Brisbane is a lively, cosmopolitan city with excellent restaurants, beautiful riverside parks, a busy cultural calendar and a great nightlife. Its fantastic weather year-round has allowed outdoor activities to thrive and develop a vibrant café culture.

The city is surrounded by some of the state's major tourist attractions, and there is an abundant choice of daytrips whether it be to the coast for the golden beaches, or inland for some of Queensland's serene bushland, there is something for everybody.

Facts：

Embassy/Consulate：

• 1. Australian Embassy, Immigration Section

Email： immigration.beijing@dfat.gov.au

Tel：(010) 5140 4424

Fax：(010) 5140 4164

Add.：21 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Beijing 100600, China

Postal/Zip Code：100600

District：Beijing municipality, Tianjin municipality or Hebei province

• 2. Australian Consulate General Shanghai

Email： immigration.shanghai@dfat.gov.au

Tel： (021)6279 8098

Add.： Australian Consulate General Shanghai, Visa Office, Suite 401 Shanghai Centre 1376 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai

Postal/Zip Code： 200040

District：Shanghai, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan, Ningxia, Shaanxi,

Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai, Xinjiang and Tibet

• 3. Australian Consulate General Guangzhou

Email： visaenquiries.guangzhou@dfat.gov.au

Tel： (020) 38140250

Fax： (020) 38140251

Add.： Level 12, Development Centre, No.3 Linjiang Da Dao, Zhujiang New City, Tianhe District, Guangzhou ，China

Postal/Zip Code： 510623

District：Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hainan

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1. Tangalooma Island Resort

Tangalooma Island Resort has a wide array of excursions on offer, and quite a few of them are for free. This is one of only a few places in the world where it's possible to hand-feed dolphins in the wild. They come swimming up along side the jetty at dusk for their nightly feed.

Address: The Tangalooma Island Resort, Moreton Island, Brisbane

2. Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon

Underwater World and Dolphin Lagoon is Queensland's largest oceanarium/aquarium with 25.000 sea animals and a multi award winning tourist attraction. Take the opportunity to walk with thousands of marine animals without getting your feet wet.

Address: Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba, Brisbane

3. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

This sanctuary gives you the opportunity to touch and hold koalas in the world's largest koala enclosure. The site is easily accessible by bus from the CBD, or via Miramar Cruises who do daily trips from South Bank's Cultural Centre pontoon at 10am.

Address: Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket, Brisbane

4. Australia Zoo

Australia Zoo is the place to see a crocodile up-close without getting eaten. Other attractions include tigers, elephants, wombats, echidnas, dingoes and kangaroos.

Address: Steve Irwin Way, Beerwah, Brisbane

5. Lamington National Park

Lamington National Park is World Heritage-listed. The park's walks take in pristine waterfalls and over 120 bird species live in the rainforest.

Address: Lamington Nationalpark, Brisbane

6. The Gabba

The Gabba is the spiritual home of Queensland sport, it's a legend in itself and a must-see for any cricket or Australian Football League fan.

Address: Vulture Street, Wooloongabba, Brisbane

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One of the many highlights of any visit to Brisbane is experiencing the epicurean delights of the city's different neighbourhoods. Brisbane is immeasurably proud of its reputation for fine dining, and within a ten minute radius of the town centre you can choose between the kitchens of European, Mediterranean, Asian or contemporary Australian restaurants.

1. Tukka

This award winning restaurant gives visitors the opportunity to experience foods found native in Australia, including meat from emu, wallaby, possum and wild boar.

Address: 145B Boundary Street, West End, Brisbane

2. Mondo Organics

If you thought organic food was for hippies you'll be pleasantly surprised with this sophisticated eatery. The mixed vegetarian and meat dish menu is Italian inspired.

Address: 166 Hardgrave Road, West End, Brisbane

3. Cru Bar

Cru is a hip bar and restaurant, and a hotspot for celebrity spotting. The food is great and the venue is very stylish. In 2009 Cru Bar won the "Australia´s Wine list of the Year" award, needless to say that the drink menu will not disappoint you.

Address: 22 James Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

4. Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill

This is a steak restaurant with an excellent reputation so vegetarians aren't going to find much on the menu. They do, however, serve great seafood. The menu is very detailed, you can find out the breed, age, size and diet of the animal.

Address: Shop 3/1 Eagle St, Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane

5. Watt Modern Dining

Winner of the Restaurant and Caterers Best Al fresco Restaurant in both 2004 and 2006, this restaurant will serve you the best of Brisbane's cuisine. The waterfront location with sunny terraces and balconies add to the experience.

Address: 119 Lamington St, New Farm, Brisbane

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The Queen Street Mall is Queensland's premiere shopping destination with over 700 shops doing business seven days a week and independent designers as well as a plethora of cafés abound.

Queens Plaza is where a host of home-grown talents such as Herringbone of Sydney and Alannah Hill take pride of place. Take a short stroll and you'll also find the likes of Max Mara, Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co, proving that Brisbane isn't too small for the big names.

The assortment of logos and brands available in this stretch between Edward Street and George Street is mind-boggling, but of note are the legendary department stores David Jones and The Myer Centre. You may also want to take a peek in the boutique of local designer Bora, whose creation graced the body of Miss Universe in 2004.

If you leave the Queen Street Mall and head down Edward Street towards the river, you'll find more Australian designers and if you continue up Elizabeth Street, you'll find many of the up-and-coming.

Beyond the CBD, it's worth taking a look at Ann Street and James Street in Fortitude Valley where you'll find a mixture of boho chic and ultra-trendy style. Come back at the weekend and you'll find the Valley Markets: fashion on Brunswick Street where you can buy one-off items and flowers and fresh produce on James Street.

Back at the South Bank Lifestyle Markets, you'll find everything from local crafts to unique artworks at the weekend. Every second and fourth Sunday at the Powerhouse in New Farm, check out the Farmers Markets where you can pick up Queensland's finest pineapples and mangos, freshly caught seafood or just-picked vegetables. The farmers bring their goods to the markets literally on the back of their trucks. Open from dawn till around lunchtime but, for the best experience, be early to get the best produce and avoid the heat.

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Prices can range widely due to season and there are plenty of special deals and packages available.

1. Macarthur Chambers

The hotel is wheelchair accessible with complimentary secure parking. Macarthur Chambers has a BBQ and a pool area on the rooftop and on the facility you will also find gym.

Address: 201 Edward Street, CBD, Brisbane

2. Rendezvous Hotel Brisbane

Overlooking Anzac Square Memorial Gardens, this wheelchair accessible landmark building has a guest library as well as rooms with a CD entertainment system.

Address: 255 Ann Street, Brisbane

3. Palace Backpackers

Palace Backpackers is a popular backpacker hostel with dormitories as well as single bedrooms and shared bathrooms. They have a restaurant with bistro menu, café with breakfast and lunch menu and the bar is open 7 nights a week.

Address: Corner Ann, Brisbane

4. Bunk Brisbane

Bunk offers clean and stylish shared dorms and single, double or triple rooms with ensuite bathroom. You also have the option of staying in an apartment.

Address: Cnr Ann St and Gipps St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane

5. Somewhere to Stay

Somewhere to Stay is located in West End, and just minutes away from cafés, restaurants and supermarkets. They offer dorms, double and triple rooms.

Address: 47 Brighton Road, Highgate Hill, Brisbane

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1. Airport

Brisbane Airport is located 13 km from the city centre (app. 15-20 min drive). Trains run every 30 minutes between 6 am and 8 pm. The journey takes 20 minutes and pre-booking is available.

2. Public Transport

A free bus service runs around the City (CBD). Tickets for the TransLink network can be bought from vending machines. Weekly tickets are valid throughout South East Queensland. Buses are low floor, and Citytrain offer assistance with wheelchairs.

3. Taxis

Rates vary with the actual locations, traffic conditions, time of day and the route chosen. Save on fares by sharing a Maxi-taxi from special ranks in the CBD and in the Valley. Wheelchair accessible taxis are available. At night secure ranks operate in the CBD, the Valley and Caxton Street.

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