South Bank Overview
The heart of Brisbane's culture, entertainment, recreation and education, Brisbane's
South Bank is a lifestyle precinct unlike any other in the world.
Enjoying one of Brisbane's best locations, at South Bank the elements which
comprise an idyllic Queensland lifestyle blend to form a vibrant precinct which
attracts more than nine million people annually and which has earned the precinct
the reputation of Brisbane's number one tourist destination and "people
place".
The popular precinct just across the Brisbane River from the city's CBD has
a diverse range of activities, tastes, cultures and experiences.
Enjoy the delights of a lush, sub-tropical, 17-hectare parkland that includes
Australia's only beach in the heart of the City, South Bank Beach, rainforest
walks, picnic and barbecue areas, water features and a picturesque riverfront
promenade on which to walk, run and rollerblade.
A visit to South Bank is also an experience for the tastebuds with more than
30 restaurants, cafes and takeaways available catering to all tastes and appetites.
South Bank is also Brisbane's arts precinct - home to the Queensland Art
Gallery, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Opera Queensland, Queensland Theatre
Company and State Library - all of which take pride of place along the bank
of the Brisbane River.
Recognised internationally as one of the most successful redeveloped World
Expo sites in the world, the South Bank precinct is used by other Expo cities
as the benchmark for creating a premier destination.
A year-round events calendar ensures there is always plenty to see and experience.
For further information, telephone the Visitor Information Centre on 3867
2051 or visit the website www.south-bank.net.au
Dining
With more than 30 restaurants, cafes and bars, visitors to South Bank can
dine at a different establishment every day of the week!
South Bank has the cuisine and location to suit all tastes, appetites and
budgets ranging from Turkish, Indian and Asian to Mediterranean, Modern Australian
and Italian.
At South Bank you can dine riverside and take in the majestic views across
the river to the city, soak up the atmosphere of the eventful Brisbane Convention & Exhibition
Centre, enjoy a dinner before a show at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre
and Queensland Art Gallery, go casual or formal at Rydges Hotel or dine alfresco
at one of the many eateries along the bustling Little Stanley Street.
An array of takeaway outlets is also available ranging from fish and chips
and kebabs to burgers, ice-cream and pizza.
The café society is alive and well at South Bank where you can enjoy
more than six different styles of coffee from the precinct's many cafes, from
Merlo, Vittoria and Lavazza to Steam, Golden Espresso and Belaroma.
You don't have to look far for a stunning location to enjoy a relaxing drink
either. In the centre of South Bank, The Plough Inn, a South Bank institution,
is a casual location with its relaxed beergarden and picturesque balconies
while Greystone's Bar in Little Stanley Street has a wine cellar to be proud
of. CBD at Rydges Hotel is both stylish and casual and offers extensive beer
and wine lists and menus to match.
Retail
A day out at South Bank would not be complete without a spot of shopping.
Whether it's food, fashion or gifts you are after, there is plenty of choice.
Fashion followers will enjoy a visit to South Bank's newest retail strip,
Little Stanley Street. Opened in November 2001, the stylish retail precinct
is where you will find a range of boutique fashion including labels Marcs,
Baby Doll, Bettina Liano, Indigo, Bijoux Bijoux and Princess Highway from Denim
Co.
Wander a little further along the street and you can also invest in homewares,
gifts and accessories.
Markets
Little Stanley Street is also home to the now significantly bigger South Bank
Art and Craft Markets.
Every Friday until Sunday market tents replace vehicles in Little Stanley
Street to create a bustling marketplace, complementing the alfresco dining
of Little Stanley Street restaurants, which spans the length of the retail
strip.
The South Bank Art and Craft Markets operate every Friday night from 5pm until
10pm, Saturday from 11am until 5pm and Sunday from 9am until 5pm.
Market shopping has never been more interesting or plentiful that it is now
at South Bank with an interesting array of market stalls now mixed throughout
Little Stanley Street, Stanley Street Plaza and the ENERGEX Arbour every weekend.
Budding gourmets will enjoy a visit to South Bank's cultural forecourt on
the first and third Saturdays of every month for the Farmers Fresh and Seafood
Market.
From 6am until midday, more than 60 primary producers offer an array of fresh
produce for sale ranging from fruit and vegetables to meats, flowers, breads,
deli items and seafood fresh from the trawler.
Parking is easy and free in the Parklands' underground car park, Brisbane
Convention & Exhibition Centre car park and Cultural Centre car parks every
Farmers Fresh and Seafood market day.
Attractions
ENERGEX Brisbane Arbour
A one kilometre walkway, the ENERGEX Arbour winds its way through the length
of the parklands at South Bank, providing a scenic route from which to enjoy
all that it offers. Draped in brilliant bougainvillea, the award-winning arbour
was conceived as a horticultural wonder and is the defining symbol of South
Bank. Comprised of 403 individually designed, tendril-like columns, the ENERGEX
Arbour has won a number of state and national awards, including the Urban Design
in Australia Award in the year 2000.
South Bank Beach
South Bank Beach is a unique man-made beach comprising a crystal lagoon with
enough water to fill five Olympic swimming pools, sparkling clean white beaches
and sub-tropical trees and exotic plants.
The beach contains chlorinated fresh water that is recirculated every six
hours at up to 125 litres per second. The water is pumped through two large
sand filters and chemically treated before being returned back to the beach.
The 4,000 cubic metres of sand is sourced from Rous Channel in Moreton Bay
and 70 tonnes is added each year to the South Bank Beach.
Lawns and BBQ facilities surrounding the South Bank Beach are a popular spot
for picnic lunches. South Bank Beach is patrolled by lifeguards 365 days a
year, seven days a week. From December until February, lifeguards patrol from
7am until midnight daily.
The Parklands
The 17-hectare public parklands stretch for more than a kilometre along the
banks of the Brisbane River, looking out across Brisbane's modern city skyline.
The bougainvillea covered ENERGEX Arbour, sub-tropical trees and plants, lush
lawns, formal gardens, rainforests and palm trees create a sub-tropical backdrop
for the numerous restaurants, cafes and bars which dot the South Bank precinct.
Over 175,000 shrubs and 4,000 advanced trees make up the landscape of the gardens.
Goodwill Bridge
The Goodwill Bridge opened in October 2001 links South Bank's 1km promenade
to the City Botanical Gardens, allowing families and health enthusiasts alike
to stroll, jog, cycle and skate between Brisbane's major inner-city parklands.
This architecturally impressive structure links the southern end of South Bank,
the city's Botanic Gardens and the adjoining Queensland University of Technology.
With more than 50,000 pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge each week the
450 m long bridge is a major access point.
Suncorp Piazza
A whole host of events are home to the covered, amphitheatre-styled Suncorp
Piazza from international beach volleyball matches, tae kwon do and screenings
of football matches to movies, concerts, corporate gala dinners and art exhibitions.
Available for hire, the Suncorp Piazza's uses are limited only by the imagination.
Suncorp Superscreen
The huge 5m by 4m portable screen boasts state of the art technology that
enables broadcasting both day and night, indoors and outside.
Events
South Bank is where the people of Brisbane come to celebrate and, as such,
hosts the city's major annual festivities including the Lord Mayor's Australia
Day Celebrations, the Parmalat Christmas Celebrations, Parmalat New Year's
Eve Celebrations and Riverfestival.
Recreational Activities
South Bank's idyllic riverside location also makes it an appealing exercise
and recreation setting. More and more people are incorporating South Bank into
their regular exercise regimes whether it's running, walking, swimming, cycling
or rollerblading.
The loop from South Bank, Kangaroo Point and across the Goodwill Bridge has
become on of Brisbane's most popular with cyclists, joggers, walkers and rollerbladers
alike.
South Bank also offers a range of free exercise activities through its ENERGEX
Healthy Lifestyle program which includes free aqua fitness, tai chi and cycling
programs. For further information, telephone the Visitor Information Centre
on 3867 2051.
Aquatic Action
South Bank's riverside location also makes it the ideal venue for range of
water activities - from dragon boating, rowing and outriggers to water skiing
and canoeing.
Throughout the year many aquatic sports competitions, both participatory and
spectactor, are held on the Brisbane River in front of South Bank. These range
from Surf Life Saving competitions to corporate regattas.
To get involved and find out more, contact the Visitor Information Centre
on 3867 2051.
The activation of the river is a priority of South Bank which means more river
activity is planned in the future.
Cultural Activities
The South Bank Precinct is home to the Queensland Performing Arts Complex,
Queensland Art Gallery, State Library of Queensland, Queensland Museum, Brisbane
Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC), and the Greater Union Hoyt's South
Bank Cinemas.
The $260 million Millennium Arts Development, at the northern end of South
Bank, is planned for completion in 2005 and will further complement the South
Bank product adding to the already strong cultural and educational offerings.
Educational Facilities
South Bank TAFE, Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium of Music,
Griffith University's Queensland College of Art, the Queensland Academy of
Sport, the University of Canberra Brisbane Campus and a number of secondary
schools are situated in the South Bank precinct.
Griffith University's Queensland Conservatorium is Australia's leading tertiary
music institution, with an international reputation for excellence in conservatoire
training and contemporary music education. As the home to Opera Queensland
the $40 million Conservatorium includes a 650 seat theatre, a 200 seat recital
hall, professional recording and music technology facilities, teaching studios,
rehearsal rooms and performance spaces.
Griffith University's Queensland College of Art offers degrees in design,
visual arts, photography, screen production and animation at an undergraduate
level.
The South Bank Institute of TAFE offers courses in business management, information
technology, health and fitness, commerce, tourism, hospitality and multimedia
to more than 30,000 Australian and International students.
The first satellite campus of the University of Canberra has opened at South
Bank providing students with educational leadership and access to many Canberra-based
services through the University's extensive and comprehensive on-line network.
With the establishment of the Goodwill Bridge linking South Bank with the
Queensland University of Technology and the City Botanical Gardens students
to QUT can cycle or walk across from South Bank to attend classes. QUT offers
both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Arts, Built Environment and
Engineering, Business, Education, Health, Information Technology, Law and Science.
For details on South Bank's multitude of events, please go to their website: www.south-bank.net.au
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