Brisbane is the third most popular city destination in Australia although it is most often known as the stepping stone to the Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Shaun, Tripbod in Brisbane and Sydney, convinced me that you should take some time to explore Brisbane as there are some great things to do.
The weather in Brisbane
From June – August (winter in Australia) the temperature is 10C – 20C so Australians from the South flock North to get some warmth during their ‘cold’ months.This is the usual high season. In the summer (December – February) it can he hot, wet and humid, but still some great beach weather. There is also a busy period over December/January, so if you want the best of the weather and crowds, either side of summer is usually best.
Brisbane History
Shaun’s family is originally from Brisbane; two of the first Lord Mayors back in 1860s were his ancestors. He is proud to be able to say that his relatives set up the first Timber Mill and were the first to provide support to the families of those who died in service. Before that time, Brisbane was a rough and tough colonial town where workers were treated extremely badly. Brisbane was where the worst-behaved convicts from Sydney were sent, so to begin with it was a dangerous place to be.
Shaun runs Urban Adventures, a city adventure tour company, in Brisbane. They run walking tours which focus on local heritage, history and nature. They look at colonial history and aboriginal history (including small bush walks while learning more about the history of the oldest surviving civilisation in the world). They are soon to launch other tours inclduing cycling the Brisbane River, along some of the city’s 900km of cycle pathways that have been built by the Brisbane City Council; Brisbane River cruises, and some surprises in store!
Queensland & Sydney by Railway
Shaun’s relatives also set up the first privately built railway, and today Queensland has an extensive service of not only city trains, but also connects you directly to Sydney, and North Queensland and the barrier reef…and obvioulsy everything in between. There are various services, where you can enjoy views of the countryside (with night train and sleeper options).
A Brisbane to Sydney trip would usually be 13-14 hours. However with the ever decreasing price of domestic airfares within Australia thanks to Virgin Blue, Jetstar and Tiger, more people are jumping on a plane to get here, or get to other places in Australia (1.5 hours from Sydney, just over 2 hours from Cairns, 2.5 hours from Melbourne)… just be sure to at least offset your emmissions! Brisbane Urban Adventures also offsets all of their operating emmissions.
New Brisbane
Speaking to Shaun really made it hit home just how dark and how recent Brisbane’s colonial history is. But thanks to the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the World Expo in 1988, things changed in Brisbane and it’s now a thriving, modern and cosmopolitan city. It is the live music capital of Australia. There are some great bars and a very rapidly developing food culture.
Top five things to do in Brisbane
1.      Visit the Lone Pine Koala sanctuary. It was founded in 1927, and is the largest and oldest koala sanctuary in the world. It was pivitotal to pioneer koala protection and conservation in Australia after facing extinction due to the fur trade in colonial times. Koalas are still facing this threat due to drastic reduction in their habitat. Rated one of the “Top 10 Zoos in the World” by AOL. From the CBD, you can catch a bus there… or take a boat ride tour along the river.
2.      Fortitude Valley. This is where you’ll fine China Town and the best nightlife in Brisbane. It is an iconic part of Brisbane and a must-see for visitors. Within walking distance, or one stop on the train from CBD.
3.      A day trip off most people’s radars is Mount Tamborine just west of the Gold Coast, and about 1.5 hour drive from Brisbane city. Here there are amazing views of the whole stretch of the Gold Coast, tiny boutique breweries, cheeseries and vineyards. And most days you can sit and watch the hanggliders jump off the side of the mountain. Public transport is hard, so you really need to drive or take an organised tour.
4.      Stoke up the BBQ surrounded by water at Wellington Point, with great views of Moreton Bay. Watch locals play football and cricket in the park, or walk across the sandbar during low tide to visit one of the islands.
5.      Enjoy a myriad of bushwalks and a quiet beer at Mount Coot-tha lookout, with panoramic views of the city and winding Brisbane River, the life blood of the city. Goes perfectly with a nice afternoon breeze.
Special Offer 2 for 1 on any tours when you sign up with Tripbod Australia! valid until 31st July 2010
To check out some of our tours, go to www.brisbaneurbanadventures.com.
Urban Adventures
Brisbane Urban Adventures (www.brisbaneurbanadventures.com) firstly ensure that our tours have minimal impact on the environment. This is why we base our itineraries on walking and public transport options. Not only is this better for the environment, but we believe it offers the opportunity for a more authentic local experience. We only have small groups on our Brisbane tours to try and maintain that element, and create a unique experience for all participants… whether travellers or even locals wanting to get to know their city a bit better. We also support charities including Surf Life Saving, WSPCA, RSPCA, and Save the Children.
Urban Adventures is a new franchise based business by Intrepid Travel (http://intrepidtravel.com/) and WHL Group (http://whl.travel)… unique day tours in more than 100 cities around the globe! Taking Intrepid’s experience, each tour is aimed at using local transport and having a greater local interaction, to provide interesting experiential tours around the world.
Personalized Trip Plan
To ask Shaun questions about your trip and to get a tailored trip plan for Queensland or Syndney, connect with Shaun through Tripbod.com.
