Brisbane

Sunny, laid- back Brisbane. People tend to overlook this metropolis of fair weather when they think of Australian cities. And that's been one of the reasons Brisbane is such a pleasure to visit. It's been allowed to develop at it's own pace.

Everyone has a big back yard, sometimes complemented with Queensland's contribution to the world of architecture, the "Queenslander", a draughty, wooden house with polished floors and wide hallways.

Must- see attractions in Brisbane would include The Irwin's Australia Zoo out near Beerwah, to get up close and personal to some of this country's most dangerous creatures. Or maybe you'd like to take it a little easier and start off at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to cuddle sleepy bundles of fur. While you're in the area you could take a picnic up to MountCootha, one of the classic Brisbane tourist sites, and have a wander around the Botanic Gardens. As it's only 15 minutes from the CBD, the lookout at MountCootha gives you a brilliant view of the city and is the best place to watch the sun slowly rise over the city horizon.

Check out Australia Zoo to find out about show times, directions on how to get there, and to buy tickets online. Or visit Lone Pine for similar information on the world's largest koala sanctuary.

Take the kids (any kids, borrow someone else's if you have to) down to Southbank for a paddle in the man- made beach which sits beside the Brisbane River, just opposite the city centre. Summer nights can be rewardingly spent cooling down with a paddle here.

Or take your groovy selves to 'the Valley', FortitudeValley. This is where you'll find lots of live music of all kinds. The Valley's been unashamedly loud and proud ever since the government passed the live music legislation to allow bands to continue their good work without being hampered by irate neighbours who just want a good night's sleep. Late nights can get a bit messy from club patrons, but generally is an eye- opener and a lot of fun.

If you need a car to get around this spacious city, why not visit Carhire.com.au which will sort you out a great car rental Brisbane deal. Carhire has negotiated special deals with Australia's most popular car hire companies and it's here you'll be able to directly compare the specials on offer from Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty.

Road Trips from Brisbane

You might also want to visit Hayman Island and Daydream Island, although you can't drive there because we don't rent out cars that float.

Check out the specials for Car Hire in Brisbane