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In a world where Sydney gets the glamour and Melbourne gets the moody alleyways, Brisbane often sits quietly in the corner, nursing a craft beer and wondering when everyone will notice it has the best weather in the country. It is the sort of place that does not try too hard, which is exactly why I have grown to love it. There is a distinct lack of pretension here. People wear thongs to the supermarket and call you "mate" without a hint of irony, and honestly, it is refreshing.

If you are landing in the River City for the first time, the first thing you will notice is the river itself. It snakes through the city like a giant brown serpent, and while you probably should not swim in it unless you want to become part of the local folklore, you absolutely must ride it. The CityCat ferries are the local secret to a cheap scenic tour. For the price of a coffee, you can glide past the gleaming skyscrapers of the CBD and under the massive steel skeleton of the Story Bridge.

Speaking of the bridge, if you are the type who enjoys dangling off high things for fun, you can actually climb it. Standing at the top at twilight, watching the city lights begin to flicker on while the traffic hums far below, is one of those "I am actually in Australia" moments that sticks with you. Just try not to think too much about the height if you are as rubbish with ledges as I am.

Once you have found your land legs again, head over to South Bank. It is essentially the city’s communal backyard. It has everything from highbrow galleries like GOMA, where the art is often as confusing as it is beautiful, to a manmade beach that is surprisingly convincing. There is something uniquely surreal about sunbathing on white sand with a view of a high rise office building, but the locals love it, and after ten minutes in the Queensland sun, you will too.

For a change of pace, I usually point people toward the West End. It is a bit grittier, a bit more "alternative," and home to some of the best coffee you will find outside of Italy. It is the kind of place where you can find a vintage record, a vegan taco, and a psychic reading all on the same block. It feels lived in and authentic, a perfect antidote to the shiny glass of the city centre.

If you have a car or the patience for a bus, make the trek up to Mount Coot-tha. The lookout provides a panoramic view that stretches all the way to the Moreton Bay islands on a clear day. It is the perfect spot for a bit of self-reflection, or more likely, for taking a selfie that makes your friends back home incredibly jealous of the blue sky.

Before you leave, you really ought to pay your respects to the locals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. Yes, it is a bit of a tourist staple, but there is no shame in wanting to see a koala. They are essentially small, grey, eucalyptus-scented cushions that sleep for twenty hours a day. I find them deeply relatable.

Brisbane might not have the Opera House or the MCG, but it has a soul that is warm, sunny, and incredibly laid back. It is a city that invites you to slow down, have a cold drink, and realise that life is actually pretty good when the sun is shining.