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Brisbane city is relaxing, friendly and vibrant, and an
ideal base for your campervan holiday. It deserves more
than just a quick visit. It is a tourist destination in
itself.
With over two million residents, Brisbane is no longer the
‘small country town’, but Australia’s third largest city.
Located in South East Queensland, it is internationally
appealing for many reasons, mostly its accessibility to
breathtaking scenery and tourist attractions.
There are not too many cities which could boast such
diversity as city skylines, theme parks, island resorts,
mountain ranges, pristine beaches and rolling countryside,
all within an easy hour’s drive.
The subtropical climate brings perfect sunny weather for
most of the year, with an average temperature of 30 degrees,
so bring your hat, sunscreen and light clothing. Winters
are mild and still sunny, with an average of 15 degrees. You
should also bring comfortable walking shoes as there are
myriads of spectacular walking and bike tracks close to the
campervan parks within Brisbane and surrounding suburbs.
Buzzing with culture and style, the city centre offers first
class restaurants and an extensive shopping mall. A great
idea is to parkyour campervan at South Bank and walk across
the bridge to the city as parking can be expensive.
The South Bank parklands deserve a full day to explore the
sandy lagoon, shops, cafes and restaurants. On weekends
there are free concerts, plus unique art and craft markets.
The promenade is always beautiful at night with the
colourful lights of the city just across the river, and the
Kookaburra Queen paddle steamer is a crowd stopper.
You can’t miss the Brisbane Botanical Gardens at Mount
Coot-tha, which offer over 50 hectares of world class
gardens and attractions. Entry is free, and guided walks
are available. The views from the top of Mount Coot-tha are
exhilarating, with sweeping views of the city skyline
through to the islands of the bay.
Also located on the north side of Brisbane is Lone Pine
Koala Sanctuary which is Australia’s largest koala research
and refuge centre, and home to a huge variety of birds and
wildlife species.
If you are keen for some adventure, drive on to Kangaroo
Point for the ultimate Storey Bridge Adventure Climb. This
is the third bridge climb in the world and takes in a
magnificent 360 degree panorama of the Brisbane city.
Redland Bay is popular with Brisbane locals and tourists
alike and easy to reach being only 40 minutes from the city
centre. The bay islands offer great fishing, breath-taking
beaches and unforgettable scenery. There are so many
terrific spots to park and relax for a couple of hours, and
if you have some time there are frequent ferry and barge
services departing for Russell, Lamb and Macleay islands.
The barge to Stradbroke Island takes 45 minutes from
Cleveland and is a worthwhile and popular day trip. The
rugged scenery, inland islands and massive sand dunes are
unforgettable. You might prefer to stay a few extra days to
appreciate this magnificent island, and there are numerous
camping grounds so you can enjoy your home away from home.
Brisbane is also a great location for exploring the
Queensland countryside and surrounding country towns.
Toowoomba, ‘the garden city’ is only a few hours away, and
a memorable day trip with antique shops and fruit barns
scattered along the highway. Fantastic day trips also
include the famous Australia Zoo and Underwater World on the
Sunshine Coast, with majestic scenery such as the Glasshouse
mountains which can be enjoyed while you are driving.
Travelling south, the Gold Coast is host to major theme
parks including Seaworld, MovieWorld and Dreamworld, not
forgetting long brilliant beaches and the majestic Gold
Coast hinterland, all only an hour from Brisbane. Just
before Oxenford, take some time to visit the Strawberry
Farm, pat the old camel and try one of their signature
strawberry icecreams.
Brisbane has everything for the international traveller and
local tourist alike and is the perfect base for a fantastic
Queensland campervan holiday. Once you have discovered its
treasures,it will be difficult to leave this sunny city.
Jenny Brewer
http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/
http://storybridgeadventureclimb.com.au/
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/popular_parks/
http://www.ozhorizons.com.au/qld/bris/moreton/ww.htm
http://www.theme-parks.com.au/ |
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