South Bank Parklands are located on the Brisbane River and include a beach, restaurants, cafes, taverns, barbeques, entertainment and attractions such as the Gondwana Rainforest Sanctuary with more than 100 species of native fauna, The Queensland Cultural Centre, housing the state's Art Gallery performing arts complex, museum and library, is located across the river from the city centre.

The city heart and Queen Street Mall offer a world of shopping every day of the week. For nightlife, there is a large choice of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city centre, while the Brisbane Entertainment Centre provides a venue for major sporting events and international concerts. Conrads Treasury Casino, housed in the restored Treasury Building, offers world class gaming facilities next to a luxury hotel. The subtropical climate lends itself to outdoor eating and southern Queensland's delicacies are presented in a range of cuisines in Brisbane's fine restaurants and casual eateries.

Sports to see:

Horse racing
Aussie Rules football
International cricket
Surf life saving championships
Australian Indycar racing
Tennis, sailing, horse racing
Coolum Classic golf (Sunshine Coast)

Play golf in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast . If you wish to include golf in your itinerary, click on the links below Brisbane & Sunshine Coast Golf   Gold Coast golf

Events: Whats on in Brisbane QLD.

Beyond the City

Gold Coast

Just an hour's drive south is the Gold Coast - a series of beaches, stretching 26 miles/42 km north from the New South Wales/Queensland border through Coolangatta, Palm Beach, Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise to Southport. Go for a leisurely boat cruise along the canals of Surfers Paradise, enjoy shopping in world-class arcades and shopping complexes, have a swim in the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean or simply relax under a beach umbrella on the magnificent white sand. The Gold Coast offers great family entertainment.
Visit Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movieworld, Sea World or Wet 'N Wild Water Park. At night, try your luck at Jupitors Casino at Broadbeach. The hinterland offers caves, gorges, waterfalls, the subtropical rainforests of Lamington National Park and the Tamborine Mountain. Play Australia's many resort golf courses, such as Sanctuary Cove, The Grand Golf Club, Kooralbyn and Hope Island. See golf above...

Sunshine Coast

Just an hour's drive north of Brisbane is the Sunshine Coast, a chain of sandy beaches beginning at Caloundra and including the towns of Noosa Heads, Maroochydore, Moolooaba and the Glasshouse Mountains and Blackall Range hinterlands.
Visit the Big Pineapple, the Ginger Factory and Underwater World. Further north is Hervey Bay, a prime whale watching area and Fraser Island, a world heritage-listed area known for its mile long beaches, lakes and wilderness. West of Brisbane are the Darling Downs, an important agricultural area offering farmstays - to the north are the historic outback towns of Blackall, Longreach and Winton.

Whitsundays

An area of great beauty is the Whitsundays featuring 74 islands just north of Mackay, offering superb boating and coral viewing. Accommodation ranges from luxury hotels and resorts to campsites.
A wide range of charter vessels operates to the Whitsunday Islands from the holiday centres at Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour. Townsville, the business centre of North Queensland, is located 851 miles/1371 km north of Brisbane.

Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef
Visit the Great Barrier Reef Wonderland, Billabong Sanctuary and the Sheraton Breakwater Casino.

Queensland Tilt Train

The most modern and innovative passenger train in Australia, the Tilt Train can travel at speeds of up to 160km/h and provide an efficient, comfortable standard of travel at a world-class level. Traveltrain Holiday’s fleet consists of the Electric and Diesel trains, both use tilting technology that sets them apart from traditional services.

Discover Queensland’s tropical delights in comfort aboard the Tilt Train. Travelling between Brisbane and Cairns and Brisbane and Rockhampton. The Tilt Train is a comfortable and convenient way to access the many tourist destinations of Queensland. You’ll enjoy your journey in complete comfort.

Getting Around

Public Transport: Buses and trains operate in the city and suburban areas. Brisbane River ferry services link north and south Brisbane. A City Sights Bus stops at 18 places of interest around the city. Day and family tickets are available.

Budget Rental Car - Used and recommended by Vacation Australia.

Vacation Australia provides custom planned, competitively priced tours & packages