of coastal bliss along the Hermitage Foreshore Track, home to some of the city’s most lavish real estate. Finish with well-deserved cocktails at Watsons Bay Hotel.

Roam the precinct of Potts Point with a walk along Macleay Street, dotted with architectural gems, art deco homes and an array of lively eateries. For dinner, share plates of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean fare at the playful Ms.G’s restaurant.

Hire a GoBoat to sail around Lake Burley Griffin. Pack a picnic and look out for Canberra's famous design and architecture landmarks: the National Library, the National Gallery of Australia's sculpture garden and the National Carillon bell tower.

To witness some hands-on design, visit Canberra Glassworks in Kingston. Shop the art-filled gift shop, take a behind-the-scenes tour to witness some of Australia's greatest glass artists at work, or join a workshop to sculpt your own masterpiece. 

Across the lake, shop in the fashionable suburb of Braddon. Lonsdale Street is where you'll find creative stores and boutiques such as Pink Ink and Mussen. Nearby, taste BentSpoke Brewery’s full-flavoured beers and ciders in the upbeat Brew Pub.

Check in to Ovolo Nishi, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture. Take a snap of the soaring, timber-filled Grand Stair, then ready yourself for dinner at the hotel’s Monster Kitchen and Bar, the city’s only fine-dining vegetarian experience. 

Have breakfast at Mocan & Green Grout, where a seasonal menu focuses on ethical and nutritious ingredients from local farmers. The interior has a notable design feel too, fit out with green plants that mirror the cafe’s eco-friendly ethos.

The National Museum of Australia’s bold architecture is worth a visit. Its location, on the edge of Lake Burley Griffin, is almost symbolic of the museum’s purpose – sharing Australia’s past, present and future, from the heart of the capital.

Nature is the architect at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, where lush gardens frame over 4,300 species of flora – one-fifth of Australia’s native plants. After a walk, grab a brew at the Hamptons-style Pollen, nestled in the gardens.

Book a table at one of the city’s lauded restaurants, Rebel Rebel. Expect modern Australian fare with no unnecessary frills and a smart, minimalist design with black leather seats, hanging bulbs and a sloping ceiling crafted with repurposed hardwood.

Immerse yourself in art, design and five-star luxuries at The Olsen Art Series Hotel in South Yarra. Check out the hotel’s artwork by Australian landscape artist Dr John Olsen, and plunge into the glass bottom pool overlooking Chapel Street.

Open Thursday to Sunday, the Prahran Market is the colourful heart of South Yarra, selling a range of fresh, local produce. Join the locals for a morning coffee and browse stalls brimming with gourmet delights, organic goods and artisanal treats.

Take a guided tour of the 18th-century Como House, blending Australian Regency with Italian architecture. Explore the mansion's historic rooms, stroll the gardens and learn about the lives of those who once called this estate home.

Join a Koorie Heritage guided walk to learn about a culture that's tens of thousands of years old. Meeting at Federation Square, you’ll view the Trust’s artworks before exploring the Birrarung’s (Yarra River’s) installations and significant sites.

Stroll Melbourne's famous laneways, starting with breakfast at Degraves Street, known equally for its café scene and colourfully graffitied walls. Then move on to Hosier and Union Lanes, framed by the city’s most impressive collections of street art.

The city of Melbourne is dotted with architecturally significant landmarks. Snap a photo at the iconic Flinders Street Station with its Edwardian architecture, then step into the grandeur of the gothic and ornate St Paul’s Cathedral on a guided tour.

Art meets history at the heritage-listed Nicholas Building on Swanston Street. Lose yourself in its maze of creative stores including designer studios, bespoke tailors, art galleries, jewellery artisans and even a small vintage department store.

Federation Square’s bold design alone is worth the visit, but it’s the cultural institutions that make it a must-see. Explore the Australian Centre of Moving Images (ACMI) and discover why Melbourne is known as the country's cultural capital. 

Federation Square has no shortage of eateries, but the vibrant Big Esso should be at the top of your list. Run by Torres Strait Islander chef Nornie Bero, Big Esso heroes native flavours like pepper berry, lemon myrtle and quandong. These are flavours like you've never tasted.

You might spend more time snapping photos than eating at The Kettle Black, where the dishes are works of art. Set within a classic heritage-listed 1800s terrace house, there’s nothing remotely ordinary about this gourmet dining experience.

Grab your fresh produce and specialty coffee today at the South Melbourne Market, Melbourne’s longest continually running market. Be sure to check out the SO:ME Space stall, a unique retail concept dedicated to design, fashion and creativity.

Venture to the Docklands for a waterside lunch and a few craft beers at Urban Alley Brewpub. There's great shopping here, but the art scene is the real showstopper. Take a walk to spot street art and strike a pose at ArtVo’s immersive ‘trick’ gallery.

Look down upon all you've explored from the dizzying heights of the SkyDeck – the Southern Hemisphere’s highest observation deck. Test your limits on the Edge, a glass floor 88 levels high, or experience the award-winning virtual reality Voyager Theatre.

For dinner, head to Melbourne's cool and quirky suburb of Fitzroy. Dine at Cutler & Co., an upscale eatery serving modern Australian fare like spanner crab and saffron tarts. Afterwards, let The Everleigh’s bartender craft your perfect cocktail.

South Yarra’s shopping scene is exploding with emerging designers, accessories and homewares along Chapel Street. Hit the high street’s fashion stores, then find a treasure trove of vintage clothing, accessories and furniture at Chapel Street Bazaar.

Borrow a Lekker bike from The Olsen and follow the tracks around the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, discovering serene lakes, diverse plant life and rich cultural heritage. On your way, visit the Shine of Remembrance, which is dedicated to veterans of WWI.

Lunch at Maha restaurant on Bond Street. Graze on Middle Eastern meze dishes in the opulent sub-basement dining room, designed to spark your senses. Don’t shy away from dessert – the pear and rosewater granita is too good to pass up.

Dedicate a few hours to roam the halls of The National Gallery of Victoria, the oldest and most-visited gallery in Australia. Check out fascinating art, design and fashion exhibitions, or hear the anecdotes behind the art on a free guided tour. 

In South Yarra, wrap up your day with dinner on the rooftop of The Emerson. The vibe here is Palm Springs-esque, with soft lighting, chic decor and lush greenery. The menu highlights fresh European flavours, with seafood taking centre stage.

If you have a day to spare, escape to one of Melbourne's nearby destinations. Sip cool-climate wines in the Yarra Valley’s scenic vineyards, or melt into the Mornington Peninsula’s hot springs at the beautifully designed Alba Thermal Springs.