Shopping in Brisbane
If you’re planning on treating yourself to a trip to the big country of Australia, at some point, you might want to hit the shops – so why not head to Brisbane in Queensland. Friendly, relaxed and cosmopolitan, Brisbane is the perfect city to take home some special gifts and it boasts a huge variety of independant shops, boutiques, shopping malls and markets. If you enjoy the frenetic atmosphere of a high street mall, with the instant variety and all the top designer labels within reach then head to the Central Business District, where you can wander the Queen Street Mall and shop to your heart’s content!
Queens Plaza is Brisbane’s newest addition to the fashion scene, where you’ll find a range of upmarket, designer wear in a variety of stores. The Myer Centre specialises in denim, so you’re guaranteed to find those pair of jeans you’ve been hunting for, while the Broadway Mall offers formal wear and the Brisbane Arcade offers a quirky range of unique fashion stores and boutiques.
If you are after something with a sugar kick, try the marvellous Bittersweet Chocolate Shop at 5-61 Petrie Terrace. All the chocolates are made by hand, and these are serious chunks of cocoa. Favourite sellers are the prune and port truffles or for a kick, try the Ginger and Benedictine truffles. Their gift boxes are reported as being the best in the business!
Ecletic Experiences
Of course if you’re looking for a completely different experience why not head to the city’s West End, where you’ll find an edgy, alternative selection of shops, from old bookstores and second hand shops to funky boutique stores where you might just discover a gem or two. Try out one of the Perfect Potion Shops for fabulous spa treatments and all the lotions and creams you could ever want!
Once you’ve finished treating yourself, you can relax with a drink in one of the many terrace cafes and bars, take in the history of the city and surrounding territory in the Queensland Museum, sample the local theatre scene at the Lyric Theatre or simply enjoy a walk through the Southbank Park.
The shopping facilities in Brisbane are second to none and so is the accommodation, with the Ibis Hotel offering top quality facilities at superb prices. Located in the heart of the city, just a short walk from one of the central shopping areas, the hotel has spacious rooms, en suite, of course, and the setting is perfect for travellers wanting real value for money. The hotel has a great restaurant operating the whole day, from buffet breakfast to the scrumptious a la carte dinner menu.
Brisbane itself enjoys good transport connections. Roma Street and Central Station run regular services to and from Brisbane Airport. Take a ferry trip on the Brisbane City Cat or the River Crossing, both of which are a pleasant 15 minutes walk from the centre of town.
American Express credit card holders can use membership rewards points to purchase an Ibis Gift Card worth up to $1000 and you might be interested to know that gift cards purchased with American Express credit cards are valid for 12 months. Now there is a good idea for a Wedding gift or Anniversary present!
