By Susan Turnbull
Susan is a nurse and member of the Oceania Chapter living in Brisbane, Australia.
Brisbane is not only a hub with direct flights to the Indo-Pacific, but a sunny, laid-back, friendly city that offers urban charm. Most long-haul flights arrive in Brisbane in the early hours of the morning. Fear not, Brisbane is an early-rising city with a proud coffee culture — coffee shops like Bare Bones, Fonzie Abbott, and Campos will be open. Coffee Anthology was recently named the 8th best coffee shop in the world. A breakfast favourite is avocado toast or “smashed av.”
Free walking tours usually start at 9:30 or 10 a.m. Brisbane Greeters is a great site to book through. After your walking tour is complete, head up to the Star Casino complex, Queens Wharf to the Sky Deck (free, opens 6:30 am) for views. Then descend and cross the Neville Bonner walking bridge to the South Bank.
In South Bank, you will find the Queensland Museum, art galleries, markets (5 p.m. Friday to 4 p.m. Sunday), Streets Beach and plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from. Take a City Cat ferry to Felons Howard Smith Wharves — a massive bar and restaurant complex. Sit back and enjoy a drink as the sun goes down over our beautiful river city.
For dinner, consider the iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel for a steak and “beer on wood.” It has a classic old bar interior and some history of Brisbane. It still serves XXXX (four-ex), the original Brisbane beer, out of an old wooden keg. Alternatively, James Street precinct offers sophisticated restaurants and bars where bookings are essential.
The next morning, walk along the river, through the botanical gardens to New Farm Park, do not miss this in jacaranda season (mid-October to mid-November). If you are out of energy, catch a ferry back.
With more time, visit Lone Pine Sanctuary (get there early when the kangaroos are most active) and Tangalooma on Moreton Island to swim with the dolphins, snorkel the wrecks or sandboard the world’s tallest coastal dunes. Take a whale watching cruise ( June to October), or climb the Story Bridge. Beer lovers can explore the microbreweries or head out to the beachside town of Redcliffe, where the Bee Gees went to school and first performed.
All public transport (except for the airport train) is 50 cents. Ferries, buses and trains can take you all the way to the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast for 50 cents! You can purchase a go card or tap your credit card on and off.
