BRISBANE
Built on and around the hills overlooking
the Brisbane River, Australia’s third-
largest city is characterised by a
subtropical climate, safe relaxed
outdoor lifestyle, unique “Queenslander”
architecture, bustling restaurants and
caf
é
s, and thriving arts, sports and
entertainment scenes.
With a multicultural population of
2.1 million, Brisbane has all the advantages
of a large modern city – cafés, restaurants,
bars, galleries, museums, sporting events,
and shopping districts – yet retains the
friendliness and charm of a small regional
town. Queensland’s subtropical climate,
lush landscape, and unique architecture
all contribute to this safe and welcoming
environment you will be pleased to call home.
An hour’s drive south of the city are the
golden beaches and theme parks of the
Gold Coast. North from Brisbane are the
Sunshine Coast beaches, national parks,
rainforests and attractions like Australia Zoo.
Just off the coast are the pristine Stradbroke
and Moreton Islands, both popular day-trip
or holiday destinations for locals and
visitors alike.
Entertainment
Entertainment in Brisbane encompasses art
galleries – including the Gallery of Modern
Art (GOMA), an inner city beach, museums,
unconventional and sophisticated live-
art venues, a thriving live-music scene,
cinemas, and kilometres of beautiful
riverside parklands perfect for relaxing
on hot summer afternoons. Our exciting
festival scene, which includes the Brisbane
International Film Festival, Brisbane Writers’
Festival and the Brisbane Festival, attracts
celebrated national and international
participants.
Sport
Whether you are watching or participating,
Brisbane’s amazing weather, gorgeous
parks and huge range of sporting facilities
make physical activity almost impossible
to avoid. Kayak along the Brisbane River,
rock climb your way to the top of the
Kangaroo Point cliffs, ride along more than
20 kilometres of riverside pathways, join one
of our many sporting clubs, or barrack like a
local when you attend a rugby union, rugby
league, cricket, “Aussie rules” or football
match at one of our famous stadiums.
Food
With just under a third of Brisbane’s
population born overseas, it makes sense
that you will find cuisine from almost every
culture in our thriving restaurant industry, so
if you’re missing food from home, it’s likely
that you’ll find what you’re hankering after.
Attend one of our popular farmers’ markets
every weekend for fresh produce, music and
delicious meals outdoors. During the week,
drink coffee at one of the many cafés that
dot the city and suburbs.
Getting around
One of the most picturesque and practical
ways to see Brisbane is on the CityCat,
a ferry that runs along the length of the
river, from UQ’s St Lucia campus to the
riverside suburb of Hamilton. Brisbane also
has an extensive bus and train network, so
everything you want to see or do is easily
accessible. We recommend buying a
go
card, an electronic ticket that allows you
to travel on all Brisbane public transport
services at a discounted price (see
www.
translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card
for details).
BRISBANE
8
UQ Guide 2015
Study Abroad and Incoming Exchange
