What to do in Brisbane
What to do in “Brisvegas”, the Capital of Sunny Queensland.
By Bree, Backpackers World Travel, George Street
NORTH & SOUTH of the City:
Sunshine Coast - Heavenly places like Coolum and Noosa, and the three largest sand islands in the world – Fraser, Moreton and Stradbroke. Lots of sand, sunshine, rainforest, the occasional shark, dolphin and dingo. Only if you’re really lucky. Gold Coast – skyscrapers, thousands of teeny boppers in tiny bikinis, great beaches with great surf, theme parks galore! There’s also The Lamington and Springbrook National Parks, with beautiful rainforests just inland from the coast.
BRISVEGAS BABY!! Southbank:
Great spot to visit on a hot day! There is a man-made ‘lagoon’ - complete with lifeguards – the lovely river walk (all free), markets, delish restaurants and probably the cheapest movie theatre in Brisbane – the old IMAX. Southbank is also home to the QLD Museum and Art Gallery, and there is also a brand new ‘cultural’ precinct. See, we can be cultured in Queensland!!
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary:
You can catch the local bus and spend the afternoon cuddling our national emblems for only $20. Or you can go the whole hog and head up to Australia Zoo and discover the legacy of Steve Irwin. Crikey!
Mount Coot-tha:
Possibly one of the cheapest and best ways to view Brisbane - from the top of a mountain! Take a local bus up to the restaurant and lookout that offers 360* views over the city. Best time is either early morning or just on dusk - just don’t forget to take your camera.
The River:
Okay so I wouldn’t exactly swim in it, but its lovely to walk alongside, cruise along, even kayak on. You can even go rock climbing/abseiling on the cliffs at Kangaroo Point overlooking the water. Or why not be super-adventurous and climb the Story Bridge (one of only three bridge climbs in the world) to see 360 views of our gorgeous city.
Sporting/Music Events:
Get your dose of AFL or Cricket at the famous GABBA, and good old rugby and NRL (Go the Broncos!!!) at Suncorp Stadium. Plenty of good concerts also appear regularly at stadiums like Suncorp (We love you Robbie Williams!!!) and the Entertainment Centre. We also get loads of festivals and indie gigs so check your gig guide, there’s bound to be something on!





