This is the third in a three-part series on beating jet lag after a long flight to Australia. If you’re touching down in Sydney or Melbourne, read our tips for overcoming jet lag in Sydney or overcoming jet lag in Melbourne. This installment is all about beating jet lag after an arrival in Brisbane.

Beat jet lag on your next trip to Brisbane

You know the feeling. Sore, dry eyes, a dull headache, stiff joints and that disconcerting feeling that you might fall over at any stage. No, it’s not a hangover. It’s jet lag. No matter how much preparation you’ve done and how much water you guzzled on the flight, it’s pretty much impossible to avoid.

If you’re lucky enough to stagger off a long-haul flight in beautiful Brisbane, Australia, the last thing you want to do is waste time asleep in a hotel room while the sun shines on yet another glorious Queensland day.

In earlier posts about overcoming jet lag upon arrival in Australia’s two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, we’ve discussed some of the science of jet lag. In a nutshell, though, the remedies are simple: daylight, limited caffeine and alcohol and the right sort of food at the right time of day. Tick these boxes and you’ll beat the dreaded jet lag in no time.

Lucky you. Not only have you arrived in a great part of the world, you’ve also got plentiful access to all the things you need to get your lag licked.

First stop: breakfast. And protein is your friend, so maybe an Eggs Benedict with bacon at one of the many cafes along the busy Queen Street Mall in the centre of the city. Try to resist a coffee if you can. Grab a freshly squeezed juice instead.

Now comes the easy part. Sunlight. Whip that melatonin into line with a dose of vitamin D direct from the sun. Queensland isn’t known as the ‘Sunshine State’ for nothing: Brisbane boasts about 300 days of sunshine a year. The nicest place to soak up the rays is along the banks of the bendy Brisbane River. Whether it’s an easy stroll, an energetic jog (exercise is a great let lag buster) or a morning hopping on and off the regular – and cheap – City Cat ferries, it’s easy to get sun-kissed and see the sights at the same time. Combine river life with a meal on a daytime lunch cruise. And to get a bit closer to the sun, try climbing the Story Bridge for great views. Remember the sunscreen, though.

After a day on the town, you may want to get an early night. Don’t make it too early, but don’t stay out until dawn either. Wind up the day with some carbs – a great way to signal sleep time to your poor, tired, confused body. We love the noisy, relaxed nosh at Alto at the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm. Go for a tasty goat ragu, the seafood strozzapreti or something equally filling.

While alcohol does nothing to help jet lag (quite the opposite…), we’d understand if you indulge in a glass of wine over your meal. You’ll need to leave Brisbane’s surprisingly groovy James Street bar scene till tomorrow however. Jet lag and a hangover? Ergh.

-John Ryan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours and things to do in Brisbane, from dinner cruises to the Brisbane Story Bridge Climb.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 31st, 2008 at 12:52 am and is filed under Australia & Pacific, Destinations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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