As the third largest city in Australia behind Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane is occasionally overshadowed. However, to those who have ventured to the state capital of Queensland, Brisbane is rarely second best with its delightful riverside park, extensive nightlife scene and a cultural calendar packed with events and fun things to do. Brisbane is the home of some of the leading cultural sites in Australia as well as some fine dining and extensive shopping. It also has one of the most enticing climates in Australia with temperatures often staying 30°C during the winter (December-February). Flight duration from the UK to Brisbane is approximately 23hrs with at least one stop.
Brisbane caters for all budgets and tastes, and is within close reach of some of Australia's best beaches…
Brisbane, and its surrounding regions, can cater for just about every need and want from a holiday. Its river and bay area gives you a chance to lap up the sun as well as enjoy a host of watersports, while the city offers some must-see tourist attractions. If you're part of a family group there is an array of entertainment options while the area is also popular with backpackers and single travellers who want to take in a major city between bushwalking and coastal trekking.
Moreton Bay has become something of a playground for visitors to Brisbane with many watersports also enjoyed on the city's rivers and pools. It's possible to cruise the Kookaburra River Queens and enjoy a meal, or use one of the CityCats for high-speed travel down the river. From Moreton Bay you can travel to Moreton Island and enjoy whale watching or head across to experience the skiing and snowboarding in the winter and the diving opportunities of the summer.
Brisbane is also surrounded by a host of great beaches along both Australia's Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Caloundra is the nearest beach location to Brisbane, just about an hour's drive away, and is a great spot to take the family. It's also easier than ever to reach the Gold Coast thanks to an eight-lane freeway. If you drive past SeaWorld, which is worth stopping to explore itself particularly with its Shark Bay exhibit, you can reach Broadwater, which has a children's playground nearby and is great for jet skis, boats and paddles. The Warner Village theme park is also nearby with some fantastic rides for all the family. Brisbane also acts as a gateway to the Southern Great Barrier Reef and its exceptional diving opportunities.
Back in the city there are plenty of must-see attractions, not least of which are the sporting arenas that are world famous. The Gabba sports ground, a cricket test match venue, and Ballymore, which plays host to the Australian rugby team, are two of the best-known sports grounds in the world.
The South Bank area is the most popular section of Brisbane from both a cultural and recreational standpoint. You can walk along the South Bank beach, experience lots of festivals and live entertainment and also enjoy the Cultural Centre, which is home to the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art. For views of the city take the hour-long drive to Mt Coot-tha Lookout, which includes a café and a restaurant and there are some major festivals held in Brisbane including the international festival of film in August and the writers' festival in September-October. And if you want to experience some of the natural wonders of Australia, while staying in Brisbane, head to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where you can feed a kangaroo and hold a koala.
South Bank Parklands is one of the best places to shop in Brisbane with lots of restaurants and cafes to enjoy while the Queen Street Mall has a little something for every taste. By night there are lots of pubs, clubs and bars to choose from including the Rumpus Room, which has DJs playing on most nights, Manfreds Music Bar, which has a room for private parties, and Tongue & Groove, which offers coffee and food.
