Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 236

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,
approximately 9km (5 1 ⁄ 2 miles) along the river to the south, and Brett's Wharf,
about 9km (5 1 ⁄ 2 miles) to the north. Slower but more frequent Inner City and
Cross-River ferries stop at a few more points, including the south end of South
Bank Parklands, Kangaroo Point, and Edward Street right outside the City
Botanic Gardens. Ferries run from around 6am to 10:30pm daily.
To stop people from riding the CityCats all day—a real temptation—you
cannot travel on them for more than 2 hours at a time, even with a transit pass;
you are free to do another 2 hours later in the day if you wish. 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, stopping at about 11pm on Sundays.
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 set off. Brisbane's biggest car park is at the Myer Centre (enter from Eliza-
beth St.) and is open 24 hours ( & 07/3229 1699 ). Most hotels and motels have
free parking for guests.
Avis ( & 13 63 33 or 07/3221 2900), Budget ( & 1300/362 848 in Australia,
or 07/3220 0699), and Hertz ( & 13 30 39 or 07/3221 6166) all have outlets
in the city center. Thrifty ( & 1300/367 227 ) is on the edge of the city center
at 49 Barry Parade, Fortitude Valley.
For a taxi, call Yellow Cabs ( & 13 19 24 in Australia) or Black and White
Taxis ( & 13 10 08 in Australia). There are taxi stands at each end of Queen
Street Mall, on Edward Street and George Street (outside the Treasury Casino).

FAST FACTS: Brisbane

American Express The office at 131 Elizabeth St. ( & 1300/139 060 ) cashes
traveler's checks, exchanges foreign currency, and refunds lost traveler's
checks.
Business Hours Banks are open Monday through Thursday from 9:30am
to 4pm, until 5pm on Friday. See “The Shopping Scene,” later in this chap-
ter, for store hours. Some restaurants close Monday and/or Tuesday nights,
and bars are generally open from 10 or 11am until midnight.
Currency Exchange Travelex, Lennons Plaza, Queen Street Mall between
Albert and George streets ( & 07/3229 8610; www.travelex.com.au), is
open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9:30am to
5pm, and Sunday from 10:30am to 4:30pm.
Dentist The Adelaide and Albert Dental Centre ( & 07/3229 4121 ), located
next to the Travellers Medical Service (see “Doctor,” below), is open Mon-
day through Friday from 8am to 6pm.
Doctor Travellers Medical Service is at 245 Albert St. (at Adelaide St.),
opposite City Hall ( &

07/3211 3611; www.travmed.com.au). It's open