Celebrity Solstice Asia & Australia Blog #6 From Brisbane

We’re docked at the mouth of the Brisbane River on board Celebrity Solstice as she heads towards Sydney, and we’ve had a day to explore the city of Brisbane.

For most of its history, Brisbane has been labelled “a great big country town” but the Queensland capital has undergone an amazing transformation over the past decade - now it’s a vibrant and energetic city which is a great romantic getaway with more than a few surprises.

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Forget any preconceptions that Brisbane is still a “shorts and thongs” kind of place. Local fashionistas are being joined in the hunt for original and quirky designs by their interstate and overseas counterparts, as the word spreads that this is the place where cutting edge ideas are being born. Fortitude Valley, or “the Valley”, is where it’s all at and this is where you can find original designers and some great cafés and bars as well.

The Valley is where it’s all at, and just in case it becomes a victim of its own trendiness, suburbs like New Farm right on the river are emerging as funky destinations in their own right.

But probably the first thing to do here in Brisbane is take a walk on the Brisbane River and check out South Bank which is a cultivated two-kilometre stretch of river front facing the CBD which has been credited with having a hand in Brisbane’s vibrant growth in recent years. With its walking and cycling paths, grassy picnic areas, playgrounds, and even a man-made “beach” for kids and sun lovers, it’s become the place to chill out.