Toowong, Brisbane is an inner-west suburb on the river, about 5 km by road from the CBD, built around Toowong Village shopping centre. Beyond the shops, it has a riverside pub, the huge Toowong Cemetery and the slopes of Mt Coot-tha just up the road.
It works as an easy half-day: coffee and shopping at the village, a walk through a walk through the cemetery, then a drink by the river.
Toowong Village
Toowong Village, at 9 Sherwood Road, is the centre of the suburb. It has stores including Coles, Kmart, Bakers Delight, Nando’s, Grill’d and Guzman y Gomez, and Catch Wonderland for entertainment. It is open Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 5.30 pm, Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
The first three hours of parking are free, and the car parks are open 24 hours. Check the Toowong Village website for current hours and stores.
Toowong cafes
Inside the village, the café list includes Chatterbox Cafe, Merlo Coffee and Brooklyn Donut and Coffee Co, along with Boost Juice and Chatime for a cold drink. Bakers Delight is there too for a quick bite.
Cafe hours follow their own trading times, so check before a long trip. If you want a sit-down meal, the Regatta Hotel below has a river road cafe and several bars.
Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery is Brisbane’s largest cemetery and is on the Queensland Heritage Register. It opened in 1875, burials started in 1871, and it sits on the slopes of Mt Coot-tha beside the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. It is a place of remembrance and many people still visit graves, so walk quietly and keep to the paths.
- Hours: open to visitors 6 am to 6 pm daily.
- Tours: volunteers from the Friends of Toowong Cemetery run free guided tours. They are different every time and you do not need to book. They leave from the flagpole in Canon Garland Place, near the main entrance. Two self-guided walking tours are also available as PDFs from Brisbane City Council.
- Entries: walk in from the ramp on Mt Coot-tha Road, the Frederick Street gate opposite Sleath Street, or informal entries off Birdwood Terrace.
- Parking: parking is available inside. The back entrance opposite 26 Richer Street is easier to reach than the main entrance, which is a slip road off the Toowong roundabout from the west.
- Toilets: the only toilets are not wheelchair accessible. Taps are at the Shelter Sheds.
The Regatta Hotel
The Regatta Hotel, at 543 Coronation Drive, has been on the river since 1874. It has a main bar, the Boatshed, the Courtyard, a River Road Cafe and more, with live music in the Courtyard on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Gardens and Mt Coot-tha
Toowong Cemetery borders Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, so the two combine into one outing. Mt Coot-tha Lookout is also on the mountain.
Planning your visit
- How long: two to three hours for the village and a coffee, or half a day with the cemetery.
- Late shopping: the village stays open until 9 pm on Thursdays.
- Cost: free to wander. The village promotes three hours of free parking.
- What to bring: water, a hat and sturdy shoes for the cemetery.
Getting to Toowong
By train: Toowong station is inside the village, on the Ipswich and Springfield lines, with entry via Gallery Level. By bus: there is a Brisbane City Council bus interchange at the front of the centre, and stops on Bardon Street or High Street depending on the route.
By car: about 5 km from the CBD, about 10 minutes without traffic. The village has two car parks, a multi-deck and a basement. Entry is from the Sherwood Road and High Street intersection or from Lissner Street off Jephson Street. Plan trips on the Translink website or call 13 12 30.
Nearby
- Mt Coot-tha Lookout – city views a short drive up the road.
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha – gardens beside the cemetery.
- J C Slaughter Falls – a bush walk and picnic area on Mt Coot-tha.
- Indooroopilly – the next suburb along for more shops and the river.
- Brisbane City Botanic Gardens – riverside gardens in the CBD.
Browse more cafes and places in Brisbane.
You might also like
- Annerley (Brisbane)
- Stones Corner (Brisbane)
- Coorparoo (Brisbane)
Quick answers
Where is Toowong?
Toowong is an inner-west Brisbane suburb on the river, about 5 km by road from the CBD.
What is there to do in Toowong?
Shop and eat at Toowong Village, visit Toowong Cemetery, have a drink at the Regatta Hotel or walk through the cemetery.
Is parking free at Toowong Village?
The village promotes three hours of free parking, seven days a week, and the car parks are open 24 hours.
How do I get to Toowong by public transport?
By train on the Ipswich or Springfield lines to Toowong station, which is inside the village, or by bus to the village interchange.
Are there cafes at Toowong Village?
Yes. Chatterbox Cafe, Merlo Coffee and Brooklyn Donut and Coffee Co are listed among the village’s cafes.
Is Toowong Cemetery open to visitors?
Yes, from 6 am to 6 pm daily, and the Friends of Toowong Cemetery run free guided tours with no booking.
0 Comments