Out and about in Brisbane

If you are attending the RACS 90th Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) in Brisbane from 2 May to 6 May, you may want to see some sights around the city and its surrounding. RACS ASC Convenor, Professor Deborah Bailey, who has spent most of her life in Queensland shares some of her favourite things to do in and around Brisbane. River cruises One of the best ways to catch the Brisbane sunset is taking a river cruise. There’s something magical about the beautiful shades of orange, pink and blue that are reflected in the water.

The Brisbane City Council’s City Hopper lets you discover the city for free with ferries running from 6 am to midnight every day at 30-minute intervals. For a fee you can travel up and down the Brisbane River or go up to the Moreton Bay to watch some marine life. The river cruise also offers high teas and dinners as a bonus. More information: https://tinyurl.com/ yn8rvx3b Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) If you are an art lover, you can immerse yourself at QAGOMA—one of Australia’s dynamic galleries. Located at the riverside, QAGOMA is a short walk from the city and close to the South Bank. Book your experience here: tinyurl.com/4zcs7fr5 Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) QPAC is in the South Bank precinct and is a short walk over the Brisbane River from Brisbane’s CBD. QPAC’s programs feature artists from different performing genres and is a place of major events and regular seasons by Queensland Theatre Company, Queensland Ballet, Queensland Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Queensland. More information: https://www.qpac. com.au/ Direct train to Gold Coast As the name suggests Gold Coast is famous for its sandy beaches, surfing, inland canals, and waterways. It is also home to Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’nWild. Queensland Rail has direct services with more information here: tinyurl.com/yckmz67d You can catch an Airtrain from Brisbane airport direct to the Gold Coast. During peak hours, the train runs every 15 minutes and every 30 minutes during offpeak hours. More information: tinyurl.com/2nuyhx38 Sunshine Coast Situated 101 kilometres north of Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast is comprised of a string of small towns and localities along the coast from south to north. The hinterland is located inland and on top of a mountain range, with forested mountains and great views of the coast. Queensland Rail operates an electric train service between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, which takes about an hour and 30 minutes from Brisbane’s Central Station. More information: tinyurl.com/ bdem7fnw

Bike rides Want to stretch your legs or take in some exercise? Try some bike-riding along the Riverwalk, foreshores, Brisbane River loop or even around the CBD. More information: tinyurl.com/3rv9aejf Scenic Rim This is a thriving rural paradise set in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by world heritage-listed national parks. The region measures 4254 sq./kms and is south of Brisbane. It takes about an hour to travel from both Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Be prepared to be taken in with Scenic Rim’s majestic beauty, which boasts 30,000 hectares of parklands. Don’t miss the Tamborine Rainforest, the Glow Worm Caves and the three dams—Lakes Moogerah, Maroon, and Wyaralong. More information: tinyurl.com/6aw4x3st Stanthorpe A perfect getaway after the RACS ASC is a road trip from Brisbane to Stanthorpe. Your spirits will lift when you sniff, swirl, and sip your way through this exquisite town: home to full-bodied reds, cafes, galleries and vineyards. Famous for its Pinot Noir and handmade artisan cheeses, Stanthorpe will be the prefect end to five days of the RACS ASC. More information: tinyurl.com/3x6xajde