Sitting across the water from the bustling CBD, South Bank offers a nice respite. The city’s a hub of commerce, but over here you’ve got riverfront parkland, galleries and cultural venues and dining establishments taking centre stage — not high-rise office blocks or shopping strips.

The Clem Jones Promenade runs along the river, giving you beautiful views of the Brisbane skyline from the south bank. You can also cross Victoria Bridge to reach central Brisbane City, while CityCat ferries connect South Bank with other riverfront destinations.

The World Expo 88 really transformed this neglected riverbank when it came to town, drawing in a massive 15 million visitors over six months. One of the few things that survived that explosion of activity is the ornately carved Nepalese Peace Pagoda — you can now find it tucked away among the parklands.

The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre is another major player at South Bank; it’s a big draw for businesses looking to host conventions, exhibitions and trade shows. The real plus for visitors, though, is that you can easily pack a whole day of activity into one day — gallery visit, swim at the beach, take a stroll along the river, dinner at a local eatery and catch a show — all within a short walk, for the most part.