Overview

Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland with a population close to 2 million, the third most populous city in Australia. The city is located on the Brisbane River in the south eastern corner of the state of Queensland, 930 kilometers north of Sydney. Brisbane is a vibrant city with a cosmopolitan feel and a diverse mix of people. It is one of the fastest growing cities as a high percentage of immigrants from overseas and around Australia decides to call Brisbane home. Brisbane is divided into 26 wards but unlike other cities in the country it is largely controlled by a single local government called Brisbane City Council. Brisbane encompasses a total land area of about 1,367 square kilometres, including coastline, waterways, islands, national parks and state forests. The famous Gold and Sunshine Coasts are about 1 hour away from the city.

Brisbane is a growing residential area, with substantial rural, industrial, recreational and parkland areas. Despite being the third most populous city, Brisbane is quieter than the larger cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Brisbane’s residents enjoy a subtropical climate and a relaxed lifestyle in a beautiful, spacious city. Like most Australian cities, the majority of people live in detached houses with gardens. This means the city sprawls over a large area. The beautiful Brisbane River flows through the heart of the city. Around one-quarter of Brisbane’s residents were born overseas.

Brisbane is one of the major business hubs in Australia, headquarters for many national and international companies with the fastest growing labour pool in Australia. Key industries include information technology, financial services, and higher education. Tourism is an important part of the Brisbane economy, both in its own right and as a gateway to other areas of Queensland.

There is an extensive public transport system in Brisbane however the main form of transport is still private car. Modes of transport include train, ferry, bus and taxi. It is managed by the Government of Queensland and Brisbane City Council.

Brisbane trains are operated by Queensland Rail. A map can be found at http://www.citytrain.com.au/

For information on buses go to http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/

For information on ferries got to http://www.metrolinkqueensland.com.au/

Brisbane’s road system is a substantial network built and planned around the city’s expansive suburbs. Logan Rd, Gympie Rd, Old Cleveland Rd and Moggill Road are some of the main thoroughfares that connect Brisbane CBD with the suburbs around it. The Pacific Motorway, Gateway Freeway, Western Freeway and Centenary Freeway are some of the other major roads that connect suburbs and help divert traffic from going through the centre of Brisbane.

Brisbane is very cycle friendly, with plenty of bikeways across the city for easy travel. More than 27km (16.5 miles) of award-winning bicycle pathways line both sides of the river east and west of the city centre.

The two airports Brisbane Airport and Archerfield Airport serve the city. Brisbane Airport the city's main Brisbane's main airport is the third busiest in the country. It is located north-east of the city centre and provides domestic and international passenger services to major Australian cities as destinations in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Brisbane has a subtropical climate with warm or hot weather for most of the year. Brisbane’s climate is very sunny, with around 2,800 hours of sunshine annually. Most rainfall is in summer. Winter is dry with blue skies the norm. Brisbane can be humid, especially in the three hottest months from January to March.  Whilst summer months have some extremely hot days with maximum average around 30C (86F), the winter is mild and very pleasant. Most winter days are sunny with average temperatures of around 17C (63F). Average monthly rainfall over the year is around 96mm.

Brisbane has everything you would expect from a cosmopolitan city plus some extra unique activities that set it apart. Brisbane also has many beautiful gardens and parklands. The Southbank area includes the parklands, the man-made beaches and lagoons as well as the markets and museums. The botanical gardens are world class and Queen Street mall can keep you occupied for hours. Brisbane is also well known for its nightlife. There are a selection of hot spots including the city centre, Fortitude Valley and Southbank where there are several bars, pubs, restaurants and live music. Other popular tourist areas are Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and Brisbane Forest Park.
Popular with tourists are the rock-climbing cliffs which are located at the southern approach to the Story Bridge at Kangaroo Point, as well as the more than 27 km of bicycle pathways which line both sides of the river east and west of the city centre. Another new Brisbane attraction is the Story Bridge Adventure Climb. The Story Bridge is one of only three legally climbable bridges in the world.

Brisbane is host to a number of events throughout the year which include the moonlight cinema, cricket, Rugby, garden expo, band championships, craft shows, Brisbane Festival, V8 supercar, Wine festival, Film Festival, River Festival and Riverlife to name a few.

Other attractions include theatre, fishing, golf, extreme sports, scuba diving, bush walks, national parks, whale watching, beach and numerous scenic drives.

Brisbane is a city that does not disappoint. It has a tropical climate and is a short drive to some of the best beaches in Australia and the world. It is on the doorstep of many tropical islands and the famous Great Barrier Reef. Living in Brisbane gives you a cosmopolitan city life with a laid back tropical twist. Whether you live in central Brisbane or one of its beautiful suburbs you will never be far from the action.

For a list of things to do in Brisbane, please visit Australia’s official tourism website:
www.australia.com/destinations/cities/brisbane.aspx
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