APRIL 2026
Haven’t been to Brisbane since the last Transport Professionals Association Conference? Well, the city has changed so much in recent years, so here’s a few things you need to include in your visit to Brisbane.
Coffee: Melbourne might be regarded as Australia's coffee capital, but did you know that Brisbane is home to some of Australia's best coffee? In 2025, Coffee Anthology in Charlotte St was awarded as having the 8th best coffee in the world in a ranking of the World’s Best Coffee Shops. More recently, Time Out Australia ranked Brisbane in the Top 10 of the best coffee cities in Australia, so be sure to spend some time wandering the city looking for hidden coffee gems. If coffee’s not your thing, other places to grab a caffeine hit include Modern Hunter in Gresham Lane for a fabulous, brewed chai or Shiro Gelato in Elizabeth Street for an outstanding matcha.
River Adventures: The Brisbane River snakes its way through the middle of Brisbane and is a great way to see a different side of the city. Hop on a CityCat (or if you are lucky, a CityDog) and cruise along the Brisbane River for the princely sum of 50c! This relaxing mode of transport will connect you to old favourites like the historic Regatta Hotel in Toowong, New Farm Park for a nature fix (the Jacarandas might be in bloom in early September), or parkrun and the Powerhouse Markets on a Saturday morning, or Eat Street Northshore for a huge selection of food or drink.
Howard Smith Wharves: Tucked under the story bridge on the northern riverbank you will find Howard Smith Wharves. A great place to while away the time relaxing with a beer brewed onsite at Felons Brewery or a tasty cocktail from Mr Percival’s. If you are looking for a tasty morsel, then HSW has you covered with fabulous food options including Chinese, Japanese, Greek or Italian to name a few of the standout options. Wanting to do something more adventurous? The Story Bridge Adventure Climb starts and finishes at HSW and is a great way to see Brisbane from a unique viewpoint. I highly recommend a twilight climb to see the best of city as night descends. HSW is also the venue for our Conference Dinner!
Rooftop Venues: Due to our wonderful weather with around 300 days of sunshine each year, Brisbane is home to many incredible rooftop restaurants and bars which are a perfect place to watch the sun go down at the end of another glorious day. Some of our faves include The Terrace at the Emporium, the Sky Deck (where you can look down at the traffic on the Riverside Expressway below), Soko and Iris, both in the Valley. Looking for even more chill? Soak Bathhouse in West End is the perfect place to unwind.
Brisbane Surrounds: Had enough of the City? There are lots of wonderful options for a daytrip or overnight stay on Brisbane's doorstep. As well as the well-known beach spots on the Gold & Sunshine Coasts, there are also some wonderfully relaxing island options in Moreton Bay including Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) or some of the lesser known gems such as Coochiemudlo Island. If forests and mountains are more your style, check out Tamborine Mountain in the Scenic Rim, or Maleny and Montville in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. To the west, Mt Coot-tha, Mt Glorious or White Rock-Spring Mountain Conservation Estate are all wonderful options for bush hikes and spending time outdoors.
So start planning all of the fun things you can do while here in Brisbane for the 2026 National Transport Conference in September and keep an eye out for more info over the coming months about other things you can see and do in Brisbane in September.
