Car Hire Brisbane - Mini guide to Brisbane

Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and comes as a pleasant surprise to many of its visitors. Over recent years it has developed into a lively and cosmopolitan city with many lively suburbs, a good street cafe scene, a beautiful riverside park, an action packed cultural calendar and great nightlife.

The central business district sits next to the meandering Brisbane River, it comes complete with serene botanical gardens and is easily navigated by foot, beginning at the busy pedestrian mall of Queens Street. Many fine colonial buildings give the city a charming façade, while the recently developed South Bank entertainment precinct makes for a very pleasant stroll with plenty to see along the way. Also take a look at the Queensland Cultural Centre, Castlemain XXXX brewery and Parliament House.

For those wishing to make a lazy afternoon of it, all of this can be seen during a relaxing river cruise; or, for the more active visitor, there is a riverside bicycle track running from the City Botanic Gardens out to the University of Queensland.

The city is also surrounded by some of the state's major tourist destinations, and there are plenty of options for daytrips.

The major suburbs in Brisbane are: Amberley, Beenleigh, Ipswich, Indooroophilly, Park Ridge South, Redcliffe, Redland Bay, Rothwell, Strathpine and Yeerongphilly.