The Family's Journey in Queensland: Brisbane Adventures

Well Monday was a huge day of adventure for us. We packed the car and headed south for a trip to 'The Big City'. Only 1 hr and we were in the heart of the Roma Street Gardens which is a bit like Honeysuckle/Carrington to Nobby's distance from the city and the River. The Roma Street Gardens are a newly established garden right in the centre with new buildings surrounding it with a train station. It occured to me when we started walking past the train station that i hadn't heard a train since October last year. Something so simple but it was nice to hear it again. We were armed with a simple sketch map of Brisbane City but somehow we managed to negotiate our way around just fine. We went through the Queen Street mall first but nothing was open as we had arrived too early for a Public Holiday. Nothing opens much before 10.30am in Qld. :-) We then wandered down to the river and walked and walked and walked and walked and walked (you get the idea) all around the river edge, past botanic gardens, mangrove walks, floating walkways and many other bits and pieces along the river. The temp was 33 deg and the humidity 82% so it was thirsty work. We had lunch in Fortitude Valley. A bit like a mini Kings Cross (what were we thinking) but the Indian Food we found for lunch was superb. Our sketch map then showed a short walk to Farmgate. WRONG!!!! another hour later and we were still nowhere near the river. Eventually we found it and decided that our feet were VERY tired so we'd catch the City Cat back up the River. I refused to sit down and just watch this beautiful river go by so still standing at the front of the Cat and loving it. Back to Southbank we went which was still a good 5klm+ back to the car. Oh well.

We had heard about the new DJ's store in Queen St Mall so we headed in and found it. It's official opening isn't for another 2 wks but it's unoffically opened now. It's the biggest in the southern hemispher apparently. i'd believe that. the lighting, the fitout and everything about the store is just perfect. but i wasn't up for shopping, just some R&R in their airconditioning.

We didn't see anything majorly gobsmacking but just the novalty of a new city was enough to excite us. i'm sure we'll have many adventures again in Brissy.

We did stop at the Brisbane City Museum which used to be a Customs House (I think) back when..... It has a huge pipe organ with 4747 pipes. How awesome that would be to hear. We've signed up to find out when that is happening.