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[Top Tourist Attractions in Brisbane]

Located towards the southern end of the state, Brisbane is Queensland’s capital and has a great range of hotels. Many visitors are attracted by the great weather in the city – while summers are hot and humid, winters are mild and offer a great escape from the cooler cities in the south of the country. International visitors too are attracted to Brisbane, for its diverse range of cultural attractions, huge variety of annual festivals and world-class sporting events.

Top Tourist Attractions in Brisbane

Brisbane River, which runs through the centre of the city, draws many of city’s visitors, especially in the summer months. There are lots of different companies operating boat cruises along the river, and a sunset cruise can be a beautiful and relaxing way to end any day. Many of the cruises also combine a commentary along the river with a buffet dinner or lunch, allowing you to sample fresh local seafood while at the same time learning about the history of the area.

Brisbane’s Story Bridge, which crosses the Brisbane River is one of the main sights in the city centre. Although not as impressive from the ground as the great Sydney Harbour Bride, for those who are a little more adventurous, there is the chance to climb the bridge. From the top visitors can get great views of the surrounding areas including the Glass House Mountains, Moreton Bay and Lamington National Park.

Another of Brisbane’s more popular attractions, where visitors are able to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in both World Wars, is the Anzac Square War Memorial. Located against the hustle and bustle of the city centre, the Shrine of Remembrance inside the memorial holds an eternal flame, and looks out onto a serene inner-city getaway inside the parkland below.

Entertainment and Culture

Brisbane has a great entertainment scene, and is particularly noted for both its popular and classical live music scene. The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is generally a one-stop shop for almost any kind of live entertainment, and is the home of most of the city’s stage companies, including Queensland Ballet, Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre Company and The Queensland Orchestra. The complex also houses several other buildings of interest to culture vultures including the Queensland Art Gallery and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.

There are also a whole host of venues to sample Brisbane’s live popular music scene, which was voted by Billboard magazine to be one of the top 5 in the world. Most of these venues are concentrated in the Fortitude Valley area of the city, with some of the best being the Zoo, The Troubador and The Tivoli. This is also the main area to head for those more into their dance and trance than their rock and roll, since most of the main nightclubs are in this area.

Those more interested in sports will also find plenty to occupy their time in Brisbane. Australia seems to excel at many sports, but in Brisbane rugby league is the game of choice. Visitors can get a taste of the action at a Brisbane Broncos or Queensland Maroons game, or if they are in the city at the right time of the year, the State of Origin sees the Queensland state team take on New South Wales. Visitors can also find out a bit more about Aussie Rules at a Brisbane Lions game, or watch the ladies in action at a Brisbane Firebirds netball game.