TAKE A VIEW For epic views over downtown ride the 1920s-style elevator to the top of Brisbane’s neoclassical City Hall
TAKE A VIEW For epic views over downtown, ride the 1920s-style elevator to the top of Brisbane’s neoclassical City Hall (7) on Ann Street (00 61 7 3403 8888). Its clocktower soars above the city streets and entry costs A$2 (£1.60). The elevator runs 10am-3pm on weekdays and 10am-2pm on Saturday. TAKE A HIKE Start your tour at the Brisbane City Hall (7) on Ann Street and head south to the Queen Street Mall, which has some grand Art Deco frontages. Continue south along George Street to admire the Edwardian glory of the Conrad Treasury Casino (4) and cross the river by ferry to the South Bank Parklands to see the Nepali temple (8) and artificial beach.
Next, hop back over the river to Queensland’s imposing French Renaissance-style Parliament House (9) on Alice Street, built in 1868 End with a trip to the City Botanic Gardens (10). LUNCH ON THE RUN Circa (11) at 483 Adelaide Street (0061 7 3832 4722; .au) is one of Brisbane’s most popular restaurants. Evenings can be booked solid for weeks, so it may be better to go for lunch. The menu includes Tasmanian salmon and braised belly pork, and three courses will set you back A$69 (£28.50). WINDOW SHOPPING The main shopping street downtown is the pedestrianised Queen Street Mall, which is lined with chintzy tourist shops selling boomerangs and didgeridoos. A more interesting choice is Australian Geographic, which sells scientific and educational gifts, from telescopes to platypus-shaped oven gloves and giant inflatable spiders. There are branches in the Wintergarden Centre (12) and Myer Centre (13) on the Queen Street Mall.
CULTURAL AFTERNOON The South Bank Parklands are the cultural heart of Brisbane. At the Queensland Museum (14) on Grey Street (00 61 7 3840 7555; ) you can see displays on Australian wildlife, relics from Aussie history and an impressively child-friendly science centre. It opens 9.30am-5pm daily and admission is free; entry to the science centre costs A$9 (£3.75) for adults and A$7 (£3) for children. Next door, the Queensland Art Gallery (15) (00 61 7 3840 7303; ) has a thought-provoking collection of work by Aussie artists. Entry is free and the gallery opens 10am-5pm (from 9am on Saturday and Sunday).
AN APERITIF Serious wine buffs start the weekend in New Farm, north-east of the city centre. There are dozens of wine bars to choose from – locals gather at Gertie’s (16) at 699 Brunswick Street (00 617 3358 5088) and Anise next door at 697 Brunswick Street (00 61 7 3358 1558). Both offer dozens of wines by the glass and flavoursome, modern Aussie cuisine. DINING WITH THE LOCALS Book ahead for E’cco Bistro (17), north of the centre at 100 Boundary Road, (00 61 7 3831 8344; ) – long Brisbane’s favourite restaurant. Expect a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean flavours, with plenty of game, red meat and seafood. It’s open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday; for lunch, Tuesday to Friday. SUNDAY MORNING: GO TO CHURCH St Stephen’s Cathedral (18) on Elizabeth Street is Brisbane’s main Catholic place of worship.