Top Rated Attractions in Rest of Australia

Overlooking the steel-grey waters of the Brisbane harbor, The State Library of Queensland is a treasure trove of knowledge and information. The library provides general information and research services on history, maps, rare books and the visual arts. Moreover, the establishment also offers free Internet (bookings required) and screens free films every Sunday. The library also provides a wide range of services that includes audio/visual stations, photocopying books and manuscripts and helping the local populace trace down their ancestry thanks to their extensive genealogy records.

The Gallery of Modern Art, affectionately known as GOMA, is among the foremost art venues in Brisbane. While the neighboring Queensland Art Gallery features historic pieces, GOMA, which opened in 2006, celebrates art from the 20th and 21st centuries. The museum promotes Australian artists and international talent. Known to host some avant-garde and futuristic work, this large contemporary art gallery in Australia, is a haven for the artistically inclined. They regularly host art programs, lectures, and workshops for budding artists.

Since the Gardens' opening in 1976, more than 52 hectares (130 acres) has been developed to represent plant varieties from around the world. Attractions include the Fragrant Plant and Herb Garden; the Exotic Rainforest; Japanese Garden; Tropical Dome Display; Arid Region Plants & Cactus House and the Lagoon & Bamboo Grove. A 30-minute self-guided tour of the Aboriginal Plant Display shows plants used by Aborigines for medicine, shelter and food.

The City Botanic Gardens or Brisbane Botanic Gardens as it was once referred to as is one of Brisbane's heritage-listed sites. Within these gardens are a colorful collection of exotic and native plants to delight the eye and beautiful lily ponds and lush green lawns to calm the soul. The site was chosen for a public garden in 1828, with fertile soil producing healthy crops for the prison settlement nearby. In 1855, botanist Walter Hill declared that the botanical gardens would occupy the area. Some of Hill's plants from the 1850s remain on Residence Hill and the weeping figs on Walter Hill Walk were planted by the botanist in the 1870s.

Roma Street Parkland is home to landscaped gardens and water features like ponds and woodlands, making it a favorite among locals and tourists alike. Known to be one of the most beautiful contemporary display gardens in the country, the Roma Street Parkland is home to a variety of flora and fauna such as fern gullies, eastern water dragons, rainbow lorikeets, possums and black flying foxes. Other features of the parkland include pathways for walking and cycling, themed gardens for display, rocky outcrops, and even an amphitheater that plays host to concerts, plays and other theatrical productions. Artworks and train rides in the park are some of the other attractions here. Whether to escape the city for a few hours, attend live music events, check biodiversity on display or to simply mingle with the locals, the Roma Street Parkland has got it all.

Located in the South Bank Parklands, the Queensland Art Gallery is recognized as one of the most innovative and exciting visual arts centers in Australia. The gallery's diverse series of exhibitions have extensively covered all areas of the visual arts including photography, fine art, modern art, indigenous art and sculpture. Guest speakers, lectures, festivals and lively educational programs have further enhanced the gallery's reputation.