Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Banana Benders Backpackers
MAP
HOSTEL
$
GOOGLE MAP
( 07-3367 1157, 1800 241 157;
www.bananabenders.com
; 118 Petrie Tce; dm $27-30, d & tw $70-76, apt per 2
weeks from $400; )
This downbeat, banana-coloured backpackers has basic rooms and
a great little deck out the back. It's a bit out of the way, a 10-minute uphill slog from
Roma St Station. One-bedroom apartments available for two-week minimum stays.
BRISBANE FOR CHILDREN
From toddlers to teenagers, there's no shortage of options to keep kids busy (and parents happy) in Brisbane. For
info on current happenings pick up the free monthly magazine
Brisbane's Child
(
www.brisbaneschild.com.au
)
.
During school holidays the Brisbane City Council runs the 'Chill Out' activities program for 10- to 17-year-olds:
Out and about, swing by the South Bank Parklands (
Click here
)
, which has lawns, BBQs, playgrounds and the
slow-spinning Wheel of Brisbane (
Click here
)
- a real mind-blower for anyone under 15. The lifeguard-patrolled
Streets Beach (
Click here
) is here too, with a shallow section for really small swimmers. New Farm Park (
Click
here
) is another lovely spot by the river, with a series of treehouse-like platforms interlinking huge (and shady)
Moreton Bay fig trees.
The Brisbane River is a big plus. Take a ferry ride around the bends of central Brisbane, or chug further afield
to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (
Click here
) where the kids can cuddle up to a critter. If you're heading out Mt
Coot-tha way, catch a starry show at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium (
Click here
)
.
Too humid to be outside? Head for the air-con at the Queensland Cultural Centre on South Bank. Here the
Queensland Museum (
Click here
) runs some fab, hands-on programs for little tackers during school holidays. The
incorporated
Sciencentre
has plenty of push-this-button-and-see-what-happens action. The Queensland Art
Gallery (
Click here
) has a Children's Art Centre which runs regular programs throughout the year, as does the
State Library of Queensland (
Click here
)
and the Gallery of Modern Art (
Click here
)
. Over in Fortitude Valley at
www.circa.org.au
; Level 3, 420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley) offers action-packed 'circus classes' (tumbling,
balancing, jumping, trapeze work) for budding young carnies.
Day-care or babysitting options include Dial an Angel (
Click here
) and Care4Kidz (
Click here
).
Spring Hill
Kookaburra Inn
MAP
GUESTHOUSE
$
GOOGLE MAP
( 07-3832 1303, 1800 733 533;
www.kookaburra-inn.com.au
; 41 Phillips St; s/tw/d without bathroom from $65/80/
80; )
This small, simple two-level guesthouse has basic rooms with washbasin and
fridge, and clean shared bathrooms. The building itself is unremarkable, but there's a
lounge, kitchen and outdoor patio. A decent budget option if you've done dorms to death.
Air-con in some doubles only.
