Banks: 09:30 to 16:00, Monday to Thursday; 09:30 to 17:00 Fridays
Post Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 17:30, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 17:00 Saturdays
Museums: 09:30 to 17:00, daily
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

By all accounts, Brisbane is one of the safest cities in Australia. The residents are friendly and proud of their reputation for safety, so they will often look out for visitors. However, it’s always advisable to stick to well-lit and populated areas of the city after dark. Like all large cities, there is a small element of crime and most of it occurs at night. Keep an eye on your belongings when in crowded transport areas or busy tourist spots. Should you run into any problems, you will find quick help from any passerby or local policeman.

Police: 000

Electricity: 230V AC, 50Hz

Brisbane has some of the highest hygiene standards in the world, so visitors will have nothing to worry about regarding food and water during their stay. Every restaurant must keep their kitchens up to government health standards and the tap water is safe to drink. You may want to stick to bottled water, however, since the local microbes in the water may upset your stomach.

The main health hazard in Brisbane is the sun. The levels of solar radiation in Australia are among the highest in the world, so it pays to protect yourself from the UV rays while you’re out and about. Use plenty of sunscreen, and wear a hat and sunglasses to keep yourself protected. Dehydration is another health issue that creeps up on visitors. The strong Brisbane sun can dehydrate you quickly, even when the humidity levels are high. Be sure and drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.

Should you encounter any minor health problems during your trip the pharmacies should be sufficient to help you out. For anything serious, there are excellent hospitals in the city which can handle any medical emergency. Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the UK for emergency cases. British citizens are covered in any emergency, but this free medical service is limited. By purchasing travel insurance you can protect yourself from any additional medical expenses.

Ambulance: 000
Royal Brisbane Hospital: +61 7 3636 8111.

Australians may have a strong accent and use plenty of Australian slang, but they speak English. Don’t be surprised if you hear a number of Asian languages in the background, however, due to the large population of Asian residents.

The official currency in Australia is the Australian dollar. There are 100 cents in a dollar. Notes are made of a very innovative polymer, and come in denominations of AU$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 dollars. Coins come in denominations of AU$2 and 1, as well as 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.

Visitors will need to exchange their foreign currency into Australian dollars, but this can easily be done at the airport, most bank branches, or Travelex currency exchange offices. The most convenient Travelex is located at Lennons Plaza in Queen Street Mall. ATMs are readily available anywhere there is a business district. Many of these ATMs accept international debit and credit cards, offering another convenient way to withdraw daily amounts of local currency.

Credit cards are widely accepted at all but the most humble shops. Travellers cheques can be cashed at any bank, and most hotels accept them as well. Visitors will only need hard cash for things like public transport, taxis and sundries.

All visitors to Australia over the age of 18 years may import 250 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, 2.25 litres of alcohol, and personal goods valued up to AU$900 without incurring customs duty.

When Australians remark that the residents of Brisbane are extremely warm and friendly, that’s really saying something. This city by the river is known for being even more laid-back than the average Australian town, so the only real etiquette is that visitors also need to relax. Despite being a big city, the dress code is casual at all but the most exclusive restaurants and bars.

Don’t be surprised if a resident strikes up a conversation to inquire where you’re from. There’s a natural curiosity among Queenslanders, so feel free to be as open as you like. Of course, there’s also a lot of Australian pride here, so try not to say anything disparaging against the country or its people.

Thanks to its year round balmy tropical climate, eating outdoors is the norm. The dress for even the nicest restaurants is very casual, so don’t worry about bringing fancy clothes. Dining out doesn’t require any special knowledge in Brisbane. Service is the same as in most Western countries, and waiters are tipped an average of 10 to 15 per cent.

Unless you hail from New Zealand, you will need to get a tourist visa to travel to Brisbane. Australia primarily uses an Electronic Travel Authority visa (ETA) which allows visitors to stay in the country for three months. These ETA visas are stored electronically and thus don’t appear in your passport. They are used for short-term business and study programmes as well as tourism. ETAs can be applied for at travel agencies, through airline companies and at Australian embassies. If you need a longer stay visa, you can apply for a long-term visa at the Australian embassy. All visas have a fee.

Brisbane does a good job of promoting itself. Head to the information booth on the Queen Street Mall Monday through Thursday from 09:00 to 17:30; Fridays from 09:00 to 19:00; Saturdays from 09:00 to 16:00; and Sundays from 10:00 to 16:00 for tourist information. The Roma Street Transit Centre also has an information booth.

Brisbane Marketing
Queen Street Mall
Albert street
Brisbane, Queensland
Phone: +61 7 3006 6290