— Brisbane, Queensland, Australia  —

  Wonders  

  Rate a City  

Name of the Writer: Austin Martinson
Country: Australia
State and City: Brisbane, Queensland
General Description: 
As one of the big cities in Australia, Brisbane has a reputation of being the boring one. But boy, did it exceed those expectations. The city is gorgeous, with tall skyscrapers visible throughout. It is located on a huge river that runs right through the middle and spills into the ocean. Much of the city uses boats for transportation, so ferries and water taxis were extremely easy to hop on from the numerous docks along the river. 

We happened to be there during the World Cup and Ekka, which is like a county fair. It was vibrant and joyful the entire trip. If it had a similar European city, Brisbane would remind me of Frankfurt, Germany. They both have a reputation of being generic and uneventful, yet both in reality have their own charm and beauty. 

However, the nightlife wasn't amazing, the nature wasn't perfect, and the tourist attractions were limited. In contrast, Brisbane still had a lot going on from a simple day to day standpoint. Great public transport, central hub in the region, and plenty of fun areas for drinks and food. 

Nevertheless, this is one city I wish I had stayed longer and is definitely on my list to return to.

Food Rating (1-10) and Why:
6 /10. As an American, all of Australia was cheap, and Brisbane was no exception. Not quite Thailand or Mexico cheap, but affordable none the less. Fancy coffee was $3. Cocktails were $6. A typical meal would set you back $10 to $12. Even at Ekka (like a county fair) prices were reasonable. Hostels are roughly $25 to $30 per night. Ubers and ferries were super affordable and a great way to get around the city! They even offer free water taxis!
Safety Rating (1-10) and Why:
8/10. Crime was almost non existent. Late nights were very safe and easy walks. Never had fear or harassment. Drug use wasn't visible. Homelessness was low and not very apparent. There were no scams to report.
Culture Rating (1-10) and Why:
7/10. The people were pleasant, outgoing, and relaxed. they weren't overly social or extremely friendly. Brisbane had a bit of a country vibe, a massive fair called EKKA that shut down the whole city, and cowboy culture. Locals have pride in their city with the fact that they are growing fast yet don't have the forced hustle bustle of Melbourne or Sydney.
Nightlife Rating (1-10) and Why:
3/10. Brisbane closed early. There was really only a couple bars for a city so large that were even open during the week. The nightlife really required a local's knowledge of which bar was open which night. Even at the bar that was open, there weren't many people. It would be difficult to do much other than a night cap around 11pm.
Architecture Rating (1-10) and Why:
6/10. Brisbane has a big downtown with buildings that tower of the whole city. As you move around the city, the skyline changes, which makes for an always awesome view. The river snakes around the downtown buildings meaning they are always towering above giving different angles. There is a bridge to the casino being built which looks amazing. Other than this structure, there weren't too many jaw dropping single building.
Adventure Rating (1-10) and Why:
5/10. The city has free rock climbing right on the edge of the river, which is super super awesome. It has some great hikes, and river cruises as well. You can see koalas, but other than these the adventure isn't that satisfying. There are sharks in the river, so that adds some excitement.
Natural Beauty Rating (1-10) and Why:
4/10. The river meeting the ocean poses for some great photo ops. Sunsets over the skyline were marvelous.
Sports Rating (1-10) and Why:
2/10. We watched the Women's FIFA World Cup here at the Funfest. It was practically empty. They love rugby, and there is rock-climbing on the cliff next to the river.
Language Rating (1-10) and Why:
7/10. It was great that they spoke English. At times, the accent was extremely tough to understand. They did often translate signs and public statements are translated into their native language.
Transportation Rating (1-10) and Why:
8/10. Free water taxis was great. The train/bus system was also very simple.

  Rate a Place  

© All rights reserved by 100 WondersLust