Car hire Brisbane

Introduction

Brisbane is the capital city of the Australian federal state Queensland. The city has an enormous appeal because of the attractive subtropical climate, the friendly locals and the landscapes in the area. The city is surrounded by national parks and of course the beaches in the neighborhood of Brisbane (Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast) are utterly popular. Furthermore, the city is a center of culture with interesting museums, a vibrant music scene, and diverse active theater companies.

Population

Brisbane has around two million inhabitants, and is the third largest city of Australia. Moreover, it is the fastest growing city in the country. It has a large Asian immigrant group, consisting amongst others of Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese and Indians. 

Location

The city lies on the east coast of Australia, next to the Brisbane River banks. The river springs from the Great Dividing Range to the west of the city, and flows into Moreton Bay on the east side.

Economy

In recent years, information technology and biotechnology have become increasingly important for Brisbane. It is also a center of trade and financial services. The industry exists mainly of oil refining, metal and paper industry. The port of Brisbane is the third largest port of Australia. The city is also an educational center with no fewer than seven universities and many other forms of higher education.

Airports

Brisbane Airport lies 20 kilometers northeast of the city. There are connections with other Australian cities, but also to destinations in Asia, Europe and North-America.

The airport of Brisbane is easily accessible with your rental car. From the airport the destinations City, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are clearly indicated. A drive from the center of Brisbane to the airport takes about half an hour.  

Public transportation

Brisbane has an excellent and diverse public transportation system. There are ferries (over the Brisbane River), buses and trains. Comfortably, these forms of transportation all have a combined ticketing system (TransLink). Thus you don't have to buy separate tickets every time. On Friday and Saturday nights there are night buses and trains. 

The Loop is a free bus service around the Central Business District.

Traffic and parking

If you're used to driving in cities, you will have no problem in Brisbane. It's also not difficult to find a parking space for your rental car in the city, but the tariffs are high! Take note that you may not park in the Central Business District after four o'clock in the afternoon. Furthermore, many streets had one-way traffic. Keep in mind that some roads in Brisbane charge a toll.

Hotels

As Brisbane is a great attraction to young tourists, there is a wide range of basic hotels and guest houses for backpackers. Even luxurious hotels are widely available, as well as self-service apartments.

External resources

For more information on Brisbane, we recommend Google and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Brisbane
• Official website Brisbane
• Tourist information Brisbane