The Best Places to Take Mum This Mother’s Day in Queensland

Whether Mum’s idea of a perfect Sunday is loading up a buffet plate while the kids run around, painting something questionable while a rosé does the heavy lifting, or knocking back bottomless margaritas at a pub that’s built for celebrating, Queensland has options that go well beyond the standard Sunday roast.

Here are our picks for the most memorable Mother’s Day experiences on offer across the state this year.

The Bottomless Brunch That Actually Earns That Title

If the mums in your life are the type who’d rather skip the flower bouquet and go straight to two hours of tacos and margaritas, Hey Chica’s Mother’s Day Bottomless Brunch is what you’re after. Hey Chica sits in the heart of Fortitude Valley and it brings a proper Latin energy to everything it does — bright, loud, and built for a crowd that wants to feel like they’re somewhere worth being.

The brunch runs on Sunday 10th May across two sessions at 12pm and 2:30pm, and for $90 per person, the kitchen and bar go all-in. Corn chips, guac, salsa and queso hit the table on arrival, followed by a rotating run of bottomless tacos: beef birria, pork carnitas, fried chicken, baja fish and a vegan cauliflower option that holds its own against the rest. The margaritas and cocktails don’t stop until the session does.

What makes it work beyond the food is the setting itself. Hey Chica knows how to run a room — the energy is festive without being chaotic, and the vibe lands somewhere between Cinco de Mayo party and a really well-executed weekend session. It’s the brunch for a mum who wants her Sunday to feel like a genuine occasion, not just a slightly nicer version of a regular lunch.

Sessions are limited and they sell out.

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Two Ways to Celebrate Mum by the Water

Sandbar is one of those Gold Coast venues that earns its reputation without needing to oversell it. Perched on the water with a 100-plus craft beer selection and a breezy, easy-going fit-out, it already has the kind of atmosphere that makes a casual morning feel like something you’d come back for. This Mother’s Day weekend, they’re running two very different events — both worth knowing about.

Mums and Pups — Saturday 9th May from 8am

This one is exactly what it sounds like, and that’s the whole point. Bring Mum, bring the dog, find a spot by the water and settle into a lazy coastal morning over breakfast. Every mum gets a free coffee on arrival; every pooch gets a treat. It’s relaxed, it’s unhurried, and it’s the kind of morning that doesn’t ask anything of anyone — just good food, wagging tails and that particular Gold Coast light that makes everything feel easier. For the mum who loves her dog about as much as she loves a quiet morning out, this one is genuinely hard to top.

Paint & Sip — Saturday 9th May

If Mum would rather celebrate with a brush in one hand and a drink in the other, Sandbar’s Paint & Sip event is your Saturday sorted for $29 per person. It’s the kind of thing where the end result is very much beside the point — the afternoon runs on low-stakes creativity, easy laughs and whatever’s in the glass. Take the masterpiece home and call it fridge art. Everyone wins.

Both events run the day before Mother’s Day, which is a smart move if you want Mum to actually relax on the Sunday itself.

Book your spot: Mums & Pups | Paint & Sip

The Country Buffet Breakfast

This one is for the Rockhampton crew, and it’s a big deal. The Leichhardt has just come out the other side of a full renovation, and this Mother’s Day marks its first proper celebration since the upgrade — a Country Mother’s Day Buffet Breakfast that leans into everything the venue does best.

The buffet runs from 8am on Sunday 10th May and it has a distinctly warm, homestyle feel — the kind of spread that suits a long family table, good conversation, and no particular rush to be anywhere. What makes it stand out is the thought put into the whole morning, not just the food. There’s a kids’ colour station to keep the little ones occupied while Mum actually gets to sit down and eat, and the whole family walks away with a polaroid keepsake from the day — a small touch that gives it a proper occasion feel.

Pricing: Adults $46 | 13–17 years $22 | 6–12 years $17 | 5 and under $6. If Mum’s earned a sleep-in, lunch and dinner bookings are available too.

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A Pre-Mother’s Day Afternoon Worth Claiming for Yourself

Salt Bar earns its name. Sitting on the Gold Coast with coastal views that do a lot of the work for any occasion, it’s a venue that suits a crowd who want something a little more considered than a standard Sunday session — but nothing so formal it loses its ease.

The Pre-Mother’s Day Paint, Sip & Snack is the Saturday option for mums who want to mark the occasion on their own terms: a creative afternoon with drinks in hand, bites on the table and absolutely no pressure to produce anything gallery-worthy. Enjoy the views, the coastal air, and the kind of relaxed-but-pulled-together energy Salt Bar consistently delivers.

Running the day before Mother’s Day proper, it also means you can double up and celebrate twice — and that’s never a bad plan.

And if the whole family is more of a Sunday morning crew, Salt Bar’s Mother’s Day Breakfast Buffet on Sunday 10th May has them covered with coastal views, a generous spread and a welcome gift for Mum on arrival. Pricing: Adults $39.50 | 13–17 years $22 | 6–12 years $17 | Under 5 $6.

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A Buffet Breakfast on the Island, Done Right

There’s something about Bribie Island that invites you to slow down, and the Bribie Island Hotel Mother’s Day Buffet Breakfast leans directly into that. Running from 7:30am on Sunday 10th May, it’s a morning designed for the kind of family that wants to make a proper outing of it.

The buffet does exactly what it should: Mum gets to fill her plate with what she actually wants, at her own pace, while the family settles in around her. No fixed menu, no rushed service — just a generous spread of hot and cold favourites in a pub that knows how to do Sunday mornings well.

Pricing keeps it accessible for the whole crew: Adults $46 | 13–15 years $22 | 6–12 years $17 | 5 and under $6. If Mum’s preference is the gift of a sleep-in rather than an early start, all-day dining kicks off from 11:30am — so there’s plenty of time to make a day of it regardless.

For families who want to escape the mainland and give Mum a morning that feels a little removed from the everyday, Bribie delivers.

Book your spot

Whether you’re locking in a fiesta brunch in Brisbane, a peaceful island morning or a creative afternoon by the Gold Coast water, The Pass makes it easy to find the right venue and book ahead — before the good tables are gone.

Head to the Events & Specials page on The Pass to browse what’s on near you this Mother’s Day. Because she deserves more than a last-minute plan.

When is Mother’s Day 2026 in Queensland?

Sunday 10th May 2026.

Are there pre-Mother’s Day events in Queensland?

Yes — Sandbar Gold Coast and Salt Bar are both running events on Saturday 9th May, which is great if you want Mum to celebrate without the Sunday rush.

Do I need to book in advance for Mother’s Day brunch and buffets?

Absolutely. Most venues sell out weeks ahead, especially for popular sessions like Hey Chica’s bottomless brunch. Book as early as you can to avoid missing out.

Are these venues family-friendly?

Most of them, yes. Bribie Island Hotel, Leichhardt Hotel and Sandbar’s Mums and Pups morning are all well-suited to families with kids. Hey Chica’s bottomless brunch is more of an adults-focused celebration.