Brisbane/Gold Coast
Australia
Backpacking Brisbane
Information on Brisbane sights to see, nightlife, activities and more.
Brisbane is laid back, has a great climate, is cosmopolitan and lots of fun. This is Australia's third largest city and the capital of the State of Queensland. Although it is located close to the coast, Brisbane is very much a river city, with the mighty Brisbane River separating the city's northern and southern suburbs and Moreton Bay bounding the city's eastern side. Brisbane is a very modern and progressive place with a strong tropical feel to it. There is no shortage of things to do and see, including adrenaline and adventure activities, such as climbing the Story Bridge or abseiling the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, which are directly across from the city center. The city has plenty of cultural activities on offer, including excellent galleries and museums, along with a thriving theatre and festival scene. Brisbane has a buzzing, happening nightlife, with lots of cool nightclubs, bars and pubs. The city is also fast becoming the live music capital of Australia, with many local and touring artists performing at venues across the city most nights of the week. You will find most of the best venues in the city centre, around Fortitude Valley and West End. Brisbane is fairly sports mad, they love their rugby league, Australian rules football and cricket and if you can get to a game you will experience a great atmosphere as the massive crowds cheer on the local teams. The city is also only an hours drive to some of the best beaches in the country. You have the Gold Coast to the south and the Sunshine Coast to the north. Directly to the east of the city are two huge islands - North Stradbroke and Moreton. These are great places to explore, offering considerably less crowds and some stunning island scenery. The Gold Coast is Australia's major holiday destination with over 10 million visitors each year. This place is best known for its expanses of beautiful white sandy beaches, great surfing, party atmosphere and theme parks. The Gold Coast stretches 35km from Coolangatta on the New South Wales/Queensland border to Southport in the north. Although the whole region has tourist appeal, the main hub of the Gold Coast is the area that includes Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and Broadbeach. Here is where the greatest concentration of high-rise apartments, restaurants and nightlife are located.
Must See
South Bank Parklands Brisbane - Full of delicious restaurants, a great atmosphere and always plenty of things to do and see. Right in the middle of Brisbane, the parklands have a diverse range of natural beauty: there’s a dedicated rainforest-walk area, a riverfront promenade, and perhaps the most famous sight in the parklands: the South Bank Grand Arbour, which is covered in stunning flowers year-round. Since central Brisbane is on a river, it doesn’t have any beaches, making the artificial Streets Beach in South Bank a popular spot for locals and tourists to relax and catch some sun-rays.
View Brisbane from Mt Coot-tha - Mt Coot-tha offers beautiful panoramic views of the city and on a nice day, Moreton Bay. A favorite for locals and visitors alike, you can enjoy a meal or coffee and look out over the city’s surroundings.
Brisbane Koala Sanctuary - The world’s largest koala sanctuary, Lone Pine has over 130 koalas. You can also feed the rainbow lorikeets and kangaroos, hold local snakes, and see some of the country’s beautiful fauna, such as wombats, echidnas, Tasmanian devils, and dingoes.
Explore the CBD - The center of Brisbane has plenty of heritage architecture, great shopping and food. To start with, you could visit King George Square, Brisbane’s premier public space where something is almost always happening: events, festivals and markets.
Must Do
Hang on the Beach - The Gold Coast’s famed Surfers Paradise is home to shimmering skyscrapers and a seemingly endless expanse of white sand and rolling surf.
Learn to Surf - Nothing beats the feeling of catching a wave for the first time. If you’ve ever dreamt of riding glass-like waves on one of the most iconic surf beaches in the world, make it happen with a private surf lesson, or join a learn to surf lesson for beginners unless your a pro already.
Cruiser Bike Ride The Beach Esplanade - The Gold Coast has a staggering 57 kilometers of coastline, intersected only by a few tree-covered headlands and crystal blue estuaries. It makes for perfect cruiser bike riding territory—past squeaky soft beaches and azure crashing waves. Pick up a beach cruiser then choose your route north to Main Beach and The Spit, or loop down to Broadbeach and back, stopping at cafes and surf clubs along the way for smoothies and acai bowls. Just leave enough juice in the tank to turn around and pedal back.
Nightlife
Brisbane's nightlife is extensive, spread across both sides of the magically lit river, and packed with an overflow of options. Fortitude Valley is the best spot for clubbing and is home to Australia’s first designated entertainment precinct. Come nightfall, the Valley’s streets are alive and pumping with the sound of live bands, laughter and nightclub beats.
In Surfers Paradise a pub crawl is what must be done. Join over 300 other party goers every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at the hottest and most exclusive nightclubs in Surfers Paradise, on Australia's biggest and best nightclub party tour. Pub crawl, club crawl, party tour whatever you want to call it, it is sure to be you and your friends best night in Surfers Paradise!
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