As much as Brisbane has positioned itself as a culturally diverse, cosmopolitan "new world city", the city's natural sights and riparian attractions are not to be sniffed at. In fact, as January's extreme weather so cruelly demonstrated, the Brisbane River calls the shots in Queensland's capital.
Jump on board
a Mirimar cruise from South Bank and head west along the river for a personal encounter with nature's many moods (www.mirimar.com).
Passing by Coronation Drive, the legacy of the January floods comes into sharp focus, with a clutch of historic pubs and restaurants left ravaged by the 3m-high water surge, as are hundreds of residential pontoons as you head further upstream.
Before long, you'll glide by Indooroopilly Island, home to one of the biggest bat colonies in Australia. Tens of thousands of fruit bats, or flying foxes, as they are also called, spend their days dangling upside down from the trees. When I did this cruise 20 years ago, the skipper grabbed two steel rubbish bin lids and smashed them together to startle the bats from their slumber and make them take flight. In these eco-conscious times, it is no longer the done thing.
Most people take Mirimar's highly informative river cruise with one destination in mind - Lone Pine. Australian wildlife is magnificently showcased at the award-winning Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Established in 1927, Lone Pine is home to more than 130 koalas, as well as kangaroos, emus, dingos, wombats, reptiles and a veritable forest of loquacious tropical birdlife (the cheeky cockatoos are absurdly talkative, and will leave you in stitches).
If you're travelling with children, Lone Pine offers an unrivalled opportunity to pat, cuddle and dote on a range of furry creatures. The spacious, rolling countryside of the free-range kangaroo enclosure teems with Skippy and his mates, who interact effortlessly with kids. And they're always up for a feed.
I do like how Lone Pine has compartmentalised its koala colony into family branches. You can check out the grandmas, the kindergarten, the teenage boys and so forth. Lone Pine prides itself on its educational experience and has expanded its range of animal talks in recent years. The keepers love sharing their wealth of knowledge with visitors, so work your way around the sanctuary by factoring in the scheduled enclosure talks for a more enriching encounter.
If Lone Pine doesn't satisfy your urge for native wildlife, another popular "Australiana" attraction is the Australian Woolshed. Located in Ferny Hills, the Woolshed's accent is on country life, with daily ram and sheepdog shows. Koalas, kangaroos and other native animals roam freely in the Woolshed grounds, and the interactive animal farm is a sure-fire hit with families. The Woolshed is 15km north-west of the city centre and is best accessed by city train.
BRIZZY'S BAY OF PLENTY
A wide, shimmering expanse of sheltered blue waters, Moreton Bay is Brisbane's divine aquatic playground and marine sanctuary. In fact, it is to Brisbane what the Hauraki Gulf is to Auckland.
Dotted with 365 sun-kissed islands - including one of the world's largest sand islands - the playground has morphed into one of Brisbane's favourite getaway spots for locals and tourists alike.
Swarming with natural wonders, Moreton Bay is a wildlife-spotters paradise. Humpback whales are a routine sight in winter and spring as they migrate to and from their southern feeding grounds. The bay is also home to the largest resident population of bottlenose dolphins in the world.
A major drawcard is the chance to feed wild dolphins at Tangalooma Resort on Moreton Island every evening.
Set against the backdrop of a magnificent Queensland sunset, the dolphins swim in from the ocean to grab a feed of fish from the hands of volunteers.
If you're staying overnight, buy a "Dolphin Package" at Tangalooma Resort if you want to revel in this first-hand experience.
Tangalooma's eco-tours and activities cater for all tastes, and include guided snorkelling around shipwrecks. You can also throw yourself into action sports such as sailing, surfing, quad-biking and sand-tobogganing.
For those who prefer more relaxed pursuits, fishing or lazing by a lagoon while admiring the local flora and fauna could be just the ticket.
TOP TIPS
* Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary and the Moreton Bay cruise are both incorporated into Brisbane's great-value iVenture card. Loaded with sightseeing possibilities, the card will stretch your dollar further. www.iventurecard.com.au
* Savour the city in style at the glittering Sofitel Brisbane. Comprising 492 rooms and suites and located directly above Central Station, this luxury establishment exudes contemporary elegance.
Loaded with dining options and leisure amenities, the Sofitel's essential experiences include high tea at the Club, which boasts one of the best citywide views in Brisbane.
Check out the hotel's range of tailored packages to suit all tastes. www.sofitelbrisbane.com.au