Overview

Brisbane has made the most of its natural attractions by incorporating botanical gardens, parks and even a manmade beach into its cityscape. Among these relaxing spots rests a cultural centre where everything from performing arts to aboriginal paintings can be viewed, while farther afield lies Moreton Island, an adventurer's playground of sand dunes, pristine lagoons and idyllic beaches. Don't miss the chance to cuddle a koala at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Queensland Cultural Centre

Resting on the bank of the Brisbane River is this cutting-edge cultural centre that acts as a venue for performing arts, exhibitions, a museum and a library. The Queensland Art Gallery is the biggest draw for art lovers with its aboriginal and contemporary works while the other offerings will appeal to anyone with an interest in Australian culture.

City Botanic Gardens

This blossoming green expanse has been cared for and developed since 1825, making it the city's oldest park. Visitors can walk among towering tropical trees and rainforest glades or relax next to pretty native Australian plants. Take advantage of a free guided walk through the gardens or simply enjoy them on your own or with friends.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

If you have long wanted to get up close with one of Australia's cherished koalas, then a trip to this sanctuary is not to be missed. Ranking as one of the world's best places to see these cute creatures, the sanctuary offers the change to have your photograph taken holding a koala. Visitors can also enjoy the kangaroos, wallabies and emus that call this place home.

Queensland Art Gallery

Housed in the Queensland Cultural Centre, this prominent art gallery ranks as one of Australia's bests and frequently hosts major international exhibitions. While the temporary exhibits are always interesting, the permanent collection of Australian art is worth the visit alone. The aboriginal art is inspiring while the works by homegrown sculptors and painters also gain much attention.

Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens

The state's best-known botanic gardens house a wonderful array of native plants that are rarely seen outside of Australia. The botanic offerings span cactus, bonsai and rainforest plants, all of which are housed in interesting zones reflecting the environment in which they grow. Trails lead visitors through the gardens, past lakes and to the onsite auditorium.

Moreton Island

The globe's second-largest sand mass rests just outside the city and makes for an ideal daytrip for Brisbane visitors. Attractions on Moreton Island include the world's biggest sand hill, a sandstone lighthouse at Cape Moreton and Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort, a sanctuary where wildlife lovers can hand-feed these tame creatures. Sand dunes and a vast desert make for fun land activities while offshore are more than a dozen shipwrecks to explore.

North Stradbroke Island

This huge sand island offshore from Brisbane has long been inhabited by aboriginal people and consequently is of interest to those looking to get up-close with this ancient culture. The island has plenty of sites of interest including a museum in the main town of Dunwich that houses interesting artefacts recovered from shipwrecks and old photographs. The coastal and inland walks on the island are also superb and provide opportunity to spot whales offshore.

South Bank Parklands

This modern part of the city offers a manmade beach that is lapped by real waves and shaded by genuine palm trees. If you don't fancy taking a dip, watch the world go by from one of the many cafés or browse the shops and parks that make South Bank a Brisbane hotspot. There are great facilities here including barbeque pits and picnic tables, making it an ideal place for a family day out.

Overview

Brisbane is a great base for all kinds of outdoor activities and a jumping off point for nearby parks and sand islands. Within the city you can climb the 80m high Story Bridge, abseil down the cliffs at Kangaroo Point or cycle on any one of the city's dedicated cycle paths. For something less active, take in a show at the city's planetarium, where you can traverse the universe without even breaking into a sweat.

Biking

Brisbane abounds with cycling possibilities, making hiring a bicycle and seeing the city on two wheels an appealing prospect. The city's dedicated cycle paths span 400kms (250 miles) and take bikers through scenic areas that are often overlooked by walkers. One of the favoured trails is the pleasant route that runs from the Story Bridge through the City Gardens and along the riverbank to the University of Queensland.

Bridge climbing

Test your nerves on the world's third bridge climb as you scale Brisbane's Story Bridge for panoramic views over the city. Constructed in 1940, the observation platform at the top of the bridge sits 80m above the river and 40m above the road. The bridge has been open to climbers since 2005, following the success of Sydney's and Auckland's bridge climbs.

Bushwalking

Just outside of the city lies Brisbane Forest Park, a 70,000-plus acre expanse of nature. This park offers keen hikers the prefect spot to get some exercise, which can be complemented with a cultural tour along the acclaimed Mount Coot-tha Aboriginal Art Trail. This interesting trail showcases aboriginal rock paintings among other forms of art which are used to pass on cultural information from one generation to another. Plenty of other trails are available for those who want to get off the beaten track.

Abseiling

Kangaroo Point is an ideal spot to try your hand at abseiling. With its high cliffs on the bank of the Brisbane River, it has plenty of space for all the individuals and tour groups that use this site as a launching point for lofty adventures down the cliff face. Group excursions provide all the equipment you need and normally allow for around eight descents.

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and Cosmic Skydome

An ideal day out for children and adults alike, the city's planetarium has a range of programmes that take you through the universe and beyond. Shows at this state-of-the-art facility last for 40 minutes and typically include a re-creation of the Brisbane night sky. The shows here make for a great educational diversion from Brisbane's outdoor activities.

Dining and shopping

Like most large Australian cities, Brisbane has a cosmopolitan dining scene that spans every ethnic cuisine on the globe. Whether you choose to indulge in sophisticated dining at Eagle Street Pier or a relaxing meal at one of South Bank's casual cafés, you are guaranteed of great service and food.

Downtown is packed with mouth-watering dining options, many of which are upscale and trendy. The banks of the Brisbane River provide a perfect setting for business and leisure occasions, with an array of al fresco establishments clustered around the Riverside Centre and Eagle Street Pier. There are also plenty of quick eat places including sushi bars and American style fast food and chain restaurants for more mainstream dining.

Outside of the city centre are a number of suburbs that provide an equally tantalising dining scene. New Farm is known for its trendy bistros while Fortitude Valley's Chinatown has a vast array of affordable Asian delights. This is the place to tuck in to a Cambodian curry or munch on a Chinese spring roll in an intimate restaurant.

The city's menus are broad and varied but you will find a few Australian favourites to sample such as meat pies and sausage rolls sold at take out cafés outside the city centre. The Asian cuisine here is also well recommended and attractively priced. To complement your food, don't miss out on a glass or two of Australian wine.

The shopping scene in Brisbane is as varied and exciting as the dining scene, with the main hub being Queen Street Mall in the city centre. This modern complex houses 500-plus shops and sits adjacent to the underground Wintergarden shopping venue - a hive of fashion and jewellery stores. Nearby, the Brisbane Arcade adds further choice to the mix with its unique stores.

There are also hip shopping scenes to be explored in the city's suburbs. Paddington has a number of interesting specialist shops, some of which are housed in attractive Queenslander cottages which feature antiques, books and other collectibles. New Farm is known for its art galleries, while Milton houses upscale designer wear.

Also not to be overlooked are the city's markets. The weekend craft market at South Bank is a major attraction and a great spot to pick up handicrafts. Further crafts can be purchased at Eagle Street Pier's craft and deli markets or at the Riverside Centre's craft fair that spills out into the streets on Sundays. The Valley Markets at weekends cater to artsy types with their handmade accessories and vintage gear.

The dining in Brisbane is cosmopolitan and exciting. Visitors can choose from the upscale venues along the riverbank at Eagle Street Pier or head for the trendy Fortitude Valley for international cuisine. Ethnic cuisine is also well represented in Chinatown, with Thai, Japanese and Chinese fare being favourites.

Overview

Brisbane has a modern international airport that receives direct flights from Europe and North America as well as frequent connections from other major Australian cities. If you are already in Australia you can get here by train, bus or car but expect long distances between cities. Public transport in the city is managed by TransLink and consists of ferries, trains and buses.

Airports

The main entry point into the city is Brisbane International Airport, which serves destinations around the globe as well as regular domestic flights. The airport is served by 20-plus airlines and direct services are available from Europe and North America with Qantas. Passengers coming from other international destinations may need to change aircraft in Sydney.

The two terminals, located roughly one mile apart, are connected by a free shuttle and Airtrain. Facilities in both the international and domestic sections of the airport are excellent and include shopping, money exchange services, tourist information and dining.

Passengers can easily access the city centre by Airtrain in just 15 minutes, eliminating the need to use a taxi. This train service operates every 15 minutes from the stations just outside the international and domestic terminals from 05:00 to 21:00. You can also travel directly to the Gold Coast using this service.

Shuttles also operate between the airport and Roma Street Transit Centre in the city. These are run by Coachtrans and take approximately 40 minutes to reach downtown, with departures leaving every 30 minutes from 05:00 until 23:00. Taxis are also available outside both terminals for those with luggage.

Public transportation

If you are already in Australia you may prefer to reach the city by car, bus or train. Queensland Rail connects the city with Cairns to the north while services between Brisbane and Sydney are operated by Countrylink. Regional cities such as Surfers Paradise can be accessed on the City Train, which runs along parts of the Sunshine and Gold coasts. All rail services arrive at Roma Street Transit Centre in the city centre.

Australia also has a comprehensive coach network that is operated by Greyhound. Buses run between every major Australian city and Brisbane daily, with journeys often being overnight. The main bus station in the city is at Roma Street Transit Centre, adjacent to the rail station of the same name.

Brisbane is also simple to reach by hire car via the Bruce Highway from the north and the Pacific Highway from the south.

Once in the city, most areas can be covered on foot. For longer hops, TransLink provides a comprehensive network of ferries, trains and buses. Tickets are transferable between different modes of TransLink transportation, making transfers easy. Tickets can be purchased at stations or from newsagents and come in different zone increments.

Almost all city buses stop at City Hall so if you need to travel to the suburbs, this is a convenient spot to catch a ride. There is also a free service especially for tourists that does a loop of the downtown, stopping at red-coloured bus stops at popular attractions along the way. The free tourist buses are red and easy to spot. Regular bus services run from 05:00 to 23:00 on weekdays and less frequently at weekends.

The rail network in Brisbane is also a useful way of getting from point to point. The trains are speedy, clean and safe and connect the downtown with the suburbs. Central Station is the main hub, and services run from 05:00 until midnight daily except on Sundays, when services cease at 23:00.

Perhaps the most exciting way of getting around the city is by CityCat. These ferries zigzag across the Brisbane River between South Bank Parklands, Queensland Cultural Centre, Riverside Centre, Brett's Wharf and New Farm Park among other stations. Other ferries known as CityFerry cruise an even greater number of places but are slower. Services run from 06:00 until 22:30 daily.

If you want convenience, taxis are widely available in the city centre and can be hired at the city's taxi ranks, in the street or called for in advance. Taxi ranks can be found at both ends of Queen Street Mall and on Edward and George streets. Driving in the city is straightforward but be prepared for lots of one-way streets.