Visitor Information

The Brisbane Visitor Information Centre (tel. 07/3006 6290; www.visitbrisbane.com.au) is in the Queen Street Mall, between Edward and Albert streets. It’s open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5:30pm, Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 5pm, public holidays 9:30am to 4:30pm, and from 1:30pm on Anzac Day (Apr 25). It’s closed Christmas Day and Good Friday. There are also visitor information centers at the airport, and at South Bank Parklands.

City Layout

The city center’s office towers shimmer in the sun on the north bank of a curve of the Brisbane River. At the tip of the curve are the lush Brisbane City Gardens (sometimes called the City Botanic Gardens). The 30 m (98-ft.) sandstone cliffs of Kangaroo Point rise on the eastern side of the south bank; to the west are the South Bank Parklands and the Queensland Cultural Centre, known as South Bank. Two pedestrian bridges link South Bank with the city: the Goodwill Bridge links South Bank with the City Gardens, while the Kurilpa Bridge links Tank Street, in the city center, with the Gallery of Modern Art at South Bank. To the west 5 km (3 miles), Mount Coot-tha (pronounced Coo-tha) looms out of the flat plain.

Main Arteries & Streets It’s easy to find your way around central Brisbane once you know that the east-west streets are named after female British royalty, and the north-south streets are named after their male counterparts. The northernmost is Ann, followed by Adelaide, Queen, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Mary, Margaret, and Alice. From east to west, the streets are Edward, Albert, George, and William, which becomes North Quay, flanking the river’s northeast bank.

Queen Street, the main thoroughfare, becomes a pedestrian mall between Edward and George streets. Roma Street exits the city diagonally to the northwest. Ann Street leads all the way east into Fortitude Valley. The main street in Fortitude Valley is Brunswick Street, which runs into New Farm.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.