January, 2012
Day 1 The CBD
Even though Brisbane has been on our doorstep for quite a few years and we've been there many times for work, business and events, we had the pleasure to do some exploring and visiting parts of the this lovely city with our lovely tour guide and daughter, Jacque.
We abandoned the car travel and opted for a pleasant trip up the Brisbane River from New Farm to South Bank Parklands on the speedy City Cat. Nice to see this impressive city from a different perspective. After our day of walking, enjoying the sights and window shopping we did our daily exercise and walked from the CBD back to Teneriffe by the River Walk and through the streets of New Farm with its lovely heritage Queenslanders.
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| Catching the City Cat - a great way to get around Brisbane |
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The Storey Bridge is a quite distinctive cantilever bridge -
a Brisbane icon |
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Eagle Street Pier Wharf
In January 2011 the wharf sustained a moderate damage during the devastating floods;[1] it was repaired and reopened on 14 February 2011.
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The lovely stroll though the rainforest boardwalk was really appreciated -
it was a very hot day! |
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The Nepal Peace Pagoda
With its traditional architecture, art work and first level meditation area, it is a popular attraction. |
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The Wheel of Brisbane
It was erected at the parklands in August 2008 to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of World Expo 88 and 150th Anniversary of Queensland 1859-2009. The wheel carries 42 gondolas on a 15 minute ride which offers panoramic views of the South Bank Parklands, the Brisbane River and the City. |
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| The area is popular for relaxing and picnicking |
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Popular Street Beach and pool
Jac has a paddle to cool off! |
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| The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from the Rous Channel in Moreton Bay and every year the beach is topped up with an additional 70 tonnes to ensure that it is kept in pristine condition. Almost half of the lagoon area sits on reclaimed land that was once the Brisbane River. |
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The popular and busy Markets
The Young Designers Market is held on the first Sunday of every month (10:00am – 4:00pm), and features cutting edge garments and accessories from some of Brisbane's most talented young designers |
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| Enjoying lunch in the lovely gardens |
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The Grand Arbour consists of 443 curling steel columns covered in bouganvilleas which flower throughout the year. The arbour stretches for 1 km from Vulture Street to the Cultural Forecourt and functions as a pedestrian walkway.
Just beautiful!!! |
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| The lagoon pond covered in water lilies - a very tranquil and peaceful area of the parklands |
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| The huge fig tree - one of many - in the gardens |
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| The beautiful lawns and gardens |
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| The amazing Banyon Fig with its huge cluster of prop roots |
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| Jon Barlow Hudson's "Morning Star II" from Brisbane's hosting of World Expo 88 |
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| The sculpture mirrors the gardens and the city skyline - very effective! |
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Jac didn't hang around!
Don't think she wants it as a pet!!!! lol |
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| Think the Dragon is heading to the safety of the lovely water lily clad lagoon! |
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| The entrance gate to the Botanical Gardens |
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Under the Storey Bridge as we walked back to Teneriffe (6kms) along the River Walk
The path to the Brisbane Riverwalk starts at the ruggedly beautiful City Botanic Gardens and follows the river north - past skyscrapers, restaurants and city hotels. You will then find yourself on the floating RiverWalk (unfortunately washed away in the Jan 2011 floods BUt to be rebuilt!) which connects over 20 kilometres of walking paths, parks and bikeways along the Brisbane River. |
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| A stunning view of the "River City" at sunset |
Day 2 The Hinterland
We started the day with a walking tour along the Brisbane River to Newstead Park and House at Breakfast Creek - took in the history of the area -very interesting! With the exercise and history lesson done Jacque piled us into the car and we took off for Mt Coot-tha, the Brisbane Hinterland with its great viewpoints and lookouts and the lovely Samford Valley. A whole new experience for Peter and I - what a beautiful area hiding behind Brisbane!
Part 1 - our morning walk..........
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A good combination of exercise and sightseeing along the Riverwalk from Teneriffe to Newstead-
it was also a great history lesson!
A great way to start the day! |
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Someone was out on the river looking for Venice!
The gondolier had a nice voice! |
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The Riverwalk is very popular with local Brisbanites! -
lots of people and families walking, running and cycling at any time of the day! |
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| Click to enlarge |
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| Part of lovely Newstead Park on the fork of the Brisbane River and Breakfast creek |
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The garden at Newstead House has a beautiful garden with blooms that have
interesting historic significance |
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| Lovely architecture and manicured gardens |
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| Newstead House is Brisbane’s oldest surviving residence and is located on the Breakfast Creek bank of the Brisbane River, in the northern Brisbane suburb of Newstead, in Queensland, Australia.[1] Built as a small cottage in the Colonial-Georgian style in 1846, the cottage was extended and today is painted and furnished in a late Victorian style. |
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| The Cruise terminal at Hamilton on the Brisbane River |
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The Australian American War Memorial, Newstead Park
Opposing the Japanese Navy in the Coral Sea was an Allied force of American and Australian ships. The assistance of the Americans in this battle has never been forgotten. In 1951, the Australian-American Association erected the first American war memorial in Australia at Newstead Park (the grounds that surround Newstead House, which was occupied by American forces during WWII).
Your Brisbane: Past and Present: May 2011
Scroll through |
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This area at Newstead has been very busy historically!
John Oxley, Surveyor-General of NSW sailed up the Brisbane River in december 1823 and
proposed a settlement adjacent to the deep water anchorage at the mouth of Breakfast Creek. |
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New Farm, Teneriffe and Newstead have lovely tempting restaurants and cafes.
Popular "Eves" is along the Riverwalk |
Part 2 - our Sunday drive..........................
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Mount Coot-tha or One Tree Hill?
"Ku-ta" is the honey of the stingless native bee and was collected here by the indigenous people
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| Gold was mined here |
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| Great bushwalking tracks and picnic areas in th forest |
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| The restaurant and cafe are very popular - why would't it be with the awesome view! |
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Brisbane's history is outlined
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| The Brisbane Planetarium |
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The artistic symbolism of the paving |
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| Enjoying a coffee, a chat and the fantastic view before heading off to the other great lookouts and view points around Brisbane's hinterland! |
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| McAfees lookout looks across to Moreton Bay |
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| The lovely Australian bush - a sensory experience! |
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| Next - Jolly's lookout - oh what a view!! |
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We followed the ridge along - the red dots indicate he view points and lookouts
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| Amazing view down into the beautiful Samford Valley |
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Mt Nebo, Mt D'Aguilar, Mt Samson and Mt O'Reilly form a striking
backdrop to the valley |
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| Nice picnic areas with great views |
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An interesting interpretive display at Westridge lookout -
"the forest is like a play at the theatre......"
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I like this - "In this theatre the stage is everything - without it, there is no show."
So true - the environment is all important! |
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| The floor of the bush is carpeted with lovely grass trees |
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This forest provided everything for the Jinibara people. |
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| Relics of the timber cutters scattered on the forest floor |
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How nice is the little town of Samford in the Samford Valley
The pub was very popular for a Sunday lunch! |
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Interesting name!
Of course - get inside the cafe and you realise it once was a church!
Still has the beautiful stained glass windows! |
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Stood where the pub is today
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| Samford proudly keeps its historical character! |
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We got caught in that storm that is approaching! It was the start of the big wet
that has troubled us this past week! |
Great weekend Jac - thankyou!
