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Brisbane
Trip Planning & Itineraries
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Brisbane has shucked its reputation as a backwater and emerged as one of Australia's most progressive, exciting capitals. There are several interesting districts to explore, a good cafe scene to imbibe, a great riverside park to relax in, a busy cultural calendar to keep you entertained, and a thriving nightlife to make you stay up late.
Known locally as Bris Vegas, Brisbane is renowned for its year-round sunshine and laid-back lifestyle. However, it's also a thriving arts capital, with dozens of theatres, cinemas, concert halls, galleries and museums. A climate this good and culture too? From Gold Coast theme parks to Moreton Island beach getaways, you'll agree Brisbane must be paradise.
Best of Brisbane: Top 3 Must-Do Experiences
Best of Brisbane: Suggested Itineraries
Get to know Brisbane's friendly locals and locales better on a stroll along the unique inner-city beach at South Bank. Discover Brisbane's vibrant galleries and museums, and enjoy some of Australia's best alfresco wining and dining. Our itineraries will get you started, with city tours, meandering river cruises and excursions further afield to Moreton Island and the Gold Coast.
Brisbane is a great city to discover on foot, taking in historic buildings, churches, gardens and cutting-edge galleries like GoMa. See the very best of Brisbane on a full-day sightseeing tour - you'll tour the historic city center, take a cruise along the Brisbane River, cuddle a koala at a wildlife sanctuary and enjoy Brisbane's most iconic views from the Mt Coot-tha Lookout. The city tour and winery combo shows you Brisbane in the morning and takes you wine-tasting to a scenic vineyard in the afternoon. Or combine some afternoon sightseeing with a relaxing dinner cruise on the Brisbane River, with twinkling waterfront views.
With endless beaches, the great outdoors and the Gold Coast theme parks just down the road, Brisbane is tailor-made for family holidays. Pick up a two-day pass to Dreamworld and WhiteWater World, for Australia's most spine-tingling fun rides and wild water slides. Don't miss the chance to take the family to Steve Irwin's ongoing legacy, Australia Zoo, for close encounters with crocodiles and tigers. Or head to World Heritage-listed Fraser Island on a 4WD eco day trip. Moreton Island is another island destination on Brisbane's doorstep that's great fun for kids, with top swimming, hiking and snorkeling.
Brisbane is perfectly positioned for all kinds of day trips, whether heading into the hinterland or to the coast. Spend the day on the Gold Coast for a full itinerary of canal-gliding, designer glitz and sandy beaches at Surfers Paradise. A day trip to the aptly named Sunshine Coast takes you shopping and dining at stylish Noosa Heads, and exploring Queensland's largest aquarium at Underwater World. Or taste honey, tropical fruits and cool cafe culture on a trip to trendy Byron Bay. And if adrenaline-fueled outdoor pursuits are your thing, take a hike through tropical rainforest, or go 4WD touring and camping on Moreton Island.
Best of Brisbane: Top 3 Hotels
Stay in Brisbane's central city area at big-name hotels or venture into the nearby inner suburbs to seek out more-individual boutique hotels in suburbs like Spring Hill, Paddington and New Farm. Many of Brisbane's inner suburbs are clustered right on the city's doorstep, just a pleasant stroll from the center.
Housed behind a historic facade, the Stamford combines traditional style and luxurious modern comforts. Expect an opulent atmosphere, elegant furnishings from the antique-filled lobby to the bedrooms, and jaw-dropping views of the Brisbane River.
Brisbane's only five-star apartment hotel comes loaded with comforts and mod-cons, as you'd expect. Fitted out with modern kitchens, laundries and private furnished balconies, the suites are a welcoming home from home for weary travelers.
Brisbane's classiest hotel is in a beautifully preserved former public building, now a casino. Bedrooms and public spaces alike are awash with polished wood, English country-house-style furnishings and acres of marble. Bedroom fittings and fabrics are opulent, and the general atmosphere recalls the colonial style of the Raj.
Best of Brisbane: Top 3 Restaurants
You'll find fine dining in the city center, but just like accommodation, some of Brisbane's best food finds are in the inner-city neighborhoods of Fortitude Valley, New Farm, West End and Paddington.
Gourmets Australia-wide head to E'cco for swank surroundings and superb modern Australian cuisine. Housed in a former tea warehouse, the bistro focuses on seasonal menus highlighting the best local produce around.
If you fancy a spot of modern alfresco dining, look no further than Watt in New Farm. Right on the riverfront, Watt specializes in relaxed outdoor dining, with sophisticated Asian, Middle Eastern and European influences embroidering the menu.
Styled with minimalist elegance, banquette seating and low lighting, Urbane serves seductive Modern European fare in the city center. Attention to detail is paramount throughout, and with menus changing regularly you can expect the occasional addition of Asian and Middle Eastern flavors.
Brisbane Tandem Sky Dive
Enjoy the thrill of floating through the air and admire the best views of the Glasshouse Mountains and Moreton Bay, two of Brisbane's most amazing landmarks, on a Brisbane Tandem Sky Dive!
- Plan Brisbane vacations on Yahoo! Travel
- Brisbane hotels, Australia from PlanetWare
- Compare hotels in Brisbane, Australia from HotelsCombined.com
- Local news from The Courier-Mail
