Brisbane City GuideBrisbane is a modern, busy city with approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. It's the second largest city in Australia. The city is located on the banks of a river with the same name and was named after Thomas Brisbane, who was once governor of New South Wales. Aside from modern skyscrapers you'll see historic buildings, old mansions and beautiful green parks. You'll notice that for a city of its size, it's remarkably laidback. Naturally the subtropical climate does wonders for the overall atmosphere and charm of the city; the weather is pleasant all year round. If you would like to explore the Queensland (the "Sunshine State'') coastline, you won't be in large cities for much of your trip. Brisbane is usually the starting point for (car) trips along the coast. |
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North CoastNorth of the city of Brisbane lies the Sunshine Coast. It runs all the way through to the luxurious beach town Noosa Heads. It's a relatively quiet, somewhat upscale coastal area surrounded by beautiful nature and can easily be explored by car. Noosa is actually made up of a string of small towns such as Noosaville, a great place to dine. If you travel somewhat more inland you'll find the volcanic Glass House Mountains (okay, they look more like hills since they only reach up to 300m), a range of unusually shaped rock formations. |
South CoastSouth of Brisbane you'll find the (in)famous 35km long Gold Coast. The entire coastline up until the New South Wales border is a collection of popular beach towns, apartments, disco's and entertainment. It may remind you of the Spanish 'Costas', except for the fact that there's much more space here. The weather is always beautiful here and that's why it's such a favourite destination for Aussies as well. The most popular/ busiest area is Surfer's Paradise. This is the most popular laid-back, relaxing city beach with many bars, restaurants and countless theme parks. If this part of the east coast is a bit too hectic and crowded for you, then you may prefer flying from Brisbane to Sydney (or vice versa). |
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Lamington National ParkAnother road trip alternative would be to cut through the hinterland and to visit Lamington National Park which covers 200km2 and has mountain peaks that reach up to 1100m. The park is located in the McPherson Mountains and has up to 160km of tracks and walking paths straight through nature. You'll see dense subtropical rainforest, caves, valleys and many different species of birds. If you choose hike through the park, maps and routes (for instance for a half-day hike) are available at the park entrance. |
Sightseeing in BrisbaneSightseeing is a very relaxing activity in Brisbane. There are beautiful parks, a pedestrian shopping area surrounded by bars and restaurants and a very laid-back south bank located directly next to Brisbane River. This 16 acre area was once the spot where EXPO '88 was held. There are quite a few open air markets where you can buy all types of arts and crafts. Kangaroo Point lookout will give you a beautiful view of the city (even if you have to share it with quite a few other tourists).Koala bearsAbout 30km north of the city you'll find the Alma Park Zoo, home to quite a few koala bears and kangaroos. Since koala bears are extremely difficult to spot in the wild, this might be your best chance to see them. It's incredible to see how immune these animals are to all of the attention they get from tourists. The Lone Pine Koala is somewhat closer to the city (about 12km southwest). If you feel the urge, you can 'hug a koala bear' here..... although we're not sure if the koala bears are actually keen on this. |
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Transfers and transportAfter you arrive at Brisbane Airport (approximately 15km northwest of the city), you shouldn't have any problem finding a taxi cab. If you're travelling with 3 - 4 people this is the most affordable way to get around the city. If you're alone or travelling with one other person, you may want to take the shuttle bus. There are several different organisations that drive you from the airport to your hotel.Brisbane's city centre is quite large. If you don't have a hire car then you'll probably need a bus or tax to get around. One part of the south bank can be explored on foot. Another alternative would be to take the red City Circle bus that departs nearly every 5 minutes. Parking in most of Brisbane shouldn't be a problem. However just like in every other major city in the world, it may be difficult to find a parking space in the city centre. |
Tips and TripsSpend a day riding a bicycle through Brisbane and along the river. It's fun and will be a welcome change from spending time in a car. Naturally you can also do what most tourists do when they come to Brisbane: go on a riverboat cruise along the Brisbane River on an old paddle-steamer. The cruise begins at the Eagle Street pier and lasts for an hour and a half. When visiting this part of Australia there's one place you don't want to miss out on. Visit a natural park that is also the largest sand island in the world, Fraser Island. It's located 260km north of Brisbane. Choose from an organised trip across the island or book a 4x4 and go on your own adventurous island tour. To find out more about what's possible in the area, have a look at our East Australia tours. |
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