Most Brilliant Things You Can Do In Brisbane On A Rainy Day

Offering breakfasts as healthy as they are plentiful and unique, this trendy spot puts its own spin on the classics with options like espresso waffle, zucchini & corn fritter and beef brisket croque madame on the menu.

You can also build your own breakfast at The New Black, and wash it down with one of their piping hot, quality brews.

Nothing like feeling on top of the world to make the rain go away… at least, metaphorically. As you gaze out at the cityscape with one of Above’s excellent cocktails in your hand and snack on some glorious tapas, the moody weather will become a movie-worthy backdrop for an evening to remember, especially when there’s live music playing every Sunday.

As one of humanity’s greatest inventions, libraries deserve a spot on almost any list of things to do. There’s no bad day to go to a library, but rainy days are especially good. Plus, if having a vast number of literary worlds at your fingertips wasn’t enough, local libraries also offer many other fun activities, such as book clubs, reading programs, writing workshops and even trivia.

If you’re looking for old-fashioned charm, and dog-eared pages and highlighted passages make you swoon, Archives Fine Books’ labyrinthine, book-filled hallways will be a perfect haven for you. You can easily while away an afternoon among the towering shelves of thick tomes, yellowed antique books and elegant hardbacks, all enveloped by the characteristic smell of old books.

Everyone knows all work and no play can make us dull, so when it all gets to be too much, it’s definitely time to hit an axe-throwing spot. Let off steam trying to hit a bullseye, sip on viking-themed cocktails — some of them served in drinking horns, for maximum ambiance — and indulge in some pizza or BBQ in between turns at Maniax, Australia’s premier axe-throwing company.

You have to tire the little ones out before bedtime, so why not do it at Area 51, a space of this world? High ropes, trampolines, mega slides, and more, it is every kid’s dream in this alien-themed play centre. But don’t worry, it’s not just for kids! There’s an Alien Bar for parents to relax while they keep an eye on the youngsters and they even hold Adults Only Nights. Go back to childhood and book all tickets here.

You can still get a full body workout in, even on a rainy day. Equal parts challenging, thrilling and fun, indoor rock climbing at Urban Climb will have you working muscles you didn’t know you had. The climbing gym regularly hosts social meetups, workshops and markets, so there’s plenty to do even with your feet firmly on the ground!

All the exhilaration of skydiving with no risk of unexpected storms. Brisbane’s first indoor skydiving facility, iFLY, will have you on cloud nine. Sessions include orientation with a trained flight instructor, so you can sit — or rather, float — back and enjoy when it’s time for the fun part: flying gently on a cushion of controlled air.

Sometimes slowing down is just what we need, and when a rainy day in Brisbane all but forces you to, maybe it’s a sign to treat yourself to a spa day. Offering an extensive menu of tailor-made treatments — from facials to full-body massages and everything in between — the W’s AWAY® Spa, with its soothing, curated playlist is sure to leave you glowing.

Embrace the messiness of life and de-stress all at once at Splatter and Splash Room. Housed inside DIY Invasion, an art workshop hub just 40 minutes south of Brisbane, this colourful space allows you to choose your own background tunes so you can hurl paint bombs at your loved ones to the perfect soundtrack and revel in the chaos.

All the magic of Candlelight concerts, accompanied and elevated by movement. Candlelight Ballet will plunge you into a multi-sensory musical experience of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and other masterpieces. All other Candlelight concerts in Brisbane promise to be as gorgeous as this one. Discover all programs here.

Is there a better time to go see a movie than a rainy day? Whether you’re eager to catch upcoming blockbusters or artsy cinema festivals are more your speed, you can choose your own adventure for the next few hours. One thing is for certain: it’s hard to have the blues in front of a huge screen and popcorn or a sweet snack in your hand.

Straight, on the rocks, shaken, stirred. The world’s your olive when it comes to spirits thanks to Brisbane’s many top-notch distilleries, all perfect for a rainy day. As both a distillery and a bar, Nosferatu is an ideal place to lose track of time, as you can sample their award-winning selection of gins before choosing one to take home with you.

Sometimes all you need is to kill a few aliens to forget about the weather! Get in touch with your inner retro gamer and beat some high scores at Netherworld. If you don’t mind compromising your hand-eye coordination, you can try some of their tasty cocktails, or keep your head in the game and opt for a mocktail.

Prison Island is an electrifying, immersive experience that fuses the excitement of escape rooms with the challenge of obstacle courses. This high-octane, 90-minute gameplay will put your team’s strategy, intelligence, and agility to the test.​ Brave Brisbane’s most haunted escape adventure, if you can handle it. There’ll be live actors, eerie lighting, and a few… unexpected guests.

Food is always a good idea. And when you’re already planning to stay indoors, why not take the opportunity to indulge your palate? No matter what floats your boat, Brisbane’s food scene is unparalleled, and you can find gems like +81 Sushi Kappo, which is quickly becoming known as one of Brissy’s top sushi spots!

The Universe is a fascinating place, and with its home in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-Tha, Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium will be sure to remind you of just that. On top of their usual cosmic offerings, Passport to the Universe, for one, is narrated by Tom Hanks and will take you on a thrilling journey through the Solar System, beneath the rings of Saturn, into the heart of the Orion Nebula, out of the Milky Way Galaxy and to the edge of the observable universe, returning home via a black hole. To infinity and beyond!

Unleash your pent-up energy through brushstrokes and colour at a ceramic paint and sip class. Everything, from materials to instruction, will be provided for you, so as long as you bring your imagination — and maybe some drinks and nibbles, since it’s BYO — you’re all set to make something truly special! Book your session on Fever.

Leave the clouds in the dust and channel your inner Mario racing down a 425m adrenalin-pumping track at Slideways Go Karting. Thanks to the two-storey track’s unique surface, you’ll able to drift, Fast & Furious-style, and even try to beat the fastest time of the month. Feel the thrill rushing down the high-speed ramp and overtake your competitors. Blue shells not included.

The aptly named Gin School will have you mixing up a storm after one of their comprehensive 3-hour classes. With 180 botanicals to chose from, you can truly make the gin your own and then take it home, but only after you have indulged in cocktails and charcuterie platters in their luxurious spice lounge. Book your class here!

Have you got what it takes to outsmart the imposters? The heart-pounding immersive experience, Saboteurs: Crewmates and Imposters, is now open, and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Inspired by the viral online game, Among Us, this unique challenge promises to push your strategy and teamwork skills to the limit. Think you’ve got what it takes to survive? Well, it’s time to prove it. Get your tickets now!

Travel through time for some yummy cocktails at Mrs J. Rabbits, one of Brisbane’s many hidden bars. Awaiting you through a wardrobe, à la Narnia, getting into this speakeasy will have you feeling like the bee’s knees, as you even need a password to get in. Accompany one of their vintage-inspired cocktails with a charcuterie board for a truly cosy night from a different era.

Put your rose-coloured sunnies on! No one can be sad in a place like Ping Pong, the contemporary Thai restaurant with the most Insta-worthy interior. But don’t worry, it’s not just about looks. Their authentic Thai menu with a modern twist is a feast for the senses, and if it all looks too good to pass up you can even try a little bit of everything with their Ping Pong Feast.

Escapism has never been more fun! Zero Latency VR will immerse you in worlds far from your own, whether it’s fighting off creepy zombies with your group, narrowly escaping killer robots or even turning on each other as you split into teams, the real world and its rainy weather will pale in comparison to battling for your life… at least for the next half hour.

Namast-ay home and take a yoga class from the comfort of your own living room. FORME Yoga offers both live and on-demand instruction so can practise your breathing, being present, and all the inner peace a good session can bring at a time that’s convenient for you. Plus, could there be anything more soothing than the sound of rain in the background while doing yoga?