Brisbane is Queensland’s capital and the third biggest city in Australia. Brisbane is known for it’s sunshine (more than 300 days per year!) and relaxed, multicultural atmosphere so it’s definitely a destination that students should consider. Located near the Brisbane River and Moreton Island, it’s one of Australia’s fastest growing cities, but still affordable for students and residents alike.
Brisbane City is made up of several trendy areas; the city centre, West End, South Brisbane, Spring hill, Kelvin Grove, Milton, Fortitude Valley, New Farm, Newstead, St Lucia and Toowong. All have their own individual feel and delicious restaurants, activities and student hotspots. The city centre is home to the famous Queen Street Mall, where you’ll find heritage listed buildings and all the shopping you need. West End is ‘alternative’ and filled with vintage clothes and craft beer while South Bank is home to beautiful parks and the famous man-made beach, Street’s beach.
Things To Do
Head to the beautiful Botanic gardens at least once while you’re in Brisbane. Whether you find a relaxing spot on the grass to study or include it in your fitness routine (there are plenty of fitness activities hosted there) it’s one of Brisbane’s prettiest spots.
Our favourite is South Bank, where there is something for everyone and home to Brisbane’s biggest tourist attractions; the Wheel of Brisbane, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Queensland Museum and Sciencenter as well as Street’s Beach, Australia’s only inner-city manmade beach.
From South Bank you can hop on the City Cat, and cruise up the river – you’ll see all of Brisbane’s glory from the river and it’s only about $4. You can hop off at Eagle Street Pier for a beer, or New Farm Park for a picnic.
If you’re a history buff, head to Old Government House. It’s home to interactive exhibits and podcast tours of Queensland history. It’s free and only ten minutes’ walk from the city centre.
For something fun to do outside of Brisbane city; head to Bribie Island. A sand island full of natural wonders and delicious restaurants, bars and beaches not to be missed. It houses Pumicestone Passage; the oldest registered fish habitat in Queensland and home to plenty of Australian wildlife.
Chinatown Mall in the Valley has several Chinese supermarkets and Asian restaurants, with delicious cuisine at great student prices. It’s a great spot for a BYO dinner party on a Friday and Saturday night also.
For a spectacular range of food and delicious treats visit Eat Street Markets in Hamilton. Made up of market stalls, street food and live entertainment you’ll be in awe of the foods on offer. It’s $3 for entry, and worth every cent. It’s open Friday and Saturday nights.
Brew is a must-stop in the city, offering live music and delicious food it’s open from breakfast till late, and hidden in a cute little laneway.
Everyone loves a good market – you can find a list of the markets in Brisbane Don’t forget about the Milton Markets though, open from 7am to 1pm and is the inner west Brisbane’s premium food, farmers and lifestyle market.
Fat Noodle at the Treasury Casino is a favourite of ours, where you’ll find Asian delights at bargain prices. It’s run by Luke Nguyen, a celebrity Vietnamese-Australian chef. Make sure you try the Seafood Laksa, it’s to die for!
Cineplex cinema’s in South Bank are a cheap night out for anyone. They offer the latest movies, deluxe and #D cinemas as well as a cheap candy bar – tickets are just $6.50 for students!
For a popular student bar in the Toowong area, head to Royal Exchange Hotel (The RE) – they offer trivia nights through the week, as well as Uni events throughout the year. They offer pretty epic vege burgers and cheap beers too.
The Valley is where the nightlife happens. Most pubs are located around the mall, but venter further and you’ll find hip bars and restaurants offering rooftop views, live music, dance clubs and alternative clubs. Cloudland is a favourite – it’s a mega night club with vertical gardens and hanging chandeliers.
Want a true-blue Aussie beer? Head to the XXXX Brewery where you’ll discover the history of a favourite Aussie brewery. Once you’ve done the tour then you can carryon up the road to Caxton street where there are plenty of craft beer to enjoy. It’s especially pumping here after a sports event at Suncorp Stadium.
Suncorp Stadium is home ground to Queensland’s biggest sports teams. You can catch a league, rugby or soccer game, take a tour of the stadium or catch a concert there too, as it’s hosts big names in music such as Ed Sheeran, and Taylor Swift.
Around April head out to Redcliffe to see the Redcliffe Festival Of Sails at Suttons Beach. Enjoy waterfront views of the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht race, Australia’s 2nd biggest Yacht race. There will be plenty of Easter entertainment including the famous skydiving easter bunny.
The Ekka takes place in August, it’s the annual agricultural show of Queensland, showing off food and produce as well as animals and entertainment. Held at the Brisbane Showgrounds, make sure you buy a showbag – a traditional Ekka treat.
Our favourite time of year for events in Brisbane is September when the Brisbane Festival takes place. The program includes theatre, music, dance, circus, opera and major public events such as Sunsuper Riverfire; where Brisbane city is lit up by a spectacular display of fireworks.
In October, make sure you secure a ticket to Australia’s largest German festival, Oktoberfest Brisbane. Officially opened each year by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, you’ll enjoy authentic German food, beer and activities.
NYE is a popular event in Brisbane, where you can watch fireworks displays all along the river and pick up all inclusive packages at many of the main bars and restaurants to ensure you celebrate New Years Eve in style. You can find a list of venues offering these packages here.
Things To Know
China Town in Fortitude Valley was part of the movie set in Jackie Chan’s movie Jackie Chan’s First Strike.
Brisbane was the busiest submarine port in the world during World War II.
North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island are the second and third-largest sand islands in the world.
The world’s first cultivated Macadamia tree lives in the City Botanic Gardens.
Summer runs from December to February and average temperatures range from 21 – 29.8°C (69.8 – 85.6°F). Summer is the storm season for Brisbane and brings the highest rainfall, so pack an umbrella.
Autumn lasts from about March – May. Autumn temperatures fall between15 – 25°C (59 – 77°F).
Running from June to August, are Brisbane’s dry Winters. You’ll need a jumper in the mornings, but temperatures stay between 11 – 21°C (51.8 – 69.8°F).
Spring averages temperatures of between 15 – 25°C (59 – 77°F), The climate is similar to Autumn and days are warm and sunny.
For public transport you’ll need a Go Card. They’re a prepaid card, much like a debit card, where you load money onto it at the station or online and use it to tap on and off public transport as you travel. The fares are based on how far you travel. If you don’t have a Go Card, you’ll need to pay per ride, and cash fares are generally higher than those on the Go Card.
Buses are another popular option, there’s even a free loop around the city centre; signalled by red stop signs. Services are frequent – they run every 5 – 15 minutes. If you’re heading out on a Friday or Saturday, night buses run until 5am.
For a scenic route, hop on the CityCat. The ferries run right the way up the river and back, starting at Northshore Hamilton and ending at the University of Queensland in St Lucia. They stop at all the main spots along the river and depart about every 15 minutes. For smaller trips, you can jump on the CityHopper which service side to side journeys across the river.
Uber is legal in Brisbane – you can simply log in via their app and order one much like a Taxi – it’s cheaper and a great way to meet some locals who know their way around the city. Uber is great as you can confirm the fare before you take off – meaning you will know an approximate price before confirming the ride.
Bikes – a super cheap, and healthy way to get around the city – There are designated bike lanes and tracks around Brisbane, some are shared pathways with pedestrians. Stick to the designated bike lanes and learn the road rules, then you’re ready to go!
Taxi’s are an option also, they can be reasonable prices if you share a cab (especially on a night out). Some Taxi companies to use: Black & White Cabs 133 222 Yellow Cabs 132 227
For transport to the outer suburbs, trains are your best bet. They run every 20 minutes to half hour, and service 12 train lines across Brisbane and surrounds. At night, they depart on the hour. For timetables and routes, see the Translink website.
For Public Transport: you must apply for a Tertiary Transport Concession Card, this process can be completed through your institution. You’ll receive a 50% discount on the adult fare.
UNiDAYS – Use your student email account to sign up and receive 10-25% discount on a huge range of stuff. Visit their website for more info.
ISIC – The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most internationally-recognised student ID offering amazing discounts on products and services throughout Australia and the world. It’s also handy if you need official proof that you’re a student. View their website to see if you qualify for the card on their website
