What do you recommend for 2 nights in Brisbane?

[swdke]

I am looking to a short visit in Brisbane, 2 nights, arriving in the morning on a Thursday about 9 am, and departing on Saturday at 8 am. During that time, what are some good ways to spend my time doing the typical tourist stuff. Do you have any itinerary suggestions, or how I can logistically plan my two days? Thank you.

[bobsydney]

I would think about spending Thursday in and around Brisbane city.

 

South Bank, which was the site of the 1988 World Expo and has now been turned into public recreation space (see www.visitsouthbank.com) with lots of restaurants, etc. It is also home to the Queensland Art Gallery, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Museum and State Library of Queensland.

 

There are also some interesting things to see just on a walk around the city including historic buildings (like Parliament House, Government House, and the Brisbane Casino, which was once the city's Treasury Building) and tthe Botanic Gardens. If I remember correctly, there is a tourist information centre in the middle of the city mall that provides details of a heritage walk.

 

There is also has a good river ferry service along the Brisbane River that runs from near the cruise ship terminal up river past the city and South Bank to the University of qld ... it provides an interesting perspective of Brisbane and is cheap ($5.40 for an all day ticket).

 

For something different, do a bridge climb on Brisbane's Story Bridge - see www.storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au.

 

On the Friday, I suggest you hire a car and go for an hour's drive north to the Sunshine Coast. There's lots of interesting things to see/do there including

• Steve Irwin World (see www.australiazoo.com.au)
  
• world renowned surf beaches (eg Noosa, Alexandra Headland),
  
• Eumundi Markets and
  
• the hinterland area around Maleny and Montville.

Have a look at www.sunshinecoast.org for other ideas.

Cheers

Bob

[eh2zed]

Definitely try to include a visit to the Australian Zoo (Steve Irwins). About an hours drive from Brisbane and count on a minimum 5 hours there.

[vozzie]

Well, I'm from Brisbane but these two posters have summed it up nicely.

 

Something to note, if you aren't into driving a car, the Australia Zoo runs shuttle buses from Brisbane City to the Zoo and return each day.