Queensland Travel Guide

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Cuisine

The food of the area relies to a large extent on the sea and the subtropical climate for specialties in cuisine. In Fortitude Valley, New Farm and the West End, just out of Brisbane city center, there are a number of European, and Asian restaurants, bars and trendy cafés. There are also excellent places specializing in modern Australian fare, which is usually a fusion of different cuisines, especially Asian.

Wineries are dotted around Queensland. The largest, Sirromet Wines, has an award-winning restaurant, while the 130-year-old Castlemaine XXXX alehouse brewery in Milton is worth a tour, especially on a hot and thirsty day.

Regional specialties:
• Seafood is supreme in Queensland. Delicacies such as Moreton Bay bugs, mud crabs, king and tiger prawns, mackerel, sea scallops and fresh barramundi.
• Delicious range of fruits, such as avocados, mangoes, pawpaws, pineapples, strawberries and bananas.
• Native Macadamia nuts are found in all kinds of concoctions including desserts, and in salads.

Regional drinks:
• The local brand of beer that is also a popular lager in the UK is Castlemaine XXXX (or ‘4-X').
• Queensland is the home of Bundaberg Rum, a sweet rum brewed with local sugar cane.

Nightlife

Although much of the tourist activity is centerd on the beaches and the Barrier Reef, Brisbane offers a wide selection of entertainment. Most of the large hotels have dinner and dancing facilities and there are several nightclubs in the city, especially in Fortitude Valley where clubs and restaurants abound.

The West End of Brisbane is an excellent area for trendy bars, stylish cafés and nightclubs. New Farm is also growing in popularity - Brisbane Powerhouse (www.brisbanepowerhouse.org), a performance arts venue with restaurants and a bar, has a magnificent parkland location overlooking the river.