Tripping around Brisbane

Feb. 25 Last night we arrived at our new hotel…The Explorers Inn….the room is very small…like a room on a cruise ship only not as luxurious. A bunk bed, a single bed, a desk, a bar fridge, a TV, an air conditioner (that turns on when you slide your key card in a slot above the main light switch) and a very small bathroom all in about 100 square feet…..clean, cheap and in the centre of downtown.

As we have only frosted windows in our tiny abode, we weren’t sure what the weather would be and relied on the TV prediction that sunshine was the order of the day. Dressed appropriately, we waited outside the hotel at 8:15 for Natalie (Carol’s friend) to fetch us for a tour of the city suburbs. She was very prompt through the rush hour traffic and we set of for Mount Cootha for a panoramic view of Brisbane and its surrounds. Natalie provided an excellent commentary of the areas, history and personal accounts of the areas we drove through. From the terrace house that her Grandparents occupied, to the largest cemetery we have ever seen, through the botanical gardens we wound our way to the Mountain. The lookout could be compared to going up SFU for a view of the city. The view accentuated the fact that Brisbane is a city of hills and vales thus showing the areas that were so vulnerable to flooding.
After descending from Mount Cootha, we stopped by the river to allow Natalie to make a phone call while we explored the rivers edge. We were standing about 4 feet above the river at that point and the flooding a couple of weeks before had gone up to the second story of a building across the street from us. Unbelieveable!! Yet, one would not have known that any flooding had taken place in the area, except for the fact people were having repairs done to their homes.

The next stop was a quilt shop where more Australiana fabric was found and purchased. Then it was off to the opposite side of town to view Brisbane from Mount Gravatt. Again, an amazing view right to Moreton Bay. A delightful kiosk provided the opportunity to have lunch whilst viewing the city. Down from this mountain and back into the city to see a few of the historical buildings still remaining. Natalie dropped us off at our hotel about 1pm. We had a short rest before setting off again.

Our first stop was the information kiosk in Queen St. Mall. Here we were able to book our bus to Coolangatta on Sunday morning and a cruise tour on the river to Lone Pine Sanctuary for tomorrow where Pam hopes to get her photo with a koala. That done, we checked out the docking area for tomorrow morning, then took the free city loop bus. We were disappointed as there was no commentary on this bus as there had been in Melbourne. A stroll down the mall led us to souvenir shops and a dinner stop. From here, we picked up some groceries for lunches and our timtams, chips and wine for the evenings.

Feb. 25  River Cruise to the Lone Pine Sanctuary

Great day cruising up the Brisbane River....sunny and a cool breeze.  Interesting seeing the city from another view and saw some of the destruction from the floods a few weeks ago. 

Cross this off the bucket list!