DON’T get me wrong, I really do love Sydney, However, if I was pushed to declare my favourite Australian city, then, sorry Sydney, but Brizzy gets my vote. The site of the early settlement of Brisbane was originally called Edinglassie – a name created as a blend of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The links with Scotland are plentiful – after all, the city is named after Sir Thomas Brisbane from lovely Largs. No wonder I feel at home here! Brisbane is way more than just the gateway to the delights of sub-tropical Queensland. It’s now a city well worth visiting in its own right and has well and truly come of age.

1. TRAVEL
By Katie Wood
massive redevelopment and in 1992,
this 40-acre urban oasis in the
middle of the city opened to great
acclaim.
Pathways meander through floral
display – public artworks are dotted
around, there are markets, a giant
Ferris wheel, bars and restaurants,
while street performers abound.
Oh, and being Brisbane,
there really had to be a
beach, so the architects
made one. A man-made
beach stands right
slap-bang in the
middle of the city.
The Brisbane
Cultural Precinct in
South Brisbane is
the state’s epicentre
of artistic life. Here,
DON’T get me wrong, I really do
love Sydney,
However, if I was pushed to declare
my favourite Australian city, then,
sorry Sydney, but Brizzy gets my vote.
The site of the early settlement of
Brisbane was originally called
Edinglassie – a name created as a
blend of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The links with Scotland are
plentiful – after all, the city is named
after Sir Thomas Brisbane from lovely
Largs. No wonder I feel at home here!
Brisbane is way more than just the
gateway to the delights of
sub-tropical Queensland. It’s now a
city well worth visiting in its own
right and has well and truly come of
age.
No longer the poor relation to
Sydney and Melbourne, it’s a lively
metropolis of two million.
When I was there recently and
asked countless locals just why they
were so blooming happy with their
city, one resounding phrase came out
time after time: “It’s just such a
liveable city.”
And you know what? They’re right.
With a vibrant arts mix, great
shopping, a superb food scene and
award-winning architecture, it’s a
cosmopolitan if laid-back metropolis.
It has changed beyond recognition
since I visited it first in the ’80s.
Of course, it always helps when the
sun shines 300 days a year and the
locals make you feel way more than
welcome.
A huge civic asset is the Brisbane
River, the city’s playground. Joggers
and cyclists use the river boardwalk
daily, while canoeists take to the
water morning and evening.
The outdoor lifestyle the locals
enjoy here is par excellence – yep,
they’re all sickeningly fit and tanned!
Interspersed with the downtown
skyscrapers are elegant traditional
buildings, Victorian monuments to
a past age.
It was a time when the city was
declared capital of Queensland and
the 1859 population was a mere
7000.
Back then, they were the wrong
side of ‘respectable’ immigrants.
These days you’ll be lucky to
get in as one of the 1500
people who immigrate to
Brisbane each week.
If one place sums up
Brisbane, it’s
the South
Bank.
The area
underwent
Australiawith atruetartantwist
Scottish visitors are sure to feel right
at home in beautiful, buzzing Brisbane Brisbane spots
you must visit
Alchemy Restaurant
Deserving of a Michelin star, this will
be a highlight. Superlative, fresh
Aussie food, wonderful staff, and a
great setting with views of the Story
Bridge. Eat inside or out, it won’t
disappoint. Mains from £20.
STREET BEACH
Soak up the sun in the heart of the
city. Brisbane’s man-made beach –
the only one in Australia – is the
perfect spot to enjoy an ice cream.
Regatta Hotel
A historic landmark in Brisbane, its
restaurant has to be on any itinerary.
Check into The Boatshed and enjoy
an aged steak and good Aussie
wine for a lot less than you’d pay at
home, and the quality is five-star.
LONE PINE KOALA
SANCTUARY
Cuddle a koala in the world’s
largest sanctuary, located in the
Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket.
Stokehouse
This is my absolute favourite place to
eat in Brisbane. Apart from its
beautiful South Bank setting, the
oysters are to die for, the service is
impeccable, and it’s one of the few
places in casual Brizzy where people
dress up to eat out.
CITY CAT
Take a City Cat tour from start to
end. It’s the best way to see the city
and you can hop on and off at will.
Best fiver you’ll spend!
The Balfour Kitchen
at Spicers
Even if you’re not staying here,
come and eat in this beautiful
wrap-around verandah, all shaded
by Frangipani trees. A modern
Australian menu with a European
flair, the food and service is
fantastic. See spicersretreats.com
QUEENSLAND ART GALLERY
Head to the South Bank where
Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery
of Modern Art house more than
16,000 works of historical, modern
and contemporary art. You’ll also
find the Children’s Art Centre, which
features interactive art from around
the world.
E’CCO BISTRO
For more than 20 years, E’cco Bistro
has been one of the city’s
best-loved restaurants with fresh,
imaginative Aussie food at great
prices. Visit eccobistro.com.au
FISH ‘N’ CHIPS
They’ve taken our own national
grub and added their own twist!
A massive fish supper anywhere in
the city will be delicious and cost
about £7.
inter-connected, you’ll find the
Gallery of Modern Art – a superb
space with impressive exhibitions
and evening events.
Also check out the Queensland
College of Art, Conservatorium,
Museum, Performing Arts Centre and
the State Library.
To see a lot of Brisbane in one easy
go, romp on to the Brisbane Wheel
(like the London Eye), located on the
South Bank. You can see all the main
sights of the city – the Brisbane river,
the Treasury Building, Commissariat
Store Buildings, Botanical Gardens,
Goodwill Bridge, The Gabba (fans of
rugby, cricket and football will
recognise that name), and all the
other landmarks of this buzzing city.
It’s a tenner well spent.
The CityCat is the best way to get
around. It’s a real joy to take to the
water and catch the breeze as you
whizz around the city. There’s also a
free service called City Hopper – what
other city can boast that?
Also free is the service called
Brisbane Greeters, who volunteer to
take you round the city free of charge
and show you the delights of this
wonderful city.
In terms of shopping, don’t miss
Queen St Mall, a pedestrianised main
artery in the city centre with 700-plus
retailers. The Queens Plaza has
everything from Tiffany to David
Jones – Australia’s largest outlet.
Off the mall is the Brisbane Arcade
– think Burlington Arcade and look
for top Aussie designers. My personal
favourite is James Street Market. This
is a fabulous indoor market selling
quality food from around the world.
The eating out scene in Brisbane is
every bit as high-end as in Sydney or
Cape Town – the absolute best of the
Southern Hemisphere.
I stayed at a place that I can’t
recommend enough. It’s called
Spicer’s Balfour Hotel, located in the
trendy central New Farm district.
Set in a beautiful, historic
Queenslander building, this intimate
hotel has everything on its doorstep
yet you feel as if you’re still staying
with a friend.
It’s won countless deserved awards
and is relaxed with excellent facilities
and service and worth every penny.
Rooms start from £150 – the
breakfast sets you up for the day!
(See www.spicersretreats.com/
spicers-balfour-hotel)
▼▼ Bonny
beaches
and some
of the best
food joints
in the
Southern
Hemisphere
– Brisbane
will blow
you away.
For more info on Brisbane, see visitbrisbane.com.au. Etihad fly from Edinburgh to Brisbane via Abu Dhabi for £770. See Etihad.com
VARIOUS DATES
JANUARY - MARCH 2017
FLY-STAY-CRUISE
FROM
GLASGOW
ON BOARD
VISION OF THE SEAS®
Organised by Cruise Connections Ltd part of the Omega Holidays Group PLC. Prices shown are based upon the 9 & 16 January 2017 sailing dates, prices may
varyonotherdepartures.Pricefeaturedis basedon2peoplesharingthelowestavailablestateroomandisinclusiveoftaxesbutdoesnotincludetheService
Charge(pre-paidgratuities).Itinerary,dateandpricingwerecorrectatthetimeofgoingtoprintbutaresubjecttochangeandavailability. Wereservetheright
tochangethehotelfeaturedtoasimilarstandardhotel.†Specialityrestaurantshaveacovercharge.Chargesapplytoroomservice. Astateroomforsingle
occupancyisoffered,subjecttoavailability,atasupplement.Theholidaypricesquotedwerecorrectatthetimeofprinting,butmayincreaseordecrease.You
willbeadvisedoftheup-to-datepricewhenmakingyourbooking.TourismDirhamFeecanonlybepaiddirectlytothehotel,20AED(£3.30approx.perroomper
night).Forfullterms&conditions,pleasecontactCruiseConnectionsLtdon01524771701.Pleasenotethesepricesareaguideonly,howevertheywerecorrectat
thetimeofpublishingon05/08/16.Allpricesaresubjecttoavailabilityandmaychangeatanytime.Thefinalpricewillbeconfirmedatthetimeofbooking.For
ourlatestpricesandavailabilitypleasecalluson01524771701.
ARABIAN GULF CRUISE
Whatever thrills you,
a Royal Caribbean
cruise holiday has
it. Exhilarating activities to get your adrenaline
pumping. Dazzling entertainment to keep you on
the edge of your seat. Sumptuous spa treatments
that rejuvenate and revitalise. Endless culinary
possibilities. And so much more. This isn’t just a
holiday - it’s an adventure you’ll never forget.
ITINERARY
Dubai - transfer to hotel for 3 night stay | Dubai |
Khasab, Oman | Muscat, Oman (overnight) | At Sea | Abu
Dhabi, U.A.E. | Dubai (overnight)
11 DAYS, FLY-STAY-
CRUISE
FROM GLASGOW
FOR BROCHURE, CALL
01224 338004 & QUOTE SP096
oremailbrochures@sundayposttravel.com
TO BOOK, CALL 01224 660386 quotingSUP
OR VISIT www.sundayposttravel.com
PRICE INCLUDES
• Return flight from Glasgow airport to Dubai
• Airport and port transfers in Dubai
• 3-nights accommodation at the 4 star Wyndham Marina, Dubai
with breakfast
• 7-nights on board accommodation in a double stateroom◊
• Full board on board ship†
• Selected soft drinks, tea & filter coffee. All-you-can-eat ice cream
• A new destination nearly every day
• All government fees and port taxes
BALCONY FROM
£1799pp
OCEAN VIEW FROM
£1399ppINSIDE FROM
£1299pp
AVAILABLE WITH ABERDEEN~
FLIGHTS FROM £1419pp
PLEASE CALL FOR DETAILS
25