Brisbane - Day 1

We took the bus from Castlemaine to the airport, and arrived in Brisbane late in the afternoon, where it was warm and sunny. We met Ian at the airport, as he’d been flying in from elsewhere in Queensland on important government business. We are staying with Ian for four days in Brisbane before heading further North to Palm Cove near Cairns.

On Friday, we headed into central Brisbane on foot, armed with a map book and a vague plan of where to go. Brisbane is built around the Brisbane River, and we are staying in an apartment overlooking the river on the North bank. We walked along the river, crossing at the Go Between bridge (named, apparently, after The Go-Betweens, a Brisbane band) before continuing our journey along the South Bank, through what is known as the Cultural Centre. No laughing at the back here, please.

Along the way we spotted a large lizard basking by the shore, and ibises stalking through the grass. At this stage we found this to be quite new and exciting.

Whatchew lookin' at?

We took in the Queensland Art Gallery and walked through the South Bank parklands, which are also home to the Street beach – a purpose-built swimming area by the side of the river with plenty of water features for the young at heart to run through, over, under and between.

An ibis appreciating modern art

We had a mini-adventure caused by finding a wallet lying about on a bench, so then had to locate a police station to hand it in so that it could find its way back to its owner. After that detour we continued along the South Bank, before re-crossing the river on the Goodwill bridge; then heading into the Botanic Gardens, which are enclosed by one of many sharp bends of the Brisbane river as it winds its way to the sea. The gardens contain a marker which showed how high the river has flooded over past years, most recently in January this year.

By this time we were feeling a bit peckish, but with no real guide to eating in the city we headed for the nearest halfway-decent looking place for lunch, where I was served a chilli pasta which was entirely bereft of chilli. Nicola had a melt which was accompanied by a “leaf” salad – an instruction the chef appeared to have taken literally.

In the afternoon, Nicola had an appointment in town, so after a quick trip to the tourist information centre in the middle of town, I went and explored the Eagle Street Pier and Riverside areas, whilst Nicola went to chat to talk to financial specialists about the problems of retirement savings. For more information on this, see elsewhere. I, meanwhile, consumed some of James Squire’s The Chancer golden ale at Groove Train.

When Nicola had finished we met up at the Pig and Whistle – someone’s idea of a “traditional English pub” which seemed to be a cross between a Wetherspoon’s and a country inn, but more the former. Why anyone would want to imitate this is a matter beyond my ken.

We got on a CityCat back home, which whisked us down the river in a manner reminiscent of the Thames Clippers we used to catch in London. Thus ended day one of our Brisbane adventure.