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Gary Bembridge of\\xa0Tips for Travellers shares observations, tips and advice for visitors to Brisbane in Australia.

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This show covers among other topics:

Observations

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• 3rd largest city in Australia - over 2 million people - growing fast and projecting may overtake Melbourne - capital of Queensland.
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• Attractive city set around the curves of Brisbane River named after\\xa0 Sir Thomas Brisbane Governer of NSW in 1820s.
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• Compact and easy to get around with\\xa0 good transport infrastructure both road and on river - easily walkable.
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• Mix of modern glass buildings and grand old buildings like City Hall - Post Office - Treasury building (now a casino).
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• Lots of greenery and shade about - even the roads in the CBD has trees along both sides creating cover and playgrounds have covered play areas .
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• About hour drive to beaches and theme parks of Gold Coast.
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• Prone to major flooding at various times over history - big one 1974 - most recent in 2011 when CBD and suburbs badly affected.
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History

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• Created to support the penal colony close by.
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• Growing fast for as commercial centre : mineral and agriculture resources , financial services , technology - busy port handling exports of things like grain, coal.
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• In WWII General MacArthur commanded to Pacific war effort from here for a time.
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• Hosted 1982 Commonwealth Games, World Expo 88
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Getting there
Good airline connections within Australia and to parts of Asia
Cruise lines - big ships dock quite way from the city (30-45 mins transfer)

Best time to go
Summer : Dec - Feb
Winter: Jun - Aug

Getting around
Bus - tickets by zone
Rail - to suburbs
River - free and pay for services
Walking
Bike hire scheme (blue bikes)
Green tricycle taxis


Tips

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• Get information booklets from tourist information offices - free Brisbane Insider Guid.
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• Brisbane Greeter Service - 100 volunteers - 20 languages - two options (refer to information leaflet) - greeter\'s choice or your choice - free
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• Hop-on Hop-off bus.
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Things to do

River trips

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• Free red City Hopper - every 30 minutes - takes about 1.5 hours.
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• CityCat service - big catamarans go much further up and down river
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• Mississippi style paddle streamer - Kookaburra River Queens
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• Jet Ski or kayak
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• River City Cruises- 1,5 trip with commentary by Captain
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South Bank Parklands

42-acre development on site of 1988 World Expo - very busy at weekends with locals to hang out- includes
Information centre
The Beach - Aquativity water park
Picnic areas
Restaurants
Weekend market
Wheel of Brisbane - 12 to 15 minute ride in aircon enclosed cabin
Queensland performing arts centre
Queensland museum & science centre
Queensland Art gallery
State library of Queesnsland
Gallery of Modern Art
Convention & Exhibition centre
Rainforest walk
Bougainvillea feature
Nepalese Pagoda

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

1927 - worlds first koala sanctuary - 130 koala and 90 other Aussie species\\xa0 -\\xa0 11km away

Mount Coot-tha
Panoramic view from Mount Coot-tha - 8km outside city
Botanical garden\\xa0 - established 1824 as fruit & vegetable garden for nearby Moreton Bay penal settlement - 20 hectares flowers trees

Other
City Hall
Story Bridge Climb
ANZAC square memorial

Shopping
Queens street pedestrian mall - over 600 shops on 1 km
QueensPlaza

Gold Coast day trip