Brisbane is Australia's third largest city with a population of 1.5 million, and is the state capital of Queensland. It is a friendly, but cosmopolitan city with a laid-back attitude to life, good street cafe scene, world-class entertainment and cultural facilities and a lively nightlife.

About Brisbane
Other Links
Transport (including the new Airtrain)
How to get to UQ

About Brisbane

Located in south-east Queensland, Brisbane is situated 25km upstream from the mouth of the Brisbane River. The central business district features a number of public parks and squares, the heart of the city being the two-block Queen Street Mall, a pedestrian shopping precinct. The city centre is connected by bridge or cross-river ferry to South Brisbane and the Cultural Centre which features the Performing Arts Complex, with its four major performance spaces, the Queensland Art Gallery, the Queensland Museum and the State Library of Queensland. It is also the stopping off point for the Southbank Parklands: 16 hectares of parks, playgrounds, restaurants, and an artificial sandy beach (patrolled), all set in lush tropical gardens.

For visitors arriving by bus, train or airport shuttle, the Brisbane Transit Centre is 500 metres from the city centre, and connected to the city's extensive suburban rail and bus network. The airport is located 15 kms north of the city.

Want to know whether to bring your bathing suit or an overcoat? Check out the forecasts on the Bureau of Meteorology website, or the table of average temperatures (Brisbane's averages are 21.2°C to 10.9°C for July).

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Other Links

Brisbane Stories is a community website that provides information, history and other material about certain Brisbane suburbs.

The Brisbane City Council website contains information about all Brisbane suburbs, as well as details about council services and transport.

Lonely Planet gives a tourist's-eye view of Brisbane.

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Transport

A taxi from Brisbane airport to the city and the Stamford Plaza costs around $A25; to the UQ St Lucia campus (location of the conference) about $A35. The campus is a 15 minute bus ride into Brisbane city using buses numbered 407, 411, or 412. A timetable may be found here. There is also a less expensive bus service from the airport into the Brisbane city bus terminal.

Airtrain links Brisbane's International and Domestic airport terminals with Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Airtrain is fully integrated with Brisbane's existing metropolitan electric heavy rail system (QR Citytrain). Airtrain services operate from 5am to 11pm (Eastern Standard Time), running on average four times an hour to and from the Brisbane CBD, and twice an hour to and from the Gold Coast. Fares are approximately A$9.00 one way to Brisbane City. A trip from the Domestic Terminal to Brisbane City takes just 22 minutes.

For guests staying at the Stamford Plaza, the nearest railway station is Brisbane Central. The hotel is a few blocks away, but there are nearby taxi ranks. Details of trains including a timetable, can be found on the Queensland Rail website.

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To get to The University of Queensland...

By car

The main entrance to the University is along Sir Fred Schonell Drive. From Brisbane's Central Business District, Sir Fred Schonell Drive is most easily accessed via Coronation Drive. Visitor parking on campus is available in two multi-level car parks on Sir Fred Schonell Drive. See map.

By ferry

The CityCat ferry is the most enjoyable and often the most convenient means of getting to the St Lucia campus. The campus CityCat terminal is located near the corner of Sir William MacGregor Drive and Blair Drive. For timetables and further information, try the TransInfo Journey Planner. See map.

By bus

From Brisbane's Central Business District, the Brisbane City Council bus routes which run directly to the University of Queensland are the 407 (Rocket), the 412 (Express), and the 411. Other BCC bus routes which stop here are the 402 (Toowong), the 403 (Indooropilly), the 427 (Chapel Hill), the 432 (Kenmore) and the 414 (West Taringa). The main bus stop on the St Lucia campus is located at Chancellor's Place near the J.D. Story building. See map. For timetables and further information, try the TransInfo Journey Planner.

By train

The nearest train station to the St Lucia campus is Toowong, on the Citytrain Ipswich Line. From Toowong Station, cross Benson Street and catch a bus to UQ -- the 402, 411, or 412. For timetables and further information, try the TransInfo Journey Planner.

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