Brisbane Holiday
With a mix of great weather and cultural delights, Brisbane is a progressive and vibrant capital offering lots to see and do, including visit the famous Castlemaine XXXX brewery for a free sample of t
Set in the south east corner of Queensland, Brisbane – or 'Bris Vegas' as it is known to the locals – is a flourishing capital offering a cultural mix of theatres, cinemas, galleries, great parks, districts and a thriving nightlife.
Also known as the 'City of Sun Days' Brisbane has an amazing hot and sunny climate offering visitors an exciting mix of the cosmopolitan and an easy-going sub-tropical way of life. As you may expect, Brisbane has its share of stunning beaches where crystal clear waters lap beautiful white sands.
The South Bank is a cultural hotspot in the city, home to the Queensland museum and the state art gallery offering hands-on interactive displays and world class paintings - the QUT Art Museum specialises in paintings, prints and ceramics from local artists.
The City Botanic Gardens are a pleasant respite from the busy city, dominated by open, grassy walking areas popular with strollers, joggers, picnickers, cyclists and skaters.
Brisbane is also the home of Australian lager Castlemaine-Perkins XXXX brewery, which will happily offer guests free samples of the iconic ale after a quick tour around the site.
Those hoping to catch sight of some authentic wildlife on their trip should visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the largest koala sanctuary in the world. The sanctuary is home to more than 130 marsupials including Kangaroos, dingoes and wombats.
Plenty of sports are on offer in this vibrant city from snorkeling, tennis, archery, fishing, sailing, scuba diving, bush walking, golf driving net or putting green.
After all those activities visitors have the chance to indulge in mouth-water cuisine and sample fine local wines. With the warm climate, dining out in Brisbane is delightfully al fresco with menus offering fresh and unfussy food.
Brisbane's cultural mix is reflected in the wide ranging choice of waterfront restaurants offering everything from local delicacies such as Moreton Bay bugs and fresh tropical produce, Asian delights, simple Mediterranean meals to traditional European treats.
The West End is best known for delicatessens, Vietnamese and Turkish restaurants, grocers, coffee and tea merchants and provides a hub for students and artists.
Major festivals take place all year round including the outdoor Brisbane River Festival, held over two weeks in mid-September and the Royal Queensland Agricultural Show held at the Exhibition Grounds in mid-August.
There is also a 12-day international film festival in July and August, Tropfest's short film telecast live at South Bank in late February, and a biennial music festival every second June.
Getting to this city and traveling around couldn't be easier through international Eagle Farm Airport which hosts frequent flights to Asia, Europe, the Pacific islands, North America, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
A shuttle bus also runs between the airport and the Transit Centre, the main bus centre, about every half-hour till mid-evening. From there visitors can venture further afield to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Cairns.
The most pleasant time to visit is between June and August when the days are warm and sunny and the nights are cool but you will be battling with Australian tourists from Sydney and Melbourne heading north to escape the cold.
