Brisbane Visitor Information
Alcohol
The minimum legal 'drinking' age is 18. When going to bars and nightclubs,you should carry identification to prove you are at least 18 years old.You will not be let in otherwise. No one may buy liquor from a bar or liquor store (bottle shop) unless they are at least 18. Buying liquor for a 'minor' is illegal.
Bus Services & Transfers
Coachtrans operate airport transfers to your accommodation by coach, as well as services to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts. They also offer theme park transfers to Dreamworld, Movieworld, Seaworld and Wet'N' Wild. Their network of coaches operate regular services throughout the day to a multitude of destinations.
Acacia Luxury Transport offer personlised meet and greet service to and from Brisbane Airport to your city accommodation. They also offer transfers to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts for those flying into Brisbane or for those heading on after a stay in the River city. From four seater luxury sedans to stretch limousines and mini coaches, Acacia are sure to have your transfer needs in hand.
Please ask us about these transfer options when booking your accommodation.
Car Rental
Travel Online is proud to use and recommend Budget Rent a Car and Europcar. Depots are at Brisbane Airport (domestic and International) as well as the central city office. Vehicles are generally no more than eight months old, with automatic transmission and air-conditioning. Renters have to be 21 or older and hold a current driver's licence. An international license is not necessary. Travel Online can certainly help you with your rental car requirements, visit our campervans & car rental website for details.
Climate
Brisbane has bright, sunny days and some balmy nights as it is a subtropical city. It's quite warm in summer and mild in winter and there is really no 'bad' time to visit, though physically most locals prefer the Spring when the city is in full bloom.
Seasons in Australia are the reverse of North America and Europe. For example, Christmas day usually spent at the beach or around the pool with a cool drink in hand!
Summer is December to February, autumn (fall) March to May, winter June to August, and spring September to November.
Average Temperatures: Summer: 29C maximum (84F), 21C minimum (70F); Winter: 22C maximum (72F), 10C minimum (50F)
Water Temperature: Summer 25C (77F), Winter 19C (66F)
Temperature Conversion: For visitors more accustomed to using Farenheit for temperatures than Celsius, the simplest method for an approximate conversion is to double the Celsius temperature and add 32. Hence, 20 degrees Celsius = (2x20)+32 = 72 degrees Farenheit.
Credit Cards
All banks have automated teller machines (ATMs) accessible 24-hours a day, generally outside the branch or in the foyer. Check with your card issuer that your charge or account-linked credit card can be used in this way, and at which bank as none accept every brand of card.
Currency
The Australian dollar is divided into 100 cents. One and two cent coins are no longer in circulation, but many items in shops and supermarkets are priced in odd amounts, such as $1.97 or $9.99. The law provides that the TOTAL bill is rounded up or down to the nearest 5 cents. So $19.97 becomes $19.95, $19.98 becomes $20.00. Coin denominations are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c $1 and $2. Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, colour coded and made from a plastic compound that will survive a wash or a swim.
Driving
Australians drive on the left, which can be disconcerting for visitors used to driving on the right side of the road. Roads are generally good and major routes well signposted. Speed limits and distances are expressed in kilometres and vary substantially from 50 kph in residential and heavy traffic areas to 110 kph on freeways. Drink driving is a serious offence and heavily policed. The legal limit of .05% is quite low - roughly equivalent to two small glasses of wine in the first hour and one an hour thereafter for men, less for women.
Maps and Regional Information
For a detailed map of the Brisbane CBD, please click here
News Papers
Brisbane has a daily newspaper called the Courier Mail (Queensland wide). The Sunday edition is called the Sunday Mail. A national broadsheet, The Australian, appears daily except Sunday, as does a national business tabloid, The Australian Financial Review.
Medical Services
Australian health care professionals are highly trained and medical services are among the best in the world. Visitors from the UK, New Zealand and Finland are entitled to free or heavily subsidised medical and hospital care under reciprocal national health care agreements with the taxpayer funded Medicare organisation. All other visitors should take out travel insurance when visiting Australia. Several Australian-based travel insurers have special cover for visitors which are much less expensive than travel cover sold in the US, for instance. Major hotels have doctors on-call.
Prescription Drugs
Visitors who have a medical condition requiring treatment should ensure they carry a letter from their doctor outlining their condition and the medication required. Most medication is available in Australia, but only on a doctor's prescription. Prescription drugs are dispensed by qualified pharmacist at 'pharmacies' or 'chemist' shops.
Rail Services
Whether you're heading into or out of Brisbane, rail is a fantastic travel option. This rail hub offers daily services along the Queensland coast, twice weekly services to two Outback destinations, and several services to and from Sydney. Brisbane also has a superb urban rail network which makes getting around the city a breeze. Travel Online can book your train journey requirements, vist our trains website for details
Restaurants
Dining out in Brisbane is very cosmopolitan from classy licensed restaurants to innovative BYO (Bring Your Own bottle of wine) restaurants to sidewalk coffee shops and cafes. Many restaurants specialise in local seafood with local mud crabs ('muddies') and Moreton Bay 'bugs' a specialty. You can choose from any number of Asian, Italian, Mexican and Mediterranean cuisine in the city or suburbs or dive into a McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, Pizza Hut or KFC for a quick fix.
Travellers Cheques
Travellers cheques, especially in foreign currencies, are generally NOT accepted EXCEPT by hotels and big stores and tourist shops. These display a 'travellers cheques welcome' sign. Cash your cheques at a bank or Bureau de Change to ensure you have enough spending money. The same holds true for foreign currency, which is not generally accepted by Australian businesses and shops.
Tipping
No service charge applies in Australia. Tipping is not mandatory but a tip in restaurants and hotel bars isoptional for exceptional service.
