Brisbane

About Brisbane

Brisbane is a subtropical river city, built along the loops of the Brisbane River, where life moves outdoors for most of the year. Ferries glide between riverside parks, and jacarandas turn the suburbs purple each spring. Queensland's capital has grown into Australia's third-largest city and will host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Founded as a penal settlement in the 1820s, the city still has sandstone landmarks such as City Hall and Old Government House, but its modern face owes much to World Expo 88, which left South Bank as a cultural precinct of galleries, museums and a city beach. Across the river, the cliffs of Kangaroo Point and the Story Bridge frame the skyline, while Fortitude Valley keeps the music and nightlife going.

Brisbane Airport is linked to the centre by the Airtrain, and the beaches of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are each about an hour away. The Moreton Bay islands, hinterland rainforests and the koalas of Lone Pine all make easy day trips.