Brisbane

Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, is home to around two million people, who affectionately call their city ‘Brissie’. Life here is lived mostly outdoors – hardly surprising, with a pleasant average annual temperature of at least 22 degrees. This sun-drenched city is a modern, up-and-coming business centre that enjoyed a particular boom in the ’80s with the EXPO 88 world’s fair.

Brisbane is easy to explore on foot or by bike. Kayak tours and ferry rides on the Brisbane River offer a different perspective on the city. On a guided climb of the Story Bridge, one of the city’s landmarks, you are rewarded with a wonderful view of the skyline. Right in the heart of the city, at Southbank, lies an artificial lagoon, where you can unwind on a white sandy beach fringed by turquoise water and palm trees. Art lovers are well catered for too, as the city is home to the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GoMa), the second-largest museum in Australia. For the daring, a guided tour up the Story Bridge offers panoramic views over the city. Brisbane is also the starting point for numerous excursions – the outback and the beautiful beaches are not far away and easy to reach.