Host City – Brisbane 
Brisbane is a vibrant, friendly, lifestyle city – home to leading medical research and a thriving industry hub, in the heart of Australia’s premier tourist region and close to some of the world’s greatest natural attractions. With an all year round idyllic climate, Brisbane is a dynamic cosmopolitan city with a relaxed, welcoming alfresco lifestyle. Bike paths and riverside walkways make walking and cycling around downtown a scenic delight. Alive with lush parks, tropical gardens and with its own inner-city man-made beach at South Bank, downtown Brisbane offers the perfect refuge for locals and visitors alike.
South Bank and the CBD
The South Bank Visitor Information and Booking Centre is about a seven minute walk from the symposium venue, located at Stanley Street Plaza in the South Bank Parklands. Here you can access free maps and brochures, and seek advice on tours and other activities.
While in South Bank, you make like to:
- Visit the Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA), located across two adjacent riverside buildings, to discover the history of Queensland art as well as contemporary exhibitions.
- Relax at Streets Beach – Brisbane’s unique man-made beach and swimming lagoon in the parkland.
- Learn about Queensland’s natural history at the Queensland Museum.
- Walk or cycle along the riverside to Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park and take in the view!
Across the river from South Bank is the city centre, and this is accessible for pedestrians over Victoria Bridge. Some popular sites in the city include Brisbane City Hall, Queen Street Mall, Roma Street Parklands, Eagle Street Pier, and the City Botanic Gardens. Learn more about what to see and do in Brisbane at visitbrisbane.com.au.
A popular way to explore Brisbane is via the CityCat services, which operate regularly along a network of 25 riverside terminals. Paper tickets can be purchased on board the CityCat vessel (cash only) and are valid for a two-hour period.
Explore further
If you are interested in encountering Australian wildlife, you my like to visit Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, located further down the Brisbane River. Here you can hold a koala, hand-feed kangaroos, and see a variety of native animals. Brisbane has great proximity to a range of natural attractions around South East Queensland, including North Stradbroke Island and Moreton Island, pristine beaches on the Gold Coast (south) and Sunshine Coast (north), and rainforest in national parks. Brisbane is also the closest capital city to the iconic Great Barrier Reef, a short flight away.