Brisbane, QLD, Australia

City of Brisbane website

Brisbane has become one of the country's most progressive centres. Since playing host to a string of major international events in the '80s, including the 1982 Commonwealth Games and Expo '88, Brisbane has developed into a lively, cosmopolitan city with several interesting districts, a good street cafe scene, a great riverside park, a busy cultural calendar and decent nightlife.

Queensland's growing tourism industry has brought an influx of visitors to the capital, and with its near-perfect climate year-round, Brisbane comes as a pleasant surprise to most visitors. The city is also surrounded by some of the state's major tourist destinations, and there are plenty of options for daytrips.