Tee off with our guide to golf. There are golf courses in Brisbane that cater for players of any skill level or budget (even kids who want to have a go at mini golf). So it doesn’t matter if you’re a social player or an aspiring pro there will be a public course, private club, driving range or putt putt course to challenge you.

Our directory has contact details for many iseekgolf.com.

This website is packed with information on local Brisbane clubs, plus golf courses around Australia and the world.

Remember, public courses tend to be cheaper and more relaxed about dress regulations while the prestigious or resort courses can have restricted playing times and high green fees but more facilities and level of service. Private courses need you to be a member (often an expensive and long-term option) or to be signed in by a current member to play a round.

The majority of courses have hire clubs, buggies and carts available. Ask about these when you book your game.

Popular Brisbane golf courses

Victoria Park Golf Complex

Victoria Park is an 18-hole public course is close to the heart of Brisbane with stunning views of the Brisbane city skyline. It’s a beautiful course, quite hilly in parts so a motorised buggy is recommended if you don't want a demanding walk. Most of the fairways are fairly short and straight and well suited to beginners while the greens are in very good shape.

This golf course is owned and run by classes for women too.

There is a pro-shop offering lessons and golf clinics, an 18 hole putt-putt course and the Caddyshack café.

Nudgee Golf Course

Nudgee Golf Course is a championship 36 hole course with an open design. It is challenging enough for top golfers but still accessible to beginners. It can get crowded and busy and you will need to book in advance. There are often competition days when public play is limited.

Nudgee College Golf Club

Nudgee College Golf Club is a very casual and cheap course of nine holes that welcomes non-members. Don’t expect first class facilities or greens but it’s a good course for beginners as it isn’t crowded and has relaxed dress standards. Call to check if hire clubs are available.

Indooroopilly

Indooroopilly is one of Brisbane’s most established and prestigious courses and would have to be rated among Brisbane’s best. This 36-hole championship rated course is located alongside the Brisbane River. Visitors and social groups can play the course Sunday to Friday. Note: there are strict dress regulations and you can hire buggies, clubs and shoes. Green fees are from $40 for a weekday game of 18 holes.

Brookwater

In Brisbane’s west, Brookwater is one of Australia’s best public courses. This first class course was designed by Greg Norman and is very challenging, even for experienced players. Allow plenty of time and bring spare balls. A unique feature of this course is the way it is integrated into a beautiful bushland setting. The service and facilities are of a very high standard and the greens are superb. Green fees for this premium, professional golf experience is at the high end but are well worth it. Get there early and have a practice hit on the driving range.

St Lucia Golf Links

Please note: St Lucia Golf Links reopened on 10 February 2011, with nine holes. Work is continuning on the remaining holes following the recent Brisbane floods.

St Lucia Golf Links is a public course is a pleasure to play and well suited for beginners or a casual game. The course has a pretty relaxed atmosphere. The cost is very reasonable and value for money is very good – check with the pro-shop for mid-week specials. Memberships not required. The greens are generally well maintained with a few rough patches on a couple of the fairways. The course has a good mix of short and long fairways and most are quite wide which allows for the odd slice shot. One of the features is the creek winding though the course adding an interesting obstacle. Can be busy on weekends.

Golf top tip: Finish your round in the relaxed ambience of the open-air café, which has commanding views of the golf course.

Wynnum Golf Course

On a relatively small patch of land in a residential area, Wynnum Golf Course is popular with social players and those in the local community. Classified as a hard easy course, the green fees are reasonably priced. In summer, Wynnum Golf Course has the advantage of cool Moreton Bay breezes but unfortunately no water views. It’s a good option for a game of golf on Brisbane’s eastside.

Pacific Golf Club

Pacific Golf Club at Carindale is a challenging course with reasonable fees for social players. There’s also a nine-hole par three course, perfect for beginners and younger players too.

Northlakes Resort Golf Club

Voted one of the top 25 public access courses in Australia by Golf Australia magazine in 2005, the Northlakes Resort Golf Club is a par 72 Championship resort course specifically designed to "provide a challenge to shot making without being a torturous test of golf".

Golf lessons

If you are an absolute beginner in the sport of golf, do a little research into the etiquette and basic rules of the game, as explained by the Australian Golf Union.

Contact any golf course to ask about golf lessons with their resident professionals. They will offer a range of individual sessions and group lessons.

Interested in teaching your child golf? Take a look at the resources of the Australian Golf Union, which has a program called Go Go Golf. There are child-friendly games, teaching tips, special balls and clubs too.

If the kids get really good they could attend Kelvin Grove State College, which is a school of excellence for golf.

Local golf tournaments & golf events

iseekgolf.com also provides details of the professional tournaments scheduled in South East Queensland

Golf practice (driving) ranges

See our directory for a list of local driving ranges.

• Victoria Park Golf course and driving range is a fantastic all-weather, floodlit range, with 76 bays.

Chris from Sunnybank says:“...it’s great 'cause it’s really relaxed, has a lovely outlook and is close to the city. It’s also open til late on weeknights and is licensed which means you can turn it into a cheap social night out. We go every Thursday night and hit a few balls, have a couple of drinks and hang out with mates.”

• Oxley Golf Range has mini golf too.
• Golf Mania at Manly West has computerised tees (which means no bending down!) plus there’s mini golf for fun
• Tee Time Driving Range at Acacia Ridge

See our directory for places to play putt-putt.

Other useful golfing links

• Queensland Golf Union
• Golfing basics
• Women’s Golf Australia
• Women’s Golf Queensland
• Queensland Amputee Golf Association
• Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association - runs golf competitions and lessons
• Queensland Golf
• Australian Open
• PGA Tour
• Organising a corporate golf day? Golf select can help
• Sportal Golf Forum
• Fox Sports

Walking. It’s simple, cheap and can be done by anyone, anywhere. In Brisbane we are spoilt for choice with hundreds of walking tracks and a thriving, organised recreational program called ‘gonewalking’. We are also lucky enough to have bushwalking options within the city or just a short drive away.

Always be mindful of your personal safety when walking alone.

Gonewalking

Gonewalking is a free Brisbane City Council Active and Healthy Lifestyle program. There are dozens of walks held across Brisbane every week. All walks are planned and conducted by trained volunteer Gonewalking organisers and your safety is assured.

You can choose from:

• Health and fitness walk - brisk walks (around 5km) that may include some hills
• Parents with prams walk - leisure walks usually on flat ground
• Garden/parkland walk - leisure walks exploring Brisbane's parks
• Bush walk - bushland walks with some uphill climbing
• Leisure walk - slower, less strenuous walks
• Heritage walk - walks to learn about Brisbane's past
• Shopping centre walk - out-of-hours walks inside air-conditioned shopping centres

These walks are rated slow, medium and fast to suit everyone's ability. As a guide, one-hour slow walks usually cover about 3.6km; medium walks about 5.4km and fast walks about 6.6km.

Call 07 3403 8888 for more details.

Bushwalking groups

See our directory for some of Brisbane’s bushwalking groups.

Other bushwalking websites:

Bushwalkers of Southern Queensland

This website has information on the club's services, membership details, bushwalking locations and trip details. Read about the aims of the club, club activities and the difficulty levels of different walks.

The Queensland Bushwalkers Club

On this website find information about membership costs, activities and the club's history. View the club calendar, newsletters and bushwalking articles.

Plus try bushwalking within the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Other walks

BrisbaneCityWalk

Spend a couple of hours along the BrisbaneCityWalk discovering Brisbane city's heritage, architecture and interesting spots. You'll visit beautiful shopping arcades, stroll through parkland and across bridges. Even locals will learn something new.

• See a full wrap up of other guided and self-guided walking tours around Brisbane.

Heart Foundation Walking

The Heart Foundation delivers Heart Foundation Walking - a network of free community-based walking groups across Queensland.

10,000 Steps Brisbane

This program is all about starting positive changes in your life and increasing your physical activity. 10,000 steps is the recommended daily step goal for an adult.

Brisbane has many tracks suited to running and jogging. If you are interested in sharing your exercise with like-minded people, contact one of the running clubs.

Brisbane Road Runners Club

Brisbane Roadrunners is a club formed to provide regular road races for all grades of runners in and around the Brisbane area. Events are held every other Sunday, with the race calendar for the year available online.

Cool Running Australia

Cool Running provides information of interest for grassroots runners in Australia, including a race calendar, race results, news articles, running clubs, links to other running web pages. Cool Running specialises in the "Fun Run" scene.

Thompson Estate and Eastern Suburbs Athletics (TEES)

Thompson Estate and Eastern Suburbs Athletics promotes athletics and cross country running activities. It is Brisbane's oldest sporting club with over 110 years of continuous service to the community.

Fun Runs

Family fun runs are a great way to improve fitness and get everyone out into the fresh air. There are plenty of fun runs around that are suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

Parents are now joining their children in fun runs. It doesn't matter if they are serious competitors or are just out for gentle exercise on a Sunday morning, it's a great way to improve everyone's fitness levels. It's also an excellent way to introduce your children to competitive sport and build up their fitness levels without them having to give up too much of their free time or show a great amount of dedication.

Whether you're competing seriously, just going for a jog or walking with your family you should make sure everyone takes the proper precautions to minimise the risk of injury. You should include at least 10 minutes warm up and stretching before starting to exercise and remember to do the same when you finish to allow your muscles to cool down. Make sure everyone drinks plenty of fluids to keep themselves hydrated. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat and protective clothing to prevent those harsh rays from causing any damage.

And if you can't talk your family into competing, why not ask a friend to join you and catch up over a gentle jog or relaxing walk? It's a very rewarding and satisfying experience and most fun runs are associated with worthwhile charities that benefit.

USM Events conduct a number of fun runs/walks available that offer great courses and a good opportunity to involve your family and friends in an event.

Fun runs are also a terrific way to cross-train for other sports. If you're competing in another sport and looking for a way to relax yet still keep fit, a fun run can be a great way to keep those fitness levels up without being too serious about it.

Here are a few tips to get you started if you're thinking of entering a fun run:

• If you have the slightest reason for concern in relation to your health have a chat to your doctor about what you are about to do.
• Set yourself a goal. This may change over time but start with something that is feasible and achievable.
• Ensure that you have a good support network of family and friends to help you along the way or to train with because it will help keep you motivated. It's easier to get out the door if you have to train with someone else.
• Purchase a good pair of shoes.
• Keep a training diary and have something visual in your home and/or work place showing how many weeks/days to go.
• Run on soft surfaces as often as you can.
• Treat yourself to a massage as often as you can afford.
• Find out the location of a Dietitian that you can call on.
• Get as much rest as you can. You gain fitness during the recovery period when your body is rebuilding and getting stronger, not during the actual running session.
• If you miss a workout, don't feel guilty. Don't try and squeeze it in later in the week.
• Cross-training is an ideal way to supplement your training program, try cycling.
• Start each workout gradually, warming up your muscles by slow-paced walking/jogging. Finish each workout gradually too. Slow down the pace with stretching exercises to cool down and relax your body.
• Cherish the fact that you are able to take up such a challenge and enjoy each day as it arrives.

Whether you want to swim laps, join an aqua aerobics class or squad, enrol the kids in swimming lessons or simply cool off, there is a public swimming pool for you in Brisbane. There are pools for serious athletes, pools just for paddling and some are heated and open all year round.

Here’s our pick of Brisbane’s best...

Brisbane City Council pools

Brisbane City Council operates 20 pools across the city. All pools have change rooms with hot and cold showers and kiosks selling food, drinks and swimming accessories.

Dip your toe at:

Acacia Ridge (open in winter)

Acacia Ridge offers plenty of parking and an indoor, heated 25m pool, ideal for lap swimming and learn-to-swim classes. There’s also a large, outdoor swimming lagoon. There’s grass to lie on, and shaded picnic tables that you can book for group parties and functions.

Bellbowrie (closed in winter)

Take a dip or swim some laps in the 50m outdoor pool at Bellbowrie. Rain, hail or shine, the 25 metre heated, indoor pool is perfect for laps or learn-to-swim classes for all ages. There’s plenty of room to run around, good shade cover and kids love the water slide, splash pool and wading pool. Keen swimmers can join the resident swimming club.

Carole Park Pool

Situated on large grounds, the Carole Park Pool is a great family-friendly facility. The 25-metre pool is ideal for swimming laps and young ones can splash about in the wading or children’s pool. There's also learn-to-swim classes.

Chermside Pool (open in winter)

Chermside Pool is a large centre for swimming lessons and hydrotherapy and the water fun park (with separate entry) comes alive in summer with its huge waterslide. The 25 metre pool is open all year. Easy to duck into the vast Kedron Wavell Services Club next door or borrow a book to read poolside from Chermside library. Entry price depends upon the pool you want to access.

City (Centenary Pool) (open in winter)

The 50 metre inner-city Centenary Pool that benefits from an attached fitness centre. There isn’t any grass to laze on but lots of classes, a good kiosk, high diving platforms and plenty of kickboards for hire, make it a good pool for exercise. A toddlers’ wading pool makes it popular with young mums.

City (Spring Hill Baths) (open in winter)

This pool is unlike any other in Brisbane. The historical Spring Hill Baths host learn to swim lessons, a café, a fully equipped Pilates Studio, aqua aerobics and memories. The pool is heated and open all year round, attracting swimmers who want atmosphere and a dip into history. Swim in Brisbane's first inground public baths, built in 1886, and try out the quirky historic changing cubicles.

Colmslie Pool (Morningside)(open in winter)

The brand new Colmslie Pool has a 50-metre, outdoor, heated pool, a 15-metre indoor heated pool and a great new outdoor water play park for the kids.

Dunlop Park Pool (Corinda)(open in winter)

Swim some laps in the 50 metre pool at Dunlop Park, shaded at the shallow end. One pool has a beach-entry, with wheelchair access ramp and water play features too. Kids love the wading pool and four water slides. Take learn-to-swim or aqua aerobics classes in the heated, indoor 15 metre pool. There’s barbeques, shaded picnic areas with tables. Why not join the resident swimming and squad training club?

Fortitude Valley Pool (open in winter)

A 50 metre pool is the main feature at Fortitude Valley with grandstands for all your fans to sit in. Open early for laps before work and you'll usually see a mix of office workers and more colourful Valley characters swimming here.

Hibiscus Sports Complex (Upper Mt Gravatt) (partially open in winter)

The Hibiscus Sports Complex offers beautiful, manicured grounds which surround the 50 metre outdoor pool, shaded at the shallow end. Keep fit in the indoor, heated 25 metre pool. Learn-to-swim classes are held in the 12 metre indoor, heated pool. Bring your skateboard or rollerblades for some fun in between dips in the pool or work out at the gym. And check out the brand new kids play pool.

Ithaca Pool (Paddington)

Caxton Street after your swim.

Jindalee Pool (partially open in winter)

Join in one of the exercise classes or relax under shady trees at Jindalee Pool. Lap swimmers can swim a mile or two in the 50m outdoor pool. Toddlers like splashing about in the wading pool with fun water features. A heated 17m pool has learn-to-swim classes, rain or shine.

Manly Pool (open in winter)

On the Manly foreshore next to the boat harbour, the Fish and chips aren’t far away!

Mt Gravatt East Pool (Mansfield) (open in winter)

Brand new in 2009, the Mt Gravatt East Pool is located on the corner of Wecker and Newnham Roads (next to the Mt Gravatt East Primary School) and is open all year round.

Musgrave Park Pool (South Brisbane) (closed in winter)

Near West End and Highgate Hill, with views of the city skyline, the Musgrave Park Pool at South Brisbane has a 50 metre, outdoor pool plus two partially shaded outdoor pools ideal for the young ones. Learn-to-swim classes are also available. Water polo is big at this pool so get involved.

Newmarket Pool (partially open in winter)

A kids’ mecca of slides, waterspouts and more. Newmarket Pool also offers squad training, swimming lessons and good facilities. Lots of grass to laze on.

Runcorn Pool (open in winter)

The Runcorn Pool offers heated swimming (indoor and outdoor) all year round. There is also a fantastic play pool for the kids with interactive features and a water slide.

Sandgate Pool (partially open in winter)

Sandgate Pool is on the foreshore in large, landscaped grounds. There’s a 50 metre pool, a huge wading pool, water slides and play features. A heated, indoor learn-to-swim pool means that wet, cold weather isn’t an issue. With barbecue facilities, a basketball hoop and playground next door it’s popular with everyone.

Langlands Park Pool (Stones Corner) (open in winter)

Next to the Easts Rugby League football club, Langlands Park Pool complex has a 50m pool plus a shaded outdoor pool for toddlers and children. An indoor, heated learn-to-swim pool offers classes.

Yeronga Pool (open in winter)

Yeronga Pool has something for everyone, including an 8 lane 50m and 4 lane 25m outdoor heated pool.

Pool Top Tip: Barbecue facilities are available at some Council pools. Telephone the Brisbane City Council call centre on 07 3403 8888 for more information.

Family friendly pools

These pools are the pools where the kids come to expect slides, waterspouts and extra fun, just for them.

Lap swimming pools

Swimming is a sport that makes sense in Brisbane. It’s the coolest way to keep fit in summer and heated pools in winter mean you don’t have to stop your regime. To get fit and swim laps, almost any pool of 25 metres or more can suffice. Read our feature about Brisbane’s pools for swimmers who like to count the kilometres.

School and university pools

Take advantage of some of the excellent public swimming facilities at Brisbane’s schools and universities.

Somerville House sports and aquatic centre (open in winter)

The Somerville House pool is a heated 50m pool for serious swimmers who want to train, be a part of a squad or learn stroke correction. It is open long hours, 7 days a week. School rules state that sunbathing around the pool is not permitted.

University of Queensland aquatic centre (open in winter)

Note: the UQ aquatic centre will be closed until Semester 2, 2011 due to flood damage.

The University of Queensland at St Lucia has two pools, one extra warm for lessons and a 50 metre pool that is heated in winter. A grassed area makes for a place to relax after your laps. Keep an eye open for scheduled family fun days when the pool is taken over by a large inflatable playground for kids. Opening times differ between summer and winter.You can also book children's birthday parties at the pool.

Adult fitness classes are currently available and cater for triathletes, masters and surf swimmers as well as a range of classes that cater for general fitness such as water running.

Pool Top Tip: Parking can be tricky during semester.

Pools in the Greater Brisbane area

There are a number of public swimming pools in the outer areas of Brisbane. Contact them for details of facilities and opening times.

Take the plunge at:

• 14 pools operated by Moreton Bay Regional Council, inluding Albany Creek Leisure Centre, Pathways at Mango Hill and Bribie Island.
• The four pools of Ipswich City Council
• Two pools at Cleveland and Victoria Point, run by Redlands Council
• The pools of Logan City.

Other places to swim

Whilst technically not “pools” that you can do laps in, the following swimming holes deserve mention as fabulous places to swim for fun. Plus they are free!

South Bank – Aquativity

With enough water to fill five olympic swimming pools, this Brisbane water hole is enormous. Tonnes of sand create a beach-like feel and the kids love to dig in it or jump off the rocks and paddle in the small streams. It is a patrolled beach with views of the city and Brisbane River. Aquativity is a water-based playground, with varying opening hours.

Settlement Cove Lagoon at Redcliffe

The Settlement Cove Lagoon is a great place for kids with waterfalls, slides and a ship-theme playground. The beaches of Redcliffe are always good for a dip too.

Wynnum Wading Pool

The Wynnum Wading Pool is an old-fashioned favourite. Filled with water from Moreton Bay, it is on the Esplanade, at the end of Edith Street, Wynnum. It’s not deep but good for adult exercise and kids can slide into it.

Rugby Union is said to be the game they play in Heaven. If so, there must be an awful lot of people up there sporting cauliflower ears and busted noses – but more on that later.

Lesson One: The Game

In rugby, two teams of 15 players each aim to score as many points as possible by carrying, passing, kicking and grounding the (oval-shaped) ball, with the team scoring the greater number of points being the winner of the match. Points may be scored by either scoring a try or a goal. A try is scored when the ball is grounded within the in-goal area (at each end of the field) and is worth 5 points. A goal is scored by kicking the ball between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goal posts.

The game is divided into two halves of 40 minutes each, which gives spectators ample time to enjoy the full gamut of sporting emotions, ranging from moderate happiness, excitement and jubilation to mild disappointment, outrage and despair, depending on how their team is performing.

Lesson Two: The Team

There are 15 players in each team with 7 replacements that can be used for injuries and substitutions. Players are numbered 1 to 15, with numbers 16–22 being used for the replacements. Players numbered 1–8 are called the “forwards” and those with numbers 9–15 are the “backs”. The forwards, who are generally bigger, are the players who form the scrum (see below) and the lineout while the backs are more “fleet of foot” and are used to run the ball.

Are you still with us? Hang in there.

Lesson Three: The Rules

The ball is transferred from one player to another by a pass. Just to make things more interesting, a pass is made backwards to players of the same team. A forward pass is not permitted. If a player drops the ball forward (called a knock-on), play is stopped.

Anybody who has watched even a small amount of rugby will know what a supremely physical game (read: contact sport) it is. Mouthguards are essential, players frequently develop “cauliflower ears” (permanent swelling of the outer ear) and even the language of the game is full of robust terms, which will now be explained (with no small degree of squeamishness) here.

When play has been stopped, it is restarted by a “scrum” made up of the 8 forwards from each team. At a scrum, the ball is rolled into the tunnel between the opposing “packs” by the scrum half (No. 9) and hooked back by a player from either side. All players not in the scrum must be behind the back of their side of the scrum, otherwise they are off-side.

When a player is running with the ball he may be “tackled” (brought to the ground and held – ouch!) by an opposing player. When this happens, the player must release the ball so that both teams can contest possession.

“Rucks” and “mauls” are not terms dating from the era of Roman blood sports involving lions and Christians. They are manoeuvres used to compete for the ball and to keep the game flowing. A ruck is formed when one player from each team comes into contact over the ball when it is on the ground. A maul is formed between opposing teams in a similar way to a ruck, except that the ball remains in the hand, as opposed to being on the ground.

For more about the colourful terminology and rules of rugby, go to the governing source – the International Rugby Board.

Lesson Four: The Ella brothers - Australian rugby legends

The three Ella brothers – twins Mark and Glen (born 1959) and younger brother Gary (born 1960) – are remarkable rugby players for a number of reasons. They are remarkable for their rugby skills; remarkable for the fact that three brothers represented Australia in Rugby Union at the same time (in the 1980s); and remarkable that one of them (Mark) captained Australia. They also happen to be three Aboriginal brothers. Mark, Glen and Gary come from a family of 12 children who grew up in the Aboriginal community at La Perouse in Sydney.

They are Aussie legends – so do not embarrass yourself by looking blank when their names are invoked.

Lesson Five: Where to watch the game in Queensland?

The Queensland Reds play in an international competition called the Super 15s. The Reds are one of five Australian teams competing in the Super 15 competition, alongside the NSW Waratahs, the ACT Brumbies, the Western Force and the Melbourne Rebels. The Reds play at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Last but not least we have the Australian national team, the Wallabies, and it’s not unusual for them to play several international matches in Brisbane – also at Suncorp – throughout the year. Of course, right now the Wallabies are in the thick of the World Cup in France so we won’t see the team playing in Brisbane again this year. With luck the next time we do see them they will be world champions.

Do you love the excitement of soccer?

Soccer is fun to play and watch and Brisbane has soccer teams to suit all ages and abilities. Take some time to kick a ball around with the kids, become part of a local team, follow the A-League and watch the Socceroos take on the rest of the world.

Finding a local club

Brisbane has dozens of soccer clubs. They are always keen to sign on new players, involve the community in coaching and training positions or gather vocal supporters for their games.

Discover one near you and contact them about getting involved. Season sign-on starts in February each year, with matches beginning during March.

To find out more about Brisbane’s soccer scene, take a look at:

• Football Brisbane
• Football Queensland

Just want to kick a soccer ball in the local park? Find your closest one and get out there!

Junior players

Did you know that more boys play soccer than any other organised sport in Australia? And that over 355,000 Aussie kids play soccer. [Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics]

Does your son or daughter want to play?

Futsal (indoor soccer)

Regardless of the weather, indoor soccer is a fun option. Indoor soccer, otherwise known as Futsal, is flourishing and there are active futsal associations in Brisbane.

The Queensland Futsal website has facts about the futsal clubs and venues in the South-East region.

Brisbane Roar FC

Brisbane Roar FC represent Brisbane in the National Hyundai A-League.

The Brisbane Roar website will keep you up to date on player profiles and latest team news.

Get along to a game and support the Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium. Get your tickets from Ticketek.

Other interesting football links

• Football Federation Australia
• SBS The World Game

Exercise and sporting activities

There are always plenty of kids’ events and activities going on in Brisbane for kids to enjoy. Check out the Events Calendar to see what's on. Why not pay a visit to your local library or swimming pool.

Exercising your body can be fun and it’s really important if you want to stay healthy. The Kids’ Playground has great ideas to help you get active as well as games to exercise your brain.

Maybe you’d like to play a team sport?

• Rugby league has Kids to Kangaroos
• AFL has Auskick
• Rugby Union has TryRugby
• Soccer
• Basketball has Aussie Hoops
• Cricket has Queensland Cricket's Play Junior Cricket

Healthy eating

We all know that food can taste great - and it can be good for you too.

The right sort of food will help your bones to grow strong, make your eyes sparkle, your hair shine and your skin clear. Good food also gives you the energy you need to get through the day.

Here are some websites with cool games to play that also teach you about eating right and staying healthy:

• Fresh for Kids has games, colouring pages, information on sports and interviews with sporting stars
• Devondale has information about what to eat to prepare for athletic events, what foods give you energy and some fun online games too
• Dairy Good has lots of interesting and useful information about the dairy industry. This is a great site if you have to do a project for school on anything related to the dairy industry or if you just want to find out why you need to eat dairy foods
• Woolworths has great games that teach you about healthy eating and how a supermarket works.

Be happy

Everyone feels sad or worried sometimes but it can be bad for your health if you often feel like that. Being bullied, having trouble at school, fighting with your brothers or sisters or just not being sure that it’s ok to feel the way you do can make you worry.

Headroom is a great site with pages that help you build problem solving skills and find out about your feelings. There are some fun games to play when you just want to exercise your brain and not your body.

If you'd like to talk to someone about the things that are worrying you, you can ring Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800. It's free and you can call them anytime because they operate 24 hours a day. It is confidential, which means no one will tell anyone else what you say, and anonymous, which means you don't have to tell them who you are.

Stay safe

Safety is very important. To learn about safety you can play Constable Kenny's Play It Safe game and there are games to teach you how to stay safe on the internet at Hector's World.

Blazer the Koala can teach you about fire safety, Kids Alive has lots of information about water safety and Energex has fun stuff that will teach you about safety around electricity.

Remember to eat well, get plenty of exercise, stay safe and make sure you have lots of fun. That way you'll stay healthy and have plenty of energy to do the things you enjoy.

You don’t have to be Bear Grylls (you know, the crazy guy from Man vs Wild) to enjoy the sport and challenge of rockclimbing and abseiling.

It could be something you try out once in a while, perhaps in an indoor venue or right in the city heart at Kangaroo Point Cliffs. But rockclimbing might also become your addiction, leading you off to explore South East Queensland for the most vertical rockfaces.

Indoor rock climbing

No matter the weather, this is a winner. Large industrial type buildings house climbing walls to suit all skill levels.

Urban Climb

At Montague Road, West End, Urban Climb welcomes everyone to come and give climbing a go. There are huge walls of different shapes and sizes, suitable for various skill levels.

Rocksports

There are two Rocksports locations - Fortitude Valley and Shailer Park. The Valley’s walls go as high as 8 metres but at Logan you can climb up to 14 metres. Both venues offer dozens of climbs. It will cost approximately $20, with some equipment hire required.

They also offer birthday parties and corporate events, for something a bit different.

Anaconda

Anaconda stores (Everton Park, Morayfield, Logan) also have small rock climbing walls inside. Certainly a good way to amuse the kids while shopping. It costs $3 per climb and profits go to an environmental organisation.

Outdoor climbs

Pinnacle Sports

This large outdoor equipment store organises rockclimbing tours, locally around Australia and internationally. They have regular social climbs or you can sign up to learn how to rockclimb or abseil with adult and youth lessons.

This isn’t a place where you call in to do a casual climb, Pinnacle Sports doesn’t have its own rock climbing walls.

Riverlife Adventure Centre

Sign up to join a rockclimbing session with Riverlife, beside Kangaroo Point cliffs. Trained instructors are on site and it’s available to children 8 years and up. Riverlife also offers school holiday activities and group adventures.

Clubs

Brisbane Rockclimbing Club - This club arranges weekend trips, regular climbs and connects people interested in the sport. Welcomes new members.

University of Queensland Mountain Club

QUT Cliffhangers Rockclimbing Club - You don’t have to be a student to join.

Prime places to climb

• Kangaroo Point Cliffs in Brisbane’s CBD
• The Glasshouse Mountains, Sunshine Coast
• Tinbeerwah, Sunshine Coast
• Mt French, part of Moogerah Peaks National Park, near Boonah. Frog Buttress is the well-known climbing spot.
• Mt Barney

Beach fishing, game fishing, crabbing, freshwater fishing - no matter what type of fishing you love, there is somewhere near Brisbane for you to do it. Brisbane anglers have so many top fishing locations to choose from: including Moreton Bay, the Brisbane River, well-stocked dams and natural waterways.

There are dozens of active fishing groups in Brisbane and the surrounding areas. See the list of fishing clubs and groups and contact them to find out how you can get involved.

When fishing, make sure you know the law. Read the current rules about fish size and bag limits to protect this resource for the future. Take the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries' quick fish quiz to see how much you know.

Early risers who love to hear fishing tips and info can tune into fishing talkback with Nugget each Saturday and Sunday morning (5.00 - 6.00am) on radio station 4BC (1116 AM). Or take part in the very active online fishing forums on the fishnet website.

Don't forget to check our weather and tidal information before you cast a line.

Send us your fish (pictures)

We want you to show off your prized catch! Submit an image of you with a fish caught in the Brisbane area and check out our fishing image gallery.

Other useful fishing websites:

• Brisbane Fishing is an excellent, local site and home to the annual Brisbane River Classic fishing competition
• Brisbane-based fishing tackle company - Ausfish
• Coastwatch - regular fishing reports plus Moreton Bay and surf beach conditions
• Fishconnect.com.au - site managed by local angler Jay Perham featuring some great articles and photos
• Fishnet - everything about fishing and boating across Australia. This site has an incredible amount of information
• Fishing Monthly magazine, including Queensland Fishing Monthly

Post a report on your latest fishing trip in the greater Brisbane region.

Surfing

Brisbane proper isn't blessed with ideal surfing conditions, but what we are blessed with is an ideal climate and proximity to some of the great surf beaches in the world.

Before you start your journey up or down the coast, check out our links to daily surf forecasts, surf cams and information on some of the surfing hotspots in the region.

Sunshine Coast

Moffat Beach

90 kilometres north of Brisbane. Take the Caloundra Road exit off the Bruce Highway and follow the signs.

Popular with long-board riders, the headland at Moffat Beach is at its best with a strong south-easterly swell and a light westerly offshore wind. Such conditions will offer up a long, right-hand break that is among the best on the eastern seaboard.

Noosa National Park

140 kilometres north of Brisbane. Take the Sunshine Motorway exit off the Bruce Highway.

Noosa National Park is one of the most scenic (and most visited) parts of the known universe, with surfing conditions to suit beginners (First Point) to moderates (Tea Tree Bay and Granite Bay) and beyond (Johnsons).

In an ideal world you are hoping for a north-easterly swell and south-easterly offshore winds. Be prepared for a crowd when such conditions prevail.

The area between Granite Bay and Alexandria Bay is the beach of choice for local and international naturists. Consider yourself warned or informed.

And remember that you are visiting a National Park. Leave a tiny footprint, and leave the dog at home.

Gold Coast

Burleigh Heads

Just 90 kilometres south of Brisbane, and widely regarded as one of the most consistent point breaks in the region.

Burleigh Heads is a great option throughout the year but really hits its straps in winter. A south-easterly swell and an offshore southerly will have the locals licking their lips.

Currumbin Point (aka The Alley)

94 kilometres south of Brisbane. Parking is very convenient along Pacific Parade or inside the mouth of Currumbin Creek near the Volunteer Marine Rescue.

An exposed, consistent point break that fires off an easterly swell. Arguably the best winter waves in south-east Queensland.

Duranbah (aka D-bah)

120 kilometres south of Brisbane and on the border of New South Wales, Duranbah is home to 2007 World Surfing champion Mick Fanning. On a hot summer weekend it seems to be home to everyone who has ever owned a surfboard in their life.

Duranbah offers a strong wave in almost any conditions, but really picks up off a southerly swell.

Surf reports

Swellnet provides daily surf reports for the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast regions.

Surf cams

Coastalwatch has dozens of surf cams throughout south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.