Brisbane has suffered at the hands of Mother Nature in the early months of 2011. Notorious for having been established on the floodplains of the Brisbane River, the heavy rain in January resulted in parts of the city’s infrastructure being extensively damaged with many homes and businesses being flooded though the city has since recovered from this. Having said that, the city and Queensland itself has struggled to coax tourists (especially the international ones) back to its attractions given the severity of the flooding.
Built in 1930, City Hall is a glorious sandstone building that overlooks the sculptures and fountains of King George Sq. Inside you’ll find a marble staircase that’ll draw your eyes upwards to the kaleidoscope roof and the gothic lights. The observation deck at the top of the bell tower offers beautiful views of city but beware of going to the top around noon – the bells are a deafening experience!
Located on the ground floor of City Hall, this museum is broken into two wings: one half charts the city’s historical journey. The Memory Theatre shows a continuous film of Brisbanites of various backgrounds, each giving their historical, creative and social take on the city. The other half of the museum showcases artworks, crafts and photography by local and international artists.
If you’re looking for a quiet place that is also the biggest subtropical garden in the world then Roma St Parkland is the place to go. Broken up in 16 precincts, you’ll find all sorts of flora: lilies, native gardens, rockeries. You’ll also find works by local artists among the nature as well as an outdoor theatre and lots of public BBQs so you can partake in the Australian picnic tradition.
One of the oldest buildings in Brisbane, this windmill was originally unable to turn due to a design flaw (the sails were unable to turn as they were too heavy). A convict-powered treadmill was introduced before the mill was eventually abandoned. Today it stands as a meteorological observatory.
Overlooking the river is this Italian Renaissance-style building which houses Conrad’s 24hr casino. The lavish portico includes commanding balconies and columns which are well worth a look if the casino hasn’t already commanded your attention. Conrad also occupies the equally lavish, former Land Administration Building which has been converted into a five star hotel (see Hotels). There is also the Commissariat Stores Building (3221 4198 115 William St, adult/child $4/$2 Tue-Fri & Sun 10am-4pm) which was originally built in 1829 to be used as a government store house (it ceased to be in 1967). Now it stands as a museum that follows the development of the Morton Bay settlement which would eventually become Brisbane.
Occupying a regal position overlooking the City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane’s Parliament House is arguably the most gorgeous piece of architecture. Dating from 1868, the sandy façade has a roof crafted from copper from Mt Isa. The tours are run on demand unless parliament is in session, in which case you can sit in the public gallery and watch the politicians, which can be as exciting as watching the grass grow.
Bigger than the Roma St Parklands, here you’ll find expansive lawns, macadamia trees, tropical flora and the famous Moreton Bay fig trees. There are lots of trails that draw everyone for quiet respites and there is the Mangrove Boardwalk: a wooden walkway that skirts the riverbank on the eastern rim. Here is where you’ll attend the Moonlight Cinema if you’re so inclined.
This building was originally where all ships entering Brisbane Harbour were required to pay duties for almost a century. The University of Queensland now leases the building for private gatherings and fundraisers which is not surprising given its beauty. The ground floor has a free gallery that displays diverse exhibits.
These two commercial complexes are home to restaurants and shops. A good time to visit is Sunday when there is a craft market. There are ferry terminals at both ends.
Here you’ll find all sorts of curiosities here with Queensland’s own dinosaur skeleton the Muttaburrasaurus and the Avian Cirrus – the tiny plane that Bert Hinkler made the first England to Australia flight in 1928. Upstairs there are exhibits on endangered species and reconstructions on the giant mammoths that roamed Brisbane’s shores 100,000 years ago. Temporary exhibits are also held. There is also the Sciencentre (http://www.sciencentre.qm.qld.gov.au, 9:30am-5pm, adult/child $12/$9) which has interactive displays, optical illusions and regular film shows.
A stylish restaurant that serves a hybrid of Asian and Australian cuisine: you’ll find baked kangaroo rump with mint and turnip pudding, and Moreton Bay bugs in red curry. Staff are professional and can help you in food choices but the vegetarian option is limited.
You’ll be in for sophistication from the chic décor to the food at this restaurant which serves all manner of seafood: sword fish, carpaccio of tuna, scallop, foi gras and sea urchin. A highlight is the vanilla with sea salt encrusted reef fish. The bar is also all about sophistication but don’t worry if your clad in jeans, you’ll still be welcome!
An award-winner, E’cco is considered to be one of the finest restaurants in the state of Queensland. Menu highlights include slow cooked duck with a cassoulet of white beans and Lyonnaise sausage and tomato. Book well ahead in advance!
Another culinary delight, II attracts a lot of foodies and business types with its swish interior and even swankier food. Seafood includes seared scallops with seaweed and lemon risotto or there is veal with porcini risotto and artichoke chips.
Whatever time of the day you choose to visit, you’ll find that Anise has multiple personalities: in the day it serves as a stylish coffee bar for the cool people, at night it turns into a fashionable wine bar for lunch and dinner. The cuisine is of French origin with dishes such as smoked duck, gorgonzola and mascarpone soufflé tart. There are also tapas.
Here you can enjoy Australian cuisine while taking in the spectacular views of the river. Highlights include prawn and green papaya salad and the beef mignons wrapped in pancetta.
The location might be classy, beneath a high-rise and boasting great views of the river, but the food and pricing are mid-range. Menu includes pastas, stir fries and salads.
This is a pure dining experience: a rainforest foyer is what greets you first, leading to tables with cushioned seating concealed behind white silk. The menu is a bit mish-mash but no less exotic: Turkish shark and Chinese roast beef are some of the choices.
Authentic Tibetan and Nepali food are the order of the day here with Sherpa chicken, momos and dahls which are quite filling. It’s very popular so call ahead to be sure to get a seat!
This restaurant takes its authentic tag seriously: every meat, seafood and vegetarian option is there with the shredded beef in spinach rolls being a particular favourite.
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Found in the former Land Administration Building, next door to the Treasury Casino, this hotel is considered to be Brisbane’s classiest. Every room has unique furnishings along with heritage features. The hotel rates begin with standard rooms but the higher you pay in price might get you into the Parlour Rooms which are exquisite.
Opposite the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, this stylish hotel has self-contained, opulent units with modern kitchens, equipped laundries, TVs, stereos and affable staff.
There are 252 luxurious rooms on offer at this hotel which take in the views of the Kangaroo Point cliffs, the Botanic Gardens and the Storey Bridge. There is 24hr concierge, outdoor heated pool, spa and sauna, sundeck and fitness centre.
With 263 rooms and 4 suites there is lots of choice here at the Marriott. There is an indoor/outdoor heated pool, gym, internet and Petries Brasserie and Bar which serves international cuisine.
There are 429 rooms here that are the height of luxury at his five-star hotel. All rooms are comfortably furnished with personal touches including plush slippers and bathrooms rounding out the pure opulence of the place. LCD TVs are in every room with broadband internet, modem access and ironing facilities. The hotel itself boasts a spa retreat, a gaming lounge, two bars, and two restaurants serving French inspired, Australian cuisine.
This is a hotel with a lot of personality – the original building and the 1930s cage lift are heritage listed and some of the suites still retain the oak walls and the old doors with their brass fittings. The rooms are modern and comfortable and there is a restaurant, conference rooms and a swimming pool with a deck.
A boutique hotel with lots of minimalist design and space, this place has parking, a pool and free bike hire, continental breakfast and a restaurant which serves Australian cuisine with an Italian flair. The rooms themselves offer air conditioning, LCD TV, Wi Fi, in-house laundry, private shower/toilet and ensuite, balcony, internet cot and high chair available.
Views of the City Botanic Gardens, gorgeous rooms with stylish furnishings, what’s not to love about Royal on the Park? There are 153 rooms with 8 executive spa suites. Facilities include a gym, two restaurants, currency exchange, on-site car parking and valet service and outdoor pool.
While the self-contained units in this two-storey block are a little lacking in the furnishings, they are spotless with laundry services, air conditioning and wireless internet access. The staff are also very lovely and the establishment is 5 min from the city centre.
A straightforward hotel that offers a spa and restaurant; the rooms are standard doubles and suites and while they are a little snug they are still comfortable.
Brisbane has suffered at the hands of Mother Nature in the early months of 2011. Notorious for having been established on the floodplains of the Brisbane River, the heavy rain in January resulted in parts of the city’s infrastructure being extensively damaged with many homes and businesses being flooded though the city has since recovered from this. Having said that, the city and Queensland itself has struggled to coax tourists (especially the international ones) back to its attractions given the severity of the flooding. Extensive advertising campaigns have been used but it may be a long time before Brisbane and Queensland can re-establish its popularity as a tourist destination.
Brisbane was first founded in 1824 at what is now Redcliffe on Moreton Bay, as a penal colony for Sydney’s expanding population of convicts. Due to lack of fresh water and hostility from the Aborigines, the colony was moved to the banks of the Brisbane River, becoming the blueprint for what is now Brisbane. The area suffered at the hands of crooked officials and was abandoned in 1839. It wasn’t until the Moreton Bay area was resettled by free settlers in 1842 that Brisbane began to take shape, much to the consternation of the local Aborigines who suffered at the hands of the white settlers. Queensland formerly separated from New South Wales in 1859, by which time Brisbane was a city of 6000 residents. The gold-rush and pastoral enterprises would see the city prosper but while the city grew, it never found its niche that Sydney and Melbourne enjoyed. It wasn’t until the 1982 Commonwealth Games, the 1988 World Expo and the 2001 Goodwill Games that Brisbane earned international exposure as well as cementing its reputation as a forward and positive-thinking, yet youthful, creatively confident city.
To enjoy a day in Brisbane it’s best to equip yourself with a map as many of the sights can be explored on foot rather than taking a car. If you begin in the city centre, cross the Victoria Street bridge to take in the Queensland Cultural Centre. You can also visit the Queensland Art Gallery and Museum while here. Then head back over the bridge to the Treasury for lunch and if you’re inclined, the casino. From there its east towards Parliament House then a short stroll to the Botanical Gardens. Brisbane City Hall is close by and the old Windmill and Observatory is no far from there. If you have time, finish up at Eagle St Pier and take a cruise along the river to take in the beautiful water views of the city in the evening.
All visitors, except New Zealand nationals, to Australia need a visa to enter the country.
The official tourist season for Queensland is from April to November – the winter months are usually the busiest time when all the Aussies from the southern states come up to escape the cold. Also to note that during the high season from June to September, and along with the Easter and Christmas periods, everything is booked out. Weather-wise there is no specific climate change between winter and summer because Queensland is a tropical state so you should look at the weather in terms of wet and dry seasons. April to December is considered to be the dry season but the heat can be oppressive. The wet season (usually January and February) is more prevalent in the outback and northern parts of Queensland though they can affect the southern areas, including Brisbane. So the best time to go is from June to October when the extreme heat and humidity of the summer is replaced with warm days and cool nights.
-Location: Southeast corner of the Queensland state: -Dialing code: country - +61 : city - 7 -Emergency numbers –Please include the following:; • Police: 000: • Fire: 000 • Ambulance: 000 • Tourist Information Helpdesk: Brisbane International Airport Visitor Information Centre (Level 2 in Hamilton Central) - 07 3406 3190 • Car Breakdown Service: RACQ – 13 11 11 • Highway Patrol: unknown • Telephone Directory Services: unknown • Airport Enquiry: +61 7 3406 3000 • Railway Enquiry: 13 12 30 (this is for the City Network only).; • Population: estimated 2 million: • Languages: English • Time zone: AEST (UTC +10) • Average January temperatures: 29°C highest temp, 21°C lowest temp • Average July temperatures: 21°C highest temp, 9°C lowest temp • Annual rainfall: Most rainfall occurs in January with 170.2mm
Australian currency is the Australian dollar (AUD) and is broken up into 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar notes. Coins are broken up into dollars and cents. Dollars are coloured gold and are 1 and 2 while cents are pewter and are in denominations of 5, 10, 20 and 50.
• New Year’s Day: 1st January • Australia Day: 26th January • Labor Day: 1st March • Easter: Good Friday to Easter Monday inclusive – March/April • Anzac Day: 25th April • Queen’s Birthday: 2nd Monday in June • Royal National Show Day: mid-August, Brisbane only • Christmas Day: 25th December • Boxing Day: 26th December
Month Highest Temp Lowest Temp January 29°C 21°C February 29°C 21°C March 28°C 19°C April 26°C 17°C May 23°C 14°C June 21°C 11°C July 21°C 9°C August 22°C 10°C September 24°C 12°C October 26°C 16°C November 27°C 18°C December 28°C 19°C
Probably out of all the states in Australia, Queenslanders truly embody the Australian lifestyle of sun, sand, surf and smiles. And why wouldn’t they? A year-round warm climate and spectacular scenery lends much to their easy-going personality. In Brisbane you’ll likely find more cultured types but the easy-going Australian personality is still there. If you’re a sports fan even better, though the main game that is followed here is rugby – the 13 a-side working class version of the game. A lot of the residents share the mind of having the ‘Great Australian Dream’ of a house, a car, a dog and children and it shows in Queensland’s booming housing industry. Queenslanders, and to extent Brisbanites, are a conservative lot though attitudes have changed substantially over the years. Queensland has a large multicultural population with African, Chinese, Pacific Islander, European and New Zealand demographics, especially within Brisbane.
If you want designer shops then you find them all here at one of Brisbane’s biggest and well-known shopping precincts. There are over 700 stores on offer with Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and Co, Hermes, Australian designer sass & bide... the list is endless! Be aware though that the shops of Queen St Mall are broken up into areas and buildings: QueensPlaza, Wintergarden, Elizabeth Arcade, Brisbane Arcade, Queen Adelaide Building and MacArthur Central and the Myer Building.
Brisbane’s biggest shopping centre and popular with teenagers due to its Megaplex Movie Cinema. Shops include Jag, Supre, Colorado, JB HI-FI and Tarocash among others plus Kmart, Big W and Harris Scarfe retailers.
A cosmopolitan mix of stalls with jewellery, African crafts, handmade craft, organic produce, coffee and fresh seafood.
If fashion, art and jewellery are what you want then these markets are noted among locals and tourists alike. There are also card readers and clairvoyants and in Chinatown you can indulge in a massage after shopping.
One of the city’s first markets, you find over 150 stalls selling everything from leatherwork, glassware, clothing and local and imported handicrafts.
One of the best known and iconic makers of Australian gear, this store is great for clothes including oilskins, boots, moleskins and flannelette shirts. The best souvenir you can buy from here though is the iconic Australian hat – the Akubra.
Another great store for Australian souvenirs you’ll find everything from mugs, calendars, and Aussie slang kits to more stuff dedicated to the Aussie flag than you can poke a stick at!
If its Aboriginal art you’re after than is the place to go to. Here you’ll find authentic arts and crafts including didgeridoos, boomerangs, paintings and prints plus clothing.
A great second hand bookstore with over a million titles.
These two institutions are located 150m apart from each other. QAG houses a great permanent collection of mostly local and European art. The first floor is dedicated to Australian artists so you can see some masterworks from famous artists such as Sir Sydney Nolan, Arthur Boyd and William Dobell. GoMA is dedicated to more contemporary Australian and Pacific art including Indigenous artists. Phone: 3840 7303 Website: www.qag.qld.gov.au Location: Stanley Place, South Brisbane Admission: free opening Times: Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm
Located on the Western Bank promenade, this museum is dedicated to Brisbane’s history as a maritime area. One highlight is the massive map that plots the 1500 shipwrecks (mostly along the Reef) in Queensland’s seas since 1791. There is a life size navy frigate the HMAS Diamantina which you can climb aboard, or you can look at the display of the sinking of the Pandora, a ship that was sent to retrieve the mutineer from Captain Cook’s Bounty.
This house was built in 1846 and is Brisbane’s best known heritage site. Inside you’ll find period antiques, Victorian furnishings, clothes and displays.
One of the best places to bring the children to is the Queensland Cultural Centre which has the Queensland Museum and the Sciencentre which has great hands-on activities for them to be pre-occupied for hours. Another great place is Hands On Art (07 3876 5077, www.handsonart.org.au 150 Enoggera Terrace) which is a non-for-profit organization that arranges all sorts of art workshops for kids with clay modeling, painting, dancing and more. Bookings are essential so always check for availability. The Roma St Parkland is great if you want to get your children outdoors, as is the South Bank Parklands.
Usually happening around January or February.
A short film festival that is held nationwide, in Brisbane the festival is telecast live in South Bank in late February.
Date: March 17th Get ready to see a sea of green as Brisbane’s Irish and not-Irish go to every available pub to celebrate. A parade is also held.
Held in late April to late July, major horse racing meets happen each weekend at both Doomben and Eagle Farm Racecourses, including the Brisbane Cup in mid-May.
A Greek cultural festival held in late May at Musgrave Park in West End with dancing, food and music. Email: [email protected]
A hop-on, hop-off shuttle bus that takes you around 19 of the city’s landmarks. Tours depart every 45min between 9am and 3:45pm from Post Office Sq on Queen St; you can buy day tickets on the bus that allows you to get on and get off whenever you want.
Something a little different is on offer here as you go on a guided tour of the city’s murder scenes, cemeteries and the infamous Boggo Rd Goal. Tours are mostly held on Saturday nights and bookings are essential.
Taking a river cruise is one of the best ways to take in the sights of Brisbane and what better way to go than on a wooden paddle steamer. The cruises also offer scheduled lunch and dinners but always check the website for availability.
Originally opened in 1908, this mosque opened the first hafiz school in 1997.
Location: 12-14 Princhester Street West End, Brisbane Phone: (07) 3846 1573
1408 Beenleigh Rd, Kuraby QLD, Australia
6 Agnes St, Woolloongabba QLD, Australia (07) 3392 1310
Masjid Taqwah Bald Hills Brisbane 119 Telegraph Rd, Brisbane QLD, Australia 0438 413 075
33 Fuller St, Lutwyche QLD, Australia
Brisbane boasts a world class public transport service called Translink, with all information on the bus, train and ferry routes and timetables can be obtained from the Trans-Info Service (24hr, 7 day call service 13 12 30, www.transinfo.qld.gov.au). Fares on buses, trains and ferries operate on a zone system – there are 23 zones in total but the CBD and most of the inner city suburbs fall into Zone 1. An adult single ticket will cost AUD $3.90 IN Zone 1. If you intend to be using public transport more than once on any day, it’s worth getting a go card which is cheaper than constantly buying paper tickets and lets you pass through all city bound bus, train and ferry services. They are easy to top up and you can buy them online at the website noted above, at any 7-Eleven in the city or by calling 13 12 30.
All bus stops are marked with a distinctive red sign with those on the inner-city routes running from 6am to 11pm. All buses clearly display their route numbers and destinations and while most drivers carry notes, it is advisable to pay in coins as they might not have enough change to give you. There are express buses in Brisbane so be aware of this as they may not stop at all stops on the route. Some buses only accept pre-purchased tickets or go cards – a ‘P’ sign whould be visable before the route number on the front display.
Trains run usually from 6am to midnight though they sometimes run later on Friday and Saturday nights and finish up earlier on Sundays – always check daily timetables. Most train routes go from the end of one suburb to the other but all train routes pass through Roma St, Central, Fortitude Valley and Bowen Hills regardless of their destinations. Trains can run every 10min during peak hours (7am – 9:30am, 3pm to 6pm) but then half-hourly at other times and once an hour on weekends. There are train services to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast but you should check the website for timetables as these are interuban train with conecting buses.
There are many taxis in the city with the main taxi ranks at Roma St Transit Centre and the top end of Edward Street.
All the major car rental companies have offices at the Brisbane Airport terminals and in the city. Look at their websites for deals.
Brisbane Airport is located 9km northeast of the city centre; at the end of Kingsford Smith Drive. The Domestic and International terminals are 2km apart however and are not connected via a complimentary bus service so a taxi service or the Airtrain. The Airtrain service (3215 5000, www.airtrain.com.au,) is the easiest way to get to and from the airport. Tickets are priced according to which transfer you choose and either one-way or return; on average adults are $15 ($28 return), children aged 5-14 are free. At the time of writing, if you book online you will save 10% on ticket price. It runs every 15min from directly outside the airport terminals and stops at Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central Station, Roma Street and South Brisbane.
• In Brisbane, as well as Australia in general, drivers drive on the left side of the road. • Free two-hour parking is available on many streets in the CBD but the major roads become clearways (parking is prohibited) during the mornings and afternoon rush hours. Always read the signs to determine the parking times as Brisbane’s parking inspectors are ruthless. • Parking is free during the evenings. • There are big commercial parking lots which charge $7 on average per hour. King’s Parking (3229 4377) operates several lots in the city. • Queensland’s motoring association is the RACQ which provides insurance, maps and a breakdown service.
Brisbane is considered to be quiet safe, even by capital city standards. Having said that, always use common sense especially when travelling on public transport at night. Police presence is high and transport is usually patrolled by them and Transit officers at night. CCTV camera are almost everywhere in the CBD and some inner-city areas. The most common problem would be rowdy drunks in the late evenings and early mornings of Fridays and Saturdays. While security in most inner city bars and clubs are tight, suburban clubs have little to no security presence and these should be avoided. In Fortitude Valley where there is a high number of bars and clubs, always stay in a group if you can, never venture off alone and wait only at taxi ranks that have a guard.
