People & Places
The Brisbane lifestyle
Let me give you a snapshot about life and living in my city, Brisbane, writes Michele Smith
I share it with over a million people and many have my passion for the city because it is such a wonderful place to enjoy some of the best things in life. But what's so great about Brisbane? Modern and sub-tropical, it's a city without seasons – all year round we enjoy buckets of sunshine and warm days. It's also a thriving and growing city that sits beside the curving Brisbane River and is the capital of the state of Queensland.
Our weather shapes our culture and Brisbanites are lucky enough to enjoy al-fresco dining, going to live theatre and seeing movies in the park. We love to walk along the riverfront, indulge in lazy Sunday brunches, cruise the Brisbane River, swim at South Bank or one of the thousands of swimming pools, and pedal along kilometres of bike tracks. If you decide to move here of even just visit, all of those options are available to you plus many more.
Shopping
The centre of the city is lined with hundreds of shops of all varieties in the Queen Street Mall. Duck into historical arcades filled with Queensland designed clothing, jewellery and other things of beauty. Lovers of brands will find all their favourites in the city's heart. Alternatively head to the suburban villages for a different shopping experience. Fortitude Valley, known by locals as The Valley, is home to great weekend markets and cool shops selling funky and design-oriented clothes, homewares and shoes.
Near the airport the shops are always offering sales at the Direct Factory Outlet or else go to any of the major suburban malls for everything under one roof. Outdoor markets are a big part of Brisbane's shopping experience, and on the weekend you can choose from riverfront craft markets, produce markets selling farm fresh fruit, vegetables and other gourmet delights or try the local markets for a bargain or two.
The Arts
We are lucky to enjoy world class theatres and performance spaces. In South Bank, the entertainment precinct in the city, the Queensland Performing Arts Complex (QPAC) is the place to see a musical, ballet, concert, opera or any other type of performance. International acts tour our city and there is a healthy local theatre and arts scene too. Some of the great festivals and events in Brisbane include:–
River festival – in September each year, it is a huge celebration of our river that makes the most of music, food, fireworks and environmental issues.
The Exhibition (affectionately known as the Ekka) – ten days in August when the country comes to the city – we have fun on the rides, pat farm animals, eat junk food and see great entertainment. The Ekka is a unique Brisbane tradition and we even get a day off work to go!
Paniyiri – an exuberant festival of all things Greek, established by Brisbane's strong Greek communities.
Plus, almost every month there are outdoor music and food festivals such as Ambiwerra, the Groove and Grape Festival and of course, Australia Day. More intellectually stimulating events include the Brisbane Writers Festival and the bi-annual Ideas Festival. And if you're not outside enjoying our casual culture, you can always catch a movie, explore Australian visual arts at the Queensland Art Gallery or learn about our history at the Queensland Museum.
Eating out
Because our city is blessed with fabulous weather, there are hundreds of cafés and restaurants that offer al-fresco dining, with cuisines from all over the world. Watch the passing parade of people in dining areas across the city, such as Paddington, West End and South Bank. Yes, they may all be areas of London but in Brisbane they are just a few of the well known eating spots offering great value and fabulous food. Some amazing Brisbane dining experiences include:
Trying crocodile or Aussie bush foods at Tukka restaurant;
Booking a dinner cruise on the Kookaburra Queen, a paddlewheeler on the river;
Having a meal at any of the city's restaurants with a view of the river and Story Bridge during the annual firework spectacular known as River Fire;
Seeing the city spread before you from Mount Coot-tha lookout. Indulge in just an ice cream or even a three course meal; and
Strolling up and down any of Brisbane's dozen dining precincts. Let your tastebuds choose the dining destination for you.
Sport and leisure
Summer can get pretty hot and humid so that's the best time to enjoy sports such as swimming and surfing. There are over 30 public swimming pools in Brisbane city alone plus all of the pools in schools, universities, gyms and of course, our own backyards. There are literally be thousands and thousands of places to swim in Brisbane!
One favourite spot is the man-made beach at South Bank which is great for kids to paddle in and build a sand castle. South Bank's free barbecues and grassy areas means it's hard to find a better picnic site, anywhere.
Some of our favourite sporting experiences include: Rockclimbing and abseiling on the cliffs of Kangaroo Point beside the river. Taking part in the Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run along with almost 15,000 others. Climbing to the top of the Story Bridge for an incredible view that stretches across the city, suburbs and out to Moreton Bay. Going to see the cricket or Aussie Rules at the Gabba (formally known as the Woollangabba Cricket Ground), or supporting the local teams in rugby or football at the Suncorp Stadium, and doing laps in the same pools where Olympic champions train.
And the best thing about Brisbane, apart from the divine weather, is that it is an easy drive to either the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, home to some of the best beaches on the planet. They have long stretches of white sand, mostly uncrowded and unspoilt. Our city sits in a region blessed by ancient rainforests, wild islands, gorgeous mountain areas of farmland and national parks. The city is where we choose to live and work and learn and the surrounding areas are our playgrounds. Come and play with us next time you're in town...
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