Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane is the capital of Australia’s ‘Sunshine State’ – Queensland. 

Brisbane Activities: Located on the Brisbane River, there is much to do in Brisbane. The Southbank precinct where the Convention Centre is located offers a wide variety of activities for all ages from a created beach (with lifeguards on duty) to museums, art galleries, and performing art venues. Restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines line the precinct. Directly across the river is the downtown area with more activities and shopping opportunities. There are a variety of walking tours you can take provided by Brisbane Greeters, Museum of Brisbane and even the Powerhouse. Each tour provides a different aspect of Brisbane including history, art, architecture and places of interest.

A couple of miles up the river is Lone Pine Sanctuary where you can have up-close encounters with Australian wildlife, including patting a koala and feeding kangaroos by hand. And for the young and not so young, a pleasant ferry ride down river is the newly opened Bluey’s World.

There are also a number of First Nations cultural tours and experiences available around Meanjin (Brisbane city) and across the Moreton Bay region.

Brisbane Surrounds: Within an hour’s drive of Brisbane, you can visit many attractions and sites. To the south, there are the beautiful surf beaches of the Gold Coast, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, and many theme parks including Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, Paradise Country and Wet’n’Wild.

An hour to the north is the Sunshine Coast and its hinterland, which includes the famous Glasshouse Mountains and the Australia Zoo developed by “Crocodile Hunter” Steve Irwin that is still run by his family. The Sunshine Coast stretches from the easy-going family focused charm of Caloundra through to the sophisticated seaside village of Noosa.

Queensland: If you have a little more time to spend, regular direct flights will have you on the Great Barrier Reef and in the rainforests around Cairns within an hour or two. Learn more about what to see and do while in Queensland. Why not come early or stay on for a few days and see some of the many sights across Queensland? Various tour operators can help with planning your time.

Across Australia: Why not add a stopover or two before or after the Congress and see some of the rest of the country? Visit Uluru or see the sights of some other major cities such as Sydney, Melboure, Perth, or other parts of Australia all within a flight of one to four hours.

Learn more about what to see and do while in Australia.