Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Guide to Brisbane: how to get there and where to stay, what to see and where to go in the evening. Highlights of Brisbane: fresh reviews and photos, places to see, branded entertainment and shopping. According to petwithsupplies, Brisbane is one of the largest cities in Australia.

Brisbane is the capital of the Australian state of Queensland and the third largest city on the continent. Once drowsy and provincial, hidden behind the facades of business buildings, in recent years Brissey has deservedly been considered one of the most attractive places to live in Australia: its population is growing at a frightening pace, increasing by a thousand people every week. “City of the New World” is the official nickname of Brisbane, and this is very close to the truth: in terms of the number of skyscrapers, it may well compete with New York, and new bars and restaurants are springing up here like mushrooms after the rain. The city can offer tourists to enjoy the unique nature in national parks, pet a koala and climb one of the few bridges in the world accessible for climbing, and simply soak up the radiant spirit of hospitable Brisbane.

How to get to Brisbane

Brisbane International Airport is located 20 km from the city and has two terminals, for domestic and international flights. From Russia, there are quite a few flight options with one transfer: Aeroflot, Qantas and JAL flights via Tokyo, Emirates via Dubai, Korean Air via Seoul, Singapore Airlines via Singapore.

Brisbane is easily accessible with domestic flights from Virgin Blue, Qantas and Jetstar, with stable and convenient air links to every city in Australia.

AirTrain AirTrain runs between the airport terminals every 15-30 minutes. Fare – 4 USD; for transfers between domestic flights, travel is free. Also on AirTrain you can get from the airport to the city center. Every 15 minutes, the train leaves the international terminal and heads to Brisbane, where it makes 4 stops. The fare is 18.50 USD, the travel time is just over 20 minutes.

It is also possible to arrive in Brisbane by train, although this is rather a pleasure for fans of the railways: the distances on the continent are rather big – the train from Sydney takes about 14 hours, and from Cairns – and all 25!

How to navigate in the city

The city is located on the banks of the river of the same name, 23 km from its Pacific mouth. The center of Brisbane is abbreviated as CBD, this abbreviation can be found here literally at every step. The main attractions, shopping areas and parks are located in the CBD. South Bank (South Bank) – the center of cultural life and entertainment. The West Bank is considered a bohemian area, and the Fortitude Valley (also The Valley) is a democratic and noisy place.

Transport in the city

Brisbane is one of the most walkable cities in Australia. The center (CBD) can be easily explored on foot, and if you get tired, there are always bus stops within walking distance.

Brisbane’s public transport is buses, trains and ferries operated by the municipal company TransLink. With over 400 bus routes, 10 suburban rail lines and 23 ferry stations, there is no shortage of vehicles. As with other cities in Australia, tolls are calculated based on the number of zones traversed; the center of Brisbane lies within the boundaries of one zone (3.35 USD). You can also purchase a ticket for a day for 4.80 USDfor one zone. Tickets are valid for all means of transport. Those planning frequent trips by public transport are advised to purchase a contactless “go card” – it must be “charged” with money and applied to the validator at the entrance and exit of the transport. The required value is debited automatically.

The Brisbane City Loop bus route circles the center of Brisbane and is free of charge, making it particularly attractive to tourists. The stops on this route are painted bright red. The frequency of departures is every 10 minutes.

Don’t miss the opportunity to take a ride on the CityFerry and CityCat ferries, which have long become the hallmark of the city. CityFerrys are typically used to get to Brisbane’s suburbs, while CityCat fast catamarans cruise nimbly around the city, with marinas conveniently located close to attractions.

There are also many bike rentals in Brisbane, and among other things, you can ride a Green Cab cycle rickshaw (from 8 USD per person, conditions are discussed directly with the draft force).

Cuisine and restaurants in Brisbane

In international Brisbane, there are many places where you can have a light meal and a thorough refreshment. In addition to the most common establishments of English and local cuisine (with an emphasis on grilled meat, fish and seafood), there is a huge selection of Chinese gastronomy restaurants, thanks to an impressive Chinese diaspora. In addition, you can always run into an Italian pizzeria and a French brasserie, or taste Middle Eastern kefta and kebabs. Be sure to try the local wines and the many delicious Australian beers.

Other highlights include Brisbane’s fresh farm markets such as Jan Power’s Farmers Markets on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month, Rosalie Gourmet Market in Paddington (specializing in cheeses, baked goods and confectionery) or Green Flea Community Markets on Saturdays in the park Davis in the West Bank.

Shopping and shopping in Brisbane

There are so many shopping attractions in Brisbane that even an avid shopaholic will run out of energy before he can visit them all. Among the features of local shopping is a huge number of boutiques of young Australian fashion designers.

“City of the New World” – this is the official nickname of Brisbane, and this is very close to the truth: in terms of the number of skyscrapers, it may well compete with New York.

Among the must-visit in the first place is the giant megamall Queen Street Mall, located in the heart of the CBD, with more than 700 stores of clothing, shoes, accessories, perfumes, cosmetics and everything. Actually, this is a whole trading city, on the territory of which there are separate department stores: Queens Plaza, Wintergarden, Broadway on the Mall, etc.

Adjacent to Queen Street Mall is Elizabeth Arcade, which houses boutiques of young Australian fashion designers; very interesting wardrobe items are often found here.

The South Coast has not been left out of the shopping fever either – there are several shopping arteries at once: James Street, South Bank Young Designer Markets, Fortitude Valley (here you can buy vintage items in the Sunday Social boutique) and the New Farm area.

Look out for high-quality Australian wool (at attractive prices) and nutritious souvenirs like wine, cheeses, chocolates and sweets.

Entertainment and attractions in Brisbane

The Brisbane Tourism Office has released a wonderful guide to the city and surrounding area, which you can find directly at their office. The usefulness includes ready-made “sets of attractions” for one, two and three days, addresses of restaurants, bars and shops and a lot of other necessary information.

Panoramic views of the city can be enjoyed from Mount Coot-tha ‘located 6 km from the CBD. Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the Planetarium are also located here. The best way to get to the top is by car, but for fans of physical activity there are also hiking, cycling and climbing tracks.Another popular destination for mountain lovers is the Scenic Rim mountain range.

You can pat a koala on a fluffy scruff and feed a kangaroo from your hands in the natural reserve Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, one of the top ten best zoos in the world. Platypuses and marsupial Australian rodents are also present here. Another popular city zoo is Alma Park Zoo.

The Story Bridge is a landmark of Brisbane and one of the “postcard views” of the city, allowing everyone to climb its farms (not for the faint of heart). The journey lasts 2.5 hours, upon completion a certificate confirming the feat is issued.

Landmarks include Brisbane City Hall and King George Square, as well as the Houses of Parliament, the Warehouses of the Commissariat (built in 1829, the city’s oldest building) and the Gothic church on Albert Street.

To see the fine art collections, head to the Brisbane Cultural Precinct, an area of ​​galleries, exhibition halls and contemporary art museums. You can get acquainted with ghosts during special tours, accompanied by a guide who is a specialist in the other world.

From Brisbane, you can get out to Moreton Bay and its islands: watch dolphins and whales, drive 4×4 jeeps along the sand dunes, visit the Sirromet winery and see how prisoners lived on St. Helena.

Brisbane, Australia