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：
Population
1.9 million
Electricity
240 Volts / 50 Hz
Emergency numbers
Ambulance, fire or police: 000
Telephone
Country code: +61 Area code: 07
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
