Mt. Coot-tha Lookout and Botanic Gardens: One of the highest points in the Brisbane area, Mt. Coot-tha offers the best views over the city, suburbs and outlying regions, including Moreton Bay and the Glass House Mountains. A restaurant and cafe at the summit near the lookout are favourite places for locals to take visitors and show off their city. The lookout is part of Mt. Coot-tha Forest, which is a component of the massive Brisbane Forest Park which covers nearly 29,000 hectares. Brisbane Botanic Gardens, which cover 52 hectares, are situated at the foot of Mt. Coot-tha. The gardens are the second botanical gardens established in Brisbane. The original gardens, now known as the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens are located in the Brisbane CBD. The new gardens were developed by the City Council because the original city site could not be expanded and was flood prone. Located adjacent to the entrance of the gardens is the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium, which incorporates the Cosmic Skydome. Sir Thomas Brisbane, in addition to being the Governor of New South Wales after whom the city of Brisbane was named, was also a renowned astronomer who catalogued the southern skies of Australia during his term. Free admission to Lookout.
Contact: (07) 3369 9922. Brisbane Botanic Gardens website. Location: Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Brisbane, QLD 4066. How to get there: by car, proceed north along Riverside Expressway into Milton Rd, entrance on right at Toowong prior before commencement of Western Freeway; by Bus No. 471, or the Great City Circle bus (No. 598 or No. 599) from various suburbs.

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South Bank Parklands: picnic areas; children's playgrounds; gardens; Village Markets
An inner-suburban recreational area on the banks of the Brisbane River opposite the Central Business District. It began life as the site of Expo 88, a landmark exhibition event in the history of Brisbane which provided the launch pad for an exciting period of growth and development. The theme of the Expo was "Leisure in the Age of Technology", and the mascot for the Expo was an Australian platypus, named "Expo Oz".
The only remaining traces of the Exposition on the former site are the Nepal Peace Pagoda, part of the Nepalese representation from the Expo, a traditional three-storey hand-made wooden replica of a famous Pagoda in Kathmandu, the Board Walk at the south end of the parklands, and two (since renovated) Pubs, the Plough Inn and the Ship Inn.
The precinct is today set among parklands, tranquil setting for numerous attractions, including Streets Beach, a calm, blue salt-water man-made beach; garden and rainforest walks, including the Energex Arbour Boulevard; picnic and barbecue areas; more than 20 restaurants and cafes. Rydges Hotel South Bank, Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre and the Queensland Maritime Museum are located around the perimeter of South Bank. A sightseeing ferris wheel is located at South Bank near the Nepal Peace Pagoda. Free admission.
Contact: (07) 3867 2051. Website. Location: How to get there: from Brisbane, cross the Victoria Bridge from Queen St; by rail, train to South Bank of South Brisbane station on the Cleveland or Beenleigh lines.

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Queensland Cultural Centre: arts centre; museum; library; art gallery
As its name suggests, this precinct, situated on the opposite bank to the Brisbane CBD alongside the South Bank precinct, is the central hub of cultural activity in Brisbane. The complex includes the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC); Queensland Museum; State Library of Queensland; Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art. The Museum is of the greatest interest to visitors, its displays have a distinct Queensland flavour, its special features focusing on the cultures of the peoples of the Torres Strait Islands, dinosaur remains found in Queensland and the fish and animals found on the land and in the seas of Queensland. These include three full size model whales hanging from the ceiling of a walkway outside the Museum. Free admission.
Location: Grey Street, South Brisbane. How to get there: on foot, cross Victoria Bridge from Queen St; By train, alight at South Brisbane station on the Cleveland or Beenleigh lines. 

General Interest Attractions

Bribie Island: easily accessible residential/recreational island on the northern perimeter of Brisbane
Beautiful island with many white, sandy beaches (surf on the ocean side; calm on the lee side), an abundance of wildlife including dolphin, dugong and turtles, kangaroos and emus and wonderful scenery across the Pumicestone Passage to the Glass House Mountains. Sports and outdoor activities are major attractions - these include golf, watersports, gliding, beach and deep sea fishing, parasailing, boating and walking. All settlement is in the south of the island; Bribie Island National Park occupies most of the northern sections.
Contact: (07) 3408 2641. Website. Location: How to get there: from Brisbane by road via Sturt Hwy (take Bribie Island turnoff at Caboolture and follow the signs); train to Caboolture then bus, or by Brisbane Transport bus, Kangaroo Bus Lines and Bribie Island Coaches direct to Bribie Island from Roma Street Transit Centre, Roma St, Brisbane.

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Moreton Bay: Brisbane's aquatic playground and marine sanctuary
Moreton Bay, to the east of the city of Brisbane and its suburbs, is very much the city's playground, a wide expanse of relatively calm water dotted with many surprisingly unspoilt islands of different sizes and varying character. The bay extends some 160 km from Caloundra in the north almost to Surfers Paradise in the south. The bay's southern navigation entrance is the Gold Coast Seaway. It is a haven for wildlife - spotting dolphins, whales, turtles and manta rays, and its vast array of birdlife is a popular pass time. The bay's heritage protected wetlands, mudflats, and waterways are some of the healthiest in the region, supporting seasonally up to 25 % of Australia's bird species. Moreton Bay is also a popular destination for recreational anglers and is used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market. A number of ferry and water-taxi services travel over the bay either to and from islands or on day and half-day sightseeing and fishing tours.
Moreton Bay Islands website

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North Stradbroke Island: large residential/recreational island on Moreton Bay
The largest of the string of islands on Moreton Bay, North Stradbroke Island is in some ways like Bribie Island, but in reverse - with a number of small settlements in the north while the southern section remains undeveloped. Dunwich, Amity Point and Point Lookout are the three relatively small and sleepy settlements on Straddie, as it is known by the locals. There plenty for visitors to do here - freshwater lakes in the island's centre provide beautiful picnic and swimming spots; coastal walks give access to the island's white sandy beaches and lookouts from which whales, dolphins and dugong can be seen. There is enough to do here to fill a few days but adequate time in a single day to get there and back and take in plenty of what the island has to offer. There is great humpback whale-watching from Point Lookout Park on the North Gorge Walk in the whale watching season (late July to Early November). On one visit in mid July I saw 8 whales during my 20 minutes at the lookout.
Contact: (07) 3821 0266. Website. Location: How to get there: by road, drive to the suburb of Cleveland, park at the ferry terminal, Middle Street, car or passenger ferry to the island; by rail, train to Cleveland, walk east from the station along Shore Street West, follow the signs to the ferry terminal, car or passenger ferry to the island; bus from Dunwich to Point Lookout village.

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South Stradbroke Island: subtropical rainforest island to the north of the Gold Coast
One of the islands off Moreton Bay, South Stradbroke forms the northern end of Gold Coast. The 22 km by 2.5 km sized island is the smaller one of the two Stradbroke Islands and lies very close to the mainland. The island lives on tourism, it has some quiet but popular campsites. The western beaches are quiet and lagoon-like and the eastern beaches are known as a paradise for surfers. The southern end of the island fronts the Broadwater, and the tip marks the Gold Coast Seaway, only a matter of metres from the mainland at Southport Spit. The east coast borders the Coral Sea. South Stradbroke consists mainly of sand, sand dunes and subtropical forest. The island also has a specific flora and fauna; the Golden Wallaby lives only on this island.
Contact: (07) 5577 3311. Website. How to get there: by passenger ferry from Runaway Bay (25 minutes) at the Northern end of the Gold Coast.

Coochiemudlo Island: small, quiet island on Moreton Bay
One of the smaller islands on Moreton Bay, Coochiemudlo Island is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The island's shallow beaches and mangroves are protected from the breakers of the South Pacific. Although Coochie, as the island is known locally, is only 5 square kilometres in size, it boasts more than 4 Km of beautiful safe beaches, which are ideal for the children. The name 'Coochiemudlo' refers to the red rock pictured above. This dominant feature makes the island easily recognisable when seen from the mainland. In spite of 'mud' appearing in the name, there is only a little mangrove - the rest is beach.
Website. Location: east of Victoria Point and Point Halloran on Brisbane's south coast. How to get there: by road, proceed south along Gateway Fwy. Take Old Cleveland Rd exit to Capalaba, right into Redlands Bay Rd, left into Boundary Rd, right into Cleveland-Redlands Bay Rd, then left into and to end of Colburn Ave., Victoria Pt., car ferry (20 minutes) from Victoria Pt.

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Manly village: Brisbane's gateway to the Moreton Bay Marine Park and the fascinating islands within the bay.
Manly Harbour Village overlooks Manly Boat Harbour, the largest man-made marina on Australia's east coast, which is home to over 1,500 craft of all shapes and sizes. Manly Harbour Village is the nearest point from the Brisbane Central Business District to access Moreton Bay, Manly Village included in the Southern Moreton Bay Tourist Drive. The Village still displays glimpses of her fishing village past and has maintained a friendly village atmosphere while providing an eclectic mix of interesting and entertaining restaurants, eateries, coffee houses, craft shops, Sunday markets, art galleries, accommodation and offshore adventures.
Contact: (07) 3348 3524. Website. Location: 20 minutes drive from Brisbane on Moreton Bay. How to get there: by road, drive south of of Brisbane via South Eastern Fwy., after crossing Brisbane River take Vulture St exit, east along Vulture St, left into Wellington Rd, right into Shafston Ave., left into Lyton and then Wynnum Rd, follow Wynnum Rd through Morningside to Tingalpa, right into Manly Rd; by rail, train to Manly station on the Cleveland line, from station turn left onto Mountjoy Tce., right into Cambridge Pde.

Special Interest Attractions

St Helena Island: historic prison island on Moreton Bay. St Helena Island is Queensland's most historic island. Now a National Park near the mouth of the Brisbane River, for more than 60 years it was home to hundreds of society's outcasts, being colonial Queensland's foremost maximum security prison for men. Ruins of the island's penal settlement remain; tour guides and members of the St Helena Theatre Troupe, a band of actors and singing minstrels, tell the story of the island to visitors. Night ghost tours also available. Tour fees apply.
Contact: (07) 3893 1240. Website. Location: 4 km from the mouth of the Brisbane River. How to get there: by road, drive south of of Brisbane via South Eastern Fwy., after crossing Brisbane River take Vulture St exit, east along Vulture St, left into Wellington Rd, right into Shafston Ave., left into Lyton and then Wynnum Rd, follow Wynnum Rd through Morningside to Tingalpa, right into Manly Rd. Tours by Catamaran from Fairlead Cres., Manly (30 minute trip); by rail, train to Manly station on the Cleveland line, from station turn left onto Mountjoy Tce., right into Cambridge Pde. Tours by Catamaran from Fairlead Cres., Manly (30 minute trip).

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Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium: New South Wales colonial Governor Sir Thomas Brisbane established Australia’s first significant observatory and was responsible for the first extensive mapping of the southern sky. His observations led to a list of 7,385 stars. An original copy of the ‘Brisbane Catalogue of Stars’ and one of his telescopes are on display at the Planetarium. The Display Zone features interesting artefacts and displays, including fragments of asteroids and spacecraft models. You will also see images from the Hubble Space Telescope. The Cosmic Skydome is a giant screen that displays digital feature shows. It uses the Zeiss Star Projector to recreate images of Brisbane’s night sky. Short feature shows on various astronomical topics and space missions are continuously screened in the Mini Theatre.
Contact: (07) 3403 2578. Website. Location: within the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt. Coot-tha. How to get there: by car, proceed north along Riverside Expressway into Milton Rd, entrance on right at Toowong prior before commencement of Western Freeway; by Bus No. 471, or the Great City Circle bus (No. 598 or No. 599) from various suburbs.

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Conrad Treasury Casino: Brisbane's casino resort and convention complex. Conrad Treasury casino resort and convention complex is situated in two of Australia's grandest heritage buildings. The Casino occupies the historic Treasury Building and the hotel is located in the Lands Administration Building. The hotel features fine examples of Edwardian Baroque architecture and historic sandstone walls.
Contact: (07) 3306 8888. Website. Location: 130 William Street, Brisbane.

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Gabba Cricket Ground: Brisbane's iconic sportsground. The Brisbane Cricket Ground is better known across Australia as "The Gabba", a name which comes from the suburb of Woolloongabba in which the ground is situated. The Gabba dates back to 1895, when the land was designated as the site for a cricket ground. The first event conducted at The Gabba was a cricket match between Parliament and the Press on 19th December 1896. The result was a tie (61 runs each). The Gabba is today the home ground for the Brisbane Lions AFL team and the Queensland Bulls national cricket team. The largest crowd ever to assemble here was 47,096 at the Second Rugby League Test, Australia v Great Britain, 3rd July 1954.
Contact: (07) 3008 6166. Website. Location: Vulture Street, Woolloongabba. How to get there: by rail, to Vulture Street station on the Beenleigh line, walk along Vulture St.

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The Old Commissariat Store: birthplace of the city of Brisbane. Anyone tracing back the history of Brisbane will ultimately end up right here - at the city's oldest surviving building. Back when its foundations were being laid in July 1828, Brisbane was merely four years old, had only four permanent buildings, and was known as the Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, established as a place of secondary punishment for New South Wales convicts. Since occupation by the Royal Historical Society of Queensland in 1981, the Commissariat Store has been used as a museum, research centre, as a venue for RHSQ activities such as conferences and meetings.
Contact: (07) 3221 4198. Website. Location: 115 William Street, Brisbane.

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Newstead Park: historic house with period furnishings. Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence was constructed in 1846 for Patrick Leslie who had first settled on the Darling Downs in 1840.  Over the years, Newstead has evolved from a simple Colonial Georgian cottage into a sprawling homestead with intricate balustrade, spacious verandahs and a vista that incorporates the Brisbane River, undulating parkland and the Breakfast Creek Heritage Precinct. Entry fees apply.
Contact: (07) 3216 1846. Website. Location: Cnr. Breakfast Creek Road & Newstead Avenue, Newstead. How to get there: Brisbane City Council buses pass the entrance to Newstead Park.  Alight at Stop 12 inbound and outbound.  Bus timetable information available from Translink 13 12 30. River City Cruises also cruise to Newstead House twice daily.  Bookings essential on 0428 278 473.

Brisbane's Eat Streets

• Racecourse Road, Ascot - mixed cafes and restaurants
• Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley - mixed cafes and restaurants, pavement dining
• Chinatown Mall, Fortitude Valley - Asian
• Boundary Street, West End - wide range of dining styles and cuisines
• Brunswick and James Streets, New Farm - mixed cafes and restaurants
• Melbourne Street, South Brisbane (Southbank Parklands) - mixed cafes and restaurants
• Queen Street Mall, Brisbane
• Park Road, Milton - cafes and restaurants, pavement dining
• Latrobe Terrace and Given Terrace, Paddington - ethnic and modern Australian
• Oxford Street, Bulimba - trendy eateries

Zoos, Wildlife Sanctuaries