Hamilton sits on the northern bank of the Brisbane River and is home to the Port of Brisbane. Hamilton is blessed with alluring dining and entertaining areas, including a popular street market, but also grants convenient access to the Brisbane CBD and two major racing tracks.

Things to do

Prepare your stomach for a gastronomic treat at Portside Wharf, where cruise vessels meet fine-dining restaurants, dessert bars, designer fashion stores and a cinema. Just down the road you’ll find Eat Street Northshore, a popular food market with almost 200 dining and shopping outlets in old shipping containers. Grab a delectable cronut, before enjoying live music by local acts.

Hamilton is your gateway to Brisbane’s horse racing scene, with direct access to Eagle Farm Racecourse and Doomben Racecourse. Combined, they host horse racing events on almost every weekend of the year, including the annual Ekka Races at Doomben. If you need an outfit for the race, visit one of the formal retailers on Racecourse Road, which also boasts chic cafes, bars and restaurants.

Speaking of bars, grab a beer at the Heritage-listed Breakfast Creek Hotel, where you can drink Queensland’s own XXXX Gold from a wooden keg. Craving a bit of shopping? Head out towards Brisbane Airport and stop at Skygate, a large mall with outlet stores selling discounted clothing, from Calvin Klein and Nike to French Connection and Oroton.

Tee off at Golf Central, open day and night, before pampering yourself at the Elle Bache day spa. Feel the grass under your feet with a round of lawn bowling at Gallopers Sports Club or go on the Boeing 737 flight simulator at the Air Combat Centre.

Getting around

Hamilton can easily be explored on foot, but there are some hilly areas. It’s serviced by two CityCat ferry terminals, as well as multiple bus routes. Taxis or Uber are best for late-night or early-morning travel.