Jul 14, 2014
Gary Bembridge of Tips for
Travellers shares observations, tips and advice for visitors to
Brisbane in Australia.
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This show covers among other topics:
Observations
- 3rd largest city in Australia - over 2 million people - growing fast and projecting may overtake Melbourne - capital of Queensland.
- Attractive city set around the curves of Brisbane River named after Sir Thomas Brisbane Governer of NSW in 1820s.
- Compact and easy to get around with good transport infrastructure both road and on river - easily walkable.
- Mix of modern glass buildings and grand old buildings like City Hall - Post Office - Treasury building (now a casino).
- Lots of greenery and shade about - even the roads in the CBD has trees along both sides creating cover and playgrounds have covered play areas .
- About hour drive to beaches and theme parks of Gold Coast.
- Prone to major flooding at various times over history - big one 1974 - most recent in 2011 when CBD and suburbs badly affected.
History
- Created to support the penal colony close by.
- Growing fast for as commercial centre : mineral and agriculture resources , financial services , technology - busy port handling exports of things like grain, coal.
- In WWII General MacArthur commanded to Pacific war effort from here for a time.
- Hosted 1982 Commonwealth Games, World Expo 88
Getting there
Good airline connections within Australia and to parts of Asia
Cruise lines - big ships dock quite way from the city (30-45 mins
transfer)
Best time to go
Summer : Dec - Feb
Winter: Jun - Aug
Getting around
Bus - tickets by zone
Rail - to suburbs
River - free and pay for services
Walking
Bike hire scheme (blue bikes)
Green tricycle taxis
Tips
- Get information booklets from tourist information offices - free Brisbane Insider Guid.
- Brisbane Greeter Service - 100 volunteers - 20 languages - two options (refer to information leaflet) - greeter's choice or your choice - free
- Hop-on Hop-off bus.
Things to do
River trips
- Free red City Hopper - every 30 minutes - takes about 1.5 hours.
- CityCat service - big catamarans go much further up and down river
- Mississippi style paddle streamer - Kookaburra River Queens
- Jet Ski or kayak
- River City Cruises- 1,5 trip with commentary by Captain
South Bank Parklands
42-acre development on site of 1988 World Expo - very busy at
weekends with locals to hang out- includes
Information centre
The Beach - Aquativity water park
Picnic areas
Restaurants
Weekend market
Wheel of Brisbane - 12 to 15 minute ride in aircon enclosed
cabin
Queensland performing arts centre
Queensland museum & science centre
Queensland Art gallery
State library of Queesnsland
Gallery of Modern Art
Convention & Exhibition centre
Rainforest walk
Bougainvillea feature
Nepalese Pagoda
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
1927 - worlds first koala sanctuary - 130 koala and 90 other
Aussie species - 11km away
Mount Coot-tha
Panoramic view from Mount Coot-tha - 8km outside city
Botanical garden - established 1824 as fruit & vegetable
garden for nearby Moreton Bay penal settlement - 20 hectares
flowers trees
Other
City Hall
Story Bridge Climb
ANZAC square memorial
Shopping
Queens street pedestrian mall - over 600 shops on 1 km
QueensPlaza
Gold Coast day trip