The Gold Coast is a famous area of Queensland, and home to three of the state’s best beachfront areas – Main Beach, Surfer’s Paradise, and Broadbeach. Main Beach is well known as the Malibu of Queensland with its upscale and relaxed lifestyle. Enjoy the multitude of cafes and restaurants, luxurious accommodations such as the Palazzo Versace or the Sheraton Mirage, and trendy shopping boutiques. The area is home to several resort hotels, and even the Sea World Resort where the classic theme park is combined with a family friendly hotel. If you enjoy water sports, surfing and diving are popular in the area.
Surfer’s Paradise is another fantastic holiday destination. This famous coastline often shows up in Australian photographs, and is one of Australia’s most famous beaches. The surrounding centre is chock full of accommodation options in all price ranges, from backpacking hostels up to five star hotels, and there is much to see in the area, including the Dreamworld theme park that is a great family destination. The nightlife in Surfer’s Paradise is varied and exciting, with live entertainment featured everywhere. Every October the area is home to Indy 300 racing.
Only a few kilometers south of Surfer’s Paradise is Broadbeach, a wonderful area for families to enjoy. The quiet beaches are patrolled by lifeguards, and the local parks are not only child friendly but a great way for families to enjoy the area cost-free. Dining is known to be a little cheaper in this area as well, making it an ideal place to find affordable vacation packages. Outdoor craft markets are held on the beach on the first and third Sundays of the month. For the adults there is still plenty to see and do, including the large casino and entertainment complex. For those of a more adventurous sort, try Dracula’s Cabaret, a dinner theatre show where guests are taken to their seats on an old fashioned haunted ghost train and are treated to a three course dinner and two hour horror-comedy show.
Although the downtown core of Brisbane has much to offer tourists, the outlying suburbs are not to be missed. These individual pockets are chock full of fun and unique things to do and see.
Although small, Rosalie is a very enjoyable district in Brisbane known for its fine dining and creative menus. Additionally, the area is home to the Blue Room Cinebar, a boutique movie theatre with intimate and luxurious cinemas, a full restaurant, and where wine, beer and food can be ordered and served to you at your seat. After catching a film, head over to the Cold Rock Ice Creamery for world-class ice cream.
If a Beverly Hills experience is more your style, head over to Milton, an upscale suburb that was one of the first around Brisbane to undergo revitalization. The unique shops are very ritzy, and sports cars are not hard to find! Don’t miss the Cora Hotel, a refurbished historic landmark, as well as the Castlemaine Brewery built in 1878. On the other end of the spectrum is Fortitude Valley, known for its large arts community and progressive and funky designers. Brunswick Street Mall is an eclectic variety of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes, and a great place to start your trip to The Valley, as it is known. The Valley is also home to Brisbane’s Chinatown. For a variety of ethnic experiences, the West End is also a great place to visit with its diverse mix of cultures.
If you enjoy outdoor activity, be sure to spend some time at Kangaroo Point, where you can picnic, kayak, or try rock climbing. New Farm is another lovely stop, and is home to the fourteen-acre New Farm Park. Also of note is the Brisbane Powerhouse, a building of remarkable architecture that is home to many of Brisbane’s concerts and performances.
As the capital of Queensland, it’s no wonder that Brisbane is a happening city. With a wide variety of activities sure to suit everyone, the city is a great place for travelers of all kinds to enjoy themselves. If you plan on exploring Australia’s third most populous state, Brisbane is a perfect home base, with many outlying regions of Queensland not much more than an hour’s drive from the city.
With the river winding its way right through the heart of the city, taking a river cruise or ferry is a fabulous way to explore Brisbane. This is truly a beautiful city, with a multitude of green parks and old buildings combined with state of the art new architecture. There is no better place in Queensland to indulge in shopping, so if you are looking for something to buy there is no end of possibilities. Visit the Queen Street Mall with its nearly one kilometer length of shops; an area known as The Valley where cutting edge young designers can sell you the latest in clothing and jewelry; or Little Stanley Street for riverside, upscale shops. If outdoor markets are more your style, Brisbane has several on most weekends.
For those looking for more of a cultural experience, Brisbane offers many fantastic options. The Gallery of Modern Art is Australia’s largest modern art museum, and is a must-see for art lovers. The Queensland Museum & Science Centre, State Library of Queensland, and the Queensland Art Gallery are all located near the Gallery of Modern Art on the south bank of the Brisbane River. The area is known as the cultural hub of Brisbane and is also home to many of the performing arts groups in Brisbane, including ballet, opera, theatre and orchestra.
Whether you are looking for a hot and exciting nightlife or a fun and carefree day with the family, Brisbane is sure to not disappoint.
