Clear skies, warm sunny days and mild nights create a tropical ambience that is perfect for soaking up Brisbane's outdoor lifestyle. Brisbane offers the excitement and diversity of a big city; yet peaceful bush and rainforest hinterland, the islands of Moreton Bay, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast are all within an hour's drive. Brisbane's inner suburbs display excellent examples of Brisbane's early architecture. Typical Queenslander weatherboard homes with corrugated iron roofs and shady verandahs balance on wooden stumps in the hilly streets and terraces of the city.

Culture

The cultural heart of Brisbane is the Queensland Cultural Centre at the South Bank Precinct. Here you'll find the Queensland Art Gallery, State Library and Queensland Museum, with the new Queensland Gallery of Modern Art due to open in late 2006. The latest addition to Brisbane's cultural life is the Brisbane Powerhouse at New Farm. Built on the site which once powered the city's tram system, the Powerhouse offers a mix of theatre, workshops, site tours, public art programs, performances, forums, lectures and readings.

Parks and gardens

Brisbane is home to two world class botanic gardens, the City Botanic Gardens and the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. The City Gardens, located on the banks of the Brisbane River adjacent to Parliament House, were established in 1855 and are popular with visitors and city workers alike. The Brisbane Botanic Gardens are located at the base of Mount Coot-tha in the historic inner suburb of Toowong. The sixteen-hectare Roma Street Parkland, opened in April 2001, is Brisbane's newest public park. The parkland is a green oasis of subtropical plants surrounding a one-hectare lake located in the heart of the city.

Sport and the outdoors

If the outdoors is your passion, the Kangaroo Point cliffs offer excellent rock climbing and abseiling. The cliffs are floodlit for night climbing if you're really keen.

Golf enthusiasts are well catered for with two public golf courses, both close to the city. Maybe you'd like to visit the Queensland Cricket Ground at Woolloongabba close to the city - 'The Gabba' hosts one day and test matches during the summer cricket season. Over the Australian Football League season the historic sports ground is home to Brisbane's own AFL team, the Brisbane Lions.

Dining

So much activity is bound to make you hungry and Brisbane offers a diverse array of dining options to satisfy your appetite. Choose from sipping coffee and people-watching from an alfresco café, gazing at the views from a gourmet riverfront restaurant, tasting local delicacies at the weekend riverside markets or enjoying a relaxed meal at one of hundreds of superb restaurants located around the city and suburbs.