Brisbane

Central Business District

The heart of any city is always an exciting, if expensive, place to base yourself and Brisbane is no different. But instead of the usual endless pavement pounding you will find yourself close to two rather large parks. The Brisbane Botanical Gardens are almost as old as the city itself and you can stroll the grounds or pop into the Planetarium for a spot of astronomy. Roma Street Parkland provides a great mix of attractions, plants and handy places to stop fur lunch, like the free barbecues. Shoppers won't want to miss out on the Queen Street Mall where you'll find a whole range of shops from high street to boutique plus places to feed and water yourself on the way. You can also seek out Brisbane's historical side, with City Hall evoking St Marks Campanile in Venice. There are further delights inside, although it's under extended restoration at the moment. The Old Windmill is one of the oldest spots in the city, or go to the Treasury Building to enjoy the modern casino in the old setting.

South Brisbane

The South Bank Parkland is one of the major hubs in Brisbane, where so much life can be lived outside. Staying near here would certainly put you close to the action! Find all the delights of the park from the Wheel of Brisbane to the Nepal Peace Pagoda plus plenty of places to eat and be entertained. You can also learn about the history of the city with the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, or see the artistic side at the Queensland Art Gallery or the Gallery of Modern Art. If that's not enough, you can also visit the bugbear of local residents, the Skyneedle. They nearly succeeded in having it shipped off to Tokyo!

Kangaroo Point

Over the river from the Central Business District this is a great area to stay in, although check your location as access to the CBD may be a little long-winded. This area is not for the faint of heart as adrenaline sports are the order of the day. Head to Kangaroo Point Cliffs for rock climbing and abseiling, or take on the Story Bridge Climb. It'll take you two and a half hours to reach the top, but once there you'll be rewarded with views to the sea, the Glasshouse Mountains to the north, across the CBD with its high-rise buildings and towards Mount Coot-tha. If all that is just too much maybe you'll want to take in a game of cricket at the Gabba instead.

Outer Suburbs

The sheer variety of attractions on offer once you leave central Brisbane is astonishing. The Lone Palm Koala Sanctuary is the most popular, but Alma Park Zoo and Tropical Gardens offers a wider selection of animals, although you can't hug a koala there. If the central botanical gardens have whetted your appetite Mount Coot-tha Botanical Gardens offer yet more with waterfalls and themed zoned such as a scented area. You can head back to the past at Early Street Historical Village where colonial buildings fill the landscaped park. If you want some nature but don't want to travel too far, Redcliffe boasts stunning beaches and amazing views, or head to the Boondall Wetlands Reserve for a more indigenous experience with nature. Fortitude Valley boasts shops, entertainment and a thriving music scene and is the place to be if you want to spot the next act.

Further Afield

Brisbane is ideally located in Queensland to bring you the best of both worlds: the city living as well as the beautiful beaches and landscapes Australia is famous for. So hop in a hire car and head out into Queensland. Adrenaline junkies won't want to miss heading to Main Beach for the cluster of theme parks such as Sea World and Wet 'n' Wild Water Park, but if you want to experience something a little more natural head to Moreton Island to dive or walk in the forests. Australia Zoo, founded by Steve Irwin, is also within driving distance or you could head for a day in Brisbane Forest Park to really escape it all.