Only about 2 kilometers east of Brisbane CBD on a large bend of the Brisbane River is the very diverse and fascinating inner northern riverside suburb of New Farm.  New Farm is partly surrounded by the Brisbane River, with land access from the north-west through Fortitude Valley and from the north through  Newstead.

Although I live on the south side of Brisbane I travel in to New Farm at least twice a week. I volunteer at the New Farm RSPCA OP shop each Tuesday which I have been doing now for 5 years and enjoy it so much. I love the interaction that I have with my regular Tuesday customers. The clientele is so very diverse both in age groups and backgrounds. Some folks shop here because they are passionate about helping the animals, some shop for the amazing bargains, others come for the fabulous things they can purchase and lots come for the wonderful up market clothing that we sell. I am so proud to say that we have so many generous folks donating regularly.

I also drive in on Sundays to attend my lovely church service at Mt Michaels All Angels Anglican church and catch up with my friends. This always is an amazing morning out for me and my doggie, Buddy.

Brisbane’s inner-north riverside New Farm strikes that wonderful balance between waterfront luxury and beauty, leafy greenery and big parks, and local drinking and dining fun.

The architecture is as diverse as its residents.  Here you will find timber boarding houses that were built many decades ago alongside multimillion dollar houses and apartments. The local shopping also reflects the same type of diversity. The vibe is always electric which really suits the magical Brisbane weather, all year round.

 New Farm encourages an outdoor lifestyle, with tree-lined streets and unique spaces such as Brisbane Powerhouse and the heart of the suburb, New Farm Park.  New Farm Park is one of Brisbane’s oldest, grandest and largest parks. The 37-acre park is popular spot with local families and friends who gather on weekends to relax, picnic, barbecue, kick a ball and catch up beneath the trees or in the open fields. The city-owned park often has free live music events in the rotunda and other special events throughout the year. The park is by the river just two stops by boat from the city centre.  It is a totally green park full of grass, rose gardens, flowers and trees that offers a playground, a picnic area, walking and bike routes and relaxing benches.

The variety and list of things you can do here in New Farm is long and if one puts on their thinking cap you will soon realize there is much more than I can think of right now. These include, picnics in the park, visit the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, visit the farmers markets each Saturday morning, shop up a storm at James Street indoor markets, check out some of the area’s best bars and restaurants, stop for a coffee any time of the day or night, walk or ride a bike along riverside boardwalk, cycle your heart out along the river cycle way, shop till you drop at any of the up market boutiques, take a free ferry ride across the river to Bulimba or into the city and, my favourite activity is to take a city cat (catamaran) up or down the Brisbane River.

New Farm has it all and suits any one of us no matter how young or old we are. 

If you are in Brisbane, do yourself a favour and spend time here in this amazing inner city area.