Brisbane's many charms?

Spend some time talking to the locals around Brisbane and you’ll find many have come from the southern states in search of the lifestyle on offer in South East Queensland.

They have chosen Brisbane as their base as it provides the “Big City” experience without all the hassles and crowds that the term implies. You’ll find as you walk around the streets it’s a safe friendly place where you can cover most bases on foot and the weather is almost forever balmy.

>> Destination Brisbane, Weekends For Two

Fortunately, you don’t have to move permanently to Brisbane to experience this lifestyle. With so many cheap flights available and some fantastic hotels, perfect for that luxurious short break, Brisbane is the perfect place to visit time and time again. You’ll discover there’s always something new to do or see.

But where to begin? Water and romance always go perfectly so why not start with the Brisbane River. Here continuous walkways lead along its banks and provide those always appealing city skyline views.

A great way to learn more about the river is to join the Story Bridge Climb over the Brisbane River. It’s said to be one of only three major bridge climbs in the world and it’s well worth the two and a half hour exhilarating experience. You’ll be rewarded with a 360 degree view over the city and to the distance to the Sunshine and Gold Coasts. The tours run from Wednesday to Sunday and there are dawn, day, twilight and night tours.

For something a little different consider a stop at Riverlife, a vibrant activities centre at the old Naval Stores at Kangaroo Point on the eastern flank of the river. Within 300 metres of the Brisbane business district you can do kayaking, abseiling, rock climbing, rollerblading, cycling and kickbiking, which is described as “a new mode of transportation. While the whole body gets a workout, the smoothness of rolling on two wheels protects knees, hips and the back from passive shock”.

On Thursdays and Saturdays at Riverlife you can participate in traditional Aboriginal song and dance with descendants of the local Yuggera Tribe, as they perform indigenous stories and dance skills passed on for thousands of years.

Or consider taking a high speed catamaran down the Brisbane River and out to Moreton Island where you can feed wild dolphins at the Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort. Spend a lazy day on the beach, explore some of the amazing wrecked ships on the island or go sandboarding on the perilous slopes of the island sand dunes.

For something really special take a helicopter flight out to Moreton Island from the edge of the Brisbane River. It sweeps out past Suncorp Stadium and other Brisbane landmarks before the dash across the bay. It’s a real “James Bond” sensation flying parallel to the island low and fast over the water. It’ll certainly give your day an adrenalin rush second to none.

As well as action packed days, the River is also a great place to head at night.

You can dine on the Brisbane River on the Kookaburra Queen scenic cruise or opt for one of the many restaurants which are dotted around its banks.

Another must is South Bank. On the site of the 1988 World Expo, a complete beach has been created with a panoramic view of the city skyline. There’s nothing quite like quaffing a long cool drink on the beach watching everyone else scurrying about their daily lives.

South Bank is also the hub of the cultural life of Brisbane and includes the Queensland Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Performing Arts Centre and the State Library of Queensland. You could spend days exploring these attractions alone.