Discover New Farm

New Farm combines expansive parkland with art, performances and a path above the Brisbane River. The area’s different features offer families and other travellers a range of ways to explore: you can focus on the park and its gardens and adventure playground, take an interest in Brisbane Powerhouse’s cultural offerings, or consider the Riverwalk as a connection to the city centre.

New Farm Park: gardens, green spaces and playground

Several features come together at New Farm Park: rose gardens, a rotunda, open green spaces and an adventure playground for children. This makes the park a practical choice for anyone who wants to spend some time outdoors during their trip. For families with children, the playground is a particular highlight; the gardens and rotunda give the park additional character.

The park’s history and size also shape its character. It was established in 1914, covers 15 hectares and is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. If you value a stay that includes park and cultural experiences when choosing accommodation, these features may play a part in your decision to stay in New Farm.

From power station to arts centre

Brisbane Powerhouse tells a different story of the area. The building was constructed in 1928 to supply electricity to Brisbane’s growing tram network. Today, it is a former 1920s coal-fired power station repurposed as an arts centre by the river. Heritage-listed graffiti are another distinctive feature of the Powerhouse.

Its year-round programme includes more than 1,250 performances spanning live music, contemporary performance, theatre, dance and cabaret. Art exhibitions are also on offer. Specific performances and exhibitions vary, so the programme combines a year-round offering with changing experiences. When planning your trip, it is worth considering whether you are more drawn to the performing arts, exhibitions or the building’s history.

By the river: the Riverwalk and weekend market

The elevated Brisbane Riverwalk runs above the water and connects New Farm with the city centre. This offers a different point of interest from the park and arts centre: here, the focus is on the connection between New Farm and Brisbane. If you are also considering routes between different neighbourhoods when choosing where to stay, the Riverwalk may be relevant to your plans.

Another regular fixture is the market at Brisbane Powerhouse. It takes place every Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm and offers handmade products, fresh produce and food stalls. Opening times may change, so check them in advance if the market is important to your plans. This lets you treat a market visit as a Saturday experience in its own right, while the year-round performance and exhibition programme caters to other interests.

Which side of New Farm suits your trip?

Your interests may be the deciding factor when choosing a holiday rental: the park combines gardens and open green spaces with a playground for children; Brisbane Powerhouse offers performances, exhibitions and historical connections; and the Riverwalk links the area to the city centre. These differences can help you assess whether New Farm offers experiences that suit your travel plans. If several appeal to you, you can see them as different reasons to discover the area rather than reducing them to a single type of outing.

New Farm therefore offers more than one possible focus for your trip: the park’s history, cultural programme, market and riverside route each appeal to different interests.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Daydream Island, Lake Barrine, Nanango, St Lucia, Biboohra, Surat, Cambroon, Kilcoy.

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.