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 Map
of Brisbane
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ARRIVING
AT BRISBANE AIRPORT |
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BRISBANE'S
AIRTRAIN |
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INTRODUCTION
TO BRISBANE |
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AIRTRAIN TO THE GOLD COAST |
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WELCOME
TO BRISBANE |
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One of Queensland’s greatest attractions
is its climate. It is a state of long warm summers and short cool winters.
With a typical subtropical to tropical climate, the seasons are not as
distinctive as in the southern states of Australia. Temperatures are rarely
uncomfortably high and coastal areas enjoy cooling sea breezes in summer.
Although temperatures are higher in the Outback, the humidity is low.
The hinterland and mountains enjoy cooler conditions. Winter in Queensland
brings some of the most sublime weather – mild sunny days and crisp, fresh
nights.
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The subtropical climate lends itself
to outdoor eating, and southern Queensland’s delicacies are presented
in a range of cuisines in Brisbane’s fine restaurants and casual eateries.
For convenience you cannot go past the Queen Street Mall dining
and the city centre hotels and restaurants. Located on the Brisbane river,
only minutes from the city centre, is the popular Riverside offering
a sumptuous variety of cuisine. On the terraces of Eagle Street,
overlooking the river, you can dine in some of the best restaurants and
just a short taxi ride along Brisbane river are the restaurants of Coronation
Drive and Park Road at Milton. On the northwest side of Brisbane
are the cosmopolitan dining and shopping suburbs of Paddington
and Bardon. Fortitude Valley is Brisbane’s Chinatown and
the place to enjoy Asian food.
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Hotel Guide
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| Queensland Cultural Centre
in South Brisbane, on the South Bank of the Brisbane River, houses Queensland’s
Art Gallery, Performing Arts Complex, Museum and State Library. The art
gallery opens from 10.00am-5.00pm daily, the museum from 9.00am-5.00pm
daily, and the State Library from 10.00am-8.00pm Monday-Thursday and from
10.00am-5.00pm Friday-Sunday. Admission is free except for special exhibitions.
South Bank Parklands, on
the Brisbane River overlooking the city, is 16 hectares of  adventure
and excitement. From the clear waters of Kodak Beach to the shady lawns
set among lush gardens, there’s plenty to see and do. Bring a picnic
or enjoy a barbecue. Alternatively, dine at one of the 19 cafes, restaurants
and taverns. Enjoy a variety of entertainment, from concerts in the
Suncorp Piazza to street performers. See the wonders of nature and the
environment in the four themed attractions.
Explore more with the Parklands
Discovery Ticket. See the animals at Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary
(including koalas), discover the many live species of Australian butterflies,
then descend into the world of giant insects at the Butterfly and
Insect House.
Brisbane Forest Park provides
opportunities for picnicking, sightseeing, camping, bushwalking, bird-watching,
horseriding and cycling in 26,500 hectares of superb bushland. Walk-about
Creek Freshwater Study Centre re-creates a creek environment containing
platypus, lungfish and other interesting animals. Brisbane Forest Park
opens 24 hours free of charge. Walk-about Creek Freshwater Display opens
from 9.00am-4.30pm weekdays and 10.00am-4.30pm weekends and public holidays.
The Australian Woolshed,
11 kilometres north-west of Brisbane at Ferny Hills, is a theme park
based on an Australian sheep station of today, giving visitors a chance
to experience a taste of the Outback. It opens from 9.00am-5.00pm daily.
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For nightlife, there is a large choice
of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city centre, while the Brisbane
Entertainment Centre provides a venue for major sporting events and
international concerts. The Casino, housed in the restored Treasury Building,
offers world-class gaming facilities next to a luxury hotel. The Queensland
Performing Arts Complex in South Brisbane offers musicals, opera,
drama, ballet and orchestral performances.
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Shopping hours:
- Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5.30pm
- Friday 8.30am-9.00pm
- Saturday 9.00am-4.00pm some
smaller shops close earlier
- Sunday 10.00am-4.00pm some smaller
shops close
Special buys from Queensland
- Jewellery made from local gemstones,
especially opals
- Aboriginal handicrafts and artifacts
- Rugs, garments and bags made
from hides and skins
- Bush fashion
- Resort-style fashion
- Surfing equipment and sporting
goods
- Sheepskin products
- Queensland macadamia nuts
- Tropical fruit and preserves
Brisbane’s city heart and Queen Street
Mall offer a world of shopping every day of the week. The Mall has
more than 500 specialty shops, food outlets and entertainment venues as
well as three major shopping complexes open seven days a week. Paddington
Circle is a unique shopping area just outside the city centre. Old
colonial-style buildings house interesting shops selling Australian and
imported fashions, gifts, books and antiques. The suburbs of Milton
and Ascot also boast a large selection of boutiques, galleries
and book stores. Other great shopping venues include Westfield shopping
complex at Indooroopilly. |
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Public transport: Buses and trains
operate in the city and suburban areas, and Brisbane River ferry services
link north and south Brisbane. A City Sites Bus stops at 19 places of
interest around the city.
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| Alma Park Zoo, situated 28
kilometres from Brisbane at Kallangur, displays a large collection of
Queensland’s palms and tropical plants and a wide variety of Australian
and exotic animals. Visitors can walk through the enclosures and
touch native Australian animals, including wombats, emus, wallabies and
kangaroos. The zoo opens from 9.00am-5.00pm daily.
Gondwana Wildlife Sanctuary,
on Brisbane’s South Bank two kilometres from the central business district,
allows visitors to have a close look at Australian native animals.
Many free-roaming birds, frogs, lizards and mammals live in this rainforest
paradise. The sanctuary also features koalas, nocturnal houses,
a crocodile pool, and ranger-guided activities. It opens from
8.30am-5.30pm daily.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary,
12 kilometres from Brisbane at Fig Tree Pocket, has more than 80 species
of Australian native animals and birds, including a large colony of
koalas in their natural environment. The sanctuary can be reached
by public transport or on a leisurely cruise from the city. Lone
Pine opens from 7.30am-4.45pm daily. |
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