Brisbane is home to a range of internationally recognised universities. Some are among the top 50 in the world.
The community of Brisbane is vibrant and diverse. You can find a wide range of services and programs to help you live well in your city.
Anglicare responds to human need through loving service & seeks to transform unjust structures of society. Here are some features of Brisbane community you can consider for a good lifestyle.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Brisbane is by public transportation, with a combination of buses, ferries and trams run by TransLink. It’s easy to navigate and there are plenty of free bus routes during the day — including the Great Circle Line, which offers a large anti-clockwise loop around the city centre and CBD.
Getting around by car is also an option, and there are plenty of highways and roads leading in and out of the city. However, traffic can be a problem at times.
The brisbane community is a diverse mix of cultures, with people from all over the world finding homes here. This is especially true in suburban areas like Corinda, a trendy and affordable neighborhood with big parks. It’s the home of many local indie bands, too, and musicians still find it a good place to start their careers. The community also takes care of the less fortunate, with places like 3rd Space providing a safe drop-in center for homeless people that provides practical support and friendship. Micah Projects is another charity that works with disadvantaged people, seeking to transform unjust structures of society and pursuing peace and reconciliation.
Sports
A love of sport is part of Brisbane’s culture and the city’s venues host a number of major international sporting events. It’s also home to professional domestic teams in rugby league (the Broncos and Dolphins), rugby union (the Queensland Reds) and cricket (the Brisbane Heat).
The city’s obsession with sport stretches to community levels, too. Get active in a local team, try your hand at a range of indoor and outdoor sports or head to one of the many fitness studios.
You’ll find Council-owned pools, more than 20 skate parks for boarders, bladers and BMX riders, plus a network of kilometres of bikeways in all areas of the city. Discover a rebound wall in your local Council park for tennis hit-up practice, soccer kicking fun or handball action. Or play a round of ‘foot golf’ – it’s a game of kicking a ball into a series of holes like you would a traditional golf course. It’s great fun for the whole family.
Shopping
The Queensland capital has a laid-back, sunny style that shines through its fashion and lifestyle scene. Amanda Shadforth, founder of online boutique Oracle Fox, explains that locals love to shop locally for “a beautiful product that reflects the subtropical setting.”
She highlights Brisbane’s laneway shopping scene as one of its best features. Head to a local favorite like The Common Thread for hand-selected sustainable wares, and for stylish homewares try Indigo. Then, take a stroll to the nearby riverside bookseller Riverbend Books.
Another must-visit spot for shopping is the city’s local markets. The artisanal and vintage markets are fun and unique, with plenty of stalls to browse and shop from. Lil J’s Vintage Market has a plethora of brightly coloured vintage pieces that will really pop on your Instagram feed, while The Developing Foundation Inc. op shop in Paddington specializes in handmade crop tops with that cool girl aesthetic.
The St Vincent de Paul Society, or Vinnies, is a staple of Australian op-shopping. It sells everything from clothes to furniture and uses the profits to help a range of people, including Indigenous Australia, those experiencing homelessness and children. It’s a must-visit for anyone interested in supporting the community.
Dining
Queensland’s capital is a hive of culinary excellence. The city has a strong and varied offering of cuisines, including Japanese, Chinese, modern Australian and Italian. Local ingredients like Moreton Bay bugs and macadamia nuts also feature heavily in many dishes.
Indulge your inner gourmand at Eat Street Brisbane, a food hall in a former container wharf that serves up loads of different culinary flavours. Or try the upscale modern Australian fare at Aria Restaurant in the heart of the CBD.
For a memorable meal, head to this precise diner hidden in the corner of an old warehouse. Co-owner Angela Sclavos and chef Phil Marchant serve up artful takes on Mediterranean cuisine, from delicately balanced ricotta, pumpkin and burnt sage butter crespelle to grilled octopus with parsnip, heirloom peppers and chili aioli. And there's plenty of wine, with regional Italian drops sharing the spotlight with New World classics.
The Mothers of Brisbane are a group for local moms who meet regularly to socialize, share resources, organize family-friendly events and support each other. Located in central Brisbane, the group has over 70 members and is free to join.
Nightlife
The city’s vibrant nightclub scene caters to a variety of tastes. From electronic beats at Cloudland to brash Australian music at The Zoo, there are plenty of options for dancing the night away. For something more low-key, head to Riverbar for waterfront drinks and eats seven days a week. Here you can sing along to classic rock anthems while enjoying tasty American-style burgers and fried chicken.
For those who prefer to drink with friends, there are plenty of cocktail bars and rooftop lounges in the city center. For those who like to meet new people and dance all night, there are several clubs that host live music, including Prohibition, which blasts electronic music on its dancefloor, while Greaser plays punk, hardcore and metal.
It’s worth keeping in mind that many clubs enforce age restrictions and dress codes, which may include not wearing sandals or sneakers and avoiding inappropriate visible tattoos. It’s also a good idea to bring a valid ID, as some clubs require it for entry. You can also find a number of safe night precincts, which have extra security measures in place to reduce violence at night.
