Getting Around

By Public Transportation

TransLink operates a single network of buses, trains, and ferries. For timetables and route inquiries, call TransInfo (tel. 13 12 30; www.translink.com.au; Mon-Thurs 6am-9pm, and continuously 6am Fri to 9pm Sun, although hours may vary on public holidays). It uses an integrated ticket system, and the easiest place to buy your tickets is on the buses or at the train stations. You can also buy tickets and pick up maps and timetables at the Queen Street bus station information center (in the Myer Centre, off Queen St. Mall) and the Brisbane Visitor Information Centre in the Queen Street Mall. Tickets are also sold at some inner-city newsdealers.

A trip in a single sector or zone on the bus, train, or ferry costs A$2.30 (US$2.05/£1.05). A single ticket is good for up to 2 hours on a one-way journey on any combination of bus, train, or ferry. When traveling with a parent, kids under 5 travel free and kids 5 to 14 and students pay half fare. If you plan on using public transport a lot, a 10-trip ticket may be a good investment.

You will probably not need to travel farther than four zones on the transport system. This will cost you the princely sum of A$3.60 (US$3.25/£1.60) each way. A 1-day ticket for four zones will cost A$7.20 (US$6.50/£3.25).

On weekends and public holidays, it's cheaper to buy an off-peak ticket, which lets you travel all day for A$3.50 (US$3.15/£1.55) for adults. The off-peak ticket is also available on weekdays, but you must plan your sightseeing around the fact that it cannot be used before 9am or between 3:30 and 7pm.

The Brisbane Mobility Map, produced by the Brisbane City Council, outlines wheelchair access to buildings in the city center and includes a detailed guide to the Queen Street Mall and a map of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha. The council's disability-services unit also has a range of publications, including a Braille Trail and an access guide to parks, available from council customer service centers (tel. 07/3403 8888).

By Bus -- Buses operate from around 5am to 11pm weekdays, with less service on weekends. On Sunday, many routes stop around 5pm. Most buses depart from City Hall at King George Square, Adelaide, or Ann Street. The Downtown Loop is a free bus service that circles the city center. The Loop's distinctive red buses run on two routes, stopping at convenient places including Central Station, Queen Street Mall, City Botanic Gardens, Riverside Centre, and King George Square. Look for the red bus stops. They run every 10 minutes from 7am to 5:50pm Monday through Friday.

By Ferry -- The fast CityCat ferries run to many places of interest, including South Bank and the Queensland Cultural Centre; the restaurants and Sunday markets at the Riverside Centre; and New Farm Park, not far from the cafes of Merthyr Street. They run every half-hour between Queensland University, about 9km (5 1/2 miles) to the south, and Brett's Wharf, about 9km (5 1/2 miles) to the north. Slower but more frequent CityFerry service (the Inner City and Cross River ferries) stops at a few more points, including the south end of South Bank Parklands, Kangaroo Point, and Edward Street right outside the Brisbane City Gardens. Ferries run from around 6am to 10:30pm daily. Two hours on the CityCat takes you the entire length of the run.

By Train -- Brisbane's suburban rail network is fast, quiet, safe, and clean. Trains run from around 5am to midnight (until about 11pm on Sun). All trains leave Central Station, between Turbot and Ann streets at Edward Street.

By Car or Taxi

Brisbane's grid of one-way streets can be confusing, so plan your route before you leave. Brisbane's biggest parking lot is at the Myer Centre (off Elizabeth St.), open 24 hours (tel. 07/3229 1699). Most hotels and motels have free parking for guests.

Avis (tel. 13 63 33 or 07/3221 2900), Budget (tel. 1300/362 848 in Australia, or 07/3220 0699), Europcar (tel. 13 13 90 in Australia, or 07/3006 7440), and Hertz (tel. 13 30 39 or 07/3221 6166) all have outlets in the city center. Thrifty (tel. 1300/367 227 in Australia) is on the edge of the city center at 49 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley.

For a taxi, call Yellow Cabs (tel. 13 19 24 in Australia) or Black and White Taxis (tel. 13 10 08 in Australia). There are taxi stands at each end of Queen Street Mall, on Edward Street and on George Street (outside the Treasury Casino).