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We've been asked by several people what they should do when they come to Brisbane on vacation.
When people holiday in Brisbane, they
often only have a few days for sightseeing before continuing their journey or
heading back home. Whether this is your first time in Brisbane,
you've been here before or even if you're a local, following are some of the
places we feel visitors must see in Brisbane
to gain an insight into Brisbane and its people. Please note that these are in
no particular order :o). Click here to find out more...
Take a drive to the top of Mt Coot-tha (7km west of the CBD) where
you'll get a spectacular panoramic view of the whole of Brisbane city
and surrounds. On a clear day you can see all the way to the distant
ranges in the south-west and Moreton Bay to the east. Here you can
spend time at the cafe sipping a latte, cool down with a gelato
ice-cream or enjoy the famous Summit restaurant on the mountaintop. For
a real buzz come here at night and you'll see the city ablaze with
lights (very romantic!)
While
you're at Mt Coot-tha Lookout, why not visit the Brisbane Botanic
Gardens, Queensland's premier subtropical botanic gardens. These 52
hectare gardens contain subtropical and Australian flora in a setting
of lakes, ponds and streams. Mt Coot-tha also hosts a planetarium, a
particular childrens' favourite.
For the more adventurous, a two and a half hour climb to the top of
Brisbane's iconic Story Bridge
offers uninterrupted 360 degree views of
Brisbane, its river and surrounding mountains. Dawn climbers will
capture the beauty of sunrise over the bay, while dusk climbers will
see the setting sun reflected in the glass and steel of the city's
high-rise apartment and office buildings. One of the things to do on New Years Eve in Brisbane is to head down to Southbank and watch the fireworks explode around the Story Bridge.
Ale House XXXX
Take the one hour brewery tour at the Ale
House at Milton where you'll get a glimpse into the history of the
Castlemaine Perkins brewery and its world-famous XXXX beers. Only
minutes from Brisbane's CBD, you can experience an entertaining and
interactive brewery tour, pick up some souvenirs and sample some ales
at the Ale House bar - a true XXXX experience.
It's
hard to imagine Brisbane without South Bank. Just across the river from
the CBD, visitors will enjoy South Bank's sandy beach, open grassy
picnic areas, shops and a plethora of eating spots. Free live
entertainment, festivals and fireworks throughout the year only add to
the vibrancy you'll experience here. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays,
be sure to visit South Bank Art & Craft Market where you'll find
crafts by local artisans including fashion, jewellery, homewares,
tarot, and even a massage. At South Bank you'll also find Queensland's
arts and theatres. Places to visit include the Queensland Art Gallery
and Gallery of Modern Art. The Queensland Museum Sciencentre is popular
with children. If you want to catch a show, you can see a play, opera,
or even ballet at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre [QPAC].
If
you are wanting to experience Australian wildlife without leaving the
city, then Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is for you! Hold a koala, feed a
kangaroo, hear a talk about our reptiles.
Brisbane River
Many say that Brisbane River defines Brisbane, after all, we're
known as the RiverCity! A great way to see Brisbane is to take a ride
on the CityCat
- a cheap and easy way to get around. Take a cruise up and down the
river, stopping where ever you like along the way - South Bank,
University of Queensland, New Farm. Another way to see the sights of Brisbane is with an entertaining
cruise down the Brisbane River on one of the Kookaburra River
Queens.Choose from a lunch cruise, afternoon tea or dinner cruise which
also offers live entertainment and dancing. If the exact address of
your search can't be found, a best-guess location will be shown.
City Sights Hop On Hop Off Tour
This is an ideal orientation tour for first time visitors to
Brisbane. The City Sights Tour operates daily except Christmas Day,
Good Friday and Anzac Day. There is a comprehensive live audio
commentary on the bus as it travels
around the circuit. The route operates from 9.00 a.m. until 5.00 p.m.
around Brisbane's principal points of interest, taking 77 minutes to
complete each circuit. There are 19 stops - and you can hop off as many
times as you like - the ticket remains valid all day and for just
AUD$22pp, that's great value! Phone (07) 3606 5515.
Brisbane
hasn't had a great reputation for preserving its heritage buildings.
The drive to modernise the city for economic purposes saw a large
number of historic sites torn down in the 1970's and 1980's. There are
still a number of them around, particularly in the CBD districts, but a
day or two's walking will be enough for you to see most of the really
old sites.
Queen Street Mall
In the heart of Brisbane's CBD, Queen Street Mall is a busy half
kilometre pedestrian open air thoroughfare including al-fresco shopping
and dining. With wide swooping sails to provide necessary shelter from
the sun and rain, Queen Street mall draws over 26 million visitors
annually. Queen Street Mall is considered to be the largest retail
precinct between Sydney and Singapore, and is home to an outstanding
choice of high fashion labels, national and international retail
chains, independent boutique outlets, jewelry designers, bookstores,
shoe shops and more.
If you like to people-watch, come here as the mall is a hive of
activity. A purpose built performance stage features regular free live
entertainment, and buskers never fail to delight passers by with their
antics. There are several 24 hour eateries and bars to be found along
the mall's central spine for those that want to party on.
Brisbane's
(original) botanic gardens stretch out to the river on three sides
where you can walk or cycle your way around to take in the exotic
plants that flourish in our sub-tropical climate. An easy and relaxed
walk from the CBD, a must do is to take a walk through the mangroves on
the boardwalk. If you're here on a Sunday, continue along to Eagle
Street pier to browse the many stalls at the Riverside Markets, open
every Sunday from 7am.
Fortitude Valley
Fondly known as 'The Valley' it has made a
name for itself with locals and visitors alike and continues to be at
the forefront of alternative and emerging fashion, music and
entertainment. Walk into any main street in the Valley and you're sure
to find a selection of trendy locations for drinks, dance or food. Try
James, Brunswick, or Ann Streets. There are dozens of venues on offer, each with their own style and
atmosphere. Some compare the Valley to Sydney's Oxford Street for
nightlife. Take your pick of designer nightclubs. be sure not to miss
Family Nightclub, recently awarded Australia's best nightclub. The
Valley is also at Brisbane's forefront in live music experiences.
A good place to start a visit to The Valley is the Brunswick
Street Mall which is lined with cafes, bars and eateries. Right next to
Brunswick Street is Ann Street, with may avant garde fashion boutiques
which feature cutting-edge and retro designs.
If
wanting to travel further afield and you have an extra day up your
sleeve take a trip to Moreton Bay.With the islands forming a natural
barrier to the
wider ocean, the sheltered bay is host to incredible natural displays
of animals and environment, helping place Brisbane in context
with its natural surrounds. The region is rich in environmental,
historical, and cultural significance with Moreton Island being the
world's third largest sand island, 98% of which is protected National
Park. With no sealed roads, Four Wheel Drive (4WD) is the only mode of
transport.
With a choice of many different tours, you can discover all of
Moreton Island's hidden wonders, beauty and activities. Some of the
activities you can participate in are sand boarding, sand tobogganing,
sailing, swimming, and snorkeling.
Updated 5.1.07
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Brisbane Shopping
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Bunnings Warehouse is a
chain of hardware super stores selling everything from gardening products to
electrical products and DIY tools.
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Fun Stuff
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When looking to dine out in Brisbane, it is helpful to understand the different
precincts for
restaurants in Brisbane.
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