Brisbaneculture & etiquette

Brisbane flooded severely in 1974, 2011 and 2022, and the affected streets are known and mapped. Brisbane City Council publishes a free FloodWise Property Report and a Flood Awareness Map for any address. Run the address before you inspect, not after — insurance premiums, and whether you can get flood cover at all, follow directly from it.

From early October to early April, Brisbane is an hour behind Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Hobart, and half an hour behind Adelaide. Every meeting with a southern head office shifts, school pick-up collides with 4pm calls, and flights are misread constantly. Set two clocks for the first month.

Medicare covers ambulance nowhere in Australia, but Queensland funds it from the state budget: if you are a Queensland resident, emergency and clinically necessary non-emergency ambulance transport is free, and the cover follows you interstate. Health funds will happily sell you ambulance cover you do not need. Victorians and South Australians moving north should cancel their old membership.

Buses, trains, ferries and trams across the Translink network cost a flat 50 cents a journey, made permanent in early 2025, however far you travel and however you pay. The exception is Airtrain to Brisbane Airport, which is privately operated and excluded — fares start around AUD 23 at the gate, or roughly AUD 20 if you pre-book online. Take the 50-cent train to Eagle Junction and a rideshare from there if you are counting.

Queensland has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. UV reaches extreme levels here through most of the year, including on overcast winter days when it feels pleasant. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are daily items. Check the UV index rather than the forecast temperature.

The CityCat ferries are ordinary public transport at the 50-cent fare, not a tourist cruise, and for a lot of river-bend suburbs they are faster than driving. The free CityHopper runs the inner loop. Choosing a suburb with a terminal changes your commute more than choosing one near a bus stop.