New to Brisbane from UK - where to go, what to do?

[AbiBrown]

Hello Mums,
Hope I'm asking this in the right place! I'm coming to Brisbane in mid June with my husband and little girl Isla (16 months) for an extended holiday. We've four weeks in central Brisbane, followed by some time travelling around Queensland.
We'd love to know your recommendations - where's good to go, which parks, play centres, playgroups cafes, events and activities - anything really that you'd recommend for my little one??
We just want to explore Brisbane, find good things to keep Isla occupied and have lots of quality time together as a family.
Also, if there are any get togethers happening in June / July - it would be great to have a chance to find some playmates for Isla, as I think she'll get bored of us eventually!!
Many thanks, Abi xx

[mumsiespie]

Hi Abi, I'm a Brissie girl, living in Townsville, so I'm not sure what's the best places to go for kids entertainment. But I can suggest that you definately jump on a City Cat and go for a boatride along the Brisbane River and get off at any of the stops, or even hire some bikes and ride. Check out the Brisbane City Council website to see "what's on" around the time you are here. If you make your way to north Qld to Townsville, let me know and I would love to meet up with you so Isla can have a play with some new friends.:yelclap:

[LaDolceVita]

Hi Abi, check out www.ourbrisbane.com.au (http://www.ourbrisbane.com.au) and I think there is another website called visit brisbane or something as well so that might be worth a look also.

As for parks, I haven't been for years but New Farm park is not far from the city and it is lovely or else Southbank. If you want to travel a little bit out of the city though try Sandgate and Shorncliffe. The Lagoon at Redcliffe is nice too or Wynnum/Manly are both good too.

[AbiBrown]

Many thanks for the tips - we can't wait to get there and check everything out! Abi x

[Wobbles]

Hi Abi,

Where abouts in the UK are you coming from?

I live in Brisbane and can offer a few suggestions.

There is Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary located at Fig Tree Pocket on the Brisbane River where you can see a heap of different native Australian animals. You can feed the kangaroo's, have your photo taken cuddling a Koala, see some interesting talks etc.

There is Southbank parklands in the city where there are playgrounds and lagoons, as well as markets every weekend, which is a great spot to stop after going on a rivercat boat ride up and down the river.

It may be a little cold for it, but there is the Redcliffe lagoon, but also an awesome park which has play areas, open fields, a river walk, and a lagoon, it's called Rocks Riverside Park, and is located in Seventeen Mile Rocks, not far from the city.

There are a few play cafe's (soft play centres) around including Rowdy Rascals, located in Jindalee (very close to the above park) there is also one on the northside in Strathpine called Go Wild, and there are several others around the suburbs, Lollipops is one that has centres in multiple locations.

There is Mt Cootha lookout where you can go for lunch, look out over the city for a great view, and go for a bush walk, or have a BBQ.

There is Currumbin Wildlife Park on the Gold Coast where you can feed kangaroos, feed the birds etc.
There's Australia Zoo of course. The Eumundi markets are great, up on the Sunshine Coast and not far from the beach.

Do you know yet what area of Brisbane you'll be staying? Knowing that might be handy in giving you more tips and suggestions for things that will be close by.

Anyway, hope that's helpful.

Erin

[AbiBrown]

Thanks everyone - wow sounds like we are going to be busy! We are coming from Sheffield, northern England, and will be staying in a flat on Boundary street, Spring Hill.
We've been to Australia before, but before we had our baby. We came in December last time though, so stucj to the southern half of the country - never been to Queensland!
We weren't planning on having a car while we are in Brisbane, just walking and using public transport - does that sounds like a good idea?
Many thanks, Abi

[Basil]

Hi abi :) public transport around brissy is great - buses, trains, city cats but if you want to venture out of the city you'll need a car. Getting to the gold coast, for example, is easy via train, but once you're here there's bugger all public transport. Getting to currumbin with out a car would take you half a day!

There's so many great places a few hrs from brissy too - sunshine coast (noosa, maroochydore), gold coast, Byron bay, mt tamborine. Lots of great outdoorsy activities that won't leave you hot and bothered (or sunburnt!) in the winter.

Hope you have a great time :)

[luv2shop]

go to goldcoast.com.au aswell..you can catch the train from the city to the coast if you don't have access to a car.

[Wobbles]

Sheffield, cool. My husband is from Leeds (I'm aussie) and we returned to Australia nearly 12 months ago from Leeds. We miss England. Hope you enjoy Aus tho.
xx