Brisbane - Australia 2004 - page 245

The Queensland Art Gallery ( & 07/3840 7303 ) is one of Australia's
most attractive galleries, with vast light-filled spaces and interesting water fea-
tures both inside and out. It is a major player in the Australian art world, attract-
ing international blockbuster exhibitions of works by the likes of Renoir,
Picasso, and van Gogh, and showcasing diverse modern Australian painters,
sculptors, and other artists. It also has an impressive collection of Aboriginal art.
Admission is free. Free guided tours run Monday through Friday at 11am, and
1 and 2pm; Saturdays at 11am, and 2 and 3pm; Sundays at 11am, and 1 and
3pm. There is a gift shop and bistro. The gallery is open 10am to 5pm from
Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm on weekends; closed Good Friday, Christ-
mas, and until noon on Anzac Day (Apr 25).
The Queensland Museum ( & 07/3840 7555 ) on the corner of Grey and
Melbourne streets is undergoing a major revamp in 2003. New additions
include a smart new entrance and an interactive Sciencentre to open in 2004.
The museum houses an eclectic collection ranging from natural history speci-
mens and fossils to a World War I German tank. Children will like the blue
whale model and the dinosaurs, which include Queensland's own Muttabur-
rasaurus. The museum has a cafe and gift shop. Admission is free, except to the
Sciencentre (rates still to be set at press time) and traveling exhibitions, and it is
open daily from 9:30am to 5pm; closed Christmas, Good Friday, and until noon
on Anzac Day (Apr 25).
Adjacent to South Bank Parklands, across Victoria Bridge at western end of Queen St. & 07/3840 7100.
Ferry: South Bank (CityCat) and Old South Bank (Inner City Ferry). Bus: Countless bus routes depart Adelaide
St. near Albert St., cross the Victoria Bridge, and stop outside. Plentiful underground parking. The Centre is a
7-min. walk from town.
Roma Street Parkland Thousands of plants, including natives and some of
the world's most endangered, have been used to create lush subtropical gardens
in an unused railway yard. The effect is stunning. Areas of the gardens are
themed and there are guided walks twice a day (10am and 2pm Sept-May,
11am and 2pm June-Aug) Thursday through Sunday (including public holi-
days), self-guided walking tours for each, or you can take the “art walk” and dis-
cover the great public art on display. There are barbeques and picnic areas and a
children's playground. Brisbane people have taken to this new park, so it is busy
and lively, but is large enough to handle the crowds.
Walk there from Roma St. train station. From King George Sq., it's about a 500m (1,640-ft.) walk along Albert
St. By car, access is from Roma St. or the Wickham Terrace/College Rd./Gregory Terrace intersection. & 07/
3006 4545. Open 24 hr., except Spectacle Garden closed 7pm-6:30am. Information booths are located in
the Spectacle Garden and at the Activity Centre.
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium & Cosmic Skydome The plane-
tarium is part of the Botanic Gardens at Mt. Coot-tha. A fascinating 45-minute
astronomical show re-creates the Brisbane night sky using the Ziess projector.
Kids over 6 will like this.
Mt. Coot-tha Rd., Toowong & 07/3403 2578. A$11 (US$7.15) adults, A$9 (US$6) seniors and students,
A$6.50 (US$4.20) children under 15 (not recommended for children under 6), A$30 (US$20) families. Show
times Wed-Fri 3:30pm; Sat 1:30, 3:30, and 7:30pm; Sun 1:30 and 3:30pm; more often during Queensland
school holiday periods. Reservations not necessary but advisable. Open Wed-Sun noon-7pm.
South Bank Parklands Follow the locals' lead and spend some time at
this delightful 16-hectare (40-acre) complex of parks, restaurants, shops, play-
grounds, street theater, and weekend markets. The former World Expo '88 site
has been happily transformed into a people's place that really works. There's even

Kids

Kids