Home to around 2 million people is the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane. It is situated half way up the East Coast of Australia and is the gateway to the tropics making summer scorching and muggy and winter cold and wet. September is the finest point in time to visit since the weather is starting to heat up with temperatures in the 90′s but the moisture is not that bad. You can make the most of the outside activities the area has to offer as there are mostly sunny days. Here are several of the highlights to make your holiday in Australia enjoyable.
Southbank is a favorite haunt of both locals and tourists. Located in the central point of the city it was originally the place of Expo 1988. The main attraction is the children’s playground and artificial beach. It is exactly like a lagoon out of a picture book with palm trees, lapping water and sand but without the crabs and jellyfish. An add-on bonus in favor of the shopaholics is that it is surrounded by restaurants, cafes and boutiques. There is always something happening with fireworks, concerts and other events. Each Friday night you can join in the latin dancing in the streets of Southbank and the markets that run all day Friday and over the weekend.
A brief stroll from Southbank is the Cultural Center which houses the State Library, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery and Queensland Museum. There is also a modern cinema with the cheapest film tickets in town.
Located just outside the city centre in an otherwise unassuming suburb is Mount Coot-tha. Spectacular views of the city and surrounds are to be observed on the lookout accessed by a long road that winds up the mountain. On a fair day it is feasible to observe as far as Moreton Bay. At the lookout is an elegant restaurant where you can have a meal as well as enjoy the outlook whilst more adventurous types can take advantage of the bushwalking trails, as well as a track down to Slaughters Falls. At the foot of Mount Coot-tha is the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens which is a great place to relax.
The Gold Coast is one of the most glitzy holidays places in Australia and it is the place people go to enjoy a good time. It is situated south of Brisbane and is approximately a one hour drive. With beaches, shops, casinos, nightclubs, hotels and theme parks it is always packed with people and the traffic from Brisbane on weekends and public holidays can be very slow.
The most admired theme parks are Wet n Wild, Movieworld, Warner Bros, Seaworld and Dreamworld. It is worth spending a few days in the plaza and malls as there is always something happening.
These are just a little of the many attractions you can observe in Brisbane and are on my must visit list each moment I visit. Other places of relevance include Bribie Island, Moreton Bay, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and the Story Bridge. Whatever you decide to resolve I am convinced you will enjoy your holiday in Australia.