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Enjoy world-class food and wine, relish the nightlife and shopping, and escape on luxury tours of the amazing coastline.
Lying on Australia’s
famous Gold Coast, Brisbane is the vibrant capital city of Queensland. The
city stretches out along the East Coast and then meanders along
the Brisbane River. Its subtropical climate is perfect for its many resident
surfers and sun-worshippers who adorn the city’s beaches.
Hosting the Commonwealth
Games in 1982 and World Expo in 1988 really put Brisbane on the map. Today it
is a city with a vibrant economy as it is now recognised as an exciting tourist
destination as well as a gateway to other areas of Queensland.
Brisbane is the third most
populated city in Australia and it’s not hard to see why. It has a great street
café culture, a superb riverside park, vibrant nightlife and wonderful beaches.
There is something for everyone in Brisbane, whether you enjoy cultural events,
shopping or sport, you will not be left wanting.
But of course, due to its
location Brisbane also makes a fantastic base to explore other areas of the
country so you are very unlikely to be in the position of having nothing to do.
Brisbane enjoys a subtropical
climate. Its summers, from November to April, are hot and moist whilst it
winters tend to be mild and dry.
The average monthly
temperatures are:
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Day |
29 |
29 |
28 |
26 |
24 |
22 |
21 |
22 |
24 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
Night |
21 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
14 |
11 |
9 |
10 |
12 |
16 |
18 |
20 |
Brisbane isn’t exactly
Milan, but if you want to shop it provides you with plenty of choice. The main
area is the Queen Street Mall which is open 7 days a week. Stretching for half
a kilometre it is lined with arcades, shopping centres, department and
speciality stores, restaurants, cafés, cinemas and hotels.
Other popular malls are
the Brunswick Street Mall (Fortitude Valley) where you’ll find fashion, music,
antiques, restaurants and cafés and The Brisbane Arcade. This is in Queens
Street and is a heritage listed old-fashioned shopping arcade where you’ll find
goods from Brisbane’s young designers and artists.
If you are looking for
designer names head for Milton’s Park Road, or for something just a little bit
different, Chinatown in Duncan Street, Fortitude Valley.
Brisbane also has a number
of markets such as the South Bank Craft Market, South Bank Parklands. This is
held every Friday night, Saturday and Sunday and offers a range of unique
handmade goods including clothing, art and souvenirs. Valley Market (every
Saturday in Brunswick Street and Chinatown Malls, Fortitude Valley) is great
for new and second-hand goods and street entertainers create a buzzing
atmosphere. On Sundays the Eagle Street Pier Craft Market (corner of Eagle and
Charlotte Street) sells all manner of Australian-made gifts, arts and crafts.
River Canteen Restaurant
Cilantro Restaurant & Terrace
Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill
The Summit Restaurant
E'cco Bistro Restaurant
Brett’s Wharf Seafood Restaurant
China House Seafood Restaurant
Giardinetto Restaurant
Tomato Brothers Wilston Restaurant
There is a huge amount
going on in Brisbane. Below is a whistle-stop tour of some of the events and
venues Brisbane has to offer.
For classical music the
two main venues are Queensland Conservatorium of Music and Queensland
Performing Arts Centre in South Bank. The latter along with the Brisbane
Powerhouse in New Farm are the main places to catch a theatrical performance.
If you enjoy a flutter then you can head for the Conrad International Treasury
Casino on the corner of George and Queen Street.
Sport is one of the main
loves of the Australian people therefore it is hardly surprising that the city
offers a wide choice of sporting events. Up to date information about what’s on
can be found in the sports section of the Courier
Mail newspaper. But the main venues are:
As for clubs and discos,
the city has a number of venues. The best way of discovering which venue is for
you would be to ask the locals or your hotel. However below are just a few
names you might like to try.
January
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
December
Brisbane is ideally placed
to explore other areas and attractions within Queensland. Below is just a
selection of excursions you can take to enhance your Australian experience.
The healthcare standards
in Brisbane are very high. There are a few dangers in the area as Queensland is
home to some Aussie nasties such as the redback and funnelweb spiders and box
jelly fish. Should you encounter any of these and are bitten/stung you should seek
immediate medical treatment.
The sun is very strong so
you should ensure you always wear plenty of sunscreen. Brisbane is a safe city
however you should take the usual precautions with your valuables and ensure
you don’t leave your belongings unattended when on the beach.