Brimming with incredible natural beauty, world-renowned pristine white sand beaches with crystal clear waters, unique tropical marine life and excellent for scuba diving spots, Australia is one of the best destinations for yachting and water sports.
Home to the great barrier reef and the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, the east coast has a remarkable variety of marine life and boasts one of Australia’s beautiful and oldest cities.
Our Australian distributor, Princess Yachts Australia provide some of their best recommendations on the Australian Gold Coast of Brisbane for restaurants, local cuisine and fun activities for the whole family.
Hotel Recommendations
With beautiful beaches lining Brisbane’s stunning coastline, there are ample places to stay in the city, whether traveling to explore the sights, relax in style or voyage further afield.
Intercontinental Hotel
This five‑star resort in Sanctuary Cove is nestled in 4.2 hectares of lush, tropical landscaping and home to a stunning lagoon beach, where you often spot a kangaroo or two. The grand estate houses four restaurants and bars. Try the resort’s High Coffee, a caffeinated twist on the classic High Tea tradition.
The Intercontinental also becomes the perfect base for visitors attending the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, taking place from 25th – 28th May. Discover more about the event here.
W Brisbane
Perched above the Brisbane River, W Brisbane is a place where power suits and bathing suits collide. A river motif weaves its way through the hotel, with modern eclectic interiors influenced by Australia’s Indigenous culture and the playful ‘BrisVegas’ attitude. With a rooftop lounge and cocktail bars, this a place to live large in Brisbane.
The Callie Hotel
Rising above bustling James Street, and surrounded by restaurants and boutiques, this modern, ultra-glamourous hotel exudes effortless style. Enjoy hours of poolside leisure, cocktail in hand, in a chilled-out cabana.
Recommended Activities
With subtropical climates and plenty of sunshine all year round, Brisbane makes an ideal city for exploring and adventuring outdoors. Here are some incredible activities that will showcase the beauty of the city’s coastlines, lush green parks and pristine beaches.
Australia has over 8,000 islands, the majority of which are uninhabited by humans, making them a host for diverse marine life unique to Australia, creating some of the most desirable scuba diving or snorkelling spots in the world.
Snorkelling at Tangalooma
The Tangalooma wrecks otherwise known as the Morton Island wrecks are one of Australia’s best underwater locations for scuba diving and snorkelling in its crystal clear waters. The Wrecks provide diving depths from 2 to 10 metres making this a great spot for divers of all abilities. The shallow waters of the site attract an array of marine life with over 100 fish species frequenting the area. Dart around these dramatic, coral-covered local shipwrecks — you might even see a dolphin, wobbegong shark, dugong or sea turtle swim by.
Snorkelling at Flinders Reef
Flinders Reef near Moreton Island is home to the highest number of coral species of any subtropical reef system along Australia’s east coast and is the closest true coral reef to Brisbane. With more than 175 fish species, this isolated reef is brimming with hidden wildlife to discover.
Mooloolaba Beach and Harbour
The pure white sand of Mooloolaba beach is not one to be missed, with plenty of excellent cafes, restaurants and shops along the beach front to provide visitors with everything they could need for a perfect day out. Within easy walking distance of the Esplanade is Mooloolaba Harbour which has everything the cruising yachtsman would require and provides the ideal location to dock up and explore the marina.
Tamborine Mountain
The Gold Coast Hinterland, known by locals as ‘the green behind the gold’, provides a refreshing escape from the hot beaches. With its high altitude, Tamborine Mountain is cooler and less humid than the coast — the perfect environment for exploring a tropical wonderland, savour local wines and indulge in long lunches.
Noosa Beaches
With its balmy beaches and boardwalks, pristine sands and picturesque rivers, Noosa is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. Noosa’s Main Beach offers calm waters, but Peregian Beach is the local favourite, home to independent cafes and eclectic boutiques. Granite Bay is a beautiful area to explore and a famous point break for surfers.
Best Yachting Spots
There is something very magical about being somewhere you can only get to by boat. Queensland is a boat owners paradise, with an abundance of hidden gems and stunning spots to enjoy a great sailing adventure. The Gold Coast is the perfect place to immerse yourself on a luxury floating oasis.
Tangalooma
Tangalooma is a natural paradise known for its marine life and untamed beauty. Visit the Tangalooma Island Resort where you might have a chance to hand‑feed a wild, bottlenose dolphin. Explore the reef‑covered wrecks and enjoy a Queensland sunset. From June to October, you might even spot an ocean giant, as humpback whales make their way up the coast.
Jumpinpin
Jumpinpin, or ‘the pin’ as locals call it, is a boating and fishing paradise between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. While you need to watch out for the ever‑changing sandbars and channels, the delicious bream and flathead are worth the adventure. Nearby, Couran Cove’s Island resort and marina is a luxurious option for an evening on solid ground.
Great Sandy Strait
The Great Sandy Straight lies between Fraser Coast’s mainland and Fraser Island. Spend a couple of days exploring 70km of crystal-clear waters, white beaches and meandering creeks. The sheltered strait provides conditions similar to The Whitsundays, so it’s easy to sit back and take in the serene vistas of this magnificent marine park.
Secret Spot – Slipping Sands
Aptly named, Slipping Sands is a stretch of golden sand that falls to beautiful calm water and is one of many of Brisbane’s natural wonders. This relatively unknown spot provides a gorgeous anchorage and the perfect spot to have lunch. Here you’ll find yacht owners fishing, crabbing, swimming and strolling along the sand dunes. .
Dining recommendations
When it comes to dining in Brisbane, there are ample choices of great restaurants with varied cuisines, from Asian banqueting to Italian eats. Here are some beautiful restaurants to enjoy whilst gazing out onto the gleaming skyline of Brisbane.
Omeros Bros ‑ Gold Coast
Set on the Marina Mirage boardwalk, Omeros Bros serves deceptively simple fare in a laidback setting. Take in the views over Broadwater, enjoy the sea breezes, and savour the Sydney Rock Oysters or mud crab dishes. Australian snapper, one of the most popular table fish in Australia is prepared in a number of ways — grilled with lemon butter, beer battered or lightly crumbed — but our favourite is ‘En Papillote’ cooked in tomato with fish velouté, coriander, chilli and evoo.
Stanley Restaurant ‑ Brisbane
Stanley is a luxuriously appointed restaurant housed within a former water police headquarters. The menu showcases carefully prepared Australian produce, but with a Cantonese twist. We love the opulent take on traditional favourites, from lobster fried rice to Moreton Bay Bug spring rolls. The steamed coral trout with ginger shallots, keeps us coming back, as does the 400‑bottle wine list.
Rick Shores – Burleigh Heads
Pan-Asian dishes at Rick Shores come in all sizes, but even the smaller dishes pack a walloping punch of flavour. From the small plate menu, the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with Sriracha mayonnaise is a weekend staple, and from the curry list, it is impossible to go past the Sichuan roasted duck breast with a tang of lychee. Take your time on the Crispy Suckling Pig with XO Sauce, aromats and fried garlic as you watch surfers carve waves just metres from your table.
Favourite Local Dish
Linguine con cicale
Italians have long been drawn to Queensland’s warm climate and relaxed character. While there are dozens of Italian eateries up and down the coast, here’s something to whip up in your own galley.
Roast freshly caught Moreton Bay Bugs, (otherwise known as Flathead lobster or Bay Lobster) fry up some shallots, garlic and tomatoes until the tomatoes soften. Add wine and simmer. Add a dash of cream and the bug meat and then season. A drizzle of oil is a nice finishing touch. Best enjoyed with a crisp wine whilst watching a glowing sunset.
