The Trend
Brisbane is the 3rd largest city in Australia after Sydney and Melbourne! With a flourishing economy and a rather nice geographical location (close to the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast surfing paradise) you will find sunshine, a lively life and a relaxed atmosphere! The no-stress locals are great to live with. It's a good compromise between Sydney and Melbourne! A mix between the Big city and a city on a human scale where gardens by the river, art, design and music are also part of the landscape... just like the famous artificial swimming pools! You'll understand, although the beach is not as close as in other cities, Brisbane is a great place to live!
Atmosphere & Dynamics
Weather
Subtropical climate with sunbathing guaranteed!
Winters approx. 15 °C - Summers approx. 30 °C
Location
Queensland (QLD)
Ideal time for your arrival
April May June / September - October - November (just before the summer season).
Things to do in Brisbane
Brisbane POWERHOUSE
Newstead House
Gallery of modern Art
Southbank Parklands
Brisbane River and the Story Bridge
Brisbane City Botanic Garden
The Institute of modern art
Chinatown
The lively Paddington area
Mount Coot-Tha
Lone Pine Sanctuary
Brisbane City Hall
Moreton Island
Queensland Cultural Centre
Fraser Island & the Whitsundays (some of the country's most magical sandy beaches nearby!)
Some of Queensland's highlights are easily accessible from Brisbane, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay Islands and inland to the Australian Cordillera and Darling Downs.
Events Not To Be Missed
The Cricket Ground, commonly known as the 'Gabba'
Great Rugby matches
Brisbane Festival
Woodford Folk Festival
CMC Rocks
Cost of Living
The third largest city after Melbourne and Sydney, Brisbane is growing in popularity year on year and is attracting more and more backpackers thanks to its cool atmosphere, sunshine and proximity to the Gold Coast. On the other hand, it is also often cited as a "gateway" or transitional city where people stay until the summer before heading south.
Rent
In a hostel: counts between $13 and $30 per night
For a shared apartment, count between $160 (shared room) and $200 (single room) per week.
For your own studio it will be around $300 to $400.
Transportation
In Brisbane the company you will have to use for your transport is called TransLink. Whether it's for buses, trains or ferries, you'll need your "GO CARD" which you can buy and recharge at the station, on the internet or once again in the local 7Eleven and newsagents.
Here the rates apply according to the zone! You can buy a single ticket in zone 1 (valid for 2 hours) for about $4.80 but as mentioned before, the cards will offer you much better rates!
Recreation and Outdoor Activities
Cinema: about $8.50
Restaurant: between $15 and $25
Drinks: $6 a pint.
Labour Market
Brisbane has been growing rapidly for a few years now! However, finding a job in Brisbane will not be easy. Like its two predecessors, its growing popularity is attracting more and more people and the competition is increasing year after year! So you'll need to be able to stand out from the crowd! Your English and your experience can make the difference. However, be careful about the summer period in Brisbane! Unlike in the south of the country, where the tourist season is in full swing, during this period Australians go on holiday to the seaside resorts and the city tends to be a little less active.
Your pluses: Your level of English and your motivation.
Areas of recruitment: Hospitality, fruit picking (strawberries), construction, heavy industry, bio-technology & logistics.
Why we love it:
His growing momentum and cool attitude
Its greenery
The proximity of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Its taste for art and design
Its many musical scenes
Why we like it a little less:
The beach that's not next door
Increasing competition making it more difficult to find jobs
A little less dynamic than Melbourne and Sydney in terms of outings and events
