Travel Destination: Brisbane
About Brisbane
Brisbane’s a late bloomer compared to Melbourne and Sydney. But the third largest city in Australia and Queensland’s capital has emerged with plenty of surprises and that kind of beauty that is slowly turning out to be the object of desire to many.
It may be because of Brisbanites’ love for the arts. Classical, popular, live music are welcomed with open arms. If you share this same love, this city can provide the rest. The South Bank houses the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, an important venue for many art-related shows including the Queensland Orchestra. It houses the Lyric Theatre, Playhouse Theatre and Cremorne Theatre. By the South Bank Parklands is the Queensland Conservatorium which also stages performances both by its students and professionals. Ballet, opera and theatre performances are held at different venues. The biggest modern art gallery in Australia is also in South Bank, the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art has contemporary works and pieces from Asia and the Pacific. Fortitude Valley is also an important arts hub.
There are many annual festivals to look forward to here in Brisbane. The Paniyiri festival is a Greek festival held in the first weekend of May, the Brisbane Medieval Fayre and Tournament in June, the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF) in July or August, Ekka is the Royal Queensland Show held in August, the charity event Bridge to Brisbane is a fun run likewise held in August and the Riverfestival is a spectacular celebration in September.
Most of Brisbane’s visitors are from other parts of Australia which reaches 4.6 million a year, it has also its share of international tourists who get enamoured with its laidback charm and famed hospitality. Its café culture is irresistible so while taking a sip of cappuccino, view the skyscrapers and get ready for your next activity which is shopping. With 650 stores offering different solutions to your spending dilemma, there are more reasons to indulge. Looking for edgy, boho, avant-garde, youngish fashion? Get it from The Valley, a place to stretch your style beyond the conventional. It is also the red light district so bars, clubs and happening restaurants are all here. For simply chic or high brow shopping selections, head to Queen Street Mall, a kilometre-long fashion paradise.
After the retail therapy, the next best thing is to let the city’s flavours find their way to your heart. A blend of European and Asian, Brisbane’s gastronomic treats are diverse and yet unique. If you’ve been hearing a lot about the Moreton Bay bugs, then it must be worth the try. It is seafood, okay? The Manly Harbour Village is home to the freshest catch where Moreton Bay is. Any bay side suburbs offer seafood as well. Since Brisbane is multicultural, you can go for various Asian cuisines too, so think Vietnamese, Malaysian, Korean and Chinese food to come just as handy. Chinatown has dining and shopping opportunities too.
Meanwhile, the inner city areas to visit are the Story Bridge, a 250-metre bridge which is one of the oldest in the country; the Kangaroo Point Cliff for urban rock climbing activities and Treasury Casino which is in the Treasury Building, one of the oldest buildings in Queensland.
Trike tours, eco tours, adventure tours and limousine tours are all available in the city but since the Brisbane River is so picturesque, try the riverwalk. From Hamilton follow the path to the CBD then go straight to Yeerongpilly. No need to rush, just enjoy what comes your way.
Old or new, eclectic or classic, Brisbane holds promise for every visitor who loves to discover more beyond the city’s lovely façade.