Enjoy two days of bliss with our Brisbane weekend wellness itinerary
Is the breakneck pace of the year getting to you? Are you feeling overworked and burned out? It sounds like you need some ‘me time’ to unwind, recharge and reset. Brisbane City Council has had a hand in creating a number of places tailor-made for mindful living. We’re talking holistic hubs brimming with day spas, bathhouses and wellness destinations – everything you need for a perfect restorative weekend. We’ve gone to the trouble of planning two days of wellness so you don’t have to.
Saturday morning
Now, while a sleep in might sound like a great way to start a weekend of wellness, we reckon rising early for a mind-clearing walk is a great way to get centred. While careful council planning has ensured that all of the city’s riverside and bayside suburbs are perfectly shaped for such jaunts, we think Manly is a great option if you’re looking to work in some fun while you get your steps in. Make your way along Royal Esplanade towards the mass of bobbing boats berthed within the Manly Boat Harbour, taking in the pristine waters and views out towards North Stradbroke Island in the distance as you stroll.
If you’ve serendipitously timed your outing to coincide with the first or third Saturday of the month, the Jan Powers Manly Farmers Markets will be in full swing over at Little Bayside Park, where you can treat yourself to some fresh produce, delicious food or hand-crafted keepsakes. Every Saturday, you’ll also find a crowd lacing up their joggers for a weekly parkrun – departing from the Wynnum Manly Foreshore at 7:00 am. Need to cool off your heels after clocking some kilometres? Pop your toes into the Wynnum Wading Pool for a relaxing spell before moving on to your next destination.
Those of you with an irregular work schedule can swap a bayside morning walk for a mid-week afternoon stroll along the Brisbane River, with the Riverwalk and Howard Smith Wharves ferry terminal making working out and getting around seamless. Feel like upping your heart rate? Every Wednesday at 5:45 pm, Felons Brewing Co. at Howard Smith Wharves hosts Felons Run Club – a 5-km walk or run hosted by passionate outdoor activity advocate Katie Dall. If a more therapeutic form of exercise is more alluring, Howard Smith Wharves also hosts Beer Yoga sessions (run by Nina Lee of The Sukhino) from 5:00 pm on Wednesdays – just make sure to bring your own yoga mat!
Saturday afternoon
West Village is a trove of exceptional eateries, gourmet grocers and boutique retail stores, but did you know the West End lifestyle precinct – which boasts a council-backed subtropical design that has earned a 6 Green Star Community rating – is also home to a number of top-flight health, beauty and wellness spots? Book in for some much-needed muscle manipulation at Suwen Massage, which boasts a range of therapeutic options to help loosen you up. Offering relaxing and firm massage options alongside sound therapy with singing bowls and calming essential oils, Suwen Massage will have you feeling zen in no time.
Also calling West Village home is Soak Bathhouse, an urban oasis regarded as one of Brisbane’s best spas. We recommend hitting pause and enjoying a session on Soak’s open-air hot spas, communal mineral baths and cold-plunge pools – each offering a moment of stillness and calm in the midst of the city’s buzzing epicentre.
Sunday morning
Today, you can set your alarm a little later – but not too late! Make sure you’ve allowed plenty of time to make it out to the thoughtfully designed Albion Fine Trades precinct, where you’ll work up a sweat with a strengthening class at Raw Power Yoga. Whether you want to focus on breathwork and technique in a Flow class, or enjoy some long, slow and deep stretching (with a side of meditation), there’s a class to suit all levels and styles.
Feeling limber? Great – head across the road to The Bathhouse Albion. This stunning sanctuary blends classic aesthetics with modern amenities to create a luxury experience that is world-class. Equipped with three pools – a heated vitality pool, one 12-degree cold pool and a bracingly icy six-degree cold pool – The Bathhouse Albion is ideal for some invigorating immersion. But we reckon most of your time should be spent hopping in and out of the four in-house saunas (including a traditional sauna, a Finnish sauna with its own fireplace and two infrared saunas) or spending some time in the tiered and scented steam room for a truly cleansing experience. If you really want to reset your brain, relax in the mineral-rich waters of the bathhouse’s dedicated float room.
There’s a good chance your stomach is grumbling by this point. A pit stop at Jocelyn’s Provisions for a bite is recommended, as is a visit to Hacienda Flowers for a bouquet of florals – because you deserve it.
Sunday afternoon
The final portion of this weekend of wellness is all about putting your feet up and enjoying some ‘me’ time. Rosalie Village is a charming and character-filled community precinct filled with incredible nosh spots, public art displays, greenery filled public spaces and pamper palaces like endota day spa, Made. By Jessika and Beau Gordon Hair. But the true gem of the area is Cinebar – a boutique movie theatre that screens the best new releases and arthouse films. Food and drinks are served directly to your seat, so you can enjoy the film without the hassle of getting up to secure snacks.
Don’t fill up on popcorn, though – no visit to Rosalie Village is complete without scoring a scoop of freshly churned artisanal gelato or salivation-worthy sorbet from Gelateria Cremona.
This article was written in partnership with our friends at Brisbane City Council.