Many think of Sydney as being the very definition of Australian lifestyle and warm weather, but after seeing Brisbane, we'd have to say this comes out as the real winner. Everything here feels more outdoors'y, which is exactly how most Australians like to live their lives. Sitting out in the evening is a joy, the sea temperature is toasty warm, and they've got water everywhere (despite being inland) so there's always a place to cool off.

We didn't have too much time to see the city offerings as we were using the city as a base to see some of the nearby attractions like Moreton Island and Australia Zoo (see below for the links). But from the little we saw, there was a hearty thumbs-up ... so much so, that there was a conversation at one point discussing the practicalities of moving up here from the Sydney area?!?

All in all, a great city to visit. Flights are fairly cheap from Sydney, plenty of attractions to keep most people occupied, great restaurants, and a pictureque setting spanning the Brisbane River.