Brisbane has been called the “city of sun days”; it is tropical, sunny, fun, and relaxed. Nestled on the banks of the Brisbane River, which has caused some problems at times, including earlier this year. Floods, unfortunately, happen every now and again. Prior to this year, the last flooding was in 1974, and around the turn of the 
century before that. So, it does not happen often, but certainly causes difficulties for the residents when it happens. The January flooding has all receded and rebuilding is well under way, and should cause no problems for tourists.
Brisbane, Australia is a place that you must spend time in and get to know before you can really appreciate it. For instance, the people are extremely friendly and welcoming to strangers, and they have an amazing character and strength; even in the face of natural disasters, they simply pick up the pieces and start over. This is a city who welcomes visitors warmly.
The city of Brisbane has beautiful weather most of the year, with a decidedly mild climate, and lush vegetation, like fig trees and royal palms for summer shade and a very tropical look. There are also Poinciana trees that are burgundy hued and purple colored jacarandas. In all, the city is very lush, colorful, and tropical-looking. South of the city, on the Gold Coast passageway, there area number of amusement parks that are favorites of locals and visitors alike, especially the little ones. They’re a great way to check out parts of the city’s past and rich character.
Brisbane has many homes built in the “Queenslander” style that first developed in the 1840s and is still used today, it is characterized by the homes being built up off the ground on stilts or stumps made out of wood timbers. This allows the breeze to come through the home and there are also verandas on the outside, and that helps to keep the mid-day sun out of the house as well. There are also some areas outside of the central business district that have used Queenslanders for trendy shops, restaurants, and cafes.
The center of the city is filled with many old sand stone buildings constructed many years ago, standing side by side with glittering contemporary glass and mirrored towers. The city’s architecture is totally varied, and depends upon the city era when it was built, and just taking a walk can be an enlightening adventure. If relaxation is on your mind, why not take in the botanical gardens in the city, or sit back and relax in one of the beer gardens near the river. If exploring is more what you had in mind, the riverfront trails are great for biking, and there is also a ferry that will take you out into the river for a completely different perspective. The city has several large bridges that cross over the river, the Story Bridge is the most well-known and also eye-catching. Tourists who enjoy shopping will want to take in the weekend markets at Fortitude Valley and Riverside South Banks, and also Queen Street Mall.
Because of its great location on the southeastern coast of the state, Brisbane lies between the Sunshine Coast and the Brisbane River, and the river flows into sapphire blue waters of Moreton Bay. The Bay has a number of islands to explore and there are ample opportunities for reef diving and other water activities throughout the area. The city offers an abundance of fresh and delicious food and wine, including fabulous seafood. To top it all off, getting around the city is easy with lots of good public transportation.
Finding a great place to stay is as easy as checking out Brisbane Hotels