Why Brisbane is Australia's Coolest City (Even Though It's Quite Warm)
1. Flawless Weather
Above: Brisbane. Mid Winter.
Beautiful one day, perfect the next. The television doesn't lie, kids.
Now let's compare Australia's lesser cities
Melbourne's weather is up and down like a roller coaster. 40 degree steel-buckling heat one minute, sub antarctic winds powerful enough to blow trams over the next. And then it starts to rain. Yeah, they wrote a song about Melbourne's weather. It's called Four Uncomfortably Extreme Seasons in One Day.
Admittedly, Sydney's weather is decent, but they still have seasons, and that means unnecessary expenditure on scarves, jackets and those thick socks people from the southern states seem to like.
Darwin's way too hot and resembles a stinky armpit most of the year. Besides, it's hardly a city.
And Perth is… Well Perth is half way to Africa, so it doesn't really count, does it?
2. Australia's Nicest Southbank
Of all Australia's Southbanks, Brisbane's is the nicest. With a structurally sound ferris wheel, beautiful lush parkland and a beach with sand instead of syringes (cop that, Melbourne), Southbank Brisbane is a real delight. Contrast with Melbourne's Southbank which is little more than Crown Casino's smoker's lounge overlooking an open sewer. Actually it seems they're actively trying to repel visitors with an unusual gas-fired scare gun. We've seen Underbelly, Southbank in Melbourne is where all the underworld figures and crime lords hang out. And let's face it, that's virtually their entire population.
3. There's a highway named after Steve Irwin
Crikey! Australia's most popular crocodile wrangling export has a highway named after him. That makes Brisbane pretty cool in our book.
4. Daylight Savings Free Zone
Unlike the other Eastern states, Queensland doesn't carry out the bizarre ritual of messing with the clocks twice a year. Thanks to our consistent timezone, Brisbanians are well-rested and consistently on-time for meetings, year-round. To top things off, our curtains last for longer without fading and Queensland milk tastes better because our cows aren't distressed by fluctuating milking times.
5. Buses and Ferries
Brisbanians don't need trams, because we have buses. And they can go ANYWHERE, Melbourne. They're like the freestylers of the transport world. Getting on a bus involves a small risk that you may end up completely different to where you had planned. But that's just how Brisbanians roll...
Oh and we have ferries too, Sydney ;P
6. Library With a View
Catching up at a riverfront restaurant or cafe usually comes with a hefty price tag but not so The Edge at State Library of Queensland (SLQ). The digital hub of the library, The Edge actively courts young people with its winning combination of free wifi, great coffee and front row seats to one of the best river views in Brisbane. If you're keen to impress your classmates, you can book a window bay to ensure a picturesque study session.
7. Strong Political Views
8. It's Always Socially (and Climatically) Appropriate to Wear Thongs (Calm Down America, We Mean Flip-Flops)
In Brisbane Semi Formal means shorts, thongs and a short sleeved shirt. In fact, wear actual shoes and people will assume you're a snob. Or off to a funeral.
9. Rugby League. Now You're Never Short of a Conversation.
10. One of the Few Remaining Habitats of the Emo...
You can still find them, clinging to their last surviving habitat around Hungry Jacks Queen St.
11. Just an Hour Away From This.
12. And This...
13. And this!
14. Plus, the Best Nickname Ever!
Love it or hate it, Brisbane's nickname 'Brisvegas' is here to stay. Some say it was given to Brisbane ironically - a dig at Brissie's less than stellar nightlife. But we think Brisbane definitely has a fun-loving party time vibe. Maybe it's the weather. Either way, the nickname Brisvegas has a great ring to it and we reckon it's the best nickname ever. Way better the 'Radelaide'.
15. A Public Transport Smart Card that 'Just Works'
Go, Go Card! Ok, so Brisbane has one of the most expensive public transport systems in the world. But you can save some money by using a Go Card. Plus, unlike the systems in Sydney and Melbourne which have been fraught with problems, Go Card just seems to work.
