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By Kathy Smith, January 30, 2010

Brisbane has the perfect climate for those that enjoy outdoor activities. It has a relatively flat city and various parks where you can enjoy leisurely walks, cycling and skating to your hearts content.

Cycling: Brisbane has over 5000 kms of cycle ways across the city. You can ride around the river, explore the suburbs or even cycle around Moreton Bay. To find out details of the cycle ways, you can pick up a booklet Brisbane Bicycle Experience Guide in the tourist information centers. The scenic routes follow the river and range from 5 kms to 20 kms. An easy starter takes you from the City Botanic Gardens cross the Goodwill Bridge to the University of Queensland. There are lots of places to stop and rest on the way! You can take bikes onto the City Trains but not during peak hour and they are allowed onto the CityCat and Ferries too for free.

In-Line Skating: Many of the cycle tracks are also great for eating. Places like Skatebiz, on Albert Street, offer skate rental and safety equipment rentals to anyone who needs. Some other places that are great for skating include Southbank Parklands, City Botanic Gardens and Brisbane River paths.

Rock Climbing: This is possibly on of Brisbane\’s most popular pastime. You can head the the Cliff Rock Climbing area at kangaroo Point where the pink volcanic cliffs, said to be over 200 million years old, are now home to a climbing wall. This wall is suitable for all levels of climbers and the floodlights remain on until midnight. There are also indoor places such as Urban Climb, in West End or Rock sports, located in Fortitude Valley where you can rock climb. Some clubs such as K2 Extreme and Torre Mountain Craft offer climbing and abseiling classes as well.

Swimming: Southbank Parkland, is home to everyone\’s favourite outdoor swim place. It is an artificial lagoon and makes for a fun day with family and friends. Brisbane also offers many other pools including the Centenary pool, which is a 50 metre pool with high diving. This pool is attached to a fitness center and also has a wading pool for smaller children. For a piece of Brisbane history the Spring Hill Baths is where you will want to visit. It is a heated pool and accredited as being the first public bath is Brisbane, established in 1886.

Skydiving and Ballooning: The Brisbane Skydiving Centre picks up from the CBD and offers tandem skydives over Brisbane including a 30 minute scenic flight .Balloon flights over Brisbane CBD are spectacular and can be organized by Fly Me to the Moon. They take off just after daybreak and travel about 10 to 15 kms and are about the hour. A 4WD follows you to the landing site. The flight normally takes you over the river and views extend north beyond the Glass House Mountains and south to the Border Ranges.

For the best deals and selections for hotels in brisbane, visit brisbaneinformation.com.au. Whether you are searching for brisbane accommodation or another location, you can\’t beat what we have.

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By Kathy Smith, December 31, 2009

In between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island, Moreton\’s most famous, are smaller islands laid out across the bay. These islands are close enough to Brisbane that many of the residents commute to the city on a daily basis.

Coochie Mudlo Island is named after the Aboriginal word for red rock because of the red cliffs .There are sandy beaches too.Coochie has a village feel and calm waters make for a good family swimming spot and boating area. Dine at Matthew Flinders Cafe and admire bay views from every table. Matthew Flinders landed on the island 200 years ago and there is a re-enactment festival each July. Regular passenger ferry and barge services leave from Victoria Point.

With a population of over 3000, and growing, Russell Island is the largest of the Moreton bay Islands. It is the popular place for a weekend getaway and retired living. The island has shops, a supermarket, cafe, a hotel, and homes to rent for your holiday. the smallest of the islands is Lamb Island, although this is a small island, 2km by 1km, it has the biggest view. Other islands include Macleay Island, population 2500, Kangarra Island, smallest of the inhabited islands. Kangarra Island is a quiet spot without shops so when visiting be sure to bring your picnic.

The most interesting of the islands is St. Helena Island. This island was, at first, hunting grounds for the local tribes. then in 1828 an Aborigine, named Napoleon was brought here after becoming to troublesome a his jail on the North Stradbroke Island.

Forty years later, overcrowding in mainland prisons prompted the government to turn St Helena Island into a penal settlement and after clearing rain forest for timber and to prevent escapes, gardens were planted and houses built from coal blocks and clay. In some respects it was the model system; prisoners were taught a trade and were even paid for their labor and there were only three escapes in 65 years – This may have been because of an ever present large quantity of sharks whose presence were actively encouraged by the wardens !! The last inmate left in 1933.It is possible to tour the island for the day or for a night-tour and these days you will find the stone houses, the Deputy Superintendents house, now a museum and lots of photographs from the prison era.

For the best deals and a huge variety of hotels in brisbane, go to brisbaneinformation.com.au. Whether you are looking for a brisbane accomodation or local information, you will find what you need here.