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Overview
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Brisbane is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule.
We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Brisbane. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine.
This week, play tourist in your own city, plan a staycation at a street art hotel and reconnect with nature at the top of Mt Tamborine. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the new few weeks here.
All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
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Maybe you’ve always wanted to give rock climbing a go, or maybe you’re looking to face your fear of heights. Whatever the motivation, you’ll love the feeling of accomplishment you get when you make it to the top of the wall at Rocksports in Fortitude Valley. At this indoor climbing centre you’ll discover a world of colour-coded climbs, knots, ropes and harnesses. You’ll definitely look a little goofy, but the thrill you get taking on these activities more than makes up for it.
Image: Anwyn Howarth.
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We’ve all seen it rotating lazily, shining brightly and reflecting in the slow-flowing Brisbane River. Yes, we are talking about the Wheel of Brisbane, and if you’ve always thought that you should take a ride at some point in your lifetime, then we reckon there’s no time like the now. Even if the giant Ferris wheel hasn’t crossed your mind, we still think you should go for a ride because sometimes playing tourist in your own city can be pretty darn fun. This almost 60-metre tall wheel gives you a pretty spectacular view over the city and beyond, and let’s face it, it would make for a pretty delightful date night. After your ride, treat your date (and yourself, of course) to the creative and highly delicious ice cream flavours at the newly-opened (and nearby) Gelato Messina.
Image: Anwyn Howarth.
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What do Beyoncé, Nirvana and Taylor Swift have in common? They’ve all chowed down on pizza from Kookaburra Café. The Paddington establishment is best known for their truly massive 50-slice party pizzas, but you can treat yourself to regular-sized slices too. Flavours range from the classic — margarita, pepperoni and ham and pineapple — through to the plain weird (bacon, banana and chilli). When it relocated just up the road from its former site, Kookaburra Café hopped into bed with board game wizards Club Sosay — a damn fine match of novelty pizza and Uno, Scrabble or Monopoly if you ask us. Hop down to Paddington with some mates, then grab a table, a board game and a few pizzas and settle in for a night of carbo-loaded boardgame bliss.
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Set your GPS to The Record Exchange, then let all notions of modern technology melt away at this nostalgic musical mecca on Adelaide Street in Brisbane’s CBD. Home to some 250,000 records (no, that’s not a typo) and over 10,000 CDs, the store is an ideal spot to while away an hour, browsing the latest new releases and getting nostalgic with a look through the retro gems. If you’ve got some musical gems lurking in your CD wallet or record crate, The Record Exchange buys and trades. So gather up your old CDs and get down there on Thursday afternoon. Flick through some vinyl and pick yourself up some analogue tunes while you’re at it.
Image: Anwyn Howarth.
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When you knock off after a long work week and need of a cruisy spot to help get you into weekend mode, look no further than Boundary Street Night Markets in West End. Zip there after work and wander around a veritable bazaar of stalls and traders. And if you’re hungry, you’re certainly in the right place. The market boasts treats and delights from all over the world — Turkey, Romania, Sri Lanka, Korea and Japan, just to name a few places. Definitely save room for dessert, too, with I Should Coco serving up vegan soft serve, and Organic Frog on doughnut duty. Formerly located on the corner of Boundary Street, you can now find the markets up the road, on the corner of Russell and Boundary Street every Friday and Saturday night from 4pm to 10pm.
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Forgo a quiet night in for an ace night’s stay at the luxe TRYP Hotel in Fortitude Valley. Yes, they have room service, and yes, you should definitely go all out and choose the king room with a private outdoor spa on the balcony. The TRYP hotel is a design lover’s delight, with edgy aesthetics and a formidable collection of street art by some of Australia’s top artists. With artworks by Beastman and Rone (among others) adorning the walls, every room is a visual feast. And if you really want to take advantage of the staycation and avoid venturing out into the Valley for dinner, that’s not a problem — the hotel restaurant, Chur (of Chur Burger fame) dishes up the good stuff until late. They also offer valet parking, so you don’t even have to stress about finding a spot for the car.
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In this fast-paced urban jungle we call home, sometimes you just need to venture into the great outdoors to clear your head and remember how beautiful life can be. We recommend driving out to one of the most genuinely beautiful spots in south-east Queensland, Tamborine National Park. Leave your comfort zone on the rocks as you plunge into icy-cold rainforest rock pools, then saddle up and go for a horse ride. The notion of city living will be long gone. There are walks and treks galore, and some of the most amazing scenery you’ll see this close to Brisbane. Make the most of your Sunday, and hit the road out for Mt Tamborine. Why not even take the Monday off and turn it into your very own long weekend? Stay as budget as you like with campsites aplenty, or go luxe with a room at Cedar Creek Lodges.
Image: Steve Garner via Flickr.
Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.