Introduction
The city of Brisbane lies in the subtropics of South – East Queensland state at the same distance from the Equator as Johannesburg, Miami, or New Delhi. It has a unique character that showcases Victorian and Edwardian structures merging with modern buildings. With large green areas, excellent accommodation facilities, modern infrastructure, and great attractions the city is fast becoming a leading conference and convention centre of Australia.

What to do
The city of Brisbane offers a range of activities that are enough to make you busy most of the time. Start your mornings with biking or walking on the streets or parks of the city, enjoying its greenery. Spend the day visiting all the major points of attraction in and around the city, relishing the wealth of heritage, Brisbane has preserved. Shopping in one of the many shopping malls should keep you busy for the evening. Same is true for dining and wining in open-air restaurants that dot the city. Spend the night out in the numerous nightclubs, bars, or cultural centres that have now become an integral part of the city landscape and lifestyle.

City at a Glance

Latitude 27° 28' S Longitude 153° 2' E Population 1,574,600 Language English, Religion Christianity Telephone Code 07

History
The first European settlement in Brisbane took place in 1825, when a convict colony was transferred from Redcliffe to the present site. Original habitants of this region were aboriginal nomadic tribes living here for more than 40,000 years. For the settlers, this place provided ample water resources and an upstream location to frustrate the convicts trying to escape. In the year 1842, free settlers were also allowed here who marked the beginning of a new era of free enterprise, and initiated tremendous economic and social growth.

The decade of 1890’s was one of the worst periods for Brisbane as it faced floods and economic setbacks that devastated the city, though it did not took long for the city to prosper again. This cycle of ups and downs continued till the end of “Great Depression”. Today, Brisbane is a modern city dotted with open areas, clear blue sky, and friendly people always ready to welcome their guests.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
Brisbane has a hot and humid climate with maximum temperature in summer reaching 40°C. Winters here are pleasant with sunny days and comfortable temperatures averaging 15°C. Most tourists tend to visit Brisbane during this season which forms the best time to make a trip to this part of the world.

HIGHLIGHTS
Heritage buildings
The city of Brisbane is home to some very striking heritage buildings representing a vast range of architectural styles. Many of these structures can be found at New Farm, Paddington, and West End areas. Newstead House, Queensland Parliament House, Brisbane City Hall, Albert Street Unity Church, and the Treasury Building are important examples of the architectural heritage that the city posses.

Wildlife Parks and Zoos
Brisbane has abundant flora and fauna representing many species like koalas, kangaroos, emus, wallabies, wombats, possums, and numerous native bird species. Koala Sanctuary at Lone Pine, Brisbane is the largest of its kind in the world. Other such places are, the Australia Zoo, Alma Park Zoo, and Australian Bushland all of which are in the vicinity of Brisbane.

The Tribes
The Masai tribe of the nearby areas could also interest you. You can visit the small units of the tribal that live in small huts with their unique life style and customs. This semi nomadic tribe lives harmoniously in and around the jungles due to their dependence on the forests.

South Bank Parklands
This seventeen acre area is home to restaurants, lagoons, IMAX Cinema, cafes, inland Breaka beach, and Grand Arbour, a canopy of colourful floral blooms. The Parklands are always occupied with activities like weekend craft markets, street entertainers, and traditional pubs. Undoubtedly, this is the best place to be in Brisbane.

Parks
Brisbane is known for its green image, a result of numerous parks and gardens located in the city. Some of the better-known parks include City Botanical Gardens (simply the best), Mt. Coot – the Botanic Garden, New Farm Park, and Brisbane Forest Park.

Important Festivals and Exhibitions
Brisbane Festival is city’s premier international art festival held every two years in the month of September. The city celebrates Australia Day on January 26 at Kangaroo Point. Other important festivals in Brisbane are the Mountains to Mangroves Festival in July, Royal National Agricultural Show in August, International Film Festival also in August, Brisbane Writers Festival and Christmas.

SHOPPING
Queen Street Mall at the City Centre is the fashion hub of Brisbane. For local art and craft items, one can visit outdoor markets that operate around the city every weekend. Some of the other markets worth a visit are Riverside, South Bank, and Brunswick St Mall in Fortitude Valley.

WHERE TO STAY
From suburban motels to top of the line luxury hotels, Brisbane offers plenty of accommodation options. In between, there are self-contained apartments, guesthouses and cabins, bed and breakfast, caravan parks, camping sites, and backpacker hostels to choose from.

WHERE TO EAT

Good food and fine wine are two things that residents of this city give most importance, and there is no dearth of any of them. Places like Paddington, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, and South Bank have hordes of good restaurants and BYOs (Bring Your Own alcohol) that are affordable and set in comfortable environs.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
Brisbane Airport is situated at a distance of 13 km north east of Central Business District and connected to many Domestic and International destinations.

Land
Comfortable bus service is available to Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, and Sydney from main Bus Terminal at Roma Street. Direct trains to Sydney and many places in Queensland are also available, but they are slower in comparison to bus services.

Local Transport
The city has an excellent local transport system that includes extensive bus and ferry services, and a suburban rain system known as Citytrain. Brisbane has more than 400 km of bikeways and riding a bike is the most economical and environment friendly way of exploring the city.