Brisbane: The River City Awakens

Posted on 22/11/2018 by Whitestar Travel

Brisbane has long been overlooked as a serious destination, but times are a changing and The River City is emerging as a sun-soaked favourite for foodies and adventure seekers alike.

Blessed with idyllic subtropical weather all year round, Brisbane is known for its beautiful riverside gardens and man-made beaches, but is also a wonderful melting pot of art galleries, live music and hip new restaurants and bars.

The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (referred to by locals as “GOMA”) are serious cultural players on both a national and worldwide scale. Housed in two riverside buildings at South Bank, just across from the CBD, they present a diverse program of Australian and international exhibitions.

Climbing the Story Bridge is a favourite amongst tourists, for panoramic views across the city, north to the Glasshouse Mountains and south all the way to the Gold Coast hinterland. If climbing a bridge feels like a bit too much, Mt Coot-tha is only a short drive away, and has comparable, if not better views of the CBD and surrounding regions. Getting up early to watch the sunrise over the city is a spectacular experience. Head down the hill afterwards and explore the exotic Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.

Food and wine plays a big part in any Brisbane residents daily life. There is a great emphasis on fresh food and local produce, with many big players from Melbourne and Sydney now taking up in Brisbane to enjoy a slower pace in life. This by no means the service will suffer though, if anything, it is better, with happy sun-soaked Queenslanders revelling in a newfound joie de vivre. For an unforgettable casual dining experience, visit Eat Street Northshore – Brisbane’s much loved shipping container market and a fine testament to the multicultural heritage of the city.

If the new brisbane feels a lot like Melbourne ten years ago, it’s no coincidence. Many victorians have been lured north by cheaper houses and the idyllic weather. A thriving music and craft beer scene is testament to this. A visit to Brisbane is not complete without a bar crawl through either Fortitude Valley, West End or Paddington, if not all of them.

Away from the restaurants, bars and shops, however, is where Brisbane truly excels. Less than an hour away, the inspiring Moreton Bay pours out to some of the countries most beautiful islands.

Moreton Island, just a 70 minute ferry ride from Brisbane, is the third largest sand island in the world, yet fewer than 100 residents call it home. Most of the island is national park, creating a blissful paradise of sandy beaches, bush and lagoons. North Stradbroke Island (affectionately known as “Straddie” to locals) is another fantastic holiday destination, with great surf, bays and coves, and just a 40 minute ferry ride from the bayside town of Cleveland.

For something a little different, stay at The Johnson Hotel.

Fly there from Sydney for $190 or from Melbourne for $270, with Virgin Australia.

For more information, call 03 9042 3321 or email info@whitestartravel.com.au

* Subject to dates and availability