If, like us, your favourite exercise is a cross between a lunch and a crunch than we’re here to help you get off the couch and into your lycra.
Thankfully some of Old Brisbane Town's best workout spots are located conveniently near to some of Brisbane's best breakfast haunts, which means that any workout should be completed with a round of coffees and bacon, because, well you've earned them.
Your muscles may hate us, but your tastebuds will thank you because we've put together a hit-list of Brisbane's best breakfast and workout combinations to get you motivated to do that morning run.
Parkrun + Sourced Grocer
New Farm
If you haven’t yet joined the parkrun revoluntion, grab a sweatband and head down to New Farm Park Parkrun at 7am Saturdays and take part in the free timed 5km run/walk which is all the rage with everyone from beginners to Olympians. Then head off to Teneriffe’s Sourced Grocer to relax and refuel over a breakfast made using mostly support local, sustainable and organic produce. Try the Honey Rolled Oats with Barambah yoghurt, seasonal fruit, lemon myrtle and fresh Bee One Third honeycomb.
Studio Pilates + Pineapple Express
Hamilton
Any work that involves mostly lying down gets out tick of approval, and when you add in that it’s a favourite of the Victoria’s Secret angels … how can we resist? Give Studio Pilates 40 minutes and they’ll give you an all-over body workout. Then pop on your shoes and head over to superfood café, Pineapple Express an acai bowl, smoothie, naked burger or Cocowhip. To refuel, try the Gym Junkie Acai Bowl made with acai, banana, mango, coconut water, L-Glutamine, granola, strawberries, shredded coconut, chia seeds and whey protein or pea isolate protein.
Walk up Mt Coot-tha + The Corner Store Cafe
Toowong
Technically Mt Coot-tha isn’t a mountain because it isn’t a steep-sided hill at least 600 metres above sea level, but it’s still a bit of a hike so if you make it to the top and back down, we’ll let you liken it to Everest or Kili. Head off-road and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of natural on the 50km of walking tracks. Once you are done, head over to The Corner Store Café on Sylvan Road. Sit back on the patio and enjoy one of the Cold drop coffees, brewed in house for 6.5 hours, as you stretch your legs.
City Cycle + Medley Café
City
Grab your Brisbane City Council City Cycle wheels and start off at Kurilpa Bridge and head along South Bank, past the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and under the Story Bridge. Take a pit stop at Dockside’s Medley Café on Wharf St and try the Eggs a la Mer with sautéed spinach, smoked salmon and soft poached eggs topped with lemon hollandaise served on sourdough or a freshly pressed orange juice for a hit of Vitamin C before heading back over the Story Bridge, down to Eagle Street Pier, through the Botanical Gardens, over the Goodwill Brdige and back to Kurilpa Bridge.
Barre at Revive Studio + Famished On Frasers
Ashgrove
Unleash your inner ballerina at barre ballet or barre fitness at Revive Studio, which promises the long, lean limbs and firm core of ballet without the strict dress code, perfect bun and broken toes. Once you’re done, head over to Famished on Frasers for a health smoothie like the Queenslander, which is made with banana, pineapple (packed with bromelain it’s a natural anti-inflammatory that helps heal sprains and swelling), coconut cream, and desiccated coconut.
Kangaroo Point Stairs + Little Clive
Kangaroo Point/Annerley
Feel the burn as you tackle one of Brisbane’s most feared (and loved) sets of stairs – the Kangaroo Point stairs. Located at the Eastern end of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, it’s 107 steps from bottom to top and it’s guaranteed to get the heart pumping and the calves burning. Lucky the views from the top are so amazing. Once you’ve done a few sets, (and if your legs still work) jump in the car and head out to Annerley’s Little Clive on Ipswich Road for brunch. For a protein hit, order the Smoked Salmon on Turkish bread with beetroot creme, poached eggs, pickled onions and soft herbs.
Aerial Yoga + Gunshop Café
West End
When it comes to hanging in a hammock, we prefer to do it with a cocktail in hand and a sandy beach beneath us, but if you want to take your exercise to new heights, give aerial yoga at West End's Flight Skool a go. With lots of yoga poses, a focus on breathing and hanging around upside down, it delivers a full body workout and some seriously strong muscles. Once you’re back upright, pull on your shoes and head over to West End institution, Gunshop Café and treat yourself to the potato & fetta hash cakes with herbed sour cream, baby spinach and truss cherry tomato.
Image credit: Federica Portenoso
Have you worked out like a champion and need a reward? Go hard and indulge in Brisbane's Best Pancake Breakfasts.