Brisbane – The Trip of a Lifetime

The Land of Oz is more readily identified with Melbourne and Sydney, but it is also a fact that many tourists plan holidays in Brisbane when they book tickets to Australia. Read on for some exhaustive information on the destination. Date : Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is amongst the best destinations for spending Australia holidays. A relaxed way of life smoothly blends with a buoyant entertaining aura. Rich dazzling culture, amazing nightlife, tantalising gourmet meals, and endless sightseeing are some of the compulsions that make many travellers think of Brisbane when they plan to buy tickets to Australia. Check out a sampling of the most popular places in Brisbane.

South Bank Parklands

The verdant South Bank Parklands stretch over some 7 hectares. An endearing art and crafts market, an artificial lagoon, and numerous bars, restaurants, cafes, shops, and boutiques splash dashes of colour on the area. The South Bank Parklands is wonderful for a day long outing.

Story Bridge

Holidays in Brisbane are incomplete without a trip to the Story Bridge. Connecting Kangaroo Point and Fortitude Valley across the Brisbane River, the bridge makes for some indescribably gorgeous views. It is also one of the rare spots for indulging in the adrenalin pumping sport of bridge climbing. The top spot that can be reached is about 80 metres over the Brisbane River and the experience of gazing at the surroundings from this dizzying height makes for an out of the world feeling.

The Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha

The Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha are Quneensland’s main subtropical gardens and emerge as a paradise for nature lovers. Flora life is indescribably gorgeous and spans varieties like rainforest plants, ferns, cacti, endemic native plants, and bonsais. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens serve as the setting of Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium as well and also boast a tropical display dome, lagoon, and bamboo grove.

Newstead House

The Newstead House is a quaint nineteenth century edifice and is supposed to be Brisbane’s oldest house. It has been converted into a museum stocked with Brisbane’s historic memorabilia. The house overlooks the Brisbane River and is surrounded by captivating manicured gardens.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

This amazing spot is believed to be first as well as the largest sanctuary for koalas. Over 130 adult koalas coexist here with other exotic species such as roos, dingoes, and wombats.

Brisbane City Hall and Museum of Brisbane

This regal structure took almost a decade to be completed and proudly stands as one of the most lavish buildings in Australia along with the Sydney Opera House. While the viewing platform over the tower clock treats one to breathtaking views, the basement and ground floor are stocked with thrilling exhibits on Brisbane’s culture and heritage.

Brisbane Cricket Ground (The Gabba)

Cricket aficionados would be glad to know that the gentleman’s game is very popular in Brisbane and the Gabba ground is the venue for many exciting matches. While, the first international test cricket match of the season is played here at the start of summers, a number of one-day internationals and Twenty20 matches are played during the months of January, February, and March.

Suncorp Piazza

This outdoor theatre comes alive with free movies and free international sporting events during school holidays. Short films are screened as well during festival periods. The Suncorp Piazza also doubles up as a venue for concerts and spontaneous performances by street artists.

Brisbane Powerhouse

The Brisbane Powerhouse, a power station turned contemporary arts centre plays host to numerous visual arts, comedy, and musical events. The Brisbane Powerhouse is marked by a rustic architecture and graffiti walls have been preserved carefully. There are two restaurants at the venue and one can also get amazing river views.

Footsteps Gallery

The Footsteps Gallery is located in the old School of Arts and is an excellent place for buying handmade Aboriginal souvenirs. Monthly exhibitions of Indigenous art forms are hosted here.

When to Visit Brisbane

Usually, the autumn months of April and May are considered to be the peak season in Brisbane. It’s neither too cold, nor too hot. The humidity levels are lower as compared to the summers and thunderstorms are rare. The weather is very conducive for outdoor activities like bushwalking and camping. Mosquitoes also start to disappear. The warm and sunny spring months of mid spring to October prove to be good as well and visitors can also see the colourfully blooming jacaranda trees. Similarly, the winter months of June and September are also terrific for visiting Brisbane. Travellers looking for an off season time for catching Brisbane flights may consider the summer months of December, January, and February as many visitors tend to shy off from the destination during this time due to the high heat and humidity. Travellers looking forward to catch the destination at its celebratory best should visit during the different festivals in Australia, especially Brisbane in particular. Popular festivals include Brisbane Comedy Festival, Future Music Festival, Noosa Festival of Surfing, Brisbane Queer Film Festival, and Byron Bay Bluesfest.