Long known as Bris-Vegas and often thought of as the poor relation of cosmopolitan Sydney, Brisbane Australia is coming into its own as a thriving center of culture and diversity as well as the Mecca for sun-seekers that it has always been. It is also a city that loves its festivals, and as the mercury tops 40 degrees C (around 105F), the summer music festivals come out in force.

Attractions

Brisbane's attractions are varied: Nature features heavily in the sub-tropical climate, and the nearby rainforest national parks are a top pick for holiday-makers. The sea is equally popular, with the city's beaches being crowded in the heat of the day as locals strut their stuff in string bathing suits (often the men as well as the women) and take a dip in the clear blue waters of the Pacific. Yes, sharks really are a legitimate danger in Australia, so the beaches are heavily patrolled and shark nets line the mouths of the bays.

A slightly cooler version of the ubiquitous water recreation can be found on the Brisbane River, that meanders for miles. Boating and swimming are very popular in the cool fresh water (not recommended for drinking though – Australian rivers are mud-bottomed, so anyone uncomfortable with swimming in decidedly cloudy water is advised to stay bank-side. Luckily crocodiles very rarely stray into the city.

Moreton Island is in Moreton Bay (a huge and beautiful bay just outside of Brisbane). The bay itself is a drawcard, but the island offers the delights of the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort. Everyone should handfeed a dolphin once in their life – its an unforgettable experience.

Entertainment Parks

There's plenty of family fun in Brisbane, in the form of entertainment parks. A three-day pass to Wet N Wild (water park), Movie World (a kind of Disneyland built by Warner Brothers) and Sea World (more whales, dolphins and seals than you can poke a fish at) is the best value and the most fun. Although these are not exactly cheap, the failing Australian dollar (or South Pacific Peso as its locally known) eases the pain for international visitors.

Festivals

The Big Day Out is a national music festival that offers a full day of big-name music acts, as well as the requisite bars, rides and stalls. This is not one for the littlies (you have to be at least 16 to go) and can get pretty rough, especially at night when headliners like The Prodigy (who are Big Day Out regulars) take the stage. Expect plenty of drunkenness, mosh pits, and dusty sweaty people crammed into a series of open fields, all in temperatures of more than 100 degrees F. Nonetheless, if you like your parties, this one is one of the best.

Hotels

Hotels in Brisbane vary wildly. The usual chains are there, with a double room costing around $130 per night, but smaller budget-style hotels and motels are everywhere. The best way to negotiate a room in one of these is simply to arrive on the day and bargain a little. Almost all of them have at least one empty room on any given day and will be happy to break even on the cost of running it. If you don't mind this informal way of booking, you won't pay more than $40 per room per night.

Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder on the left to find cheap hotels in Brisbane, Australia.

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