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Brisbane’s Riverfront Sanctuary for Rooftop Sun & Skyline Splendour

Discover a city stay where the pace shifts with your mood – from slow poolside afternoons and riverside bike rides to South Bank's buzzing arts precinct and dinner with a view.

Rising above the Brisbane River in North Quay, voco Brisbane City Centre pairs polished style with an effortlessly relaxed spirit. Sun-soaked rooms frame sweeping river and skyline views, while Queen Street Mall and the city’s best dining are just a short stroll away. Here, a Brisbane escape feels easy from the minute you arrive.

Start the day on a high

Ascend to level 14, claim a sunbed and let the Queensland sunshine warm your bones before a refreshing cool dip in the hotel’s outdoor pool. From here, sweeping vistas of the river and city skyline unfurl around you – the perfect introduction to Brisbane before you plot your day ahead.

Retreat to a light-filled room

Step inside and you’ll find a city stay with character. Flashes of sunny signature yellow punctuate the artwork and furnishings, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river or city skyline. Between sightseeing adventures, sink into plush bedding and cast your favourite show or curl up in the corner chaise and watch the river traffic glide by.

See the city on a bamboo bike

Hop on one of the hotel’s complimentary handcrafted bamboo bikes and take the riverside route at your own pace. Prefer to walk? The North Quay address puts you close to Queen Street Mall and the Museum of Brisbane, both a 10-minute stroll away. Wander through the mall’s arcades or cross the river to South Bank for an artsy vibe shift: galleries, museums, bars and buskers. If the Brisbane heat isn’t letting up, your next stop can be the crystal-clear lagoon at Australia’s only inner-city man-made beach (Street Beach).

Swap skyscrapers for lily ponds

When you seek a little greenery, Queensland’s oldest heritage garden – the City Botanic Gardens – are less than 15 minutes away from voco City Centre by foot. This 18-hectare park of tree-lined avenues, lawns and river frontage offers a tranquil counterpoint to the CBD’s glass and bustle, with lily ponds, statues and a bamboo grove to explore.

Date night’s just downstairs

At zuma Bar & Grill, dinner comes with a show: the Brisbane River and South Bank glittering beyond the glass. The modern Australian menu has you covered for an easy family meal or a long, lazy lunch that rolls into the afternoon.

Craving something else? Wander over to Bar 1603 inside Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre, just a short walk away. Behind its speakeasy-style setting, you’ll find Japanese-inspired dishes, sake and cocktails, made for a night with a moodier atmosphere.

Lauren Dinse

Written by Lauren Dinse

Lauren is a Melbourne-based food and travel writer with a bucket list as long as the Nullarbor Plain – but she’s in no rush to tick it off. A lifelong flâneuse (French for ‘one who wanders’), Lauren takes pleasure in slowing down and relishing the moments others might miss: a sunset jazz party on a Berlin rooftop, the lunch rush at a local rice porridge shop in Tegallalang, or a giant banyan tree deep in the jungle of Koh Kood. When she’s not on the road or chasing stories – and waterfalls – you’ll find Lauren trawling thrift stores for old books or on her way to a music festival.
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