Brisbane Hotels

Attractions

Brisbane is first and foremost, a city of recreation. Much like the rest of Australia, the population displays a fervent passion for sport and the great outdoors. As such, the principal attractions revolve around areas such as the South Bank Parklands.

Opposite the Central Business District on the banks of the Brisbane River, the Parklands are a popular retreat and feature a lagoon, riverfront promenade, Streets Beach, markets and a number of picnic areas. All in all, South Bank Parklands is the ideal location to spend a beautiful day.

At the base of Mount Coot-tha, the free Brisbane City Botanic Gardens covers 20 hectares of land, with a number of superb flora attractions, some of which date back to the foundation of the park in 1855. The Gardens also contain the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and a wonderful Japanese exhibit, evidence of the World Expo in 1988.

The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is yet more proof that Brisbane is a city for nature and wildlife lovers. The preeminent koala preserve in the world, the Sanctuary also shelters other animals endemic to Australia, from kangaroos and wombats, to echidnas and a variety of snakes.

Portside Wharf is a lovely, upscale district of the city with many retail and commercial shops, not to mention views of massive ocean liners and yachts. With restaurants and cinemas as well, Portside is a great place to relax at night for dinner and a show.

Events

A big sports town, there are always athletic events to enjoy in Brisbane throughout the year. The city has major teams in several sports, such as rugby, soccer, Australian rules football and cricket. With passionate fans and terrific venues in Suncorp Stadium and The ‘Gabba Cricket Ground, a match in any of these sports is worth the price of admission.

A notable hub for live music and nightlife, Brisbane has a wealth of great clubs and concert halls. Check out the excellent Queensland Performing Arts Complex for the calendar of shows that feature the city opera, ballet and theatre company.

Other cultural venues such as the Brisbane Powerhouse and Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts hold numerous exhibits and festivals all year long, with an emphasis on modern art, film and dance.

Brisbane Climate

With a subtropical climate, Brisbane has beautiful but volatile weather. Summers in general are quite hot, with more temperate and mild winters. Spring and fall can usher in more erratic conditions such as violent thunderstorms and severe weather, from hail to high winds on occasion.

• Summer (November to February) 18-29°C

• Fall (March to May) 13-28°C

• Winter (June to August) 10-22°C

• Spring (September to October) 12.5—25.5°C