Mid-November through the end of the month I’m going on a two week tour of a few cities on the east coast of the continent (Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle are some of the cities) to do some training for an event. We’ll be working during the day and part of the evenings but will also have some leisure time.
Can anyone recommend any fun-tivities in the area or for me…local restaurants worth checking out.
Happy to help but your OP is too vague. It’s like asking us to recommend things to do and see on the East Coast of the US. There’s no point in me listing out a million and one things to do when 99% will be logistically impossible.
Exactly where will you be? In each place, how long will you have? Will you have a weekend or a week or just a few hours of free time in the evening while staying in CBD hotels? Will you have a car?
Gotta give us something to work with.
As mentioned, the OP is too vague. But I recommend you research Bunya Mountains and Girraween National Park. 
Agree with the previous two posters. Also, are you Australian or are you coming from overseas? If you were coming to see us from Alice Springs I’d recommend a whole different itinerary than if you were coming from, say, New York.
The way you’ve phrased your question and the fact that you’ve only got 2 weeks suggests to me that you’re not from here, so I’ll work on that assumption. I can at least point out that you will be coming at a gorgeous time of year, weather-wise. It’ll be late spring, and it’s tipped to be a hot summer this year, so you’ll have that in your favour.
I can certainly speak to activities in Sydney, but I’ll need a bit more detail as to how long you’ll be here, whether you’ll be here on a weekday or over a weekend, and – most important – where in the city you’ll be. If you’ll be based in Brighton-le-Sands, for example, I’m not going to suggest activities in Palm Beach. (Well, considering the fact that I live on the north shore, maybe I would.)
Happy to help out. I’m in Canberra, so I should be able to give you a few pointers for round here.
What are your interests?
Art: National Gallery of Australia and the National Portrait Gallery are here.
History: The Australian War Memorial and the National Museum of Australia are must see places but each has a lot of stuff and tend to be open 9-5.
This is the local tourist/events website.
Any idea where in town you’ll be? (Generally that is. Canberra is split into several ‘Town Centres’ along with the main CBD - each has its own set of restaurants etc.)
Just a word about Canberra. A lot of people see “Capital” and think they are going to some place like Washington D.C or London or Paris or Tokyo.
No.
This is very much a big country town with lots of 8am - 6pm workers who live in the 'burbs and commute to work, so it can be pretty quiet on some nights in the city. As you’ll be here in late spring the weather should be good and there will be plenty of light in the evenings to go out & see the place.
If you’re staying in or around Civic (CBD) grabbing a taxi to the Dickson Shops is probably your best bet to find a big variety of restaurants.
Thanks for the bit of help.
At this point I don’t have much more information than what I gave. I acknowledge that I am casting a wide net here. I know if someone said “hey I’m coming to LA in November, what should I do.” I’d have a lot of things that I find interesting that I’d recommend and then they could chose what actually interests them.
If I give a few interests and only get recommendation for things related, then that’s all fine and good… but I’d also be interested in looking at something new.
Chances are… and this goes for all the locations…somewhere near a big sports arena. I’m touring with a sporting event.
Which big sporting arenas? In Sydney, certainly, it could make a difference to the logistics of seeing the sights. Some of the stadiums are very close to the centre of the city. Others are further out in the suburbs.
If you’re coming to Newcastle, you might find this recent article on Newcastle restaurants interesting. However, I haven’t been to most of the places mentioned. If you just want to browse restaurants, the three main areas are Beaumont Street, Darby Street, and the harbour foreshore from Honeysuckle to Queen’s Wharf. The last has the advantage that you can have a good view of the harbour as you eat your dinner.
The other big attraction of Newcastle is that it’s about an hour’s drive from one of the best wine-growing areas in the world, which is well set-up to cater for visitors, including wine tasting at many vineyards.
OK, for Canberra that really narrows it down to two locations:
Most likely is Canberra (Bruce) Stadium which puts you near Belconnen. There are some good places to eat down by the lake there.
The other possibility is Manuka Oval which puts you very close to (amazingly) 
Manuka. Lots of good shops/restaurants etc. there and pretty close to the Parliamentary Triangle where the National Gallery/Nat. Library/Portrait Gallery are.
Also there is Questacon aka the National Science & Technology Centre. Lots of fun sciency stuff.
Reviving now that I finally have the travel information. The tour has been cut down to three cities and out time is going to be filled in each one while working. But I am staying on two extra days in Brisbane (Monday/Tuesday).
I plan on staying in either what appears to be downtown–near Suncorp Stadium.
Or possibly Wynnum to be closer to the water?
Does anyone have an advice about getting around (prublic transportation/taxis, etc), things to do during the day? Eateries to experience?
What’s the event you’re touring with?
O.K. - first point, it’s “Lang Park” if you’re not contractually obliged to call it otherwise.
Brisbane’s basically a country town that doesn’t know that it has to grow up. You can get anywhere you need to be by foot, train or bus.
It’s not exactly known as a fine dining capital, but friends say that Moda and Restaurant Two are worth the effort to try.
Some people will suggest you take the train down to the Gold Coast/Surfers Paradise for the day. Only do this if you want to be disappointed by the closest thing to an amusement park that Australia has to offer. There’s not much else to do there.
If you’re there this week or next, the first test cricket match of the series against South Africa will be playing. Looks like a good series, although Australia will almost certainly be outmatched.
Warning about ocean swimming - stinger season starts about now. It may not sound like a big thing, but irukandji stings have been described as “it begins with a pain as bad as childbirth - then it starts to get bad”. It’s rare to get the jellyfish as far South as Brisbane, but it’s been known to happen.
Other than that, I can’t really suggest much. Brisbane’s not really a destination town. Sorry.
Newcastle - Queens Wharf on a sunny day or warm night is one of god’s great creations, be careful with the alcoholic ginger beer!
That’s a very negative view of Brissie you’ve got there BigNik, and I suspect from a couple of your comments quite outdated. Sure it’s not New York, but you make it sound like a backwaters shithole.
To the OP. Brisbane may not be a ‘destination’ city but it’s a hell of a nice place to live and there’s plenty to do.
Brisbane is a very centralised city, so if you’re staying somewhere close to Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium), you’ll likely be staying in the CBD. Public Transport in Brisbane is decent at getting people into and out of the CBD, but not much else. I would recommend taxi’s for much of your travel needs - if you need to get out of the CBD. Otherwise everything with in the CBD is within an easy walk.
In terms of dining, I’m not sure what your tastes are, but a few recommendations from me;
Fine Dining
Aria - owned by Matt Moran, who is one of the biggest celebrity chiefs in Australia
Restaurant Two
JellyFish - Seafood/Fish restaurant - excellent fresh seafood!
Cha Cha Char - high class steak restaurant - great food
E’cco Bistro - another celebrity chef place - food is just fantastic here.
Pub Grub
If you don’t want expensive and like a nice big steak and a beer, two of my favourite places which are both only a 5 minute cab ride from the city are:
The Pineapple Hotel
The Norman Hotel - being a massive steak place their advertising is Worst Vegetarian restaurant in Brisbane 
There are just tons of really nice places to eat in town, many not ‘destination’ places, but if you just want a nice place to eat, I can give you a long list of places I enjoy.
Directly across the river from from CBD is precinct called Southbank. Amongst other things it is full of restaurant’s of various classes and quality, and is worth a stroll to see the sights. Southbank is also a parkland, and has a beach (yep a beach in the heart of the city) in a closed lagoon type scenario. Southbank is also the location for the Queensland Museum, Art Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), and a performance centre. Don’t know what you’re into but IMO the Queensland Museum is worth a visit and a look around. Wandering around Southbank itself makes for a pleasant afternoon.
Don’t worry about BigNik’s stinger danger. It’s not something you need to worry about in Brisbane. The furtherest south any stings have been recorded (2 incidents that I can recall offhand) is at Fraser Island which is 300kms north of Brisbane.
If you do wind up staying out at Wynnum, it’s actually not that fantastic to swim at anyway, the shoreline is mainly mudflats. However, there is a man made tidal pool on the foreshore where you can swim, and also a man made beach (with imported sand), called Pandanas Beach, which is nice.
Depends what else you’re into as to what I recommend you can do.
Fortitude Valley has an ‘alternative’ club scene and a thriving live music scene. It’s actually a dedicated ‘entertainment’ precinct. It’s walking distance from the CBD.
If you have a full day spare and can hire a car, I highly recommend either the Gold Coast hinterland or the Sunshine Coast hinterland, both of which make for very nice enjoyable day trips. The sunshine Coast hinterland in particular has become well known for locally produced cheeses, and other local produce. There are various little townships up that way good for a stop and look.
There are three amusement parks 30 mins South of Brisbane, Dreamworld, MovieWorld, and Wet & Wild. As you’d expect they are mainly about the rides, rollercoasters etc. They’re not Disneyland true, but on a scale size, both Dreamworld and Movieworld are each about the size of California Adventure, or the Universal Studios park in LA.
~45mins north of Brisbane is Australia Zoo, which was the zoo established by Steve Irwin. If you liked him. If you like animals, Lone Pine Koala sanctuary is only 20 mins out of the CBD if you want to cuddle a koala.
Maybe it’s a bit of a local thing, but Mt Cootha lookout is nice, it is only 5kms from the city, gives you a great view of the city and out to the bayside. Plus there’s a nice restaurant up there, although a bit pricey for what you get. Paying for the view I suppose!
If you’re coming shortly, you can still get on a whale-watching tour. Humpbacks are transiting to the Antarctic at this time of year.
If you can let me know when you’ll be in town I’ll let you know what special events are on as well.
Hope this helps. If you want to share a little about what sort of things you like and are into I can get a bit more specific.
I’m not saying it’s a third world city, but I’m suggesting that it could aspire to that in about 20 or 30 years if they work really hard. I’m not well-placed to like Brisbane - I’ve been there. Last year, most recently. Brisvegas has so little to aspire to that it had to steal its nickname from Rockhampton.
I’ll take your word on the irukandji - I’ve never tried to swim in Brisbane. It’s more a place to stop for petrol on the way through to somewhere.
Let me guess you live in either Sydney or Melbourne right? 
No offense mate, but I’m hoping the OP pays more attention to a local trying to help than someone who has stopped here for petrol once or twice. 
I don’t even get your Rockhampton connection? what nickname do you mean?
Or you are from Sydney. Locals call it Suncorp Stadium.
If you know shit all about it so have to resort to mouthing decades old platitudes.
Amongst Sydneysiders. Brisbane doesn’t have quite the peaks that Sydney enjoys, although various restaurants here have won Australia’s best awards at various times. Brisbane is smaller than Sydney or Melbourne but has more awarded restaurants than either, on a per capita basis, by a large margin.
I’ve been to most of the restaurants on this list. They are all very good. I think that Enoteca is particularly good. Two Small Rooms is an old favourite and quite near where you are staying. I had one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time at Stokehouse, at Southbank, recently. Highly recommended. And has a good view, which I usually find is an indicator of bad food, but apparently not in this case.
Another slightly off the wall choice is a restaurant called “Tukka” on Boundary St, West End, which features native australian bush foods. You can have various Aust. meats like possum and crocodile and emu, but actually it’s the local fruits like quandong and so on that are really very good. “Tucker” is the aboriginal-english term for food.
Ignore ignorant postings about “stinger season” from people who don’t post anything evidencing that they have a clue. Stingersdon’t come as far southas Brisbane or any of the beaches you could get to in the time you have.
There are extremely nice beaches to the north and south of Brisbane (the Sunshine and Gold Coasts respectively). Forget Wynnum and indeed any of the coast of Moreton Bay (on which Brisbane is situate) as the bay does not offer sandy beaches or surf. The best beach on the Sunshine Coast is Noosa IMHO and on the Gold Coast is probably Burleigh. The Sunshine Coast is more laid back and the Gold Coast is more hectic. You can get to either in about an hour and a half to two hours depending on how far you go from Brisbane (the further, the quieter). Given that you give your location as Hollywood, beaches may not be a big drawcard. Our beaches are better than yours (sorry, they are;)) but not so much better I’d come thousands of miles to see them.
I second most of what **GreedySmurf **says, though I disagree about the Summit restaurant as being any good: a classic case of restaurants with a good view usually having crap food, though I admit to not going there for a while due to several bad experiences.
If you haven’t done the Australian animal thang before you hit Brisbane then I recommend Lone Pine Koala sanctuary to get your fill of roos, koalas, platypus etc. Australia Zoo as mentioned by GreedySmurf is bigger and better and more spectacular (and more tacky) but harder to get to. The most enjoyable way to get to Lone Pine is by taking a boat up the river from central Brisbane.
Speaking of which, an enjoyable (and cheap) way to see Brisbane is from the CityCat ferries which go up and down the Brisbane river. They are fast and regular and give you a good feel for what Brisbane’s about, because of the way they wind through the city. Best done late afternoon or at night in my opinion.
As to transport, between ferries buses and trains it’s pretty good in central areas and far better than you’d be used to in LA. The site you need to know is translink.com.au. You can just put your start and end points in there and it will work things out for you. However, outside mid-central Brisbane you really need a car and I’d be hiring one. Particularly if you want to see the beaches or the hinterland areas as GreedySmurf suggests. Taxis are plentiful but I wouldn’t call them cheap.
You’d have to tell us more about your particular interests to get more specific suggestions.
Thank you everyone for the suggestions and comments. I was kind of meh about having the two extra days in Brisbane, but now I’m really excited.
I don’t know how I forgot this actually. Completely agree, that you should jump on a Citycat. Grab a spot up on the bow, and go for a ride up to the University of Queensland and back. A complete circuit will take a couple of hours, depending upon whether you ride it to both extremes of the river. (And just make sure you get on a Citycat - the bigger catamaran ferries - there are smaller ferries that only shuttle around the CBD stops )
Just as an aside if you’re out and about during the day in Brisbane don’t forget a hat and some sunscreen. You’ll get sunburnt pretty quick in the middle of the day.
Just got back on Wednesday and am still recovering. I had a wonderful time, expecially in Brisbane.
The 7-course degustation menu at Tukka was not only the best meal I had in Australia, but probably one of the best in my life.