Top 5 Attractions of Brisbane – Australia's glittering jewel

Here's the best way to get a majestic bird's eye view of the city. The Ferris Wheel of Brisbane provides its passengers a breathtaking panoramic 360 view of the city, from the towering skyscrapers and the Brisbane River snaking through the city centre as they sit comfortably in the carriage. The ferris wheel operates during the entire week and one ride lasts for about 10 minutes, which is plenty of time to take in the beautiful surroundings of this well lit city. If you're planning to stay at one of the many Brisbane CBD hotels, there are plenty to choose from which will cater to a wide range of budgets. For longer stays, hotel apartments such as Oaks Lexicon Apartments are a good way to go.

Fraser Island is known to be the world's largest sand island and was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This unusual island stretches over an area of 123 km; the island is complete with white sandy beaches. It's unusual because it's the only island where an entire rainforest grows over a bed of sand. The island is also known to be home to the last remaining stray dingoes in eastern Australia and is most noted for being the ideal place for spotting mother humpback whales with their new born calves. The island is also known to have a thriving population of other species such as birds, dugongs, flying foxes, wallabies, possums and turtles – and it's the perfect place for animal lovers!

Climb Brisbane's popular attraction, the Story Bridge. This exciting adventure will give you unhindered views of the glittering city. The bridge was open in 1940 and has been the city's highlight ever since. It's known to be the largest steel bridge that was designed, constructed and fabricated by Australians in Australia. Climbing the bridge, however, began in2005. To reach the top of the 80 m bridge, would take about 2 hours, and once you're there, you'll be left breath less and speechless.

The Gallery of Modern Art located in Brisbane, features exhibits from various local and international artists. The exhibits vary from photographs, paintings, sculptures, videos, film and many other forms of art. You choose to spend the entire day here as there are children's activity rooms, cafes, restaurants, a bookshop and even a free guided tour of the gallery if you'd like.

Ready to get some shopping done at one of the most iconic malls in the city – the Queen Street Mall is an outdoor open market that has over 700 retail outlets selling various products from local, international and national designs. Walk around the busy streets of this vibrant mall as you take in the many sights and sounds of the lively city. A Farmers Market occurs every Wednesday near the bridge, if you want to buy some fresh local items such as flowers and artisan products.