Brisbane is the capital of the state of Queensland, and located in the southeast corner of Queensland. It is a subtropical city of cultural and natural diversity (the latter will be well-appreciated by browsing the information-packed little book 'Wildlife of Greater Brisbane' published by the Queensland Museum andavailable in most book stores) - a delight to explore any time of the year.
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Where to meet Araucaria Ecotours
The Southern Queensland Wildlife Trail: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, hinterlands and islands.
What else to do in and around Brisbane
A subtropical climate means that although nights in winter can be cold they are very rarely sub-zero, and the days are usually pleasantly warm or mild. It also means lovely warm summer evenings. Summer days can be hot, but not as overwhelmingly or consistently hot as some parts of the tropics, and there are always cool green mountain forests to escape to within a short drive or bus ride. Some summer nights in Brisbane can be uncomfortably hot without fans or air-conditioning, but in the neighbouring mountains the temperature always drops back to a comfortable range during the evening.
Rainfall follows the tropical pattern of relatively wet summers and dry winters. This means a wealth of sunny days and clear starry skies in winter, interspersed with a few wet days now and then. Rain in summer does not come every day, nor does it usually last all day. If you experience a few rainy days, remember that without them we couldn't have our wonderful rainforests. At times there will be spectacular electric storms, strong winds and flooding rains, but we do not receive the cyclones that sometimes strike the more northern coasts. Weather forecasts can always be checked by dialling 1196.
Brisbane has an international airport. From there you can catch an air-train to the Brisbane Transit Centre or a taxi to your accommodation. Some hostels have a courtesy bus which will pick you up from the Transit Centre. There are also a number of hotels and hostels close to the Transit Centre, which itself is just a few minutes' walk to the main shopping area of Brisbane (Queen Street Mall) or across the bridge to Southbank and the Culture Centre (museum, library, art gallery and performing arts).
If coming from elsewhere in Australia, you can fly to the domestic airport or take a bus or train from Cairns, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, or many of the towns in between. All long-distance buses and trains arrive at the Brisbane Transit Centre, next to which is one of Araucaria's regular pickup points for our guests (adjacent to Holiday Inn, across the road from Tin Billy Hostel, and a short walk from many other hoetls, hostels and guest-houses).
With prior arrangement, if it does not clash with the interests of other guests, we can pick you up from the airport on the morning of your tour. However we generally advise that you arrive at least the day before to get some rest after your journey. Brisbane also has plenty pf attractions worth spending some time exploring.
If driving yourself, let us know and we may be able to arrange to leave your car parked in the area we normally leave our tour vehicle if you can meet us there on the morning of your tour.
Places most convenient for us to pick up from the door of are:
Some-where-to-Stay (a quiet hostel south of the Brisbane River, close to a row of ethnic restaurants (Vietnamese, Lebanese, Thai, Greek, Mexican ....) and easy walking distance from Southbank. They have a courtesy bus to the city.
Holiday Inn (adjacent to the Transit Centre)
Tin Billy Hostel - very handy to public transport and shopping (actually we ask you to cross the road to meet us, as this is opposite the Transit Centre).
The best value-for-money hotel in Brisbane is probably Explorer's Inn, very central and with it's own restaurant. Rooms are a bit small and it is not possible to (legally) park outside, but we can meet you at out usual pickup point (see below) which is not far away, or under the bridge just down the road from the Inn.
We can however pick up from most places in the city and southside.
If you wish, we can recommend or book you into a hostel, hotel or guesthouse (B&B) for the nights just before and after your tour.
Where to meet Araucaria Ecotours
A common pickup point is in the small parking bayto the Brisbane Transit Centre on Roma Street (Holiday Inn end), directly across the road from the Transcontinental Hotel. This ensures that we are quickly out of the traffic and on our way to our first stop in the forest.
We also pick up from accommodation in the city or southside.
Dropping our guests off at their accommodation is never a problem unless they are staying some distance out of the city, in which case we can take you to a taxi stand or public transport - we will not leave you stranded in the dark at the end of a tour (we've had that happen to us more than once after tours).
The Southern Queensland Wildlife Trail: Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, hinterlands and islands
Visit Wildlife Tourism Australia and follow the links for info on where to see captive and free wildlife within 2 hours of Brisbane. Most can be reached by public transport - ring the attraction/accommodation for instructions. Araucaria Ecotours can also privde customized tours to any of these with sufficient notice.
What else to do in and around Brisbane
Queensland Museum - focus on Queensland's natural history, present and past, land and sea. Some historical and cultural displays, and the physics of light. Often has special, visiting displays.
Botanic Gardens (two Gardens: one in the city just a few blocks from Queen Street Mall and another - after a bus-ride from Adelaide St - at Mt Cootha)
Sir Thomas Playford Planetarium ( at Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens). Ask what special shows are screening.
Southbank Patklands - just across the river from the city centre (an easy walk) and close to the city's main museum, library and art gallery. Swimming, markets, restaurants, gardens
Queensland Museum - close to Southbank, and an easy walk from the city centre. Marine and terrestrial wildlife, fossils, history, physics
Lone Pine Sanctuary - ride a ferry down Brisbane River past a large fruitbat colony to this wildlife sanctuary with many koalas plus other wildlife.
Riding a City Cat (ferry) down the river is one way of eploring (hopping on and off at various points or just relaxing and enjoying the ride (especially at night, with reflections of a variety of lights in the water)
Rock-climbing or kayaking with RiverLife at Kangaroo Point, or climb the Story Bridge across the Brisbane River
Fortitude Valley and Chinatown - many Asian restaurants and shops, weekend markets
Many good restaurants are scattered throughout Brisbane - Mediterranean, Asian, seafood, vegetarian, other
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