Page 233 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

BRISBANE  231

with a “real” sandy beach, with
suntanned lifesavers. Brisbane
Greeters run free parkland tours
(visitbrisbane.com.au).
South Bank also features the
Wheel of Brisbane, offering great
views, and Goodwill Bridge, a
450­m (1,500­ft) pedestrian and
cycle bridge, one of two linking
the area with the Botanic
Gardens and city centre.

tQueensland
Maritime Museum
End of Goodwill Bridge, South Bank.
Tel (07) 3844 5361. £ South Bank.
@ Southbank Busway & Cultural
Centre routes to Mater Hill or South
Bank. g Maritime Museum, South
Bank. Open 9:30am–4:30pm daily.
Closed Good Fri, 25 Apr (am),
24–26 Dec. & 7 8
∑ maritimemuseum.com.au
Queensland Maritime Museum
lists among its exhibits ship­
builders’ models, reconstructed
Entrance to the Pedestrian Hall in Chinatown, Fortitude Valley cabins from early steamers and
relics from early shipwrecks in
erected during the 1880s and rSouth Bank the area. In the dry dock, as part
1890s. It then degenerated into Precinct of the National Estate, sits HMAS
one of Brisbane’s seedier areas. Diamantina, a frigate that
In the 1980s, the city council Brisbane River foreshore, South Bank. served during World War II.
began to revive the district. £ South Bank. @ Cultural Centre A coal­fired tug, Forceful, is kept
It is now the bohemian centre bus station, South Bank Busway routes, in running order and cruises with
George St nr Adelaide St routes. g
of Brisbane, with some of the South Bank 1, 2, 3. 7 Visitors’ Centre: passengers to Moreton Bay two
city’s best restaurants (see Tel (07) 3156 6366. Open 9am–5pm seasons a year. Also on display is
pp512–14). McWhirter’s daily. ∑ visitsouthbank.com.au the pearling lugger Penguin and
Emporium, an Art Deco the bow of a Japanese pleasure
landmark, was originally a The South Bank of the Brisbane boat, a yakatabume, donated to
department store. Shops now River was the site of Expo ’88 and Brisbane by Japan after Expo ’88.
occupy the lower levels with is now a 17 ha (42 acres) centre
apartments above. On week­ of culture, entertainment and
ends, there is also a busy outdoor recreation. The area known as
market in Brunswick Street. the parklands includes the
Also within the valley is Queensland Performing Arts
Brisbane’s Chinatown, a Centre, the State Library,
bustling area of Asian the Queensland Museum
restaurants, super­ & Science Centre,
markets, cinemas and Queensland Art
and martial arts Gallery and Gallery of
centres. The lions at the Modern Art (see pp232–
entrance were turned 3), the Conservatorium,
around when a feng Butterfly at South Opera Queensland,
shui expert consid expert considered
shui
shui Bank Parklands two colleges and an
their original position exhibition centre.
to be bad for business. The South Bank area
abounds with restaurants, cafés,
weekend market stalls and street
eQueensland entertainers. Classical music and
Cultural Precinct pop concerts are also regularly
held here. There is even a man­ HMAS Diamantina at the Queensland
See pp232–3. made lagoon, Streets Beach, Maritime Museum