Queensland > Brisbane

Queensland's vibrant capital city, Brisbane, is a laid-back city, no doubt something to do with its subtropical climate. Great year-round weather means residents are happy (Brisbane regularly tops surveys for quality of life) and the city has a wealth of green spaces, alfresco dining venues, and even outdoor cinemas.

The city has developed over the years and its hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 1982 and the World Expo in 1988 definitely helped put Brisbane on the map. Today Brisbane enjoys a vibrant economy, and tourism plays an important part in it, as the city is an exciting destination in its own right but also an ideal gateway to other areas of Queensland.

The Central Business District nestles in a bend of the Brisbane River as it lazily meanders to the sea at Moreton Bay, home of the delicious “Moreton Bay Bug”. The city itself is a happy mix of the past and the future with lower, older heritage buildings such as the Town Hall and Customs House interspersed with modern skyscrapers towering above them.

Queensland is the fastest growing state in Australia, with 900 people moving to the state a week, and Brisbane, with 1.8 million inhabitants, is the third most populous urban area in Australia, behind Sydney and Melbourne.

Brisbane has a subtropical climate, with hot, moist summers (from Nov to Apr) and mild, dry winters.