Tag Archives: Brisbane River

Exploring Brisbane on foot

08 Monday Jun 2020

Posted by in Brisbane on Foot, Queensland

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This is another post from my archives. Exploring Brisbane on foot was such a wonderful experience I am sharing it again.

After over 20 years of living in Brisbane I thought it was time that I learned some more about my city. Although I have been in to the city many times I have never actually taken the time to explore it.

So, I booked a tour with Brisbane Greeters.  It was by accident that I recently learnt of this wonderful program here in Brisbane.  I contacted them and organized to do a walking tour of Brisbane precinct. I met with my guide Bruce, at King George Square outside Brisbane city hall.  I was excited to do this tour however I was not prepared for how good it was.

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Lucky me, I was the only “tourist” for this guided tour of our city. We started our tour in the square discussing Bruce’s plans for the tour. He made some suggestions and then with my input he customised the tour to fully suit me. Bruce gave me a brief overview of the history of Brisbane before we headed off.

We started our tour in the City Hall.  City Hall is considered to be one of Brisbane’s finest buildings. The building has been used for royal receptions, pageants, orchestral concerts, civic greetings, flower shows, school graduations and political meetings.

City Hall does offer its own guided tours of this lovely building so my visit with Bruce was certainly enough to whet my appetite to return one day for a tour.  In the meantime, from Bruce, I learned that the white marble staircase in the entrance is made using marble from Carrara in Italy, the bell tower was inspired by St Mark’s in Venice and the dome was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

From the city hall we walked over to the Brisbane Arcade which is a heritage listed shopping arcade and was built in 1923. Definitely one of if not the nicest shopping arcade in Brisbane consisting of beautifully designed shops offering high-end jewellery, clothing, antiques and much more.

Our tour continued up Queen St to North Quay to the heritage listed Treasury building, which now houses Brisbane’s Casino.

The tour included many of Brisbane’s original buildings – the commissary which is home to the Royal Historical Society of Brisbane, and  Old Government house which is located on the grounds of Queensland University of Technology at Gardens Point.

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The QUT campus is home to public arts venues, museums, top fitness facilities, and our state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Centre.

We stopped at the Pantry café on campus for our well-earned lunch and coffee.  After our small rest we headed off through the botanical gardens which is on the river and which Qut is attached to.

We had many stops along the way to our destination of St Stephens Cathedral the heritage listed cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the city of Brisbane.

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I learned from Bruce that part of the stone used in the construction of this magnificent building was taken from Kangaroo point just across the river.

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Kangaroo Point

Bruce’s wealth of information was fantastic. He is very passionate about Brisbane and was so informative the entire time.

I have been on many walking tours around the world but this would definitely be the best guided walking tour I have ever done, and, it was free. Bruce informed me that there are many cities around the world offering this personalized free service.

I later googled Greeters Organisation and discovered there are in excess of 90 cities world-wide offering this fabulous service including several cities in Italy.

Vibrant Setting on the Brisbane River.

30 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Eagle Street Pier/Riverside, Brisbane.

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After arriving and exploring Southbank Parklands we then took the city catamaran across the Brisbane River to Eagle Street Pier/Riverside which is only a few minutes ride.

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Eagle Street Pier is an iconic waterfront precinct with world-class dining venues and unrivaled views of the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge. It is firmly established as one of Brisbane’s favourite food and entertainment destinations with a marvelous variety of eateries. Eagle Street Pier also is the perfect place to meet for drinks or cocktails and is also an ideal place to head for lunch or dinner, thanks to the many cafes and espresso bars

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I have been going to Riverside/Eagle Street Pier for many years and although there are dozens of wonderful places to dine I have chosen George’s Seafood the most. It is a lovely restaurant with fabulous views of the River and the Story bridge, that I am always proud to take my international visitors to

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On the edge of the city center, Eagle Street Pier is a great place to be day or night. During the day you can sit and enjoy the river and people watching and by night the lights from the buildings and the Story Bridge are dazzling.

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One of the best Information Centres is at Eagle Street Pier, where the staff are more than helpful and you can get free brochures, timetables and other information. From here you can choose your direction of travel either upstream or downstream from here, with City Cats arriving/departing every 15 minutes carrying commuters and tourists from around the world by day and night. Riverside centre is also the place to see the famous ‘Kookaburra Queen’ paddle steamers which offer morning tea, lunch and dinner cruises. This is another wonderful experience that I have shared many times with my overseas visitors.

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This vibrant exciting precinct is a fantastic place to visit at any time of the day or night.

 

 

Beach Paradise in the City – Southbank Parklands.

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

Posted by in Southbank Parklands, Brisbane, Qld

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On this beautiful sunny winters day I took the bus from my home in to Southbank Parklands. It is easy enough for me to drive and only takes about 20 minutes but arriving by bus is so stress free for me. I can enjoy a glass of wine with my lunch and not worry about driving. Southbank is easy to get to regardless of your mode of transport. There is always lots of parking if you choose to drive or if you take public transport there is the choice of arriving by train, bus, and ferry or city cat.

South Bank Parklands is Brisbane’s premier lifestyle and cultural destination. Located on the southern banks of the Brisbane River, its 17 hectares of lush parklands, offers world-class eateries, stunning river views and hundreds of delightful events all year

Southbank Parklands is one of my favourite places to take my visitors to explore, swim, dine, and stroll along the river front with Brisbane cityscape backdrops. We go on the Wheel of Brisbane to get an overview of the River, Parklands and Brisbane City

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South Bank is a wonderful public space that was developed after World Expo 88, a place well loved by locals and visitors alike which symbolises the Queensland life style. This relaxing oasis in the middle of the city offers a wonderful man-made beach with crystal clean water and shady park lands that meander through entertainment hubs, restaurants and pubs. Here you will find plenty of picnic and bbq areas, eateries and toilets. South Bank is accessible by two bridges.

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You can walk across the pedestrian bridge from the Botanical Gardens to South Bank or you can walk across the Victoria Bridge. There is also a free city ferry, the city hopper, that will take you from Queen Street or Eagle Street Pier to South Bank. Also, from Southbank, QPAC, is easily accessed. QPAC, Queensland Performing Arts Centre is one of Australia’s leading centres for live performance, including ballet, musicals, stage shows, and opera. We often enjoy dinner or lunch at one of the many restaurants in the area before attending a show at QPAC.

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City Hopper – free ferry

Apart from the stunning views of the city and the river this venue offers something for everyone, swimming at the beach, bike and scooter riding, many restaurants, a gorgeous bougainvillea covered archway, market gardens that are tended by volunteers or just strolling around taking it all in. It is a wonderful place to just sit and people watch.

There are many fabulous ways to spend a day out in Brisbane; Southbank is on the top of my fabulous list. It is a fun, easy and inexpensive way to spend a day in Brisbane.

Christmas in Brisbane 2018

20 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Christmas in Brisbane 2018

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Our annual visit in to Brisbane city at Christmas time has become a very fine tradition.

Once again we took the bus in to Southbank and then rode the city cat down the Brisbane River towards the mouth. We alighted at Teneriffe where we stopped at one of the many popular cafes for dinner.

Once it was dark, we were back on to the city cat and we travelled back up the river to enjoy the city lights and the Christmas lights on the many bridges. My favourite is always the iconic Story Bridge however this year, it was one colour only, Red. I guess if you are to choose a single colour for Christmas, red is a pretty good choice.

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We left the city cat at North Quay and walked through the city taking in all the magic of the Christmas lights displays, till we finally arrived at King George Square where our Brisbane City Hall is and Brisbane’s towering 20m tall Christmas tree

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With its enchanting narrative and creative flair, The City Hall Lights has fast become a highlight of the festive season. We watched a playful Aussie Christmas tale with an international flair come to life via animation onto City Hall. This 15-minute, custom-designed Christmas story is projected onto City Hall nightly from 7.30pm until midnight from 7-24 December.

2 nights later we took the train in to Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane city to spend the evening at the Enchanted Gardens for the ultimate Christmas light experience.

Commencing near ‘Queensland Greats’, we wandered through shimmering gardens, delicately-lit weeping figs, twinkling rainforest, and to a tranquil lake where we enjoyed a light dinner from one of the many food truck eats.

The Enchanted Garden’s beautiful plants are delicate, so we were asked to keep to the paths and refrain from touching while we enjoyed the beautiful displays. The planning of it was so well done making it so easy for us to experience and enjoy it all.

There were many special points throughout the garden for us to take photos.

It was Truly a Magical Evening.

I would like to wish you and your family a magical and blissful festive season. Have a happy Christmas and a wonderful 2019, from Lyn, in Brisbane Australia.

Stunningly Beautiful on a Perfect Winters Day

06 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by in Brisbane City Botanical Gardens, Queensland

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I have been coming here to these gardens for a number of years. When I lived closer to the city we would ride our bikes in to the Botanical gardens and stop for Devonshire tea at the garden cafe.

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This time, with my friends visiting, we took the bus to Southbank where we hopped on to a city cat to go across the Brisbane river to these lovely gardens, arriving via QUT.

The City Botanic Gardens, which is Brisbane Citys oldest park, was originally planted by convicts in 1825 with food crops to feed the prison colony. These gardens include ancient trees, rainforest glades and exotic species. They run the full length of Alice Street, bordered by Parliament House on the one side and the Brisbane River’s northern banks on the other. Where the park borders the Brisbane river there is a wide tree lined path, which offers a pleasant walk by day or evening, and from here there are views of the many yachts at anchor and in the distance the iconic Story Bridge.

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In the park there is so much space that even when the park is busy you don’t feel overcrowded. There are many walkways which are wide enough to allow for both bicycle and foot traffic to share.

The gardens are an absolutely wonderful display of the most beautiful delights anyone could wish for. A large expansive area is set out beautifully with lots of grassy areas to relax in. The flower displays are truly delightful. The gardens are beautifully maintained and you really can get amongst the shrubs and giant trees. There are several large camphor laurel trees which are fantastic for climbing. The pond serves as a brilliant focal point that is teaming with wildlife including many species of birds, lizards (water dragons) and turtles.

There are several options of cafes to stop for coffee or lunch. We chose to have lunch in The Pantry located at QUT at Gardens point and within the grounds of the Iconic Old Government House. This small cafe offers a great selection of simple morning tea and lunch items, wonderful coffee and an interesting atmosphere.

There are free guided walks available from Monday to Saturdays from approximately 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. (excluding public holidays). These walks which last approximately one hour are led by experienced, friendly Volunteer Guides. Just meet at the Rotunda near the Alice Street Main Entrance.

This is a brilliant place to visit with the family. You can wander through the gardens or walk along the river bank all the way to the bridge over to Southbank.

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One of the many beautiful camphor laurel trees

A Great Night out at Eat Street Markets – Brisbane.

24 Saturday Mar 2018

Posted by in Eat Street Markets Brisbane

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It is 4 years since I last visited the Eat Street Markets. I said that I would be back, but I had no idea that it would take me so long to return. I don’t even know why it took me so long because the markets are extraordinary.

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This time we arrived by city cat. City Cat is the Brisbane river transport system with terminals stretching from The University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton. It was then only a short walk from the Northshore ferry terminal to the markets.

Travelling on the City Cat anywhere on the Brisbane river is an absolute delight, both in the daytime and very special at night when you see the abundance of lights along the river banks and illuminating the many bridges.

The first time I went to Eat Street Markets, although we arrived quite early, parking was difficult. However, this time, we arrived about 6pm and there were still hundreds of free parking stalls. But, when we left around 9, there were long lines of cars waiting to come in with traffic controllers directing the traffic. The first visit to Eat Street Markets.

The Eat Street Markets have moved location since the last time I visited and it was definitely for the better. They were originally near Portside where the cruise liner terminal is, and now they are further down the river in Northshore Hamilton.

 

There is nothing like Eat Street Northshore anywhere in the world. It is a special one of a kind experience. Priceless city & river views saturate & surround the 180 dining and entertainment shipping containers that add a blazing coloured landmark to Brisbane.

At soon as you walk through the gates in to the area you are hit with the exciting vibe of the place, with its millions of lights, beautiful stalls, people having fun and amazing aromas coming from the many food stalls.

 

There were so many choices of places to eat it was hard to decide. We initially walked around the entire area making mental note of what we thought we wanted to try. We stopped at one of the bars by the river and enjoyed a glass of wine and thought about what we would have for dinner. Then it was deciding time which was hard. But we did decide and we enjoyed the dinner. We each chose differently, my choice was Japanese however we all agreed on the same for dessert. Gelato.

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With over 70 vendors creating delicious dishes from all over the world you are sure to find something absolutely scrumptious.

Live entertainment fills the markets; Solo performers and bands are positioned throughout Eat Street so you’re never far from music. After dinner we stopped by several of the entertainment areas and sat in comfy chairs to watch the performances.

 

Eat Street Markets is open every weekend of the year. Fri and Sat 4pm to 10pm and
Sunday 12 noon to 8pm. Entry fee is $2.50 – 12 years and older.

If you live in Brisbane or visiting at any time, stop by for a visit, you won’t be disappointed.

Christmas 2017 in Australia.

17 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Christmas 2017 in Brisbane

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We took the City Catamaran Ferry from Southbank Parklands down the river towards the mouth of the river. It is always a great way to see our city.  Being out on this river feels like being in Fairyland, it is so enchanting.  As day turned in to evening, it was magic riding down the Brisbane River watching the city lights and bridge lights come on and the changes in the vistas.

There are many interesting stops along the way where you can get off.  We finally chose Bulimba to disembark where we stayed for dinner at a great Italian restaurant which is situated right at the pier on the river. Yes, we all enjoyed a glass of Italiano Vino with our dinner.

Riding back up the river towards the city centre was just so good as it was now dark and the Christmas lights were twinkling from both sides of the river.

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Brisbane’s iconic landmark the Story Bridge was illuminated with beautiful Christmas coloured lights which changed slowly.  Brisbane’s Story Bridge is lovely at any time of the year but especially so at Christmas.

 

Riding on a catamaran down the Brisbane River has now become one of my favourite fun things to do at Christmas time.  It was a very warm night so standing out on the front deck of the river cat in the cool breeze was such a pleasure. I am sure that no matter what your age is, you would enjoy it.

We arrived back in to the city centre and disembarked at North Quay. We walked the short distance through Queen Street Mall passing the beautiful Christmas-scene shop windows  to City Hall in King George Square.

The Christmas lights and show at City Hall were spectacular and would suit all ages. The show runs every 15 minutes from 7.30pm till Midnight. Such an amazing night out as it is so easy to get caught up in the excitement and happiness.

 

 

                I wish you and your loved ones a Happy Christmas and a safe and healthy 2018.      May your year be full of surprises and  all your wishes come true. 

Thank you all for your support this past year. 

christmas beach

Purple Season in Brisbane

03 Friday Nov 2017

Posted by in Australia, Purple Season in Brisbane, Queensland

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It is purple season in SE Qld. In mid spring each year the jacaranda trees around Brisbane start to bloom. I usually think of Jacaranda trees showing off their full fabulous purple colour in November however some years they start blooming in October which was the case this year. It really depends on how cold winter was. This mass of colour in our parks and lining our streets usually lasts about 6 weeks.

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Although these trees look very much at home here in the sub tropics they were actually introduced to Australia from Brazil in the 1850’s.

Just a couple of kilometres from Brisbane city centre, situated on the Brisbane River is the leafy suburb of Yeronga. This is where we chose to go for our walk this morning and this is the spectacular sights we experienced.

Here are some of my snap shots taken this morning.  Enjoy.

 

Jacaranda Trees
Jacaranda Trees
Jacaranda Trees on Brisbane River
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Jacaranda Trees
Jacaranda Trees
Jacaranda Trees

 

Also in Yeronga, not far from the river,  is the local park called Jacaranda Park, yes that’s right, Jacaranda Park –  with its purple sun shade.

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Jacaranda Park with purple sun shade

 

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Jacaranda Trees

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Jacaranda Trees

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Jacaranda Trees

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Jacaranda Trees

There are many spots around Brisbane with Jacaranda trees. If you live here and you have the time, I recommend take a drive around the suburbs and feast your eyes on some magnificent displays. You will find the trees on the north and south sides, in the parks, lining suburban streets, and even along our bus ways.

My Home – Brisbane

16 Wednesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Brisbane, Early Morning on the Brisbane River, Queensland

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Sometimes we forget what we have in our own backyards.  I am always reminded of what a beautiful place I live in whenever I have visitors as I am “showing off” my home city.

However, on Sunday morning while I was driving to church which is in New Farm, I decided to stop and take a walk along the River Terrace overlooking the river.  It was a perfect winter’s morning.  It was about 8C degrees which then warmed up to about 26C.  Yes perfect, but probably too warm for winter.

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Brisbane, which is the capital of the state of Queensland, has a population of 2.4 million and is in north east Australia.   It is the gateway to the famous Gold Coast which is only an hour drive south and also to the Sunshine coast which is north.  Brisbane has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and dry moderately warm winters. A typical winter’s day would rarely fall below 20C, however our nights can be very cold.

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Brisbane River

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Brisbane River

Brisbane River

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As I wondered on the walkway along the top of the cliffs in an area known as Kangaroo Point I took these photos.  Kangaroo Point is on the south side of the Brisbane River looking towards the city and central business district.

This is a beautiful location with so many things you can do.  You can walk or ride a bike from Southbank across the river, you can go up and down the steep stairs for exercise, you can have a picnic or BBQ next to the river or on top of the cliffs, using the free gas bbq’s and picnic tables and chairs, you can rock-climb outdoors, kayak, abseil, roller-blade and more. Daytime or nighttime are both beautiful here with the city lights or sun.

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After your walk, if you feel like stopping for a coffee or refreshments, there is a great Café  with these stunning views overlooking the river and Brisbane city.

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Probably the best view of  Brisbane city.  It’s so easy to access, by bus, river cat, ferry or car.

Christmas in Brisbane

21 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by in Australia, Christmas in Brisbane

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After living in Brisbane for many years, I finally went it in to the city to see the Christmas lights, in particular the City Hall Lights Spectacular.

We took the City Cat Ferry from Southbank Parklands down the river towards the mouth of the river. What a great way to see the city. As day turned in to evening, it was magic riding down the Brisbane River watching the city lights and bridge lights come on and the changes in the vistas.

The Christmas coloured lights on the Story Bridge were amazing

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There was plenty of room on board the CityCat either inside or outside, up the front or out the back. We leisurely cruised zig zagging across the river with a few stops on the way, dropping off and picking up other passengers.

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There are many interesting stops along the way where you can get off.  We finally chose Bretts Wharf to disembark and then we took another CityCat back up the river, where we finally disembarked at North Quay in the CBD.

I absolutely loved getting on the City Cat close to dusk and riding it up the Brisbane River.  The CityCat Ferry is the ideal way to see Brisbane. Cheap, Clean, Comfortable and Fast. A must do if you are visiting Brisbane.

 

After stopping for dinner, we then made our way to City Hall in King George Square. We walked through the Queen Street Mall to see the beautiful shop windows decorated with Christmas scenes.

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King George Square -Daytime

Finally, we arrived at the City Hall Christmas lights display. The Light Spectacular features an exquisite, animated Christmas story.  This year’s story is a playful, Aussie take on The Night Before Christmas. Set in a suburban backyard during a hot, Brisbane summer, it’s bursting with whimsical adventure, cuddly creatures and plenty of fun. City Hall’s clock tower sounds nightly to signal the start of each show.

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The light show is quite short, about 10 minutes,  so we stayed and enjoyed it several times.  It was a wonderful festive atmosphere and not very crowded at all.

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Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful festive season. Thank you for all your comments, and likes and support over the past 12 months.

Buon Natale