In short
Brisbane is Australia's third city and the least spectacular of the three, which makes it more liveable. It organises itself around a bend in the Brisbane River, crossed by some fifteen bridges.
South Bank, on the south bank, holds the museums, the modern art gallery and an artificial swimming lagoon beside the river. Fortitude Valley is the nightlife and music quarter. West End is alternative and multicultural. New Farm is residential and pleasant.
It is above all a base: the Gold Coast is an hour south, the Sunshine Coast an hour north, and Moreton Island lies opposite.
Arriving and getting around
The Airtrain links the airport to the centre in twenty minutes, which is rare in Australia — most major cities have nothing of the kind.
In the city, buses, trains and the CityCat river catamarans run on the go card. The CityCat is full public transport and the best way to see the city.
The CityHopper ferries in the centre are free.
What it really costs
Brisbane is cheaper than Sydney and Melbourne for housing, which explains its growth.
Eating out sits at the usual Australian level, which is high for a European. The shopping-centre food courts and the community clubs — RSLs, surf clubs — serve at markedly lower prices.
When to come
April–May and September–October. Summer, December to February, is hot, very humid and stormy, with flooding possible. Winter is mild, dry and sunny — the best season, contrary to European intuition.
What nobody tells you
The river has flooded the city more than once, notably in 2011 and 2022. The riverside districts remain exposed and the wet season is worth watching.
Queensland sun is the harshest in Australia: the UV index regularly passes 11, which burns in about fifteen minutes. Protection is not a comfort tip.
The koalas at Lone Pine sanctuary can be held, which is prohibited in several other Australian states. It is legal here, and it remains debated.