No visit to Brisbane – or Australia for that matter – has truly begun until you’ve had a slow start to the morning at one of the many brunch hotspots in the city. Few dishes can match a smashed avocado sourdough toast topped with a poached egg. There’s heaps of brunch establishments in Brisbane, so simply follow the scent of coffee beans and make sure to order the nation’s favourite flat white coffee with your meal.

With over 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s no wonder that Queensland is also known as the “Sunshine State”. That makes a trip to the sea essential for any Brisbane holiday. The family-friendly Suttons Beach is easy to reach, or you can venture south down to the Gold Coast for some of the best surf in Australia. A little further afield lies Byron Bay – the patchouli-scented, hippie capital of the east coast. Don’t have time to leave the city? Visit the crystal-clear lagoon of Street’s Beach, Australia’s only inner-city, man-made beach.

There’s no shortage of places to visit in Brisbane when it comes to a bit of retail therapy. Treat yourself to something new at 700-some stores of the Queen Street Mall, admire the luxe window displays of Edward Street, and discover the work of local artisans at Brisbane Arcade. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to Brisbane City Markets at Reddacliff Place on Wednesdays or Cathedral Square on Thursdays, where you’ll find an abundance of delicious produce and food stalls.

The top of Mount Coot-tha is easily the most popular place to enjoy the spectacular, panoramic views of Brisbane. But for something really extraordinary, head up to the peak just before dawn and watch the sun rise behind the city. The vibrant, golden colours of the morning sky are dazzling. Of all the things to do in Brisbane, this is by far the most breathtaking.

Brisbane is home to three lush botanic gardens. The gardens at the bottom of Mount Coot-tha are full of lush subtropical flora, but the riverside City Botanic Gardens still have their own colourful, secluded charm. For a gorgeous green escape without leaving the city, take a stroll around Sherwood Arboretum – or pack a picnic and enjoy lunch in this vast, green space.

City Sounds is Australia’s largest and longest-running free live music programme. Every week, the programme puts Brisbane’s up-and-coming local musicians at the forefront, scattering them around the city to perform. Ranging from 40+ piece orchestras in concert halls to acoustic folk singers on the streets, all venues and genres of music are accounted for in this unique music programme. Be sure to check what’s on ahead of time.

Lamington National Park is the crown jewel of rainforest bushwalking in Queensland. It contains close to 400km of trails that guide you through a luscious, green jungle to hidden waterfalls and secret lookouts with panoramic views over the park. The park is a two-hour drive south of Brisbane: and with 14 hikes to choose from, covering all hiking abilities, it makes for a great addition to a Brisbane holiday.

Another must for your Brisbane holiday is a day trip to Old Petrie Town. This charming village is frozen in the early 1900s, with an impressive collection of restored historic buildings spread over 20 hectares of parkland. The town hosts an all-day market every Sunday, while the last Friday of each month sees the Moonlight Markets, with fun and food running from sunset til late.

Escape the city and explore the crisp, clear waters and white sand beaches of Brisbane’s beautiful islands. A snorkelling trip to the Tangalooma Wrecks in the protected waters of Moreton Island will reveal turtles, dolphins, dugongs and more, nestled into the skeletons of scuttled ships. A quick journey over to Stradbroke Island – better known as Straddie – yields scenic, rugged headlands, quaint villages and awesome surf spots.

There are many diving sites within arm’s reach of a Brisbane holiday. Flinders Reef, just off Moreton Island, is easily accessible and home to some 200 species of marine life. Another premier dive site close by is Manta Ray Bommie, which hosts leopard sharks, loggerhead sea turtles – and, of course, the mighty manta rays which give the site its name.