Rising as the sun pokes its head over the horizon, breathe in the crisp autumn air and throw on your stretchy pants and running shoes. If you happen to be visiting Brisbane during the week, the Medibank Feel Good Program is on at South Bank Parklands until May, with seven different free fitness classes on offer each weekday. Get your weekend going with a bang and start your Friday with the Abs & Butts pilates-based class from 6:30 to 7:00 am, designed to firm your core and lower body (read: booty). If mornings aren’t really your thing, you can opt for a yoga, pilates, high-energy or Zumba class in the evening on Mondays through to Thursdays instead.

Come the weekend, gather your picnic supplies and head up to the Clem Jones Promenade before the midday heat sets in and run, ride or stroll with your pooch along the water’s edge, shaded by the canopy of the overhanging trees. When you’ve worked up an appetite, roll out a picnic rug at one of The Parklands’ lush green spaces and make the most of the free barbecue facilities. Many of these spaces are also licensed between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm daily, so feel free to pack a bottle of wine along with your picnic goodies. While you’re looking for the perfect spot, take a wander through the Epicurious Garden. Bursting with seasonal and organic fruits, vegetables and herbs, your senses will be in overdrive as you smell, touch and taste the edible produce that abounds. If your picnic is looking a little short on fresh produce, peruse the harvest cart from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, filled with ready-to-eat produce plucked straight from the Epicurious Garden, free for the public to take as they like.

To round out your weekend of outdoor fun, grab a group of pals and bask in the afternoon sun at River Quay, bopping to the sweet sounds of live music at Sunday Sessions on the Green. Test your skills with lawn games, or just sit back and watch the sun sparkle on the river in front of you. Head to eat South Bank’s event guide for the full line-up of acts each week.