5 Things to do in Brisbane when you don’t feel like hitting the gym

As the days warm up, and frosty Brisbane-ites emerge from hibernation (because we all know we don’t own clothing suitable for below 20 degrees), it’s the perfect time to take your workout outdoors. Break a sweat in the summer sun (sunscreen a-plenty, of course) to absorb that all-important Vitamin D.

Whether you’re a fitness fanatic, or a workout newbie, there’s always going to be days you can’t bear to face the gym, so we’ve rounded up the best outdoor adventures in-and-around Brisbane to mix up your workout routine!

If you love dogs, then this fitness hack is for you! Smashing out a power walk is always better with a joyful ball of fur by your side, so why not volunteer at your local animal shelter to walk dogs who are waiting for their furever home?

Rescue Your Fitness is a registered charity run by a smitten bunch of volunteers determined to make a difference in animal rescue. They connect furball-loving fitties like yourself with local shelters to help exercise and enrich the lives of abandoned dogs.

So if you’ve got love to spare, and willpower strong enough not to take each and every fluffball home (or not – we won’t judge your 17 pet dogs) then spare a walk for a pup who could use a stroll in the fresh air.

Forget the ballet barre, how about training at an actual bar? Get sweaty while working out your chinwag muscles at Sweat Social – a fitness craze held in nightclubs or event spaces once a month combining exercise, good vibes and even kombucha. You’ll get excited about living a healthy and active lifestyle again when you’re burning your booty in Pilates, or getting breathless in a high intensity workout. Did we mention the braid bar?

The folks over the river at South Bank are serving up their free outdoor fitness series, the Medibank Feel Good Program, at the Parklands, and even at Queens Park in the CBD. You heard us right – it’s free! Choose to rise and shine at Yoga, find your limits at HIIT, or dance like nobodies watching at Zumba. Call the squad and make a social date for added motivation!

Gear up for a walking track that delivers it all – the Cape Byron hike takes you on a journey through rainforest, beach, grassland, and clifftops to the iconic lighthouse. If the picturesque panoramic views aren’t enough, as the most easterly point of Australia, it makes for the perfect whale watching location. You’re sure to get a serious aerobic workout on this two-hour climb!

To find the route, follow Lawson Street from Byron Bay’s town centre (the trickster turns into Lighthouse Road, so don’t be alarmed!) and look for the signs. We recommend parking at Wategos Beach – take a dose of patience and sit in the beach car park until someone’s ready to go home. This beach has a pretty high turn-over of surfers, so you’re sure to snap up a park before your pre-workout kicks in.

Don’t go missing your strawberry kisses, because nothing’s as sweet as supporting our farmers! There’s no such thing as an unhealthy obsession for strawberries in our books (as long as you’re slicing those babies up while we’re on needle watch), so why not eat your heart out strawberry picking? With the berries currently in season, now is the perfect time to get your fix. Enjoy an afternoon of LISS (low intensity, steady-state cardio), taking a stroll through rolling fields of hidden red gems, and pick until your heart’s content.

There you have it – our favourite faux workouts for when you don’t feel like working out. Not convinced? Perhaps dancing your way to washboard abs, or diving into a cool pool is more your summer workout style.