DESTINATION: Brisbane, Queensland
A very warm welcome to Brisbane from Healthstaff Recruitment
Famous for its great weather and exciting events and cultural scene, Brisbane has a sophisticated, warm and friendly charm that will more than surprise. As Queensland’s vibrant capital city, Brisbane offers the very best in food, wine, arts entertainment and major sporting events with relaxed sub-tropical flair. Brisbane has a hot and humid climate with maximum temperatures in summer reaching 40 C. Winters here are pleasant with dry, sunny days and comfortable temperatures averaging 15 C. Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia with a population of almost 1.5 million.
Attractions and Activities in the city
South Bank
South Bank is a popular destination with leisure and entertainment for all the family. It is accessible from the city by foot via the Goodwill Bridge (from the Botanical Gardens), or by the City Cat/ferry service. The precinct boasts an inner city beach (free), Queensland Art Galley, Queensland Museum, and IMAX Movie Theatres, cafes where alfresco dining is a must, weekend markets and street performers. From South Bank you can roller blade, cycle, jog or walk at a leisurely pace along the riverbank to Kangaroo Point and as far as the Story Bridge. The riverbank is a popular location for taking in the city views over a barbeque (free for public use) and those a little more adventurous might like to scale the cliffs.
Queen Street Mall
Queen Street Mall is a pedestrian only zone, bustling with pavement cafes, in the heart of the city CBD. This is the centre for shopping, dining, free weekend entertainment and people watching.
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
Located at Fig Tree Pocket, this is the largest koala sanctuary in the world. If you want to cuddle a koala or pat a kangaroo, visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary at Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket just 12 km from the city. There you can cuddle one of 130 koalas, hand feed kangaroos and emus and see a large variety of Australia native wildlife.
Phone: (07) 3378 1366
Riverside Markets
Every Sunday morning from 7 am til 4 pm an ever-expanding array of market stalls fill the riverside terraces of Eagle Street.
Eating out
With it’s year round warm temperatures, alfresco dining can be enjoyed winter and summer. Places like Paddington, Fortitude Valley, China Town (a small intimate precinct nestled in the city’s entertainment heartland of Fortitude Valley), New Farm, and South Bank have hordes of good restaurants and BYO (Bring Your Own Alcohol) that are affordable and set in comfortable environs.
Close to Brisbane
Surfers’ Paradise and the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is a 35 km strip of beaches and commercialised resorts running north from the NSW border, approximately one hour’s drive from Brisbane. There are plenty of attractions in the area, most of the theme park variety, such as Movie World, Dream World, Wet and Wild and Sea World. Surfers’ has a raucous nightlife, and all the water sports you could ask for. If you are seeking peace, quiet and natural beauty, head for the hinterland where the McPherson, Lamington National Park and Boarder Ranges are a paradise for walkers.
Noosa and the Sunshine Coast
This 50 km stretch of coast from Bribie Island to Noosa Heads is a popular holiday resort renowned for its fine beaches, good surfing and fishing. Noosa is currently one of the most fashionable and exclusive resorts in Australia and only an hour and a half’s drive from Brisbane. Other attractions include Glass House Mountains and Cooloola National Park, a wilderness area of sandy beaches, mangrove-lined waterways, forests and lakes situated north of Noosa.
Fraser Island
This 120 km by 15 km island is the world’s largest sand island though covered with vegetation. The island is sparsely populated and has no paved roads, so it’s a delight for those who love fishing, walking, and exploring by 4WD or trial bikes. There are superb beaches, towering dunes, thick forests and some 200 lakes. The boat trip takes approximately 30 minutes.
The Australian Zoo
This is the home to TV’s “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin. There are daily shows featuring the crocodiles, otters, koalas, birds of prey, snakes and others. Located an hour’s drive north of Brisbane, it is a great day out for all ages. Visit Australia Zoo for more information.