Brisbane is an ideal place to bring your children, as it offers plenty of different outdoor recreation opportunities and a few cultural venues they will find entertaining. Naturally, wildlife such as koalas and kangaroos are big attractions for kids, but the city beaches also make great places to run around. If outer space captures their imagination, check out the city’s impressive planetarium.

Brisbane Forest Park
This expansive 71,000-acre parkland is just 20 minutes north of the city, offering a quick getaway into the forest. The range of environments open to exploration gives a good overview of Australia’s diverse natural world. Visitors can walk through a rainforest, to waterfalls and around the classic Aussie bushland. Aboriginal rock art is another highlight here, easily viewed along the amazing Aboriginal Art Trail. You’ll want to rent a car for this excursion, which makes for a wonderful day out in nature. The park is located on Mount Nebo road. Phone: +61 7 3300 4855.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
What child wouldn’t want to hug a koala? Lone Pine Sanctuary is one of the best, and only, places in Australia to cuddle with these adorable creatures. There are more than 130 koalas here, and visitors are allowed to hold them and take photos with them. To round off the experience, Lone Pine is also home to kangaroos, wallabies, emus, Tasmanian devils and other unique creatures. Accessible by boat from the city centre, the sanctuary is located on Jesmond road. Phone: +61 7 3378 1366; website: www.koala.net/index.htm.

Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium and Cosmic Skydome
Real-time star shows are just one highlight in the state-of-the-art Cosmic Skydome theatre. The centre’s 40-minute multimedia show recreates the Brisbane night sky in motion and in stunning detail. Other special shows focus on children aged five to eight years, as well as shows for older kids. An afternoon in Brisbane’s planetarium makes a great change of pace from the usual outdoor activities. This highlight is located in the Botanic Gardens. Phone: +61 7 3403 2578.

As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane attracts a respectable range of cultural events, activities and performances. As one of the oldest cities in Australia, there is a fair amount of history here, evident in the charming old Queenslander cottages that dot the city and the thriving scene along the riverfront. A handful of museums will give you a proper education on Brisbane, but to really understand these friendly locals you’ll need to get and about to enjoy their company.

Australia Woolshed
Sheep and Australia go hand in hand, so you may find a visit to this Brisbane institution a real novelty. All manner of sheep-based activities are on display, such as shearing and wool spinning. Visitors can try these chores for themselves, as well as watch sheepdogs herding the animals. Other fun activities at the Woolshed include feeding kangaroos and cuddling with koalas. Check out the monthly traditional bush dance and dinner evening, a popular event that requires advance reservation. This attraction is located in Ferny Hills. Phone: +61 7 3872 1100.

Museum of Brisbane
To get a real sense of the history and soul of Brisbane, stop by this small but well-designed museum in the historic City Hall building. The exhibits relate the events, tales and concepts that have shaped Brisbane since its foundation, and its theatre shows a short film about the city’s origins. Its useful tourism information is another reason to visit this museum at the start of your trip. Phone: +61 7 3403 8888.

Newstead House
The oldest house in Brisbane is this Victorian gem overlooking the river which has been restored to its former glory. Visitors can explore the many rooms and their decor at their leisure, and on Sundays between March and November a traditional Devonshire tea service is offered. The surrounding Newstead Park makes this a great half-day excursion. Phone: +61 7 3216 1846.

Queensland Cultural Centre
The heart and soul of Brisbane’s cultural scene is concentrated at this modern complex which runs along the Brisbane River. Most of the city’s principle performing arts venues are located here, scattered between open plazas with fountains and benches. The state of art gallery, library and museum are also located within the complex, offering a full day’s worth of cultural immersion. The facility is located next to the South Bank Parklands. Phone: +61 7 3840 7100.

Queensland Art Gallery
One of Australia’s most engaging and pleasant art galleries is right here in Brisbane. This venue regularly hosts major exhibits by the world’s great masters such as Picasso, van Gogh and Renoir. It’s also one of the country’s most prominent venues for Australian artists, showcasing a diverse array of works by native sculptors and painters. The collection of Aboriginal art is particularly impressive, and the soothing water features both inside and out create a truly inspiring atmosphere. The gallery is located in the Queensland Cultural Centre. Phone: +61 7 3840 7303.

Queensland Museum
The highlights of this quirky and eclectic museum are extremely diverse and entertaining, helping this recently revamped museum become a popular site for understanding Queensland’s history and culture. From military vehicles to dinosaur specimens, this place has got something for everyone. Special visiting exhibits and the interesting Sciencentre are also big draws. You will find the museum in the Queensland Cultural Centre. Phone: +61 7 3840 7555.

Many first-time visitors to the relaxed city of Brisbane are surprised to find such a diverse and sophisticated dining scene. The unique geography and demographics of the city have created an amazing gastronomic tapestry, giving visitors endless choices when it comes to eating out.

The best place to begin your dining explorations is in the downtown area, where restaurants from all styles and ethnicities seamlessly blend both traditional and fusion cuisine. South Bank is teeming with great places to eat and drink amid the relaxing atmosphere of the Brisbane River with Riverside and Eagle Street Pier being the main hubs.

Spreading outward from the city centre, visitors can explore neighborhoods such as New Farm with its trendy bistros along Merthyr street and the charming little cafés in Paddington. Although Asian influences creep into just about every menu, Fortitude Valley and the West End have the greatest concentration of purely Asian eateries.

Brisbane’s bayside location ensures plenty of fresh seafood all year round, while its fertile farmlands in the interior produce the finest vegetables and meat in the region. To see this fresh produce first-hand, head to the Farmers Markets which appear on the second and fourth Saturdays each month at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Shopping in Brisbane revolves around the modern and trendy. Queen Street Mall alone boasts some 500 shops of all sorts. Just in front of the mall is the underground Wintergarden complex, where some of the city’s most upscale jewellers and fashion designers showcase their wares. The Brisbane Arcade is another hotspot filled with the boutique shops of local Brisbane fashion designers. Friday nights are always hopping at Queen street, as the bars and cinemas lure even more people to the massive complex.

Outside of the shopping nexus of Queen Street Mall, visitors can head to Paddington district, where the shops take on a friendlier, neighborhood feel. There are plenty of shops specialising in antiques, books, art and other interesting items. Many of the quaint shops along Given terrace are housed in colourful Queenslander cottages, adding to the pleasant ambiance.

Markets also have their role in Brisbane’s shopping experience. Friday nights turn the South Bank into an arts and crafts bonanza as dozens of handicraft booths set up under lights on Stanley Street Plaza. The Riverside Centre’s Riverside Markets, as well as Eagle Street Pier’s Craft and Deli Markets, are popular spots for seeking interesting locally-made home decorations and crafts. If you find the Aboriginal art intoxicating, make sure you visit the Fire-Works Gallery which showcases some of the country’s hottest Aboriginal artists.

As in all of Australia’s cities, Brisbane is both home and base camp for all kinds of outdoor activity. Although not known for its beaches, this riverside city has one of the greatest and longest biking and walking pathways in the country. Within 20 minutes visitors can be in Brisbane Forest Park where everything from rainforest walks to rock art is waiting to be explored.

Biking
Nearly 250 miles of dedicated bike paths run in and around Brisbane, offering visitors a quick and easy way to get some exercise. Biking is a major activity in this city, and it has the infrastructure to match. One of the most popular and scenic routes runs from Stony Bridge through the City Gardens and along the river to the university. Free maps will help you navigate and ample rental shops provide the gear. You can even have your rental bike delivered to your hotel by a valet service.

Hiking
One of Brisbane’s crown jewels is its Forest Park, located just 20 minutes north of the city. With more than 70,000 acres at your disposal, visitors will have little trouble finding a quiet patch of nature to enjoy. This park is one of the best places for hiking around Brisbane, offering dozens of trails which range from short nature walks to five-mile treks through the bush. A highlight of the hiking options is the Mount Coot-tha Aboriginal Art Trail which showcases rock paintings, tree carvings and other Aboriginal art. This park is so big there are seven different entry points, and you’ll need a car to access all of the beauty.

Rappelling
If hiking and biking aren’t exciting enough, then try abseiling off the Kangaroo Point cliffs. Also known as rappelling, this individual activity is fun for beginners or experienced rappellers. There are many different ways down the Kangaroo Point cliffs south of Stony Bridge, and several adventure tour companies provide the training, supervision and gear.