Since most of us seem content to stay close to home for a while, I thought I'd combine that notion with travelling in the safest possible environment - cyberspace! So slap on the suntan lotion and come with me for a trip around my home town - Brisbane.

The City of Brisbane is a largest local government in Australia and has more than 850,000 residents ... yes, I know that's tiny compared to many cities. The whole city actually has around 1,500.000 - yes, OK, it's still small isn't it?

But that's what makes it such a great place to live. It has a very laid-back lifestyle - lots of trees, even in the centre of the city there are huge old Moreton Bay Figs, Leopard trees that are lit up every night, palms and potted flowers.

The city enjoys a near perfect climate and has an average annual rainfall of 1090 mm (most of which falls between December and March - except in years like this one, when it's unusually dry), an average of over seven hours of sunshine each day, a humidity level which hovers around 50 per cent for all the year, and a temperature range from 10°C in winter to 30°C in summer. The cold weather really only lasts a few days at a time - most winter days you spend wearing short sleeves and light clothes.

Brisbane - photo courtesy Virtual Australia

The city council area covers 1,220 square kilometres, spanning the Brisbane River and stretching 25 kilometres out from the CBD in all directions. The Brisbane River is a special feature, winding its way 19 kilometres through the middle of the city.

The river has only recently (after the 1988 Expo) been recognised as an important lifestyle feature. Before then, any buildings on the river had their backs to it.

Now, however, we can't get enough of it (and property prices have soared accordingly!) As well as the slow little river ferries that have always chugged up and down the river, Brisbane now has some flash catamarans that must make going to work and shopping each day a pleasure. You can buy a ticket from any city bus for $4.60 that allows you unlimited travel on all the city buses and ferries and Cats, between 9 and 3.30. How's that for a bargain?

The City Cats were introduced a few years ago to move the increasing number of people around more quickly and became so popular with locals and tourists, that the council has added some smaller versions (nick-named the Kitty Kat).

The new boat carries 70 passengers, 50 seated and 20 standing, is wheel -chair accessible and can travel at up to 20 knots. The City Cats carry a total of 138 passengers.

While the City Cat is 25 metres in length, the aluminium Kitty Kat is only 12 metres long and 5.8 metres wide.

Brisbane is a sub-tropical city which thrives on informality. Writer, Bill Scott, described the city's informality and uniqueness when he wrote: 'Brisbane is a lazy town with its sleeves rolled up, casually sprawling across its thirty-seven hills. The hills are patterned with paling fences, mango trees, high-stepping weather-board houses, and a tangle of overhead wires like the web of a demented spider.'

If you ever get a chance to visit - you won't be disappointed :)

Travel to Australia

City Cats and Kitty Kats