Living in Australia Exploring Brisbane

With its present mining boom, interesting property market and lots of hustle and bustle, Brisbane is one Australian city that’s gaining a lot of attention of late.  If you’re considering picking up sticks to call Australia and this beautiful city home, you are not going to be disappointed in the number of things to do and see in and around Brisbane.

Let’s explore living in Australia in Brisbane as well as some facts about the city and what you can expect to find there and in its general vicinity once you arrive.  From the beautiful Moreton Bay coastline to the interior wilds of Queensland, expats who transplant their lives to Brisbane are often surprised at how much there is to see and do here.

One of the first things a Brit is likely to notice about Brisbane is the melting pot of people from other countries that now call it home.  The city’s estimated population of more than 1.7 million people includes an immigrant population of more than 25%.  Many immigrants in fact come from the UK.  Australia, after all, is a favourite for retirees and expats, with more than 23,000 new British immigrants heading to the country each year to join the thousands already settled.  This is fantastic news for immigrants who want to find a destination that truly welcomes them.

Beyond the cultural diversity, Brisbane residents are soon to find out this is Australia’s third largest city.  It is also the focus of the present mining boom in Australia, giving rise to a demanding commercial and real estate property market.

Some of the spots and activities that residents living in Australia and holidaymakers both adore in Brisbane include: -

Learning to Dive and Exploring HMAS Brisbane - about 100 km North of Brisbane you can drive out of the city and head on up to funkily named Mooloolaba and meet up with two great guys, Paul White and Greg Riddell at Sunreef Dive.  Here you can learn to dive over a few days with these guys and then take a trip out with them to explore HMAS Brisbane which was sunk off the Sunshine Coast and which now makes one of the best dive sites in the Brisbane area.

Mt. Coot-tha Lookout.  A drive to the top of the lookout will reveal the whole of Brisbane and beyond on clear days.  If the weather is just right, you’re going to be able to see Moreton Bay, the mountains in the southwest and other unique sights.  Plus, the café at the top of the lookout makes for a great afternoon destination.

South Bank.  This favourite destination offers plenty of beachfront to explore, restaurants, shops and more.  Residents can even take in a movie or enjoy one of the many festivals that take place at South Bank.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.  Get up close and personal with the local wildlife at this major destination.  Visitors can hold a koala, see and even feed kangaroos and learn more about Australia’s four-legged natives.

Moreton Bay.  This is the jewel of Brisbane.  Residents who trek out to Stradbroke Island can see wild dolphins at the Tangaloom Wild Dolphin Resort and take in the beauty of this splendid body of water.

Great Barrier Reef.  Whilst it is a bit of a trek north from Brisbane, this incredible underwater feature is worth the travel.  Divers from all over the world flock to this location.  As a resident of Brisbane, it will be in your backyard – almost!

Residents of Brisbane do not find themselves lacking in things to do.  From the waters and outback of Queensland to the booming cultural life, this city offers all the comforts of a metropolis in the middle of some of nature’s most beautiful scenery.