Women-Friendly Travel in Brisbane
The Brisbane women-friendly travel guide places explicit women-friendly and family confidence signals first, while keeping uncertain details visible for review.
Brisbane
City Hall
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!
Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
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.
Brisbane
Roma Street Parkland
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.
Brisbane
Old Windmill and Observatory
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.
Brisbane
Treasury Casino to Queensland University of Technology
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.
Brisbane
Parliament House
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.
Brisbane
City Botanic Gardens
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.
Brisbane
Customs House
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.
Brisbane
Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier
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.
Brisbane
Queensland Museum
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.
Brisbane
Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) - Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA)
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
Brisbane
Queensland Maritime Museum
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.
Brisbane
Newstead House
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.
Brisbane
What to do with Children in Tow
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.