I think that Brisbane is quite pretty and there are a few thing that I would check out as you are passing through.A couple of days should be enough to see the sights before you move on.

The hub of the city is the Queen street mall where there is department store shopping and the like but most travellers particularly backpackers don’t come to the city to experience the shopping.  Probably what is more likely to be of interest is the pubs and clubs so lets start there. I am not going to give you a list of places because my taste may not be your taste but really just an insight.

If you do decide to take a trek down to the city mall and are looking for a cold beverage look up. A few top eateries and bars exist on second levels, so look and be rewarded.  I will say this however that if you are looking for a huge night out and want clubs and disco type stuff then Fortitude Valley will most likely fit this bill.  It has a group of clubs together in the Brunswick Street Mall area. ‘The Valley’ has been cleaned up a bit as t used to have a fair percentage of dodgy characters loitering. It still does but things are better than they used to be.  I have found that the area still makes the hairs on te back of my neck stand up and I ahve a constant feeling of unease but that is not to say that it not worth a visit.  Oh yeah China town is also located in this area but is being revamped opefully to give it a more authentic feel.

The next thing on my list to visit the Southbank Parklands. They are just over the William Jolly bridge and can be accessed by train, bus or ferry. The man made lagoon is awesome. These soft sandy beach of the lagoon is perfect to set up and people watch and to take a swim. The weather is always conducive for a dip but jsut remember to put sunscreen on.  Southbank area is a revamped presinct with new building and eateries. There are licenced cafes and pubs as well as fast food type outlets. Allow about 4 hours up to a day, to relax in the parklands and around the lagoon. There are two train stations where you can jump off at either South Brisbane or Southbank stations.

For some travellers who like tours of things perhaps take the XXXX (four-ex) brewery tour. You will have to make a booking as the tours are pretty popular especially since you get a tasting at the end of the tour.

If you are like me and want the pick of the spots for a photo oportunity get over to Kangaroo Point, which is located on the opposite side of the Brisbane river to the city. There are cliffs that people climb on. There are adventure groups that will charge a fee for climbing and absailing on the cliffs. Probably best to check with your hostel for a reputable company. For a great photo of the city line go to the rotunda on the south end (farthest from the Story Bridge) and be there at sunset to get the skyline and buildings lit up.  Set aside about 2-3 hours to get there and expore a bit. Longer if you climb the cliffs.

Transport

The main stations for Brisbane are Roma Street, Central and Fortitude Valley.  The train system for the traveller is a little hard to figure out but without going into great detail, trains that go north are on a screen, trians that go south are on another and so on. The staff that man the gates and ticket booths are generally pretty helpful and will help you purchase that right zone tickets.

Just another tip, the Roma Street park lands are also nice to have a wander through. The easiest way to get to the park lands from the city are to get to Roma Street station and walk right through it and out the other side. You do not need to buy a train ticket to get through if you don’t get on a train. Just pick a slip of paper next to the cattle gates. Ask the staff on the gates if you cant find them. Walk through the station and put the paper slip in the box on the other side.  Allow about 2 hours for this experience.

Airport

The airport is about 17kmm north west of the city. The easiest way to get their from the city is the Airtrain.  The train leaves very regualrly about every 20 minutes and will get you to domestic or international airports with no traffic delays and for little expense.

Hostel Accommodation

Lots of good hostels choices. Some are better than others but you can check them out and their availability on the button below.

Getting Out

Heading North from Brisbane is the Sunshine coast and South is the Gold Coast. Both are worth visiting so research them and try and fit them into the itinerary.

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