Top Reasons To Visit Brisbane

Top Reasons To Visit Brisbane

 

Australia's biggest entertainment line-up, a fantastic food culture and the first ever bridge swing
to launch on the country's shores. Booming Brisbane is bursting with must-do's.

Here's our pick of what's hot and why you need to visit before the year is out:

1. Like to be ahead of the crowd and amongst the first to try something new? You'll be
busy keeping up with the restaurants that have opened across Brisbane City. One of the
most anticipated restaurants of the year, Blackbird Bar & Grill does a mean seafood
feast and prohibition-era cocktail in a glittering 1920s-inspired fit-out. Alternatively try
the new LiveFire Steak Bar which boasts 180 degree views of South Bank.
www.blackbirdbrisbane.com.au/www.livefiresteakbar.com.au

2. Soar through the air and experience the most exhilarating ride of your life on Australia's
first ever bridge swing. From 24-25 October, Goodwill Swing to Save will offer you the
chance to free-fall then swing across the Brisbane River from the Goodwill Bridge.
Register at www.scasites.org.au/swing – there are only 250 seats for the taking.

3. Catch Katy Perry's electrifying Pragmatic World Tour at the Brisbane Entertainment
Centre from 27 November – 1 December. Word on the street is the superstar has

designed the stage herself so fans can get closer to her than ever before. Bag your ticket
at www.ticketek.com.au/katyperry

4. Get your game face on as the Wallabies take on the All Blacks in the final Bledisloe Cup
match of 2014 on 18 October, and at the Four Nations Tournament Double Header on
25 October. To book , visit http://www.suncorpstadium.com.au

5. Marvel at 30 years of Japanese haute couture at the raved about 'Future Beauty"
exhibition launching at GOMA on 1 November until 15 February – perfect for fashion
and culture worshippers. Alternatively step back in time at the 'Costumes of the Golden
Age" exhibition at Museum of Brisbane from 21 November – 26 April, and discover
fashion's secret history with 'Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion" at the
Queensland Museum from 12 November – 1 February. For more info, visit
www.qagoma.qld.gov.au

6. Celebrate the start of summer at Ben & Jerry's Openair Cinemas returning with another
blockbuster event featuring music by day and movies by night. The quintessential
outdoor event will take place at South Bank's enchanting Rainforest Green by the Wheel
of Brisbane until 9 November. Check it out at www.openaircinemas.com.au/brisbane

7. Get your dancing shoes on! Stereosonic, one of the biggest and best dance music

festivals in the world, is back from 6-7 December with a stunning line-up including Calvin
Harris and Skillrex. To book, visit www.stereosonic.com.au

8. Meet the stars and creators of your favourite comic books, movies and games at Supernova, Australia's geekiest gig, taking place at BCEC from 28 – 30 November. To book, visit www.supanova.com.au

 

9. Brisbane is set to get weird and wonderful between 5 – 12 December with a fantastic new festival experience at the Powerhouse introducing an eclectic mixture of alternative comedy, cabaret, circus and music. Tickets available from www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

 

10. Enjoy a 'Paddle and Prawns" experience on the Brisbane River. This unique experience involves guiding your own illuminated kayak and taking in the shimmering lights of the cityscape on a leisurely 90-minute paddle before relaxing with a riverside meal of fresh king prawns (Friday) or a barbecue (Saturday) with famous Queensland lamingtons for dessert. Wash it all down with Australian beer and wine. Book your gourmet paddle at http://www.riverlife.com.au/experiences

 

How To Make The Most Of Australia's Coolest City On A Budget

You don't need a big wallet to enjoy all the fine, tasty things that booming Brisbane has to offer.
While the city is thriving, it is also affordable which is one of the things that makes it so great. So go on, grab this list and discover the top things you can do for less or even for free:

1. Soak up the art at GOMA, one of the country's most exciting art galleries and innovative
artistic spaces in Australia, for free. The galleries are architectural wonders housing
Australian and international art, and there is also a stylish bar for staying up fashionably
late. www.qagoma.qld.gov.au

2. Cruise along the iconic Brisbane River on a CityCat Ferry. It's one of the cheapest and
most pleasant ways to experience this amazing city. To enjoy the full experience, board
at the University of Queensland and wind your way along past the City and South Bank
to Brett's Wharf. You can hop on and off along the way and do all this for around $5.
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/public.../citycat-ferry-services

3. Explore the coolest spots in the city on a free guided tour with the Brisbane Greeters –
no one knows Brisbane better! The two to four hour walking tours are run by passionate
volunteers and open to everyone whether you're travelling alone, with friends, kids or
partners. www.visitbrisbane.com.au/brisbane-greeters

4. Experience the pulse of Brisbane at one of its many markets. From Indie music to
organic foods, young home-grown designer labels, and everything you could imagine in
between, you'll find something that's truly unique. Some of the top markets include
West End Twilight market, South Bank Lifestyle Market, South Bank Young Designers
Market and Jan Powers Farmers Markets.

5. Catch a free performance at the Powerhouse. This enormous arts and cultural icon
used to supply electricity to Brisbane's entire tramway system. Not only is it an eclectic
art space but there is also regular free music and comedy gigs.
www.powerhousemuseum.com

6. Unwind at South Bank. Streets Beach is one of the highlights as Brisbane's only inner
city beach and, at certain times of the year, you can lounge on the sand and watch a
free movie.

7. Enjoy some of the best dining and eating out in Brisbane for cheap at The Crosstown
Eating House. You could order the entire bar menu and still have change from $20. Visit
for the easygoing vibe in a beautiful, airy 1920s building and the delectable lamb cutlet
and minted yoghurt for only $5. www.thecrosstown.com.au

8. Discover one of the world's prettiest and most fragrant rose gardens. On a par with
London's Hyde Park and New York's Central Park, Brisbane's New Farm Park offers
beautiful expansive gardens overlooking Brisbane River.

9. Hop on Brisbane's Airtrain – quick, economical and operates on Australia's longest
viaduct. It's hard to beat for simplicity, comfort and punctuality and takes you right to
the city centre, close to the Convention Centre, hotels and shops so you can enjoy all the action right away. Savings include a 10 per cent discount for all online bookings, new web group fares starting as low as $27 for two people travelling from the Airport to the city, substantially less than the cost of an average taxi fare equivalent during peak and off-peak times. There's also a Kids Travel Free policy for kids of 14 years of age and under travelling between the Airport and Brisbane city stations when accompanied by a paying adult. www.airtrain.com.au

 

10. Stylish and affordable hotel options are also aplenty in Brisbane. Try the hip TRYP Fortitude Valley Hotel, Brisbane's very first art hotel, which sits atop one of the city's most interesting historical sites. Room rates start from only $174 per night. www.trypbrisbane.com.au

 

Top tips thanks to Brisbane's Airtrain. For further information, please visit www.airtrain.com.au

 

Brisbane's Airtrain Set To Fast Track Travel With New Budget-Busting Initiatives

 

Holidaymakers and business travellers alike are set to benefit from cheaper and more
streamlined trips following the introduction of a raft of new ticketing initiatives from Brisbane's
Airtrain, the premier rail link connecting Brisbane Airport to Australia's hippest city* as well as
the Gold Coast and suburbs.

Launched to deliver improved value and flexibility to those travelling to and from Brisbane
Airport, the offerings include a 10 per cent discount for all online bookings and new, substantial
discounts for groups of two or more. Web group fares attract top savings with prices starting as
low as $27 for two people travelling from the Airport to the city**, substantially less than the
cost of the $43 average taxi fare equivalent during peak and off peak times.

Marketing Manager of Brisbane's Airtrain, Gunjan Allen, said the group fares along with online
booking options and Airtrain's new Australian-first iPhone app all offer travellers unbeatable
value for money and convenience.

'At Airtrain, we take a customer-centric approach and are committed to delivering fast, reliable
travel for all, whether you are on a work trip, a getaway or family holiday. Our new initiatives,
including an innovative mobile app, have been designed to provide affordable, hassle-free
travel, so you can now truly fast track your trip with Airtrain," said Mrs Allen.

Available for iPhone, Airtrain's new e-ticket app is the first of its kind in the Australian public
transport industry and allows passengers to plan their journey to and from the Airport and
Brisbane City.

The app can also be used to display a ticket barcode when entering and exiting a station and
features timetable information and a handy 'Next Trains Today" function, which shows the next
train departure from any station on the Airport and Gold Coast lines.

CEO of Brisbane's Airtrain, Chris Basche said the launch of Airtrain's new initiatives follows the
introduction of an additional 12 services to and from Brisbane Airport in 2014 to increase the
frequency of trains and capacity of both the weekday and weekend timetable. Airtrain now
operates 100 services on weekdays from 5am-10pm and 66 services on weekends from 6am-10pm.

'The reliability and affordability of travel provided by Airtrain means it is a no-brainer for those looking for a fast, easy way to get to and from the Airport. It's also an environmentally friendly option, as each time a person uses the train to get to or from Brisbane Airport to the CBD they save 0.43Kg of CO2."

For further information, please visit www.airtrain.com.au.