Dine by the River

Dining out in Brisbane is as culturally colourful as the city itself. The atmosphere is delightfully al fresco with an emphasis on original menus focusing on fresh, unfussy food and wines with flair.

Creative menus offer local delicacies such as Moreton Bay bugs and fresh tropical produce alongside exotic Asian delights, simple Mediterranean meals and traditional European fare. The choice of restaurant settings is unlimited. Watch boats pass by while tantalising your tastebuds at any number of the city's stylish waterfront restaurants and brasseries.

Or head for Brisbane's inner-city precincts and peruse the menus of dozens of top outdoor eateries. Fortitude Valley is home to Brisbane's Chinatown where you can taste the cuisines of the Orient from Chinese and Korean to Vietnamese and Malaysian.

Cafe-restaurants abound in West End, on the southern side of the river. A hub for students and artists, the bohemian, multicultural centre is best known for its delicatessens, Vietnamese and Turkish restaurants, grocers, coffee and tea merchants.

Many other precincts offer fabulous dining such as the fashionable Park Road Milton with its cafe terraces. Clusters of cafes and the city's finest dining spots can be found on Racecourse Road, Ascot. While at the foot of the Story Bridge, a new precinct is emerging with bustling new restaurants and bars.

Discover Brisbane's Moreton Bay and Islands

More and more people are discovering Brisbanes urban landscape is but one part of the overall Brisbane experience. For on the periphery of the city centre, in their own backyard, are coastal hamlets and sand islands inviting you to get wet, soak up the sunshine and enjoy a spot of soft adventure.

Lets start with two of the worlds largest sand islands Moreton and North Stradbroke. Moreton Island is located just 35 kilometres from Brisbanes city centre. Its national park status means its a must-do for nature lovers, not to mention one impressive playground for fun-seeking families who can tour the island or participate in superb resort-based activities.

Ruggedly beautiful North Stradbroke Island Straddie as its commonly known just happens to be one of the best land-based vantage points for whale watching in Australia. Surf, sand board, swim, snorkel, scuba dive, sea-kayak take your pick. Both islands accommodate all styles and budgets. From campsites and holiday homes to designer beach shacks.

But if youve only a day to spare and would still like to soak up the sea breezes and sunshine you can head to one of our lovely coastal villages. Redcliffe north of the city centre is one of Moreton Bays most picturesque recreational playgrounds. Enjoy 35 kilometres of bike paths that hug the pretty peninsular or swim at Brisbanes closest patrolled open beach, Suttons.

Sister suburbs Wynnum and Manly both a mere 22 kilometres east of Brisbane city also hold strong appeal. The Wynnum Esplanade with its delightful wading pool, play parks and boardwalk is the perfect precursor to offshore soft adventure activity. And then theres Redlands not only the launching pad to North Stradbroke Island but home to quaint coastal villages Wellington Point, Cleveland and Victoria Point.

So if youre a local pencil in some time with family or visiting friends and relatives to explore your own backyard, the beauty of Moreton Bay and Islands. If youre in town as a visitor, add adventure in Moreton Bay to your list of must dos.

Experience Brisbane

If youve ever wondered what its like to truly feel inspired, its time you experience Brisbane. With the dawn of every new day, youll be greeted by an energetic, vibrant city that boasts an inexhaustible list of experiences, adventures and activities to choose from. And thanks to the year round good weather, youll find getting outdoors and active is almost impossible to resist.

As any seasoned traveller will tell you, the trick is to look beneath the surface of the city. Because its here where youll find the real gems, the interesting characters and the lasting memories. In Brisbane, a network of diverse urban villages represents the heart and soul of the city. In these unique pockets of town youll find the locals enjoying delicious cafes and restaurants, boutique shopping, uber cool bars and peaceful parks.

Each urban village has its own wonderfully individual character and identity, so take the time to see as many sides of the city as you can.

Mix with the locals in eclectic urban villages, dive into an outdoor adventure or visit a world-class retailer. Inspire your intellect at a gallery or have some old fashioned fun with the family. And, if after dark activities are more your style, youll be happy to hear that things really get going once the sun goes down in Brisbane.

Brisbane also boasts a wealth of nearby natural wonders that shouldnt be missed, including the aquatic paradise of Moreton Bay and Islands and the spectacular mountain ranges of the Scenic Rim.

So experience Brisbane - you'll soon find its anything but a sleepy little town!

On the banks of the river

Australia's northern-most capital city blends the vitality of the city with the leisurely quality of a country town. It spreads over both sides of the Brisbane River, which bends its way through a gently hilly landscape before spilling into the boat-lover's paradise of Moreton Bay.

The city is clean, safe and open, with many parks and a mixture of old sandstone and sparkling modern buildings. The inner-city suburbs are full of lovingly restored weatherboard Queenslander homes, their tin roofs and generous verandas enshrining the old casual, sun-warmed lifestyle embraced today.

Backpackers love Brisbane because it's cheap to eat, party and get around in, with a good choice of safe, quality accommodation. Gay travellers also recognise Brisbane's charms, enjoying a high level of acceptance, a thriving nightlife and a growing list of excellent bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

Queen Street Mall, in the city's centre, is Queenslands premier shopping destination, with heaps of fashion, food and specialty outlets. Across the river, South Bank Parklands offers superb waterfront dining, and is a short walk from the art gallery and museum. And you haven't really enjoyed a pub until you've tried some of Brisbane's beer gardens.

Try a river cruise, or a ferry ride to one of the delightful islands nearby: Tangalooma, where you can feed wild dolphins, or North Stradbroke where you can disappear among the dunes. Or head for the Sunshine Coast, an hour north, or the Gold Coast, an hour south of Brisbane.

Shop until you drop on the Queen Street Mall

There's much to be said about retail therapy. Shopping is indeed a feel good sport and Brisbane's Queen Street Mall - Queensland's premier shopping destination - is your playing field with over 700 specialty stores including six centres. Local, national and international fashion houses call it home. Discover the shopping and lifestyle precincts that make this a complete shopping experience.

Brisbane Arcade is the place to head if you are seeking wares from some of Brisbanes most awarded fashion designers. Broadway on the Mall has built a rock-solid reputation in recent years for its cutting-edge retailers - a one-stop-shop for funky fashions. Dont miss Macarthur Central, housing some of Australias most sought after flagship stores. And then there is Queens Plaza, this sparkly shopping sanctuary has delivered local fashion subjects many of the stores theyd long yearned for the states first Tiffany & Co., Alannah Hill, Mimco and Mecca Cosmetics stores. Head to Tattersall's Arcade for an array of boutique stores, or explore the six levels and over 200 specialty stores at the Myer Centre. Finally, make sure you pop into Wintergarden for some of Australia's best designer threads.

The best family attractions

Families love to have fun, and Brisbane delivers it in spades. Theres never a dull moment here with a wide range of exciting activities and educational ideas to keep everyone fully occupied.

Take South Bank - a real family favourite where youll find a spectacular inner city beach, a water play facility, outdoor cinema and more. Then theres the world famous amusement and wildlife parks like Dreamworld, Whitewater World and Australia Zoo, plus a wide range of museums and art galleries that are experts at catering for your kids. Mix a bit of learning with fun and drop by the Queensland Museum - an ideal place for inquisitive minds, the Children's Art Centre - housed in the Gallery of Modern Art and The Corner at the State Library of Queensland.