scrubbedexpat055

Hi,

We have 1.5 weeks in the Brisbane area and are looking for some ideas on where to go / do etc. There are 3 of us, 2 Adults + a 13 year old.

We know we want to spend some time at the Theme parks, but other than that we would like to see some other areas.

We have not booked any accomodation yet, so are free to go where we please, the only restriction being our fllights in and out of Brisbane.

Thanks

Alfresco

Theme parks
Gold Coast (Q Deck) & Markets
Mt. Tamborine tourist drive or Mt Cootha, Mt Nebo, Mt Glorious
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
South Bank
Kangaroo point at night
River cruise
Sunny Coast
Oz Zoo (Steve Irwin)
Hire a car

http://www.weekendnotes.com/brisbane/

http://www.brisbane-australia.com/things-to-do.html

p.s. We have an airport.

brissybee

I would base my accomodation at the Gold Coast, not Brisbane.

The theme parks are all at the Gold Coast... along with other attractions such as Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, the Hinterland, good beaches, hotels, restaurants and shopping.

You could do a day trip to Brisbane but don't expect too much.

fish.01

It's tough to answer because there are different types of holidays and it depends on the type you are after. If simply after a beach holiday I would head for the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast but if after a varied holiday with a city break I would stay in Brisbane.


Accommodation

I am a bit biased as they are in my area but in Brisbane I would stay at one of these places rated 1, 2 and 3 on trip advisor:

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_...ueensland.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_...ueensland.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_...ueensland.html



Attractions

Brisbane isn't a huge attraction place but here are some of the main ones:

Queensland Museum



"Highlights include the Mephisto (the only remaining German tank from World War 1), Dandiiri Maiwar Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures Centre, and ENERGEX Playasaurus Place where the much-loved T-Rex and Triceratops replicas reign supreme."

http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/


Sciencentre



"The Sciencentre – with over 100 interactive exhibits, Science Theatre shows and a focus on science-based fun – is another Museum must-see for kids of all ages."

http://www.sciencentre.qm.qld.gov.au/


Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary



"Hand feed 130 kangaroos and wallabies in the 2-acre reserve, handfeed wild Rainbow lorikeets twice a day all in a natural setting on the Brisbane River. If your feeling brave you can have your photo taken holding a snake or baby crocodile! Afterwards watch the amazing birds of prey fly high and swoop low in the free flight shows and then have your photo taken with an owl or wedge tailed eagle after the show."

http://www.koala.net


Riverlife



"Experience the thrill of real outdoor adventure without leaving the inner city! Situated at the base of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, Brisbane’s award winning adventure centre, Riverlife, offers a range of exciting activities for everyone to enjoy while exploring Brisbane's natural environment and history!

Riverlife specialises in kayaking, rock climbing and abseiling, and also offers equipment hire for kayaks, mountain bikes, kick bikes and rollerblades. By night, experience the luminous splendour of our city on a guided night kayak on the Brisbane River or a night rock climb on the Kangaroo Point Cliffs, followed by gourmet catering and fine wines, beer or hot chocolate in our sensational riverfront deck."

They do meals after the tour on some nights (was chatting to the chef on the way home the other day) and it is a spectacular place to sit beside the river looking across at the city.

http://www.riverlife.com.au/


Tangalooma



Brisbane has some great islands but the easiest experience for a tourist is a day trip to Tangalooma. There is a resort, swimming, diving at wrecks and hand feeding wild dolphins that visit the resort every night. A boat leaves the Brisbane river for easy transfers.

http://www.tangalooma.com/info/home/


Visual Arts



Brisbane has the most visited Visual Arts galleries in Australia. There are two main co-managed galleries, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) as well as a smattering of smaller ones. There are some great exhibits throughout the year.

http://qag.qld.gov.au/


Story Bridge Adventure Climb





You can climb the story bridge (assuming you haven't already done the same in Sydney) and check out the great views of city, mountains and bay.

Once you've climbed the bridge you have the option of abseiling off it into the park below.

http://www.storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au/


Southbank



The Southbank precinct contains a variety of attractions to draw people in. It has the man made beach above, a childrens water park, beautiful gardens, a riverside promenade, dozens of restaurants, pubs, conservatorium of music and other campuses, apartments, markets, museums, convention centre, museums and galleries, the state library, a performing arts complex, regular events etc etc.

http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/


Queensland Performing Arts Complex



"Contains a concert hall, playhouse, theatre, studios, event spaces and a performing arts museum."

http://www.qpac.com.au/

fish.01

Days Out

City breaks obviously are usually split between visiting attractions and just wandering around on "days out" to get to know a place. I prefer the latter so thought I would throw out some suggestions:


Bike Riding

Inner Brisbane has some great riverside bike riding opportunities that I love and the citycycle scheme means tourists can join in the fun





You can subscribe for $2 per day or $11/week and then all rides are free as long as you drop off the bike at the next station within half an hour (small charge otherwise). There's lots of racks just avoid the city centre. Ride along the base of the Kangaroo Point cliffs, along the Southbank promenade, down the museum boardwalk and either along the river to West End or over the Kurilpa Bridge and onto the bicentennial bikeway along the river. The New Farm Park/Teneriffe area is great for rides as well.




By law you need a helmet and the website tells you where you can get these from.

http://www.citycycle.com.au/


Here's some walking/biking paths. A great way to experience Brisbane:

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCCWR...ml_map_pop.htm

Alfresco

fish.01

Day Out: Riverside Markets, River and Bulimba

You could have a lazy Sunday morning and then pop down to the riverside markets at the Eagle St Pier in the city which run until 3pm:



http://www.riversidemarkets.com.au/


You could then jump on a citycat at the riverside terminal and head down river to Bulimba (Oxford St):




The citycats are part of the normal public transport network and you can use the universal GoCard to ride them.




This is where you get off:




You can then walk straight down Oxford St until you hit the cafe strip (10 mins walk) and have an afternoon/evening meal:




Then delay your return trip until it is starting to get dark (before 7pm in summer in the sub-tropics) and then you can enjoy the night time citycat ride past the lights of Brisbane all for the price of a public transport trip:




If you have extra time on the way jump off the citycat at New Farm Park for a stroll around this lovely park and visit the powerhouse museum:





http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/

If you continue your citycat journey within 1 hour it costs you nothing to stop. This goes for all brisbane transport (generous journey length rules apply).

Here's the timetable if you're a planner: http://translink.com.au/resources/tr...23-citycat.pdf (You want the riverside to bulimba stops + maybe new farm park)

brissybee

Oh yes, I had forgotten about the local museum and art gallery. Often they have free things on during the school holidays... some worth seeing.

... and if you're after a swim in a man made pool/beach, you can't go past Southbank, centre of the Brisbane universe.

Yes, there are things for a visitor to do in Brisbane... but imo, there's nothing World famous and worth especially travelling to Brisbane for.

The Gold Coast is more of an attraction for overseas visitors. You can even hire scooters there.

brissybee

And will reduce the likelihood of a mugging.

Alfresco

And of course it would be prudent and polite to allow ValeSpark & family to make up their own minds about Brisbane and surrounds when they have visited.

They may or may not agree with you after their experience, which is entirely up to them.

fish.01

Day Out: West End Markets, Boundary St and Southbank

Every Saturday morning the great West End markets are held at Davies Park in the inner city grung suburb of West End. It is a mixed fruit/veg and clothes/products market with international food and some interesting people watching. The locals bring a picnic blanket and have brunch on the oval or sit under the trees and listen to the free music. It has a lovely ambience and is a great start to the day.









http://www.daviesparkmarket.com.au/


It is easy to get to just jump on the CityGlider service that runs every 15 mins all day until late (24hrs Fri and Sat). Look for the possum on the side:





Timetable: http://translink.com.au/resources/tr...cityglider.pdf (Can get on in Adelaide St, CBD and off for markets at Davies Park stop)

Or you could ride a city cycle to them or combine a citycat to the West End stop with a citycycle along the river


Once the markets are over just after lunch you could catch the cityglider (or walk) up to nearby Boundary St and look in the shops and have a cafe lunch at one of the many cafes:



(Three Monkeys Cafe)


It is then just another short walk or cityglider trip down to southbank and the museums and galleries of the cultural district - or maybe a cooling swim in southbank lagoon:

fish.01

Given one person has obviously misunderstood me I best clarify for the the OP: I mean stop at the park during the day on the way to Bulimba - even though weekend summer nights are often busy and fine as well with twilight movies and the like.

DeadVim

Thanks fish.01, I've gone into tourist mode all of a sudden

brissybee

And of course it would be prudent and polite to allow me to express my opinion that Brisbane is a hole, to allow ValeSpark and family to appreciate they might be better off spending their time in the Brisbane area somewhere better than right IN Brisbane.

Obviously, they are entitled to form their own opinion.

Obviously you are entitled to your opinion and obviously, I am entitled to mine.

Perhaps it is fair to say that, in regards to Brisbane, you are enchanted by that which I find repugnant. If the ValeSpark family must spend time here, I hope they have a pleasant time.

commonwealth

brissie looks pretty in pics i think i should give it a go one of these days.