ICML 2009: About Brisbane

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 persity 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. 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.

If relaxing poolside is more your style, Brisbane offers many public swimming pools and waterslide parks, or you can take a dip at South Bank's Breaka Beach, Brisbane's own beach in the heart of the city.

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 perse 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.

For more information:

• The ICML 2009 Dining Page
• www.ourbrisbane.com.au
• www.brisbanevisitorsguide.com.au

Whats on in Brisbane

For details of events on in Brisbane during ICML:

• Keep an eye on the ICML Blog
• Brisbane City Council Whats on Guide
• OurBrisbane.com Events Page

Use Translink’s Journey Planner to find your closest public transport options

Shopping Complexes – Brisbane

Brisbane - City Centre
Open 7 days
The open plan, half a kilometre long Queen Street Mall has five major shopping centres, two department stores and four shopping arcades to explore.  Streets that surround the Mall (Adelaide, Albert, Edward and Elizabeth) offer unique boutiques and designer fashion.

Chermside (Westfield Shopping Centre)
Cnr Gympie & Hamilton Rds, Chermside QLD 4032
(07) 3117 5300
Open 7 days
How to get there
Located in Brisbane’s north, recent redevelopment made this the biggest shopping centre in Brisbane, with nearly 350 stores. A key feature of the project is the new Parkland Pavilion, which is an open space market-square area surrounded by al fresco dining and a fresh food market.

DFO – Brisbane Airport
1 Airport Drive, Brisbane Airport QLD 4007
(07) 3305 9250
Open 7 days
How to get there
Situated next to Brisbane airport, 120 outlet shops of leading Australian and international brands are up to 70% off.  Includes clothing, specialty shops and eateries, with lots of parking.  Look for the big orange number 1 flags when turning into Airport Drive, as the exit comes up fast on the left.

DFO – Jindalee
16 Amazons Place, Jindalee QLD 4074
(07) 3167 3555
Open 7 days
How to get there
Opened last year, this DFO is close to The University of Queensland. Lots of parking, and similar shops to the Airport DFO. Smaller and less busy than the latter.

Fortitude Valley
The Valley as its known to locals, is easily accessible by public transport from the CBD (or a pleasant stroll to Brunswick Street and Chinatown)
Most shops open 7 days
Looking for edgy urban styles such as Nelson Molloy, Dogstar, Ultra Suite, Blonde Venus, Lucid Laundry, Marz, Miss Marz and Maiocchi – head to Ann and Brunswick Streets in The Valley.  There’s also a market each weekend in the Brunswick Street Mall – Brisbane’s Chinatown.  Don’t miss James Street, The Emporium and TCB – and charge-up your credit cards.  Also home to Brisbane’s biggest nightspots/clubs, including the highly innovative and recently opened Cloudland (641 Ann Street) – worth a visit to see the architecture and art work alone.

Stones Corner
Located on Logan Road, Greenslopes.
Some shops have limited hours on weekends
A bargain hunter's haven for brand-name factory outlets. Cue, Jeans West, Colorado, Table Eight and Strandbags all have outlets in Stones Corner. Stones Corner is a 10 minute bus ride from Brisbane CBD and is easily accessible from all inner city locations. There is also free, though limited, parking across from Logan Road.

Shopping Complexes – Out of Brisbane

Pacific Fair
Hooker Boulevard, Broadbeach QLD 4218
(07) 5581 5100
Open 7 days
How to get there
Located close to the heart of the Gold Coast opposite Jupiter's Casino at Broadbeach, the centre is only five minutes drive from Surfers Paradise.  Pacific Fair is an open air and undercover retail delight to satisfy any shopping lover.
Many major stores and over 260 specialty retailers, banks, medical services, a post office and cafes, bars and restaurants. Children are catered for with a themed children's play park and the disabled can make use of the companion service. Parking is easy with over 5000 free carparks. There are taxi and water taxi services and a Bus Interchange. Set in leafy walkways and parks with lakes and streams.

Marina Mirage
74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD 4217
(07) 5555 6400
Open 7 days
How to get there
On the Gold Coast directly opposite the five star Sheraton Mirage Resort & Spa, it is adjacent to the world's first Palazzo Versace Hotel.  Offers award winning restaurants, designer boutiques filled with the world's top fashion labels and specialty stores.  High-end label shopping in a boat-lovers’ paradise.

Harbour Town
Cnr Gld Cst Hwy & Oxley Drive, Biggera Waters, QLD 4216
(07) 5529 1734
Open 7 days
How to get there
Harbour Town outlet shopping began on the Gold Coast in December 1999 when Australia’s first purpose-built brand direct outlet shopping centre opened 15 minutes north of Surfers Paradise.
Outlet stores, off-price and clearance stores sell end of season, clearance lines, sample ranges and seconds.  They also stock designed and manufactured specifically for outlet shopping. Some stores have a selection of new season stock at regular retail prices.
There are tourism and customer lounges for the latest information and a range of special shopper services and amenities. Also has cafes, restaurants, specialty stores, cinemas, and a kids train to transport them around the site.