Brisbane Overview
Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, is midway up the east coast of
Australia - 27.5oS, 153oE. With the Gold Coast to the
south and the Sunshine Coast to the north, domestic and international airports,
Brisbane is an ideal headquarters for an Australian holiday. Brisbane, indeed
all Queensland, operates on Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of
GMT. Summertime or Daylight Saving is not observed.
Residents and visitors to
Brisbane enjoy a wide range of landscapes and lifestyles. The inner-city,
metropolitan Brisbane is surrounded by leafy, sometimes very
hilly, suburbs. Further out in the suburbs, the traditional Australian house
on a large block or even acreage dominates. Moreton Bay and its islands provide
water sports, sailing and sea-side suburbs. The Pacific Highway leads south
to the Gold Coast and its well-known surf beaches. North is the seaside town
of Redcliffe, the rainforest and picturesque
countryside of Pine Rivers, Caboolture and the Glasshouse Mountains.
Bribie Island offers the first surf beach to the north. The Sunshine Coast
towns and hinterland are popular holiday spots.
Travelling west of Brisbane, past Ipswich, you soon climb the Great
Dividing Range to Toowoomba and the rich plains of the Darling
Downs.
In Australia, we drive on the left side of the road. Although
there are trains, buses and ferries in Brisbane, most families
own at least one car. The local currency is Australian dollars
and the smallest coin in use is the 5 cent coin.
The central business district (CBD) of Brisbane is compact making
it easy to see and explore on foot. To see more of Brisbane's sights
and attractions, an extensive network of modern public transport
facilities including bus, commuter rail and ferries are provided.
Special fares such as Day Rover tickets are ideal for seeing sights
all over the city. Or mix your transport with a Rover Link that
lets you change between most Brisbane City Council Bus and City
train services. Alternatively, you can hire
a car to make your own explorations. Taxis and limousines are
also available.
Bus Services:
Travelling by bus is a convenient way of getting
around town. Citybus operate regular all stop services
from the city to the suburbs. For a quicker, more
direct journey, hop onto the Cityexpress at designated
stops. If you want to skirt around the city, then
the Great Circle Line will take you to destinations
such as the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens. For
more information, contact TRANSINFO on 13 1230.
Ferry:
Brisbane's city centre is contained within a broad
meander of the Brisbane River. While there are several
bridges, a more enjoyable means of getting between
banks is by ferry. Ferries link the city to points
such as Kangaroo Point, Dockside and South Bank.
Rail:
Queensland Rail operate their air-conditioned electric
commuter Citytrain services from Roma Street and Central
Station to suburban centres and tourist destinations
including South Bank. For details of the rail network
and the range of daily/weekly and Rover Link tickets
available, contact TRANSINFO on 13 1230.
Driving:
Having your own car will give you more freedom to explore
the Brisbane region. There are dozens of car hire options
in Brisbane, from major international operators to
local rental companies. It is advisable for overseas
visitors to Australia to have an international drivers
license, and to familiarise themselves with driving
regulations before heading off. We drive on the LEFT
in Australia. Contact the RACQ for further advice at
300 St Paul's Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Tel: (07)
361 2406.
Taxis and Limousines:
Taxis services are plentiful in Brisbane, operating
on a 24-hour basis with metered fares. Tipping is not
expected. Several limousine companies offer chauffered
limousine services.
Entry Visas:
Employment and Work:
You must have the appropriate visa to work in
Australia. See
Cost of Living:
You will find links to Grocery
stores on the BCL Shopping (Food)
page to get some idea of grocery prices there.
Phone, electricity and gas each have a bond approx
AU$60-100 each. Petrol is currently approx 90c to
$1 a litre - you'll find a link to a FUEL WATCH site
on the BCL Transport (Road) page . 2 litres of milk
is approx $2.50 A loaf of bread from our local baker
is $2.35.
Check award wages using WageNet-
Queensland
Contacts:
Moving to a new city or country can
be difficult without support. These contacts may be
of use to you. Advice offered on newsgroups and mailing
lists may not be reliable. Please seek professional
advice when needed.
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