July 3, 2009

The Fun To Be Had At Brisbane

by Patrick Daniels

Brisbane has the perfect climate for those that enjoy outdoor activities. It has a relatively flat city and various parks where you can enjoy leisurely walks, cycling and skating to your hearts content.

Cycling: Brisbane has over 5000 kms of cycle ways across the city. You can ride around the river, explore the suburbs or even cycle around Moreton Bay. To find out details of the cycle ways, you can pick up a booklet Brisbane Bicycle Experience Guide in the tourist information centres. The scenic routes follow the river and range from 5 kms to 20 kms. An easy starter takes you from the City Botanic Gardens cross the Goodwill Bridge to the University of Queensland. There are lots of places to stop and rest on the way! You can take bikes onto the City Trains but not during peak hour and they are allowed onto the CityCat and Ferries too for free.

In-Line Skating: The Cycle tracks are also good for skating. You can rent the skates at Skatebiz, Albert Street. Which also provides all the safety equipment too. Southbank Parklands, The City Botanic Gardens and the paths by the Brisbane River are great places to skate.

Rock Climbing: This is one of the most popular past times in Brisbane, with many wonderful places to explore. You can start at the Cliffs Rock Climbing area at Kangaroo Point, these pink volcanic cliffs are now home to a rock climbing wall. This wall is suitable for all climbing expertise levels and are lit until midnight. Indoor climbing is also available at Urban Climb, in West End or Rock Sports, in Fortitude Valley. Clubs such as K2 Extreme and Torre Mountain Craft also offer mountain climbing and abseiling classes.

Swimming: Southbank Parkland, is home to everyone's favourite outdoor swim place. It is an artificial lagoon and makes for a fun day with family and friends. Brisbane also offers many other pools including the Centenary pool, which is a 50 metre pool with high diving. This pool is attached to a fitness center and also has a wading pool for smaller children. For a piece of Brisbane history the Spring Hill Baths is where you will want to visit. It is a heated pool and accredited as being the first public bath is Brisbane, established in 1886.

Skydiving and Ballooning: The Brisbane Skydiving Centre picks up from the CBD and offers tandem skydives over Brisbane including a 30 minute scenic flight .Balloon flights over Brisbane CBD are spectacular and can be organized by Fly Me to the Moon. They take off just after daybreak and travel about 10 to 15 kms and are about the hour. A 4WD follows you to the landing site. The flight normally takes you over the river and views extend north beyond the Glass House Mountains and south to the Border Ranges.

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