From Wikitravel

Brisbane [1] is the third-largest, and fastest growing, city in Australia and the capital of the state of Queensland. It has a population of about 1.8 million people.

Contents 1 Districts 2 Understand 2.1 Climate 3 Get in 3.1 By plane 3.2 By train 3.3 By car 3.4 By bus 4 Get around 4.1 Bicycle 4.2 Car 4.3 Public transport 5 See 6 Do 7 Buy 8 Eat 9 Drink 9.1 Suburban 9.2 Brisbane City 9.3 Fortitude Valley 9.4 West End 10 Sleep 10.1 Youth Hostels 10.2 Hotels 11 Contact 12 Stay safe 12.1 Emergency numbers 12.2 Areas 13 Get out

Districts

The simplest division of Brisbane is north/south along the banks of the Brisbane river. In reality, there are more 'aspirational' suburbs, and less savoury suburbs in all areas of Brisbane, regardless of the way one divides it. This is unusual for a city in Australia, where single areas (such as the North Shore in Sydney, or Toorak in Melbourne) are typified as the classiest places to live. Brisbane is a big country town that has grown rapidly and now has a big city style all of its own.

Understand

Brisbane was originally explored by John Oxley in 1823. It was then selected by the colony of New South Wales as the location for a new gaol, intended to house dangerous prisoners in a remote location.

The original settlement was established in what is now the suburb of Redcliffe but was later moved to a location upstream.

In 1837, free settlers moved to the area and pushed to close the gaol and the release the land in the area.

A gold rush led to the establishment of the state of Queensland in 1859 with Brisbane as its capital, named after Sir Thomas McDougall Brisbane, the sixth Governor of New South Wales.

In 1925, the Queensland State Parliament created the City of Brisbane Act, and set up a single government for the city of Brisbane.

Recent strong migration to Brisbane and the whole of South East Queensland is taking place due to cheaper house prices, a pleasant climate and good employment opportunities.

Climate

Brisbane has what is considered to be an excellent climate by many, especially those in the colder southern states. However, those from temperate climates may find summer unbearably hot, especially on windless days when the heat builds up in the valley.

Winters are warm and generally dry and sunny (day 20-25C, night 8-12C). Summer days are warm to hot, with days over 32C common. Humidity is high during the summer months and temperatures can get as high as 40C with night temps rarely dropping below 20C. If visiting in summer airconditioning can be advisable for comfortable sleep and don't overestimate what can be accomplished in terms of physical activity on hot and high-humidity days.

Summer storms with hail and heavy rainfall are common in afternoons on hot humid days. They usually pass quickly and sometimes put on a good lightning show.

Get in

By plane

Brisbane Airport is 20 kilometres East of the city centre at Eagle Farm, North of the river. If approaching from the south side on the Gateway Motorway it will be necessary to pay to cross the Gateway Bridge. The toll is $2.50.

There are both domestic and international terminals at Eagle Farm. It is possible to fly to all Australian capitals and numerous regional centres from the domestic terminal. Major carriers include Virgin Blue, JetStar and Qantas.

The international terminal is serviced by all major regional airlines and it is possible to fly daily to most Asian centres, the USA and New Zealand. It is no longer necessary to travel via Sydney or Melbourne, although tickets may be routed through such airports to obtain cheaper fares.

Connections to the city from the airport are available on the AirTrain, which departs every fifteen minutes during peak times and stops at Central, South Bank, Brunswick Street and Roma Street stations. It is also possible to take the Airtrain direct to the Gold Coast, although it is necessary to connect to a bus service at Nerang to reach Surfers Paradise or at Robina to reach Coolangatta. If arriving late at night, taxis may be your only option as the Airtrain stops at around 7.30pm.

By train

• Countrylink operates rail services from Sydney.
• Queensland Rail has services from most centres in Queensland.

By car

• Visitors from southern states can reach Brisbane by either the New England and Cunningham or Pacific Highways.
• The Bruce Highway connects the northern coast of Queensland to Brisbane.
• The Warrego Highway links Brisbane to the west through the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

By bus

• Premier Motor Service links some centres on the east coast of NSW and Queensland to Brisbane, as well as connections to Melbourne.
• Greyhound Australia link to most other locations to Brisbane.

Get around

Bicycle

Getting around the city and the surrounding areas is easy thanks to the many bike paths along the river. You can hire out bicycles in the centre of the city botanical gardens and also at Brisbane Bicycle .

Bicyles are legally allowed to ride on the footpath, however must always give away to pedestrians. Always keep to the far left as possible when riding on the road or a bike path, and wear a helmet: the police issue $75AUD on the spot fines if you are caught without one on.

Car

Due to the size of the city, renting a car is a good option - it gives access to more remote locations and parking is usually easy. Rental companies can often provide deals with airline tickets if booked in advance.

Like the rest of Australia, Queenslanders drive on the left.

• Budget Car Rental
• Thrifty Car Rental

Public transport

• Public transport has recently been overhauled and incorporates an integrated ticketing system across the three main modes of transport: buses, ferries and trains.

• Ferries have become an icon of the city. As well as traditional ferries which generally operate on cross-river routes, high-speed catamarans (CityCats) operate on longer routes.

• Travellers can take advantage of Daily and Off-Peak Daily tickets which allow unlimited travel within given zones across all modes of transit. A Daily ticket for zones 1 to 3 (about 20km radius) costs $5.80 and is great for catching a bus or train into the city, taking a ferry along the river and getting back to the suburbs again, or back into the city from a ferry terminus.

• A weekly zones 1 to 3 ticket costs $23.20. 50% Concessions are available to students, pensioners and children.

• Almost all buses in Greater Brisbane lead all the way to Queen Street. The routes 598 and 599 form the Great Circle Route which form circles in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions around the city and can be a great way of getting around the different suburbs.

• Transinfo is a fantastic service provided by Queensland Transport and TransLink that can give you directions on how to reach a destination using public transport. It is available through a website, Transinfo and a telephone service 13 12 30.

See

• South Bank - Brisbane's artificial beach is right in the heart of the city in the cultural district, surrounded by lots of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as some of the city's museums, theatres and art gallery. A great place to hang out on a hot day and swim for free. Suncorp Piazza within South Bank often hosts free live events and movies.

• Queensland Cultural Centre - incorporating:
  • The Queensland Performing Arts Centre
  • Queensland Museum
  • Queensland Art Gallery
  • Queensland Conservatorium of Music,

all located on Grey Street in South Bank.

• Brisbane City Hall and King George Square - located between Adelaide and Ann Streets, this is the city's most significant historical landmark. City Hall often hosts free concerts throughout the year. There is a restored lift that can be taken to the top of the clock tower for free. The lift opens at 10 a.m. and stops running at 3 p.m. (2:30 p.m. on Saturdays) daily except Sundays. There is no access to the clock tower outside of these hours.
• The University of Queensland

The university is Queensland's oldest and most prestigious university. Its majestic sandstone buildings are surrounded by parks and gardens, and located in the affluent western suburb of St Lucia. The campus also incorporates numerous sporting facilities that are open to the public, including gym, pool, squash courts, tennis courts, athletics track and football ovals.

The campus also boasts a cinema, numerous coffee shops and a large art gallery, which hosts various exhibitions throughout the year.

The campus can be reached by bus from Adelaide St on bus numbers 407 or City Cat.

• Museum of Brisbane, King George Square.
• Alma Park Zoo
• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

• Mt Coot-tha - Brisbane's tallest mountain. A popular makeout spot with a great view and good but overpriced cafe and restaurant. Also home to the one of the Botanical Gardens. [2]

• Manly Boat Harbour - at Manly, the second largest in the southern hemisphere. There is also a public park located at Norfolk Point.
• New Farm Park - large park on the river in New Farm.
• CityCat - Take the CityCat river taxis up and down the river. A great couple of hours to see the city at speed.

Do

Buy

• City:
  • Queen Street Mall [3] - main shopping mall in Brisbane, large variety of shops, has several shopping centres within it;
    • The Myer Centre [4]
    • The Wintergarden [5] (a fashion centre)
    • QueensPlaza [6] (Brisbane's newest fashion centre)
    • Broadway on the Mall [7]
    • Brisbane Arcade [8]
    • Queen Adelaide Building
    • The Conrad Treasury Casino [9] is located at the George Street end of the mall
  • Adelaide Street - "Downtown's dress circle"
  • Albert Street - has many adventure and sports-type retailers, lots of bookstores
  • Eagle Street - the centre of law and finance in Queensland, holds the Eagle Street and Riverside markets
  • Edward Street - new retail development
  • South Bank markets - held at the South Bank Parklands
  • Brunswick Street Mall
• Indooroopilly Shopping Centre [10]
• Westfield Garden City [11]
• Logan Hyperdome - Loganholme
• Westfield Chermside [12]
• Westfield Carindale [13]
• Northside Flower Market [14]

Eat

Brisbane has a very good assortment of restaurants however they can be expensive and busy.

• Brisbane City
  • Ecco [15]- Best restaurant in Brisbane and one of the best in Australia.
  • Pane e Vino - Great Italian on Albert St.
  • Fasta Pasta - Lots of yummy pasta at a reasonably price however not the flashiest place around.
• Fortitude Valley & New Farm
  • Continental Cafe - Good food, nice atmosphere and surprisingly good kids menu.
  • Freestyle Tout - New Restaurant featuring the best desserts in Brisbane. Be prepared to line up for a table
  • Re Del Gelato - The best Italian gelati ever, a perfect cap after a nice meal at one of the close by restaurants on Brunswick Street.
• Southbank and Little Stanley Street
  • Poppy's basket - A great place to stop at for a quick lunch
  • Ahmet's Turkish Restaurant - Repeated winner of best themed restaurant in Brisbane, features belly dancers every Friday
  • Ginga - Japanese restaurant, has a take-away counter with tasty and reasonably priced udon noodle soup
• Capsali's - Great Greek restaurant featuring live dancing
• Park Road, Milton
  • Rue de Paris - Brisbane's Eiffel Tower - Great cafe
  • La Dolce Vita - Located next to Rue de Paris, also a great cafe
  • Blue Lotus - Gourmet and exotic ice-creams that change according to the seasons
• Rosalie
  • Tomato brothers - Italian - Expect to wait for your meal here!
  • Freestyle - A dessert restaurant
• Paddington
  • Kookaburra Cafe - Good pizza in a relaxed atmosphere
  • Harem - Turkish restaurant complete with belly-dancing
  • Himawari - Japanese izakaya-style bistro (open only for lunch Tue-Sat)
• University of Queensland - The university provides many quality cafes if you happen to be in the area or on a CityCat ferry and caters to a cheaper market
  • Wordsmiths - A touch more expensive than the other cafes on campus, but a good atmosphere (in a relatively quiet part of the campus, near the bookshop) and has a longer menu than the other options
  • The Pizza Caffe - Fantastic pizzas with really different ingredients
  • The Red Room - The student pub - does cheap meals and cold beer
  • The UQ Union Complex - With a noodle and sushi bar, lolly shop and refectory, juice and ice cream shop
  • Merlo's - a cafe featuring Merlo's renowned coffee
  • A Salt 'n Battery - excellent quality fish and chip shop-cum-seafood restaurant with a wide variety of foods and decent prices, located in Hawken Village (on Hawken Drive, approx 5-10 minutes walk from the University proper)
  • The Norman Hotel - possibly the best steaks in town (its slogan is "Brisbane's worst vegetarian restaurant") Ipswich Rd, Woolloongabba

Drink

Brisbane's drinking and nightlife scene is separated into some distinct areas. Anyone planning a night on the town should be aware that after 3AM, no more patrons are allowed into pubs and clubs. This is a safety measure, coupled with increased security presence at taxi ranks. Additionally, smokers should beware of strict anti-smoking regulations.

Suburban

• Toowong
  • Royal Exchange (RE) Hotel - generally a good, down to earth pub, more so than the Regatta which tends to cater to a slightly trendier crowd
  • Regatta [16] - Conveniently adjacent to the Regatta CityCat terminal - Expect a wait to get in on Thur, Fri and Sat nights. However, you will enjoy the best sessions every Wed and Sun nights when this venue is completely taken by students. Must-go those days of the week.

(both the RE and the Regatta have reputations as student haunts, being located reasonably close to the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland. They more than live up to these reputations.)

• Indooroopilly
  • Indooroopilly Hotel
  • Pig and Whistle

• Bulimba - catch a citycat to Bulimba for some trendy shopping on popular Oxford Street, great cafe's, hip bars or for a picnic in the park
  • Oxford 152 [17] One of Brisbane's most popular suburban restaurant/bar (they brew their own beer!)

Brisbane City

• City pubs and clubs
  • The Exchange Hotel is certainly THE most popular place in town. It is popular with a wide, although decidedly young, demographic, including students, young professionals and tourists. Patrons tend to stream in after cheap drinks finish at the nearby Victory and Port Office hotels, usually around 11 to midnight. Cheap drinks are rare at The Exchange.
  • Jorge on George - Features live bands, great food and the only place in Brisbane to get absinthe
  • Mary Street-located on Mary Street - Also known as "Scary Street" and considered a bit of a dump by Brisbanites, however they do have cheap "all you can drink" on Saturday nights.
  • The Victory - Very popular especially every Thursday when it's "student night" with drinks starting from AUD1.50, although its often hard to move once you're in there as karaoke nights and covers bands are often to be found.
  • Her Majesties Basement - Tucked away on Queen St, is definitely for those of you who are not into main stream music. Usually has live cover and original bands.
  • Fridays - Located on Eagle Street, and is a very popular nightclub which also features dining (not recommended after 10pm).
  • Criterion Bar - The newly renovated bar is recommended for those who are looking for a quick beer and some country music.
  • Caesars - New nightclub located on Adelaide Street.
  • Belgian Beer Cafe - Corner of Margaret and Edward Sts. Caters for a slightly more upmarket clientele, with a "gourmet" or "boutique" style to its beers, all of which are sourced from Belgium. The Cafe also serves meals, a particular favourite being traditional Belgian mussels.
  • O'Mayley's Irish Pub - Located beneath the Queen Street Mall (Winter Garden centre), this Irish Pub is the perfect place in Brisbane to dine and then enjoy a Guinness beer. Open till 3am.
  • Down Under Bar - Either you are studying in Brisbane or just backpacking, the DUB it's a place you cannot avoid. The perfect bar where to meet people from any nationalities.
  • The Brewhouse [18] - Located on Albert street the Brewhouse has its own brewery where it makes delicious beers without preservatives.

Fortitude Valley

The Fortitude Valley is a very unique area of Brisbane catering to the live music scene. A large number of Brisbane's hippest clubs are located here. Through the 1960's and 70's it was seen as Brisbane's bohemian hub and has maintained a certain degree of that reputation and street cred. More recently it is sometimes thought of as being one of the more dangerous areas of the city but this attitude is changing as the area becomes more popular and hence, safer. This however has had an adverse affect on the area's creative vibe as locals turn their back on the area, forcing the creative epicentre of Brisbane to other areas of the city such as West End and Paddington. As with anywhere, simple common sense, caution and courtesy will keep you out of harm's way.

• Brunswick St. Mall
  • Rics - Live music most nights
  • Royal George (RG) Hotel - Cheap drinks. 2 for 1 drinks on Thursdays
  • The Press Club - Very popular club on Brunswick Street
  • The Zoo [19] - Venue for live music. This Brisbane establishment is almost more Brisbane than the river
  • The Family [20] - A must see nightclub. A bit pricey to get in, but it's probably the biggest club in Brisbane and has awesome music and atmosphere. It's at the top end of the Brunswick Street mall. Sunday nights (fluffy) are gay.
  • GPO - Nightclub situated in a former Post Office on Ann Street. Trendy spot/Cool tunes.
  • Barsoma [21] - This trendy little bar tucked away on Constance Street (off Ann st) offers great cuisine & an array of delicious (& creative) cocktails
  • The Bowery Bar - A small New York inspired bar, small & chic
  • The Sunbar Restaurant Lounge [22] - Modern and stylish ambience
  • The Monastery [23] - Dance club
  • Birdee Num Num [24] - Great atmosphere, usually crowded - expect to wait in line for up to half an hour. Creative decor
  • The Empire - Alernative Dance club, nice long balcony overlooking busy Brunswick Street, a few levels, less pretentious than other dance clubs in Brisbane although no less cheaper
  • Glass Bar - Vibrant atmosphere, restaurant & bar/lounge
  • The Wickham - Gay & Lesbian dance club with out door seating, drag shows most nights
  • The Beat - Downstairs is hardcore dance/rave, Upstairs is Gay (generally a younger crowd than the Wickham) & has two dancefloors & a beer garden (usually crowded)

West End

Less crowded than 'the valley' or the city, this bohemian district popular with locals offers a few hip clubs, intimate restaurants and a very laid back atmosphere. Check out:

• • Uber - Opulent, sophisticated & funky restaurant/bar/lounge/dancefloor- Arguably the best sound system in the southern hemisphere. All the look and feel of a velvet rectum.
  • Lychee Lounge - Intimate setting, sensual cocktails, beautiful crowd
  • The Pavillion Bar - Laid back atmosphere, great for a Sunday afternoon, enjoy a game of pool or sit al fresco & people watch
  • Tongue & Groove - Restaurant & Bar - This Brisbane establishment offers a cosmopolitan menu catering for vegeterians. Friendly bar, live music 5 nights a week, from reggae to funk, jazz & blues & dance - check out the many local acts

Sleep

Youth Hostels

• YHA has a hostel near Roma Street Station. [25]
• Cloud 9 Backpackers Resort
• City Backpackers
• Palace Central Backpackers
• Birdee Num Num - Modern, clean, very popular, swimming pool, & one of Brisbane's popular night clubs (more expensive than the others)

Hotels

• Brisbane Marriott Hotel [26]
• Hilton Brisbane - overlooks Queen Street Mall
• Mercure Brisbane
• Riverside Hotel
• Sofitel Hotel Brisbane (previously Sheraton Brisbane)
• Hotel Ibis Brisbane
• Hotel Grand Chancellor Brisbane
• Saville - South Bank - New, modern, brash & very stylish (look up at the swimmers from the street...)
• Rydges Brisbane, 9 Glenelg Street, South Bank (phone 1300 857 922) - located in the heart of Brisbane's arts and entertainment precinct, it is the closest hotel to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is immediately adjacent to the hotel and downtown Brisbane and the bohemian village of West End are a 10 minute stroll away. Rydges Hotels and Resorts is an Autralian owned and operated company.
• Kingsford Riverside Inn, 114 Kingsford Smith Drive, Hamilton (phone 3862 1317). From $69. Close to the airport. A few minutes walk from the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

Contact

• Free internet access is available at BCC public libraries, although you might need to book your session in advance.

Stay safe

Emergency numbers

Remember that for emergency services (Police, Fire and Ambulance) in Australia, the number is 000. When using a mobile or cell phone, the numbers 000, 112 and 911 all work, are free of charge and connect using any of the available networks.

Areas

• Fortitude Valley - Police presence very strong here. It is a good idea to travel in groups or pairs, especially females.
• City Central - As per Fortitude Valley, but with a little extra care to be taken.
• Suburban pubs - Drunks can be a hassle when in the vicinity of suburban pubs, especially around closing times.
• Treasury Casino - Casino patrons often gather outside, sometimes a dangerous area late at night due to drunks. Entire area around casino monitored by camera, and with a heavy security and light police presence.

The good news, though, is that Brisbane does not have any massive issues with safety. As in any other developed-world city, it's quite easy to have a good time without worrying about security.

Get out

Brisbane provides a base for day trips to explore the southeast of Queensland. The North Coast of New South Wales can be reached in an hour if traffic is light, leave up to two hours if traffic is heavy or there is an accident on the Pacific Motorway.

• South of Brisbane:
  • The Gold Coast - famous for being a tourist town. Approximately 70km south of Brisbane on the Pacific Motorway.
  • Dreamworld - theme park in the western Gold Coast suburb of Coomera. Also on the Pacific Motorway.
  • Wet' n' Wild and Movieworld - more theme parks near Dreamworld, also located on the Pacific Motorway.
  • Seaworld - aquatically-themed park sandwiched on a peninsula between the Gold Coast Seaway and the Pacific Ocean. Located in Southport (just north of the Gold Coast)
  • Surfers Paradise - arguably the most upmarket area on the Gold Coast, host to Caville Avenue and several shopping malls. Tourist mecca.
  • Gold Coast hinterland, Mt. Tamborine - extensive areas of National Park with arts, crafts, galleries and the like.
  • Lower Moreton Bay
  • Moreton Bay Islands - includes places like Tangalooma Island (where Scooby Doo was filmed), St. Helena Island (a former maximum security prison island).
• North of Brisbane:
  • The Sunshine Coast

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!