After achieving remarkable success in the UK and US, the globally celebrated, multi-sensory immersive event, Lightscape, enters Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens.

This specially crafted immersive adventure guides you on a sensory voyage through realms of light, hues, and harmonies, unveiling the gardens in a way they have never been witnessed before.

Embark on a journey beneath luminous tree canopies brimming with vibrant shades. Wander beside immense blossoms and neon roots emerging energetically from the forest floor and meander amidst twinkling corridors of light or beneath towering poppies floating gracefully in the night sky.

• Dates: Thu 31 Aug 2023 to Sun 8 Oct 2023
• Bookings: Click here to book now

Image reference: brisbanefestival.com.au

Current IOC president Thomas Bach, made the announcement on Wednesday night, 21st of July. Brisbane were awarded the games after 80 members had voted, with 72 votes going towards Brisbane. This will now be Australia’s third Olympics and second Paralympics Games.

Between 6pm AEST 29 June 2021 to 6pm 2 July 2021, the government areas of Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast will only be allowed to leave their homes for select reasons.

Image ref: https://www.9news.com.au/national/coronavirus-qld-lockdown-restrictions-update-full-list-everything-you-can-cant-do-three-day-lockdown-explainer/e69b56b5-e3f9-4129-80a0-288372433d2c

Movement and gathering

You can only leave your home (which includes temporary accommodation such as a holiday rental) for essential purposes:

• obtain essential goods or services, including health care and COVID-19 vaccinations
• exercise outdoors
• attend essential work or childcare
• assist vulnerable persons

This means if you live in an impacted area you can only leave your residence to:

• shop for essentials foods and other necessary supplies – remember to check in using the Check in Qld app
• obtain medical or healthcare services
• get a COVID-19 test
• get a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination
• exercise outdoors
• perform work or volunteering or an essential business, activity or undertaking that cannot be done from your residence
• visit another residence (you are only allowed two visitors who do not normally live with you per day)
• visit a terminally ill relative
• attend a funeral or wedding
• provide assistance, care or support to an immediate family member
• attend any court or tribunal of Australia or to comply with or give effect to orders of the court or tribunal of Australia
• attend a childcare facility
• attend a school, university, or other educational institution, if teaching cannot be obtained from your residence
• assist with or participate in an investigation or other action by a law enforcement authority, whether voluntarily or not
• complete a shared parenting arrangement as long as this does not include contact with people who are vulnerable to COVID-19, for example someone aged over 70
• avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm, for example escaping risk of harm related to domestic and family violence or accessing support from a domestic and family violence support service
• comply with or give effect to the exercise of a power or function of a government agency or entity under a law
• if directed to leave by an emergency officer
• you have been granted an exemption by the Chief Health Officer.

You can travel outside of an impacted area for work that cannot be done from your home but not for volunteering. You can travel outside of an impacted area for any of the permitted purposes except for shopping, exercise, visiting another residence (except to provide care) or attending a wedding or funeral. You must continue to wear a face mask.

You can return to your home outside of an impacted area, but you must follow the same lockdown rules when you return home. Only leave your home for the permitted purposes and wear a mask when doing so.

If you live outside of an impacted area, you can enter an impacted area for any of the permitted purposes, except for volunteering, shopping, exercise or visiting another residence (except to provide care), or attending a wedding or funeral, and you must follow the lockdown rules in the impacted area such as wearing a face mask. You must continue to follow the lockdown rules when you return home.

You can also transit through an impacted area without stopping.

You can only have 2 visitors in your home per day – children are included in this number. This number does not include family or friends who might already be staying with you temporarily – for example, during the school holidays.

Wedding ceremonies may have a maximum of 10 people including the celebrant and two witnesses.

Funerals may have a maximum of 20 people attend excluding the person conducting the service.

Businesses and events

The following businesses and activities in the impacted areas must close during the lockdown period unless an exception applies:

• Retail food services including pubs, restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets except for takeaway and home delivery services
• Entertainment facilities such as theatres, cinemas, music halls and concert halls
• Major sports stadiums convention centres and showgrounds
• Indoor and outdoor events such as marathons, cultural festivals, fetes, expos
• Theme parks, outdoor amusement parks, tourism experiences and arcades
• Zoos, aquariums and wildlife centres, except to provide maintenance and care for animals
• Hairdressers
• Amusement centres such as places to play billiards, pool, pinball machines or video games
• Gyms, health clubs, fitness centres, yoga, barre, spin facilities and dance studios
• Indoor sporting centres and venues
• Public playgrounds, skateparks, BMX tracks and outside gyms including static exercise equipment in Council parks
• Public barbeques such as barbeques in public spaces or shared facilities
• Places of public worship, except for weddings and funerals in line with the person limits. Religious ceremonies may be livestreamed.
• Spas, nail salons, hairdressers, beauty salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, tattoo parlours, non-therapeutic massage and water-based spa services
• Massage parlours unless providing massage therapy for the management or prevention of disease, injury or condition by a registered health practitioner or qualified massage therapist
• Auction houses
• Betting agencies and gaming lounges
• Casinos, gaming or gambling venues, including wagering outlets that are accessible by members of the public
• Markets, except for food and farmers markets
• Galleries, museums and libraries
• Community facilities, such as community halls excluding the provision of hosting essential voluntary or public services such as foodbanks and homeless services
• Sex on premises services, sex services premises and strip clubs
• Public swimming pools (apartment/body corporate complex pools can stay open if they are only used by permanent residents)
• Nightclubs

Face masks

If you are:

• in an impacted area, or
• have been in a South East Queensland impacted area at any time since 1am AEST 29 June 2021, or
• the Townsville or Palm Island impacted areas at any time since 6pm AEST 29 June 2021

You must carry a face mask with you at all times. You must wear a face mask at all times when you are outside your home, unless:

• you are alone in your car or with the members of your household
• you are eating or drinking
• you are at your usual workplace and can physically distance from others (except if you work in a public-facing role in a hospitality venue or are a passenger transport operator)
• you are alone outdoors or exercising alone outdoors with members of your household. If you pass others, you must put on your mask
• it is unsafe.

There are some other exceptions to wearing face masks, including for children under 12 and people with particular medical conditions or disabilities. If in doubt, wear a face mask.