Plan Book Travel Australia

The suburbs surrounding the Brisbane CBD can be divided into the Inner Suburbs, Southside, Bayside, Northside and Westside.

Inner Suburbs

Originally a place of farming, shipping, commerce and industry, the inner suburbs are now alive with a diversity of people and nightlife to rival any other city in the country. Fortitude Valley is lined with indoor and outdoor eateries, shops and clubs. Also in the Valley isChinatown Mall, a place of Chinese influence, with an array of clothes, shops, food and festivals. Visitors are attracted to this colourful area to sample authentic yum cha and Chinese culture.

For picnics and BBQs, visit Kangaroo Point, a magnificent outdoor reserve with abseiling and rockclimbing facilities, as well as great views from the clifftops. New Farm, once a prison farm, is now a leafy suburb brimming with grand houses and old cottages. Well-known for its parks, restaurants, bookshops and art galleries, New Farm is worth a visit. Take the Hail and Ride bus service for a tour of the 15 galleries in the area. The Powerhouse Centre for Live Arts is close by.

For lovers of Australia's colonial heritage, visit Newstead House, situated on the eastern side of Fortitude Valley and open Mon-Fri.

Southside

As one of the city's oldest suburbs, South Brisbane offers South Bank, 16ha of informal recreational gardens, as well as Brisbane's principal cultural precinct, with theatres, museums and an art gallery to explore.

Cricket lovers venture to Woolloongabba, the Brisbane Cricket Ground commonly known as the Gabba. You can sample the fresh fruit available at the Brisbane Markets in Rocklea or visit the famous rum distillery at Beenleigh. For a panoramic view of Brisbane city, try the Mount Gravatt Lookout, only 10km from the CBD.

Bayside

Situated on Moreton Bay, the bayside suburbs offer a relaxed

ambience and water-based recreational activities. Cleveland has an historical precinct and is the departure point for ferries to North Stradbroke Island. Manly has a large marina and passenger ferry departures to St Helena Island. There is a mangrove boardwalk at Wynnum and a vehicular and passenger ferry links historic Redcliffe with the natural wonders of Moreton Island.

Pods of playful bottlenose dolphins are often seen riding the waves in Moreton Bay, and humpback whales sometimes venture into the bay during their winter migration (mid-June-Oct). Fort Lytton, at the mouth of the Brisbane River, played an important part in Queensland's defence for over 60 years. The 19th-century fort has a museum and guided tours are available on Sundays.

Northside

On the northside, the 'old money' suburbs of Hamilton andAscot are 10km NE of the CBD. Ascot is home to famous Eagle Farm Racecourse. Boondall Wetlands is a magnificent reserve about 15km from the CBD. A nature-based recreation area, the wetlands can be explored from a bikeway, walking trails or by canoe. Brisbane'sAlma Park Zoo and Lake Samsonvale are attractions in the far northern suburbs. The lake has several picnic spots and designated areas for shoreside fishing.

Westside

Visit the famous Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary close to the Brisbane River at Fig Tree Pocket and the many attractions around Mount Coot-tha. Brisbane Forest Park stretches through the western suburbs, offering bushwalking, picnicking, camping, scenic drives, horse-riding and cycling; a permit is required. Lakes, mountains, eucalypt forest, lookouts, gullies, rainforest and waterfalls are all part of the park's natural environment. Park headquarters at The Gap has the Walkabout Creek Wildlife Centre, where platypus, turtles, lungfish, an aviary and nocturnal wildlife can be seen. Also worth visiting is the Brisbane General Cemetery, established in 1871. A pleasant place to wander around, it also offers an insight into the history of Brisbane.