Sub-topical Brisbane boasts great weather all throughout the year, which makes it a fantastic place for a break or vacation. The city of 1.2 million is the state capital of Queensland and acts as a gateway to the beautiful natural gems of the state.

You can find heaps of cheap Brisbane city accommodation nestled around the CBD. There are various styles of accommodation available from budget backpackers’ hostels to upmarket hotels. You can often find promotions and discounts regardless of the time of the year and deals for hotel stays.

Once you have checked into your cheap Brisbane city accommodation, you should get out and start investigating. A good place to start your tour is at the Queen Street Mall. This is shopper’s paradise with the whole street devoted to retail therapy. There are arcades, department stores, chain and boutique stores lining the street. You can locate just about anything you might be looking for there from shampoo to Chanel.

There is more to Queen Street Mall than shopping though, with many great restaurants, cinemas, currency exchanges, a tourist information booth and travel agencies. A historical arcade that you should be sure to wander through is Brisbane Arcade, which was built by one of Brisbane’s colonial benefactors.

Up the top of the mall you can board the CityCat, which is a high speed ferry that takes passengers up and down the Brisbane River. For the tourist, it is also a cheap way to see the river and have a river cruise. You can disembark the ferry at South Bank, which is a large parklands on the other side of the river that has shops, restaurants and cafes as well as a free artificial beach for swimming. Just over the road from Southbank is the Queensland Museum, where you can discover historical and natural features of the state.

The botanical gardens in the city make a lovely and relaxing place to wander while taking in some of the city’s nearby colonial architecture. As you head back towards the mall you will find the Treasury Casino, which is situated inside a grand old colonial building that was once the state’s treasury department.

On the weekends the Riverside Markets in the CBD are a colourful and interesting place to look for souvenirs, buy local handicrafts and wares as well as enjoy some delicious foods. Down the river a bit further at New Farm is the Powerhouse Museum which has an exciting cultural calendar and is nestled into the gorgeous New Farm Park. On the other side of the river down at West End you can sample the best of Australian and International cuisine, with stylish restaurants and quaint cafes heaped on top of each other.

There is so much to do and see while staying at cheap Brisbane city accommodation. Whether you come on a weekend minibreak or part of a longer Queensland vacation, you should take the time to discover some of Brisbane’s charms. The culinary delights of the city are not to be missed with the freshest seafood and tropical fruits on offer all year round.