Prior to 1988, Brisbane was a fairly big city, the third largest, after Sydney and Melbourne, as it is now, but one event changed it from a laid back country town to a more cosmopolitan city. 1988 was the celebration of Australia's bicentennial. The world expo was looking for a host, and Australia was looking for something world stage for the big celebration, perfect match, but most expected Sydney or Melbourne to be the host city; however, Brisbane was ripe for development, and this was the perfect opportunity to give the city a make over, so they threw their hat in the ring and low and behold got it. With a 645 million dollar budget the event took place mostly in the South Bank area along the Brisbane river, was open for 6 months and attracted over 18 million visitors. Now 30 years later, the South Bank is still a welcoming leisure area with restaurants, a swimming pool with sand, pedestrian walkways and bridges and, you guessed it, a Ferris wheel. It is actual ready to revamp itself again with being the host of the 2032 Olympics. I suppose I will need to return.
I arrived into the city around 7pm and was very excited because my other set of cousins, Lynn and Sandra Brinnand, were picking me up for dinner. I was a little late and arrived to my hostel with Lynn waiting to pick me up. I threw my bag in my room, and we jumped in her car heading to South Bank for dinner. We chatted as we walked along the promenade. I couldn't believe it. It was 7 pm and there were people swimming in this gorgeous pool along side the river, but the crazy part is it had a sand beach. I have never seen that before. We met Lynn's sister, Sandra, outside the restaurant, and I had the most lovely time getting to know the other line of cousins we have in Australia. They are my second cousins once removed. Which means that my great granddad George and their granddad Harry were brothers. So cool. We got so lost in conversation we shut the restaurant down, then continued to walk along the river before we said our goodbyes. It was yet again so amazing to connect with family.
The next morning I got up and walked around Roma Street Parkland. What used to be an old railway yard was in 2000 turned into a world-class garden and luscious green space with over 100,000 shrubs, 1200 mature trees, 1800 unique species of plants, 250 different types of ferns, a man-made lake and annuals which make a painting like no other. I have said before, Australia knows how to do parks, and Roma Street Parklands is certainly no exception. I around for a while, absorbing the beautiful sunny day, birds chirping and beautiful scenery and then strolled and then had breakfast in The garden restaurant with this guy as my date.
Next I waited for my actual lunch date. This year was my first time at the Burning Man festival in Black Rock, Nevada, and one of my camp mates is from Brisbane. I didn't think I would get the chance to see world traveling Heath, but like a pinch hitter, he contacted me at the last minute and although he is an extremely busy man, carved out an afternoon for me. In true Heath fashion, as he arrived to pick me up from my hostel, slammed his dark green land rover in park on the side of the road, jumped out and met me in the middle of the crosswalk with a big bear hug. So good to see him.
He then took me to lunch just below the famed Story Bridge. Story Bridge is a heritage-listed steel cantilever bridge connecting the northern and southern neighborhoods of Brisbane and very impressive to look at. The restaurant we went to used in an area that was just fishing docks and warehouses, but as Brisbane does so well, the city took it to another level, and now it's a row of lively little restaurants and bars. We had a very enjoyable couple hours catching up, and then he drove me out to Lone Pine Sanctuary. He couldn't join me because, as I said, he is a busy man, but I am so grateful for the time we had.
Who can go to Australia and not see a koala or a kangaroo? Now, I did briefly get to see a kangaroo at the camel farm in Uluru, but a couple of sleepy guys in the back of a pen was not what I was after. I wanted to experience some Australian wildlife, and I think I picked the perfect spot to do it, Lone Pine Koala Santuary. Lone Pine was opened in 1927 by Queenslander, Claude Reid with just two Koalas, Jack and Jill. I knew this place was for me. At the time, koalas were being hunted for their fur and Claude wanted to do something to protect this iconic Australian animal. Now Lone Pine Koala Santuary is home to over 100 koalas and 75 other Australian native animals. It is accredited by the Zoo and Aquarium Association for positive animal welfare for its efforts in research and conservation, but the cool part of this sanctuary is the interaction you can have with the animals. You can get up close and personal with the Koalas, watch sheep dog herding demonstrations, dingo encounters and my favorite part.....feed the kangaroos. They have a big open field with two species of kangaroos, wallabies and emus just strolling around with you. You can buy some kangaroo food for a couple dollars and do what I did. Sit down and let them come to you.
The first kangaroo , who I named George, was a perfect gentleman. He politely ate the food I offered, posed for some photos, including selfies and did not over step his boundaries, unlike Frank. George and I were having a great ol' time doing our photo shoot when I felt something with claws on my back. I turned to see a much larger kangaroo looming over me, but I believe in sharing, so offered him some food as well, and when I didn't get it to him quick enough well....he felt me up. I was literally man handled by a kangaroo. Men are all alike.
After all the food was gone and Frank and George lost interest in me I continued to the other exhibits. I saw the platypus swimming around, a rouge cockatoo who was either wild and was interested in a caged cockatoo or had escaped, a kookaburra who I had to sing the Kookaburra song to, dingos, a very lazy lizard and many many more. All in a beautiful setting. I don't have much to compare, but if you find yourself in Brisbane, Lone Pine Koala Santuary is a must do.
The next morning I was catching the 11:40 am flight out to Cairns or so I thought (story coming in a minute) and spent the early morning converging with all the Brisbanites ( I don't think that is the right word, but I like it) on a mission to find the best breakfast spot in the CBD. I passed city hall, the Queensland street mall, and all sorts of beautifully decorated ally ways. I found it, but it wasn't easy. Brisbane is know for it's ally ways and little hideaway restaurants and bars; Mr Felix's goodness was one of those, but after some backtracking and asking around I found the little doorway with stairs leading up to a very cool little spot. I have to say, might be the best coffee I had so far on my trip which says a lot because Australians love their coffee. But I had a flight to catch, so after my very yummy omelette, I made my way back to the hostel to grab my luggage and head to the train station.
First problem. The machine for the ticket wouldn't accept my credit card after many attempts, so I had to find an actual person. There was a very friendly person in front of me telling the agent his life story as I patiently waited behind him, but I had a train to catch. Finally got my ticket and ran upstairs just as the train was departing, but they come every 15 minutes or so, so not overly worried. Except this time, the next train was not departing for another 27 minutes. Still not a problem; time will be tight, but the station is literally right outside the departure doors, so not worried. Then at the last stop before the airport, the train stops. Apparently there was someone on the tracks. Good reason to stop, but shoo them off and we should be on our way. Oh no, they had to call the police in, another 30 minutes pass. I will for sure miss the luggage cut off, but might be able to swing it if I get a friendly agent, but then when we do take off, I have no idea why, but the train crawls along. I could have walked faster. Now I know I'm missing my flight, so just go straight to the customer service line. The lady tells me there is another flight in a couple hours but will have to pay $150. Not horrible, but still sucks. She got busy with a couple that had to sit together and sent me over to another guy to get my new boarding pass and pay my fee. Just as he was about to swipe my credit card, I told him about the train. He hesitated, handed me back my card and said, "I can't charge you, here is your boarding pass, go have a nice lunch." 😁 So I did. See a smile and kindness goes a long way.
Love the Kookaburra and koalas. Now I have the song stuck in my head. So amazing you’re getting the opportunity to meet up with friends and distant family you’ve never met!!