It would be a rare thing for someone to return from a conference in Brisbane and be disappointed with their stay. Thanks to the magnificent climate and landscape, the diverse entertainment and culinary choices as well as the professional staff at hotels and conference centres in Brisbane, your event is in bound to be an unqualified success.
The Brisbane central business district lies in a curve of the picturesque Brisbane river and covers only 2.2 km2 making everything very accessible within its compact city centre. Central streets are named after members of the royal family, Queen Street being Brisbane’s traditional main street. Organisations and businesses occupy many of the tall office buildings within the CBD, while all three levels of government are centred around the Executive Building and also in some of the other well-defined precincts. A legal precinct exists around the various court buildings located near the intersections of George Street and Adelaide and Ann Streets and a financial district known locally as ‘The Golden Triangle’ is forming in the area around Eagle Street. The retail precinct can be found primarily around the Queen Street Mall and Adelaide Street. The CBD is flanked by many exciting accommodation options ranging from the quaint boutique 31/2* to the lavishly large 5* properties. Though the city is compact in size – there are several very large conferencing facilities that service this busy city – with over 6 “hotel” style venues that can seat in excess of 400 people – its known for its “bigger than Ben Hur” capabilities as a conferencing city.
Tourism plays a major role in Brisbane’s economy, being the third-most popular destination for international tourists after Sydney and Melbourne. One of the most popular tourist and recreation areas in Brisbane is the South Bank Parklands where some fabulous accommodation can also be found. Located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River, Southbank Parklands are directly opposite the City. The parklands are connected to the City by the Goodwill Bridge which leads to the Botanic Gardens at the southern end and the Victoria Bridge at the northern end. They are a carefully thought out combination of rainforest, water, grassed areas and plazas and are dotted with restaurants, shops and fountains. Features such as the riverfront promenade, the Streets Beach, the Grand Arbour, the Suncorp Piazza, the Nepal Peace Pagoda and the Wheel of Brisbane make this a diverse and exciting place. The parklands are also home to the Queensland Conservatorium and are one of Brisbane’s most important cultural precincts. Regularly hosting large scale festivals and events they attract approximately 11,000,000 people each year. There has been a shift in recent times to move away from the inner city conferencing and accommodation, and Southbank has become Brisbane’s answer to this. With easy parking options, and beautiful surrounds – many of the small to mid-sized conferencing facilities that are dotted throughout this area take full advantage of their location and the views that go with it.
Brisbane has an extensive transportation network within the city, as well as connections to regional centres, interstate and to overseas destinations. The CBD is the central hub for all public transport services with the focus on Queen Street Bus Station, Roma Street and Central railway stations as well as various city ferry wharves. Operating services along the Brisbane River and popular with tourists and commuters, Brisbane’s CityCat offers a high speed ferry service. Indeed, one of the best ways of seeing Brisbane is on the extensive 27km network of pedestrian and cyclist pathways that have been created along the banks of the Brisbane River to form a Riverwalk network. Brisbane conference venues will be able to assist with maps and suggestions for this enjoyable pastime.
With so much to experience in and around this magic destination, don’t neglect contacting a conference venue in Brisbane today for further details on this exciting city.
