getting local

Brisbane and surrounds abounds with wonderful parks, great urban life and a raft of activities. Here are a few ideas and sources of inspiration.

Free, fabulous and close

They say the greatest gift is time, and you can get the time of a true local for free through Brisbane Greeters for walking tours of well known and hidden gems. Amazingly you can also tailor the experience by interest or part of town.  

Pack a picnic and savour the outdoors at the Botanical gardens or Roma Street Parkland both close to Annie's or jump on a City Cat to Kangaroo Point or New Farm parks a little further afield.

Feeling warm? Mix it with the throngs for a swim at Southbank.

urban vibe

More and more people are now discovering what we have always known - the city of Brisbane is real hip! Lucky for Annie's guests the epicentre of cafes and bars on Burnett Lane is very close.

Not so far away are quartiers where hipsters, urbanistas and brisbanenistas (yes it is a real word) embrace the fine art of conversation in an ever expanding range of urban eating and drinking spots. The Valley (including James Street), Paddington, West End and Logan Road offer plenty of options in addition to those in the centre of Brisbane and Southbank.  In town on the first Sunday of the month? Check out the Young Designers Market.

Gentleman, need a haircut and a coffee and a beer?  Then you are spoilt for choice. 

big art and history

Museums: Let’s start with the well known and well worthwhile Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and the Queensland Museum all at Southbank. The Museum of Brisbane always is well received with its combination of old and modern displays of life in Brisbane. 

Heritage buildings: The city without obvious fanfare has a worthy collection of heritage buildings. Brisbane City Hall, Parliament House, Commissariat Stores, Customs House, General Post Office, Government Printing Office and Old Government House for the functions of state, St Stephen’s Cathedral, St John’s Cathedral, Albert Street Uniting Church as monuments to religion, and the Regatta Hotel and the Breakfast Creek Hotel and Empire Hotel (Fortitude Valley) for that other well known religion. Ormiston House, Amity and Bertholme (New Farm), Bishopsbourne (Milton), Bulimba House (Bulimba) and Beth Eden (Graceville) demonstrate an eye for design right from the early days of European establishment. Mustdobrisbane.com lists many more. 

enjoy the fresh air

Brisbane and surrounds abounds with wonderful parks, great urban life and a raft of activities. Here are a few ideas and sources of inspiration.

embrace the river

A trip to Brisbane is not complete without spending time on its namesake as it meanders (most of the time) through sub tropical foliage and city life. The River Cat ferries plying the river are a great way to get around and going be you a fine experience.

To get even closer and more intimate to can go Kayaking solo or in guided group trips. Great fun and open to all skill levels.

Abseiling may not be on the river but the view from the rock face of kangaroo point is a unique perspective and gets you close as possible to experiencing how the river has carved its way through the landscape.

see a queenslander

Relaxed and informal, built for the climate and the times. Both the people and the quintessential Queenslander architecture are proud and generous in equal measure.

Lawn bowls is a great way to get to know a local. What is lawn bowls you might be asking? A genteel pastime, you could say it is the refined outdoor ancestor of ten pin bowling and boules combined. Methyr and New Farm bowls clubs are a short City Cat ride away where you can book a lane, get a brief training from an old champion of the sport and get to spend some time on nice grass with bare feet and cold, cheap, beer.

Cute and furry at Lone Pine. This place has to be the most famous Koala park in the world. Not just Koalas of course, there are plenty other marsupials. 

Sports: The Gabba for cricket and Australian rules football and Suncorp Stadium for rugby. 

good coffee and sources for whats on

Following are good sources for whats on, places to eat and other activities.

Visitbrisbane, the official Brisbane city council website. 

Mustdobrisbane.com for a great range of information across the spectrum of sights and activities for all tastes.

Theurbanlist, Brisbane Threads, and the Weekend edition focus on the new and urban and sometimes urbane.

Goodfood.com.au for other dining options.

The Beanhunter for coffee spots rated by the towns' bean serious folk.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Following the link to Pinterest are feeds from Twitter offering you inspiration on your next visit to Brisbane and Queensland.

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