Brisbane is a sunny, outdoor city, replete with many parks, gardens and modern attractions. The South Bank, commissioned for World Expo 88, includes parklands, riverside walks, shops, and a sandy beach with fresh water pool. The Queensland Cultural Centre, including the Queensland Art Gallery, is also nearby, as is the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art, displaying exhibitions by indigenous Australians and South Pacific Islanders. The Brisbane CBD is home to many historic buildings, the Queen Street Mall, plus great shopping and dining venues. For those with a little more time on their hands, the famous surf beaches of the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise are a short one hour drive away.