I moved to Brisbane, the capital and biggest city of the state of Queensland – and had a great time living there!
You should definitely visit Brisbane if you get the chance.
Here are some of the reasons why you should visit Brisbane
1. Perfect climate
Brisbane has warm and humid summers and dry moderately warm winters. It’s the perfect climate for people who like to have different seasons but hate the cold winters, like in Europe or North America.
2. Friendly people
Even though most Aussies are super friendly, I noticed that the people of Brisbane are more open and friendly towards strangers than in other cities. Here, you welcomed everywhere and everybody is happy to help you!
3. South Bank Pools
As it is not possible to have a swim in the river without the danger of being attacked by a bull shark, the city of Brisbane has an artificial beach in South Bank. It’s a great spot to go for a swim and relax during the day and on weekends. It’s full of public BBQ spots and families often sit here to enjoy time off with their children.
4. Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Do you love outdoor sports? Then you will love Kangaroo Cliffs! Here you can climb up the hills in the middle of the city next to the river and enjoy the great scenery of the city. Is climbing not your favourite sport? You can go for a run around Kangaroo Point and you’ll walk next to water most of the time.
5. Going out in Brisbane
Along Brunswick Street in the Fortitude Valley, you can find many pubs and clubs. It’s a great place to visit in Brisbane and you’ll never get bored with the variety of places you can choose from. Around the Riverside Center in the CBD, you can also find some great cocktail bars.
6. Parkland
Brisbane has hundreds of parks – which is what makes it a very friendly and green city. At every second corner, you can find a place to relax and take a break. Some of the bost beautiful parks are the Botanic Garden next to QUT as well as South Bank Parkland.
7. World’s first koala sanctuary
Definitely worth the trip is the journey to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Founded in 1927, it is the world’s oldest and largest Koala Sanctuary. It’s one of the few places in the world where visitors are allowed to hold koalas for a fee. Visitors are also allowed to feed and pet the free-roaming kangaroos in the kangaroo reserve, where over 150 kangaroos reside freely. It takes about 25 minutes to get there by bus from Adelaide Street and it costs around $4 for a one-way trip.
8. Mount Coot-tha
This mountain is 300 meters above the sea level and about 6 km away from the CBD of Brisbane. Anyone who likes great panoramas should visit Mount Coot-tha in Brisbane! From Mt. Coot-tha, you have a great view of the city and you can see how big Brisbane actually is. On bright days, you can also see Moreton Island. It’s very easy to get there from Adelaide street. It takes about 18 minutes and costs $ 4.30 for a one-way ride.
9. Many Brisbane activities to choose from
You will never get bored in Brisbane, as there is always something to do. You can go to South Bank and visit the cinema, ride the Wheel of Brisbane, visit one of the museums or just go for a walk. Enjoy delicious Sushi in the CBD while sitting at the water, or enjoy a cold stubbie in the well-known Story Bridge Hotel.
Buy yourself a day ticket and travel with the city catamaran up and down the river. You can watch how the pelicans take their sunbaths. Have you always wanted to make the bridge climb in Sydney but it’s too expensive? In Brisbane, you can Climb the Story Bridge. You won’t have an Opera House to look at, but the skyline is as beautiful as in Sydney.
If you like sports, you can go and see the Brisbane Broncos playing in the Suncorp Stadium or watch a game of cricket at the Gabba.
10. GOMA
The Gallery of Modern Art is a great place to visit especially on weekends. They always have really nice exhibitions. Once in there, you’ll want to stay the whole day! This is a popular Brisbane attraction for a reason.
11. Have a stroll over Goodwill Bridge
Goodwill Bridge connects the Maritime Museum with the Botanic Garden of Brisbane. The walk over the Brisbane River is beautiful to behold. If you are lucky, you can relax afterwards at the Riverstage and enjoy an audition during the afternoon.
12. Great Surroundings
Brisbane is a great relaxation spot. You can easily get to the beach with a car or public transportation. By travelling 1 hour to the Southeast, you can get to Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. This area is well-known for its surfing beaches.
In the hinterland of the Gold Coast, you’ll find magnificent National Parks like Springbrook National Park.
About 2 hours south of Brisbane in the state of New South Wales, you have Byron Bay. This is a great spot for everybody who loves surfing and relaxing. The surf there is perfect and the beaches are wonderful.
The town is relatively small with some pubs and hostels. Cape Byron is the eastern-most point of the Australian mainland. If you wake up early, you can be the first person on the Australian mainland to see the new day welcomed in with a beautiful sunrise.
100 km to the north of Brisbane, you have the Sunshine Coast. It has some great beaches and beautiful national parks. When walking around Noosa, you easily get to spot wild koalas hanging around in the trees.
The famous Australia Zoo from Steve Irwin is also situated at the Sunshine Coast. This is followed by other attractions like the big pineapple.
All in all, you can’t go wrong when visiting the attractions in Brisbane.
