A wet day in Brisbane is no reason to write off the trip. From Hampton Court Apartments in Clayfield you are minutes from four proper undercover options: a riverside dining precinct, a boutique cinema, a cosy Racecourse Road lunch, and a full enclosed shopping centre. Here is the rainy-day list we hand guests, with parking, timings and who each one suits.
Brisbane rain tends to arrive in warm afternoon bursts and clear just as quickly, so a wet day here is really an invitation to slow down. These are the places we send guests when the forecast turns, all close, all dry.
Where can we spend a wet afternoon by the river?
Distance: about a seven-minute drive from Hampton Court Apartments. Directions: 39 Hercules Street, Hamilton. Parking: secure undercover.
Portside Wharf is the easy first call. It is a covered riverside village of more than 35 shops and eateries, with secure undercover parking, so you can browse the boutiques, settle in for a long riverside lunch, and watch the CityCat come and go without getting wet. For families it has the added draw of Bluey’s World, a big hit with younger kids, and the covered promenade is a pleasant place to watch the river even when the sky is grey. Plan on a relaxed half-day, and the cost is entirely up to you, from a free wander to a proper sit-down meal. There are cafes for a mid-morning coffee, restaurants for a longer lunch, and enough shopfronts to browse while a shower passes. It suits everyone, which is why it tops the list.
Is there a cinema close by?
Distance: about a seven-minute drive from Hampton Court Apartments. Directions: within Portside Wharf, Hamilton. Hours: 10am to 11pm daily.
Dendy Cinemas Portside is the boutique option right inside the Portside precinct, which means the same undercover parking and a dry walk to your seat. It runs from 10am to 11pm every day, so a wet morning, afternoon or evening all work, and the cheaper sessions early in the day are ideal for filling a grey stretch. Budget a couple of hours plus the ticket, and it suits couples wanting a quiet afternoon film as much as families catching the latest release. Pair it with lunch at Portside and you have a full undercover day sorted.
Where is a cosy lunch we can walk to?
Distance: about a 20-minute walk from Hampton Court Apartments. Directions: Racecourse Road, Ascot. Hours: cafes from early, restaurants through lunch and dinner.
When the rain is light and you would rather stay local, the cafes and restaurants of Racecourse Road are made for a long, slow lunch indoors. Verandah on Racecourse is a comfortable sit-down, Petrichor & Co does a warming all-day breakfast, and Taro’s Ramen is the definition of rainy-day comfort food, a steaming bowl at the counter while it pours outside. It is about a 20-minute walk or a short drive, most tables are undercover, and you can eat well for a modest spend. This one suits anyone happy to make a meal the main event.
What if we want a full undercover day out?
Distance: about a 10-minute drive north from Hampton Court Apartments. Directions: up Sandgate Road toward Chermside. Parking: undercover, two hours free.
Westfield Chermside is the answer when the rain has properly set in and you want everything under one roof. It is one of the largest fully enclosed shopping centres in Brisbane, with hundreds of shops, a big food court and an Event Cinemas complex, all with undercover parking and two hours free. Trading runs to 5:30pm most days and 9pm on Thursdays, so there is time to shop, eat and catch a film without stepping outside. The food court alone can settle a hungry family, and the cinema is handy for the afternoon lull when younger ones are running low. It is a reliable half or full day for families, and a short, dry drive north up Sandgate Road from the apartment, which makes it the go-to when the rain has set in for the day.
FAQs
What is there to do near Ascot when it rains?
Plenty stays dry and close. Portside Wharf has undercover riverside dining and shopping, Dendy Cinemas is right there, Racecourse Road cafes are made for a long lunch, and Westfield Chermside is a fully enclosed centre a short drive north. All are a quick trip from Hampton Court Apartments.
Is there undercover parking at these spots?
Yes. Portside Wharf has secure undercover parking, Westfield Chermside offers two hours free undercover, and Dendy Cinemas shares the Portside car park. From Hampton Court Apartments you can drive over and barely touch the rain, which is exactly the point on a wet Brisbane day.
Are these places good for kids on a wet day?
Very. Portside Wharf is home to Bluey’s World, a big drawcard for families, and Westfield Chermside has a food court, cinema and shops to fill an afternoon. Both keep children happy and dry, and both are an easy drive from the apartment.
Can we walk somewhere undercover from the apartment?
Yes. Racecourse Road is about a 20-minute walk, and its cafes and restaurants are perfect for a cosy indoor lunch when the weather turns. If you would rather not walk in the rain, it is only a short drive or rideshare from Hampton Court Apartments.
A grey Brisbane day is a chance to take the trip at a gentler pace, and with a riverside precinct, a cinema, a cafe strip and a shopping centre all minutes away, staying dry is the easy part. When you are ready to plan your stay, our current specials have the best direct rate, and you can see what else is close on our Brisbane attractions page.
Image credit: Portside Wharf
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