Brisbane

Brisbane is the hub of a diverse holiday region - a modern cosmopolitan city with a subtropical climate that is famous for its friendly charm. As Queensland’s thriving capital city, Brisbane offers the very best in food, wine, arts, entertainment, shopping, and sporting events with relaxed sub-tropical flair.

Brisbane is the heart of an a......[More]

Brisbane

Brisbane is the hub of a diverse holiday region - a modern cosmopolitan city with a subtropical climate that is famous for its friendly charm. As Queensland’s thriving capital city, Brisbane offers the very best in food, wine, arts, entertainment, shopping, and sporting events with relaxed sub-tropical flair.

Brisbane is the heart of an area bounded by surf beaches, mountain ranges and pristine subtropical rainforest. It is an ideal stepping-off point for day tours to glorious places like the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast. Head into the surrounding hinterland and wake up to the beauty of lush green forest and the warm hospitality of south-east Queensland country. And close to the city is Brisbane’s own aquatic playground – Moreton Bay and Islands, the perfect place for water sports.

Attractions
Brisbane is a green city. Almost 25 per cent of its area is bushland. In all, the city has 9,500 hectares of bush and 1,500 parks and public gardens – making Brisbane an easy city to find a shady place to sit and watch the world go by. There’s so much to see and do, and we can cater for your every mood from cuddling a koala to the adrenaline rush of abseiling down the Kangaroo Point Cliffs. For something different try a ghost or eco tour, or experience the view from the top, with a champagne breakfast balloon flight over the city.

South Bank Cultural Precinct
If art is your thing, first port of call should be the Queensland Art Gallery at South Bank. Aside from the excellent exhibitions, including a permanent collection, the price tag is also attractive; visiting is free!
www.qag.qld.gov.au

After the Art Gallery, be inspired by the ever-changing displays at the museum, located right next door.
www.qmuseum.qld.gov.au.

The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) is Brisbane’s premier visual arts institution and the newest in the cultural precinct.
www.qag.qld.gov.au

Brisbane’s cultural calendar features The Brisbane International Film Festival, Brisbane Writers Festival and Riverfestival – a weeklong event at the beginning of spring in celebration of our natural landmark, the Brisbane River.
www.ourbrisbane.com

South Bank Parklands
Walk through the 16-hectare South Bank Parklands – next door to the Queensland Art Gallery – and you will find the perfect spot to revel in our relaxed city. Tandem bicycles, available for hire, are a great way to get around the park.

City Botanic Gardens
Laze on the lawns with a good book, walk through the mangroves on the boardwalk, or enjoy a leisurely lunch in the licensed cafe at our City Botanic Gardens. If you have energy to burn, grab some rollerblades or hire a bike and get some exercise in the fresh air.

City Cat and River Cruises
Riding on a high-speed City Cat is an excellent way to see a different side of the city. The cats cruise 19 kilometres from St Lucia to Hamilton on the Brisbane River, and, for just a few dollars, you can ride with the wind in your hair for as long as you like. Step into history and take a cruise to the colonial prison on St Helena Island in Moreton Bay.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, with over 130 koalas, is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. Hold a koala and have your photograph taken, hand feed kangaroos, and experience an Aussie outback farm with the sheep dog show – it all makes for a great day out. There’s no need to leave the city to get close to our Australian wildlife. Include Lone Pine as part
of a coach tour or cruise down the Brisbane River on the fully commentated historic MV Mirimar.

Australia Zoo
The Crocodile Hunter’s Australia Zoo is just north of Brisbane, and offers a unique and exciting experience with a full day of wildlife action and adventure. Get your adrenalin pumping as you watch crocodiles launch a strike from the water’s edge in their awesome 5,000-seat Crocoseum, catch the thrilling free flight bird show and get hands on with the wandering wildlife as their keepers introduce you to koalas, snakes, wombats, dingoes, alligators, tortoises and more. Australia Zoo holds firm their commitment to achieve conservation through exciting education.

Story Bridge
Brisbane’s Story Bridge links the inner city suburbs of Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point. A Story Bridge Adventure Climb will give you a different view of our city. Have a picnic or BBQ under the bridge at Captain Burke Park or eat out at the historic Story Bridge Hotel.

Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens
The Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens are only 7 kilometres from the CBD and feature a magnificent tropical display dome, Japanese gardens, themed gardens on 52 hectares and the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.

Climate
Our balmy climate is like a magnet. Just over half the state lies in the tropical zone and the southern half, including Brisbane, is temperate. In the temperate zone, the average maximum temperature is 25ºC and the average minimum 15ºC. Queensland truly is the Sunshine State, with the gateway cities of Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville enjoying an average of 300 days of sunshine a year. [Less]