Travel Australia - by Craig Hill

Brisbane - Travel Australia

Brisbane - the capital of Queensland

January 11th 2008 23:30

Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia and the state capital of Queensland, is one of the most beautiful cities in Australia.

Situated in the sunshine capital, Brisbane is one of the wealthiest, fastest-growing cities in Australia and is regularly voted as one of the best places in the world to live in. The city's close proximity to the Gold Coast and the coast in general - Moreton Bay, Bribie Island, Caloundra, Mooloolaba etc. - gives its residents a combination of a world-class city with weekend getaways just a short drive away.

The city boasts an enviable climate of hot, sunny summers and clear mild winters for its 1.8 million residents (Census 2006). The mean daily maximum temperature (°C) is usually in the mid 20s and it is this attribute that ensures Brisbane is idyllic for residents and visitors all year round.

The South Bank region of Brisbane is a must-go destination for residents and tourists alike. Boasting a sandy beach, open grassy picnic spots, shops and dozens of eating places, cinemas, regular free live entertainment and many festivals and fireworks throughout the year.

For those that enjoy their surf, beach and sand, Caloundra is the perfect destination. It is the nearest Sunshine Coast beach to Brisbane (about an hour’s drive) and is a great family spot, with options for surfing at Kings Beach and stillwater paddling at nearby Golden Beach on Pumicestone Passage.

For those that prefer their adventures away from the water, here are some attractions Brisbane has to offer the adrenaline junkie on land (and some on water):

Riverlife Adventure Centre - Right on the Brisbane River in the city centre, the team at Riverlife promote healthy living and encourage you experience some fun, fitness and fresh air. Paddle your way up the Brisbane River in a kayak or motorised inflatable boat, rock climb or abseil from the Kangaroo Point cliffs, join a personal training session or even hire a bike, scooter, unicycle or a pair of rollerblades to test out Brisbane’s 27 kilometre long bikeway.

Story Bridge Adventure Climb - A 2.5 hour climb to the top of Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge. Fun and challenging, Story Bridge Adventure Climb offers all the thrills and excitement of a theme park - right in the centre of Brisbane. At the highest point of the bridge, 80 metres above the Brisbane River, you will enjoy uninterrupted 360° views of Brisbane, the river and surrounding mountains.

Fly Me to the Moon - Takes you on a scenic champagne breakfast hot air balloon flight over Brisbane and gives you uninterrupted views of the city and surrounding areas. This award-winning operator is one of only four companies in the world permitted to fly balloons over a city. Note: Book two weeks in advance to ensure flight availability.

Urban Climb - If you’re up for some high energy fun and fitness, then try indoor rock climbing. Beginner, intermediate and advanced classes are available with trained instructors who guide you through your climbing experience at various venues in and around Brisbane. Once you have mastered the art, you are free to climb at your own pace. Based in West End.

Flying Fighters Adventures - Fulfil your need for speed and take to the skies with this pure adventure flight in a WWII Fighter Jet. Visit the onsite museum where you can view classic aircraft restored to fully-operational condition.Located in Archerfield, about 20 minutes from Brisbane.

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Posted By: Arnold - Category: Brisbane, QLD

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The Queensland tourism industry must be glad they got rid of their minister when they did

May 31st 2007 06:26

Former Queensland minister, Merri Rose (how did she get voted in with a name like that?) has just been sentenced to gaol for 18 months, with a minimum of 3 months. The former tourist minister, who, after a few negative incidents such as being caught having leant her publicly funded car to her son, resigned from the ministery and failed to be relected in the 2004 election, decided should be would blackmail Queensland Premier Peter Beattie. The idea was that she would be given a high profile job in the tourist industry, if she got her way, else havoc would be caused.

Nice try, but Beattie was having none of it and now she is going to gaol, unless she wins on appeal.

I am thinking that losing this woman from the Tourism portfolio when Queensland did, was probably a good thing. Queensland after all, must be up there as the most popular tourist state, considering the wonderful weather and beaches. To have a woman at the helm who doesn't mind making the most of her position and trying her hand at a little blackmail, could not be good for Queensland trying to draw in the OS and interstate tourists.

The funny thing is, I knew it was Queensland as soon as I heard the story, even before it was mentioned where she was from. Too much sun (or anything) can't be a good thing.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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Ricky Gervais should come to Australia

February 1st 2007 06:38

So I have had the pleasure of seeing the first two episodes of series two of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's comedy, Extras. I also saw Gervais on Letterman the other night where he was applauded for having achieved the record for the fastest selling stand-up show. His new show is titled Fame.

This got me thinking, and I have thought about it right from the first time I head Gervais was not only making The Office, but also had live shows (Animals and Politics). He needs to come to Australia. I know the population isn't especially large, but I think Gervais' sense of humour will go down quite well with Australian audiences.

Gervais must be one of the busiest comedians in the world at the moment. Apart from his new live show and promotion in the USA for the airing of Extras, he has also recently appeared in Night at the Museum and For Your Consideration.

Now with all these offers coming in and his recently found popularity, it has been interesting to see how Gervais deals with it all. You can tell before The Office, he struggled pretty hard, and so now he is not entirely humble, though there is still quite a bit of humility. You get the feeling he is thinking, "fuck it, I may as well make the most of this while it lasts."

Somehow I think (and hope) that it does last because he is still putting out some quality stuff.

And he needs to come to Australia.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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I don't understand why people move to Brisbane

January 9th 2007 06:29

A mate of mine moved to Brisbane about 9 months ago. Without going into too much detail, he moved there to be his girl, but when everyone said, you'll be back in no time, he always defended the town, saying it was emerging, had heaps of cool shops. He would also say Sydney was just too stale, familiar etc.

Guess what? He is moving back within the month.

I am happy about this, but it gets me thinking about Brisbane. Particularly when another mate of mine is talking about moving there. I don't know how anyone could move from living in the inner city of Sydney or Melbourne to Brisbane.

Brisbane is boring and way too many things shut down as though trading laws from fifty years still apply (maybe they do in Brisbane?). I recall when we went on tour there, we went looking for beer on a Saturday at about 5 pm and nothing was open. Not even a supermarket, let alone a bottle shop. This is during peak drinking time!

It is an okay place to visit, but that would annoy me about living there, because there are too many visitors! (Lumping the Gold Coast in for that particular criticism).

To finish though, I have to say this, it is way too hot a place to live! People need a respite from the one climate. Also, wouldn't you feel shit wearing a pair of shorts all the time? I know I would.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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The Barmy Army are being silenced

November 24th 2006 01:49

Staying with the cricket today. I am a bit pissed off with the Australian cricket authorities response to the Barmy Army, the travelling English cricket fans who have long become a part of the Ashes series played in Australia. At the Brisbane test the authorities have made a big effort to split up the travelling fans and there is a big police presence in the ground who are apparently squashing any type of crowd participation.

What Cricket Australia need to realise is that the Barmy Army aid a visit to the cricket. Yes I love the cricket, but I also enjoy the atmosphere, and the Barmy Army are, like English sporting fans in general, inventive in song and contribute to the competition out in the centre.

Stopping this element will only push people away from future series. I don't want to share a day with 40 000 other people sitting in a lifeless trance. Instead of stopping the Barmy Army influence, Australian fans need to become for original in their support. We need good humorous songs, instead of the awful "aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi", which was ripped off from the Welsh anyway.

Let the Barmy Army do their thing, even with their support, it is obvious the poms are going to be whipped anyway.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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The cricket is here and I am down the pub

November 23rd 2006 07:48

Having some time off, I'd planned all week to head down to the pub on this Thursday to check out the first day of the Ashes series from Brisbane. I was a bit disappointed not to get tickets to the Sydney test, but I am determined to look on the bright side. So today I was down the Carlisle Castle in Newtown to have a few bevvies and check out day one of the first test.

Cricket is an essential Australian spectator passtime and what better way to spend a hot weekday than down the local. I do feel sorry for those few Australians (I think there are about half a dozen) who don't like cricket because how we they ever be content with the simple things in life, like sitting at the bar over a beer chatting to people who just happen to be fellow locals.

In terms of the action today, Australia were easily on top and given England's recent form and reduction in players, it wasn't really surprising. It also suggests what is to come and I think England may return to their struggling days in this series.

For those not from a cricket playing nation, I'd like to hope you'll enjoy cricket, but I think it is something you grow up with and you may be better off just going to the pub and pretending to like the cricket.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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Travel Magazines

November 16th 2006 00:55

So I got one of those magazine subscription leaflets in the mail yesterday. Just in time for Christmas, lucky me! Anyway, as research for this blog - it's a pretty time consuming indepth pursuit, I turned to the travel page to see what travel magazines were on offer.

Firstly I like to say, I wish I had enough money to travel frequently enough that I would need a yearly subscription to a magazine all about travel. I'm sure some do and I suppose, lucky them.

The magazine I recognise straight away is Travel Leisure magazine. The bloke from there goes on to Virginia Trioli's show on ABC 702 Sydney once a week or fortnight. He seems to think they are up there in terms of readership, but I can't confirm or deny that. Their mag subscription is going for $60 for 10 issues, the equivalent of a one year subscription. It gets cheaper the longer you want to subscribe for.

Another on offer is Australian Traveller, which I suppose goes well with this blog. Maybe I should get it for ideas. Or not. It's 1 year, 6 issue subscription goes out at $34.

Get Lost!, which is more of an adventure holiday type mag is $30 for 4 issues in the year and final Luxury Travel mad is $38 for 4 issues. Seems fitting that it would be the most expensive of the mags doesn't it?

Travel Leisure is the most frequent mag released, so it may be a good option, but I have a problem with mag subscriptions. As magazines frequently fall on their own sword so to speak, how difficult will it be to get your money back if you don't get all your mags. My old man had the problem with an ABC Sport magazine a few years back. Turns out it wasn't the ABC actually doing it, but just their name on it. Turns out they had to pay up in the end anyway.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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Fishing for Sharks from a Gold Coast Balcony

October 24th 2006 07:42

Swimmers beware. There are quite a number of sharks in the canals of the Gold Coast. Although not known by many, there have been fatalities in the canals of the Gold Coast and proof they are still around have been shown by Gold Coast citizens fishing for sharks from balconies overhanging the water. Not only are they fishing for them, but they are catching them too.

Rob Hughes is one resident of the Coast who has had some attention for catching the sharks. They are too big to bring up to his sixth floor apartment balcony, but he swings them into the carpark to be dealt with by a friend.

If they are too heavy to drag up then one has to think they are big enough to cause some damage to swimmers in the canals. People still persevere however, being towed behind boats or just swimming about, but you have think it probably isn't the best idea. That being said, the surf beaches are fine and more entertaining and if still water is more your thing, there are so many hotel swimming pools in the city you should be able to paddle about without any issue.

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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Brisbane's South Bank

April 23rd 2006 13:51

Brisbane is really emerging as a city with international regard, thanks in part to the warm weather, a growing sense of culture and a large amount of things to do and places to visit. One of those places is Brisbane’s South Bank. One could say it is the equivalent of Sydney’s Darling Harbour, but a little less touristy.

It’s called South Bank because well, it is the south bank of the Brisbane River. Along the river is a nice wide walkway or promenade, expansive parklands, restaurants and cafes and very importantly, a man made beach.

The man-made beach

I suppose the motivation for putting a beach in the middle of the city is to cater for tourists who travel to Queensland looking for beach culture. By having this beach, you are stopping all the tourists from heading the short distance to the Gold Coast. Despite the lack of waves in this beach, Brisbane’s South Bank has much more charm than the very characterless Gold Coast with all its high rise apartments and tourist focused mentality. That said, the beach at South Bank is called Streets Beach after the ice cream company, so you can’t escape capitalism entirely. It’s a cool idea though and fits in well with the parkland and the café culture. And on that café culture - South Bank has restaurants and cafes galore, over 30 in fact, so you’ll find a constant upbeat atmosphere that comes with popular food centres.

Chances are when you’re visiting South Bank for a bite to eat or to go for a stroll, you’ll come across some cultural celebration or festival. There seems to be something happening all the time and this is good for the backpacker or tourist alike. Free festivals are a perfect way to further enjoy your experience of a city with little or no cost. On the same thrifty theme, there’s also a market to wander through Friday, Saturday and Sundays.

South Bank is the sort of place every city wants – water views, social atmosphere, great cultural amenities and wide open spaces, all without having to venture out of the inner city.

Why not bookmark Travel Australia or add me to you RSS reader using this URL: http://www.australiafound.com/rss/summary.xml ?

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Posted By: Glen - Category: Brisbane

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