Stephens Family Vacation - Australia 2025
| Category | Type | Name/Conf/Description | Notes | Cost | Origin | Destination | Kms | To Date | Total |
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| 2025-04-10: Research and Links | |||||||||
| Tip | General Info | RJ Australian Phone # +61-478-184-375 | 0 | ||||||
| Tip | Reminder | Phone mom at hospital 1-403-343-4422\n Ask for Unit 33 | 0 | ||||||
| Tip | Travel Resource | Queensland Rail - AU Pass Queensland Rail seems to have a 1-way rail pass from Cairns to Brisbane for $209ea. | 0 | ||||||
| Tip | Travel Resource | Queensland Rail - Booking Queensland Rail seems to have a 1-way rail pass from Cairns to Brisbane for $209ea. | 0 | ||||||
| Tip | Travel Resource | Queensland Rail Map | 0 | ||||||
| 2025-04-11: Leave Edmonton | |||||||||
| Travel | Flight | Flights to Cairns | Booking: 2N7PN9 20:40-21:22. AC 251. YEG-YVR (15B&C) 23:15-07:00 (Sunday). AC 35. YVR-BNE (26E&G) 09:40-12:05. QF 708. BNE-CNS | 4892.74 | Edmonton | Cairns, Australia | |||
| Travel | Vehicle | Nancy drive us to airport | 17:00 | 0 | Home | YEG | |||
| 2025-04-12: Travel Day | |||||||||
Note: An uneventful, albeit lonnnnnnnng, ride over the Pacific and now we wait for our connecting flight to Cairns.
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| 2025-04-13: Palm Cove with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove | +61 7 4055 3999 | 1347.42 | Palm Cove Australia | ||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Palm Cove is a tourist oriented, beach town - just north of Cairns. | Palm Cove is newly developed cluster of hotels, modern apartments and restaurants, on the beach about 30 minutes drive north of Cairns, set on a sandy beach. It could almost be seen as the northern limit of suburban Cairns. It avoids the crowds and some higher-density development that is Port Douglas, its northern neighbour. From Cairns it is a half hour taxi ride to Palm Cove. The Cairns local bus service runs to the town surprisingly frequently, every half an hour or so. Palm Cove is easy to walk around. There is a walking/cycling track to Clifton Beach that will take around half an hour. Ignore the nice \"rainforest walk\" map distributed around town, which is a 20 metre walk designed to take you to the newer apartment developments. Head the opposite direction, south, along the beach for much better bush, beach, and walking opportunities. Supermarkets in Palm Cove are small and expensive. Souvenir shops abound. Neighbouring Clifton Beach offers non-tourist oriented shops and prices. Palm Cove lines the beach, with wide choice of dining. Go for a wander and take your pick, even in high season you are unlikely to miss out on a table. If you are on a budget, there are a few take-away and cheaper choices as well. Pete's Place, 73 Williams Espl, ? +61 7 4055 3088. 6:30AM–7:30PM. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Palm Cove Jetty | The Palm Cove Jetty was originally built as a departure platform for Great Barrier Reef snorkelling tours. The government hoped it would become an alternative launching point for visitors staying in Palm Cove so they didn't have to travel to Cairns or Port Douglas to go out to the reef. However, the constant southeast swells battering against the jetty has forced the cruise companies to change their plans and offer bus transfers for Great Barrier Reef Cruises rather than Palm Cove Jetty transfers. Locals quickly took advantage of the long jetty that rarely had vessels tied to it and used the jetty as a prime fishing platform. Local politicians jokingly described the jetty as the most expensive fishing platform in the world! The main function of the Palm Cove Jetty is still for fishing. On any day, at any time, you can find Cairns locals casting a line into the deep blue waters trying to catch Spanish and School Mackerel, small stripeys, grunter and whiting. Fish weighing over 50lbs have been caught from the jetty. Other than fishing from Palm Cove jetty, the best way to go fishing from Palm Cove is to charter a boat from Cairns or Port Douglas and head out to the outer Great Barrier Reef and enjoy a fishing adventure of a lifetime. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Kuranda Scenic Railway | The Kuranda Scenic Railway, also operated by Queensland Rail, runs from Cairns to Kuranda, stopping over the majestic Barron Gorge to allow passengers to leave the train and enjoy the beautiful view over the water. Trains depart Cairns at 8:30AM and 9:30AM daily arriving at Kuranda at 10:15AM and 11:15AM. Catch the bus back to Cairns and then catch the train from Cairns. https://www.ksr.com.au/stations/pages/cairns.aspx You may have to make an early start from Palm Cove. When you have come back down to Smithfield after a day at Kuranda, it is a short 11km back to PC. You could get a bus but a taxi won't cost all that much | 0 | |||||
| Travel | Other | Transport TBD | Rhonda: How are we going to get from Cairns to Palm Cove? Brent: - Jayride runs a shuttle Cairns Airport to Palm Cove ~$25 - Also Exemplar Coach & Limousine ~ $40 I need to call the hotel to see if they have a recommendation. | 0 | Cairns Airport | Palm Cove | |||
| Note: Arrived Palm Cove: Qantas from Brisbane to Cairns. Qantas sure does nicer free snacks than Canadian airlines do. We were going to have to wait two hours for a shuttle to Palm Cove but we discovered that a taxi cost the same as two adult shuttle tickets, so taxi we did. Note: Palm Cove first impressions: \n Our first stop in Palm Cove was to niece Nicole’s place. She, her husband Brion and their son, Levi, were there, along with Brent’s brother Doug and his daughter, Lisa, and the other Australian niece, Stephanie, with her husband, Diego, and their two kids, Jack and Zaya. We had a great visit with them all, and it’s so great to see how well all three nieces are doing. \n\n After a couple of hours, exhaustion pushed us on and we stopped in at the nearby convenience store (with Lisa) to provision up and then went for Thai dinner. \n\n The photos are: the view from our hotel room, the cockatoo on the tree outside of Nicole and Brion’s, Lisa posing with the camel balls, some cool spooky trees and the Thai restaurant.
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| 2025-04-14: Palm Cove with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
Note: Recon and Shopping: We had breakfast at our hotel - the ‘bitey’ cheese was very tasty and bitey. Then we hopped the local bus and went into Cairns for recon re: day trip to Kuranda, and getting back to Cairns next Sunday. Then we got back on the bus straight back towards Palm Cove and got off at Clifton Beach where the proper grocery store is. We bought some groceries and walked the rest of the way back to Palm Cove with the spoils of our shopping trip.
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| 2025-04-15: Palm Cove with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
Note: Walk Before Dinner - Palm Cove: Brion has to head back to Melbourne tomorrow so Steph suggested we all go out for dinner tonight. Brent and I went for a short walk along the esplanade to the Palm Cove Jetty before meeting everyone at the tavern.
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| 2025-04-16: Palm Cove with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
| Note: Palm Cove - Tiger Prawn Tony’s\n\n We had a relaxing day today hanging with Levi as Nicole took Brion off to the airport to head home. \n\n We did some planning today with the gang - Nicole in person and everyone else on the WhatsApp - to go to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures tomorrow and then Kuranda on Thursday. \n\n We’re still pretty jet lagged so after we left the Cummings household we went for a meal at Tiger Prawn Tony’s and then home to pass out.
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| 2025-04-17: Hartley's Crocodile Adventures with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
| Note: Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures\n\n Today we *all went to Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures up the road. It’s a really great place with a variety of shows and displays. We saw a snake show and a crocodile show, rode on a boat tour through the croc waters and walked around looking at the displays, including cassowaries, wombats, wallabies, kookaburras, sooty owls, flying foxes (enormous bats) and more. \n\n *Diego isn’t feeling well and wasn’t able to join us.
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| 2025-04-18: Tourist Train to Kuranda with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
| Note: Today we took a day trip to Kuranda - scenic train on the way up, and Skyrail on the way down. \n\n Kuranda is a tiny touristy town in the mountains. We kinda split up while we were there. Brent and I had Roo Pie at the Rainforest View Cafe, and the others… did other stuff. \n\n Coming down on the Skyrail was great. The views were amazing and there were three stops/transfers along the way where we got off and had a look around.
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| 2025-04-19: Palm Cove with Stephens Family | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Drift Palm Cove again | |||||||
| Note: It’s just a chest cold\n\n I’ve had a painful (in the lungs) cough for a couple of days now so when Brent went off to the chemist today I asked him to grab me a Covid test. He came back with this nifty little thing that tests for Covid AND RSV AND Flu A and B. \n\n All of my tests were negative so I guess by process of elimination I just have a cold. It’s good news. We’re leaving Palm Cove tomorrow so hopefully I’m recovered quickly for the remaining adventures.
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| 2025-04-20: Leave Palm Cove - stay at Cairns | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Hides Hotel | 87 Lake St. +61 7 4058 3700 | 95.37 | Cairns | ||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Oddly, Cairns is pronounced Cans, with a stretched-out a sound. The R is silent. | Cairns is touted as the \"gateway to the Great Barrier Reef\" and other destinations such as Kuranda and the Daintree Rainforest in Far North Queensland. Although the city has little to offer to travellers besides tour agencies, a handful of restaurants, cafes, and backpacker bars, and a long walk along the esplanade looking out at the swampy shoreline. Its 150,000 residents are regularly outnumbered by both domestic and international visitors. The Cairns area was historically inhabited by the Indigenous Walubarra Yidinji people. Mapped by James Cook and named Trinity Bay in 1770, it was officially founded in 1876 as an export port for gold and renamed after the then-Governor of Queensland. The city's name is pronounced \"Canz\" by locals; use of the accepted pronunciation of the governor's surname, the Scottish town, and piles of stones is obsolete. Queensland Rail's Spirit of Queensland services connect Cairns to Brisbane (via Townsville and Rockhampton), taking 25 hours for the full journey. A trip between Townsville and Cairns takes nearly 7 hours by train (compared to only 4 hours by car). The train is primarily designed for tourists to take in the scenery at a leisurely pace, with a \"railbed\" class that features seats that can recline into a bed for the night. If you are pressed for time, driving yourself will often be quicker. | 0 | |||||
| Travel | Other | Hotel Shuttle or Other Transport | We'll catch the hotel shuttle or other transport to Cairns for the night. Station: 142 Bunda St. +61 1800 577 245 | 0 | |||||
| Note: Move to Cairns\n\n Today we took a local bus (for $0.50/ea) from Palm Cove to Cairns. \n\n I’ve been mostly coughing for the last two days but today the sinuses opened and the snot poured forth. I don’t know where it’s all coming from. I’m going to be a desiccated shell by the time I’m done. \n\n I know I don’t look too miserable in the pics but dang… it was a rough day. I’m hoping that it’s better tomorrow for our seven-hour train ride to Townsville (apparently aka ‘Brownsville’ because it’s so brown compared to the lush greenness around Cairns).
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| 2025-04-21: Train to Townsville | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Allure Hotel | 68 McIlwraith St S +61 7 4767 7997 | 413.87 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from Queensland.com | 1. Even if you’ve only got one day to spare, jump on the SeaLink ferry to Magnetic Island – it’s only 20 minutes offshore but has its own special magic to experience. Here are the best things to do there. 2. Pack your backpack for four days hiking through wild landscapes on Hinchinbrook Island's Thornsborne Trail. Read all about this great walk here. Prefer to relax? Soak up the sun on Lucinda Beach and Forrest Beach, before throwing out the picnic blanket at peaceful Tyto Wetlands. 3. Splash out your own private paradise at Orpheus Island Resort. A 30-minute helicopter ride from Townsville, this secluded spot boasts world-class dive sites, luxurious digs and gourmet chef-hatted dining among the many reasons you may just want to stay forever. 4. Take adventure to the next level with a Townsville Helicopters chopper flight and witness the beauty of our tropical north from above. You can even touch down on remote Havannah Island for a private picnic. 5. Tick off an Australian wonder when you road trip two hours north-west of Townsville to Wallaman Falls – the highest permanent single-drop waterfall in the country. 6. For a short and sweet cardio fix, hit up the Goat Track on Castle Hill - the giant pink monolith that towers over the city. You'll be rewarded with 360-degree views at the top. 7. Head to the misty mountain village of Paluma for a nature escape where treks to waterfalls and dips in freshwater crystal creeks await. While you're here, discover the best waterfalls and swimming holes near Townsville. 8. Mountain bike through the open woodland and rocky shores of Cape Pallarenda where the 11km ‘Under the Radar’ trail is a favourite. 9. Spot platypus on a safari with Paluma's Hidden Valley Cabins. The team has a 98% success rate of spotting these duck-billed monotremes, earning them the title of one of the top six places in the country to spot them by Australian Geographic, no less. 10. From palms and pandanus to cacti and succulents, plant lovers should visit the city’s botanic gardens. Anderson Park, Queens Gardens, Dan Gleeson Memorial Gardens and The Palmetum are all within a 20-minutes drive from the CBD. 11. Spend two days trekking through ancient palm-filled gullies and open forests on the Wet Tropics Great Walk. 12. Feed a freshwater croc and meet a dingo at the Billabong Sanctuary, home to some of Queensland's most interactive wildlife encounters. 13. Check into The Ville - the ultimate Palm Springs-inspired casino hotel. With its whitewashed walls, beachy Californian vibe and sparkling blue infinity pool complete with swim-up bar, it's the perfect spot to base yourself. Find more places to stay in Townsville here. 14. Make your way to Townville’s Country Bank Stadium for a massive night of footy at NRL's Harvey Norman All Stars on 16 February 2024, which sees Australian Indigenous and NZ Maori players go head to head across three games. Discover more Townsville events here. 15. Grab a scoop from Juliette’s Gelateria on The Strand - walk it off with a stroll from the rock pools down to the Marina or a splash at the water park. 16. Head to Ardo Rooftop for sunset drinks, refreshments on repeat and spectacular ocean views. 17. If you’ve got an appreciation for the arts, check out an exhibition at Perc Tucker Regional Gallery and Pinnacles Gallery. Or, make your way here for the annual Australian Festival of Chamber Music to watch incredible musical performances. 18. Explore life in the tropics from prehistoric times to modern day at the Museum of Tropical Queensland. A great spot for the whole family, learn about the Wet Tropics rainforest, reef and famous shipwrecks, then get hands-on in the kids Sciencentre. 19. Explore Townsville's thriving street art along this artistic urban trail. Thirsty? Stop in at the exclectic Hoi Polloi Café for some of the city's best coffee. 20. Get a hands-on encounter with creatures of the Great Barrier Reef at the world’s largest living coral aquarium, Reef HQ Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. It's our national centre for reef research, too. Note: Reef HQ is currently closed for renovations. 21. If you fancy a day trip out of town, visit Queensland's own slice of Italy in Ingham, where over half the town's population is of Italian descent. Lou's Food Emporium and JK's Deli are perfect for hungry tummies. 22. Alternatively, go back in time to the gold rush era of Charters Towers on a tour at the Venus Gold Battery. Or, go old-school on date night with a trip to Tors Drive-In Cinema. 23. Or why not dlve into 45,000 years of Nywaigi Aboriginal culture at Mungalla Station where you'll learn history, customs and even witness how they regenerate their wetlands and save endangered species. 24. Townsville’s laneway dining and bar precinct, City Lane is modern and relatively new on the scene. This local’s hangout is perfect for a progressive happy hour tour as roaming between the hotspots is encouraged. 25. Take a break from exploring the natural wonders neighbouring Townsville and indulge in some retail therapy in the city centre, home to a population of boutiques and shopping precincts that will leave any shopping fan delighted. Shop up a storm with this Townsville shopping guide. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Townsville offers a quiet cosmopolitan feel with its good choice of restaurants & bars but also has a relaxing siesta style during the hottest parts of the day in high summer. | Townsville is a laid-back coastal city of over 173,724 people (2021) in North Central Queensland. Townsville is on the coast and enjoys an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. It is an appealing place for locals and a great jumping off point for visitors, especially to Magnetic Island which is only 25 minutes by passenger or car ferry. A great spot for visitors wanting a taste of rural Australia while not venturing far from the coast. Kinetic operates bus services 7 days a week with 16 bus routes in Townsville plus one on Magnetic Island. Stay Safe: - Box jellyfish and other stingers can be in the ocean during the summer months. Read the warning signs, and don't swim at the beach outside of the stinger enclosures. A sting from the box jellyfish can be fatal. There are two stinger enclosures along the Townsville beaches. - Saltwater crocodiles ARE present in Townsville and ALL swimming locations (including the beach) should be approached with extreme caution. Lots more to see, do, diving, eating, drinking, beaches. Click the link for more info. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | To Do | Book cab to Bowen | Arriving in Bowen on April 25 Rhonda: When do we have to book the cab from the train station in Bowen? Iknow that we have to pre-book it but I don't know how far in advancewe need to do that. Brent: The Queensland Rail site says not more than 1 week in advance. | 0 | |||||
| Travel | Other | Walk to Hotel | Rhonda: Have you thought about how we're going to get between train stationand hotel in Townsville? It's 3.2km - are you planning on walking? Brent: I have this in my notes as a 45 minute walk but I can research other options. | 0 | Townsville Train Station | Hotel | |||
| Travel | Train | Train to Townsville | 07:40 AM Apr 21, train leaves for Townsville, arriving 13:44 Cost is for two passes, all the way through Brisbane Station: 8 Charters Towers Rd | 392.8 | Cairns | Townsville | |||
Note: Our train departed Cairns for Townsville at 7:40 today. Someone was smart enough to suggest we make and take coffees along with us. Yay! The scenery along the way was pleasant but unremarkable, unlike our pub food dinner which was some of the best pub food we’ve ever had. Yum!
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| 2025-04-22: Townsville | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Allure Hotel again | |||||||
| Note: The Strand at Townsville\n\n Today I’m finally starting to feel better. Yay! Unfortunately the heat really affects me so I can’t do as much as I would like. \n\n We spent most of the morning walking in Townsville, mostly along The Strand. Then we had lunch at the same pub again - the food is so good. Note: Brent wanted to go for a short walk at dusk and I went along. I’m so glad I did! He saw scores of flying foxes in Palm Cove but I didn’t because I was sick. Tonight we saw a good couple dozen of them AND we heard a kookaburra twice! Yay!
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| 2025-04-23: Townsville - Magnetic Island - Horseshoe Bay | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Allure Hotel again | |||||||
| Note: Magnetic Island - Horseshoe Bay\n\n We took the ferry over to Magnetic Island today. Most of the island is a National park, and there’s a ton of wildlife there. \n\n One interesting thing is that it’s the over-winter home of the Blue Tiger butterflies, which, like Monarchs, migrate. We are kind of early in the year for the butterflies but we did get to see a few early arrivals. \n\n We also saw some enormous spiders, a kookaburra, a rock wallaby, and some flying foxes hanging in the trees.
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| 2025-04-24: Townsville | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Allure Hotel again | |||||||
| Note: I thought I overheated yesterday when we went to Magnetic Island, but now I’m virusey again and I think I just pushed myself too hard yesterday and had a relapse. That’s mostly a good thing because yesterday should not have overheated me, and it made me think I’m not safe to spend any time at all in the heat. But now it looks like I just shouldn’t push myself too hard when I’m not yet over a virus. \n\n Anyway, we went out super early this morning to beat the heat. We walked down to The Strand and had breakfast, and then had Second Coffee at the cool little Hoi Polloi cafe. Now I’m spending the rest of the day nursing my stupid virus.
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| 2025-04-25: Train to Bowen, ANZAC Day (stat) | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Port Denison Motor Inn | 11 Dalrymple Street, Bowen, Australia, 4805 +61 7 4786 6822 Check-in Friday, 25 April 2025 (14:00 - 18:30) Brent advised check-in time 17:00-18:00 Check-out Sunday, 27 April 2025 (07:00 - 10:00) Your reservation: 2 adults, 2 nights, Queen Room with Garden View You may cancel free of charge until 2 days before arrival. If you cancel in the 2 days before arrival, the cancellation fee will be the cost of the first night. If you don't show up, the no-show fee will be the same as the cancellation fee. Cancellation cost - until 22 April 2025 23:59: CAD 0 - from 23 April 2025 00:00: CAD 142.09 | 284.19 | Bowen | ||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Bowen is a town on the coast in Queensland. Situated right on the Great Barrier Reef, and surrounded by some of the best beaches in Queensland, Bowen is widely regarded as one of the best kept secrets of the region. | Because Bowen is situated on a peninsula, most of its tourism comes from the 8 beaches situated on its three sides of ocean. Horseshoe Bay and Queens Beach are among the best. Nearby within walking distance of Horseshoe Bay, there is a clothes-optional beach For history buffs, the Bowen Historical Society's Museum showcases the town's legacy as one of the oldest towns in Queensland. Bowen is famous for both its Roma tomatoes and mangoes. Jochheim’s Bakery, graced by film greats such as Hugh Jackman during production of the 2008 Australia film, boasts incredible pies (including some named for the aforementioned actors). | 0 | |||||
| Tip | To Do | Things to do in Bowen | 0 | ||||||
| Travel | Train | Train to Bowen | We're there for 4 full days, leaving at 13:53 on the 25th. (This far north the train only runs 4 days a week) Train arrives at Bowen at 16:25 and there is a complementary cab to down town (must be booked) Station: 52 Bootooloo Rd Ph: +61 1300 131 722 | 0 | Townsville | Bowen | |||
| Note: Today is Anzac Day… sort of like Australian Remembrance Day. \n\n We leave for Bowen this afternoon but we had time to go off to see the Anzac Day parade this morning. We enjoyed the procession of the various branches of the military, and the mini air show with the four military helicopters was a pleasant surprise. \n\n We’re now having lunch while we wait to catch the train to Bowen.
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| 2025-04-26: Bowen | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Port Denison Motor Inn again | |||||||
| Note: Sunrise Walk to Flagstaff Hill\n\n The lady at the registration office of our hotel recommended a sunrise walk to Flagstaff Hill, so we did that this morning. It was great! There were quite a bit of mosquitoes, which is new… there haven’t been very many so far on this trip. Note: Mullers Lagoon\n\n A little ways north of our hotel there’s a place called Mullers Lagoon. We took a walk up there after breakfast. We saw sooo many birds, including three parrots. We also saw a lot of friendly turtles in the creek - we figure they’re used to being fed because they all scrambled over to us when we showed up. \n\n There’s a butcher shop in town that advertises ‘chicken frames’. We think they mean carcasses for making soup, but I just liked the ‘frames’. Aussies are weird. I like it.
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| 2025-04-27: Train to Rockhampton | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Q Motel | 112 Gladstone Rd, ROCKHAMPTON, QLD 4700 +61 7 4927 8866 | 310.67 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Australia's beef capital – Rockhampton – is a city that lies on the tropic of Capricorn near the Central Queensland coast, south of Mackay and north of Bundaberg. | Rockhampton was established in 1855 and is one of Queensland's oldest cities. It was named by Queensland's first Land Commissioner, Mr W. Wiseman, who was supposedly inspired by the rocks in the river flowing through the town. In the late 1800s, several nearby gold discoveries ensured continued economic growth of the region and of Rockhampton. Subsequently, as mining, grazing, farming and meat processing industries developed in Central Queensland, Rockhampton thrived as a regional service centre. Rockhampton was incorporated as a city in 1902, and has continued to grow slowly but steadily ever since. It has a population of 79,000 people (2018). The Rockhampton area is surprisingly busy, with considerable traffic on the roads, and a substantial suburban area. It has a feel much more of a developed city than of an outback town. Rockhampton is almost universally called Rocky. Just about every business has some variation of Rocky in their name or their promotion. It is also famous as the hometown of Rod Laver – one of the best tennis players in history. Rockhampton is fairly flat, and most roads are uncrowded, which is good for those wishing to cycle around the city. However, access to areas such as the hospitals requires strenuous uphill riding and so is not recommended for those of poor fitness. Those wanting to venture further a field should be warned that the combination of rural drivers, and large trucks and cars with Roo bars is not particularly bicycle-friendly – and the \"bike lanes\" in Rocky are just paint. Be cautious! Rockhampton’s flat topography and compact size mean many attractions can be visited on foot, especially those in and around the city centre. Rockhampton Zoo, 93 Spencer St (next to the Botanic Gardens), ? +61 7 4932 9000, toll-free: 1300 22 55 77, rockhamptonzoo@rrc.qld.gov.au. 3PM is feeding time at the zoo. A variety of Australian wildlife, including wallabies, kangaroos, goannas, wombats, and koalas. There is also a freshwater crocodile display. Also seeming somewhat out of place is a chimpanzee, a baboon and a monkey. 3PM is also the chance to get up close to a koala for photos. free. Rockhampton Zoo (Q55631889) on Wikidata Rockhampton Zoo on Wikipedia edit Botanic Gardens, 100 Spencer St (next to the zoo.), toll-free: 1300 225 577. Surrounding the zoo, includes a Japanese Garden and the Rockhampton War Memorial. The Giant Banyan Figs in the gardens are a feature. There are tea rooms in the garden, serving cappuccinos. ice-creams and lunch. edit Rockhampton Heritage Village, Boundary Rd (signposted off Bruce Highway north of Rockhampton). Opens 9AM. A large site, with around 20 historical buildings from between 1850 and 1950 reconstructed on the site, including a school, hospital and church. Takes around 1 hour to walk around the site, but if you are interested in historic machinery it may take longer. Volunteers run kiosk on site, serves Devonshire teas until 2PM (but only instant coffee) $8.50 adults. edit Dreamtime Cultural Centre, Bruce Highway, ? +61 7 4936 1655. M-F 10AM-3:30PM. The Dreamtime Cultural Centre showcases Aboriginal culture, heritage and artwork. Local Aboriginal guides give regular tours through the centre, and describe regional tribal history, myths of the Dreamtime and the process involved in producing Aboriginal artworks. There are also displays of didgeridoo playing, bush tucker and boomerang throwing. A convention centre and accommodation are located on the site. It is located 6 kilometres to the north of Rockhampton city centre. edit Mount Etna Caves National Park (30 km north of Rockhampton on the Bruce Highway), ? +61 7 4936 0570. Access to 2-wheel drive vehicles. If you are an experienced caver in a group, you can go caving independently here. Guided tours are available at the nearby Capricorn Caves Mount Etna Caves National Park (Q1285154) on Wikidata Mount Etna Caves National Park on Wikipedia Capricorn Caves (26 km north of Rockhampton on the Bruce Highway). Guided tours Capricorn Spire (at the tourist information on the Bruce Highway south of Rockhampton). The tropics are caused by tilt of the earth on its axis, with the tropic of Capricorn marking the line of latitude when the sun is directly overhead at the summer solstice. Rockhampton lies pretty much on the tropic of Capricorn with the temperate zone to the south of the city, and tropical zone to the north. A spire marks the Tropic of Capricorn, but its location here is for convenience; the actual Tropic of Capricorn is about 4 km south (and varies about 15 m per year, due to the wobble of the Earth on its axis). Customs House and Riverside Esplanade. Immigrants to Australia used to arrive by the boatload at Rockhampton. The sandstone Customs House building now houses the tourist information centre. Just across the road is a modern riverside esplanade on the banks of the Fitzroy river. Archer Park Station and Steam Tram Museum. In south Rockhampton a tram line runs through the city streets, and a restored steam tram runs on Sundays. The museum is also open Monday to Friday. Koorona Crocodile Farm, 65 Savages Road, Coowonga (around 10 km from Rockhampton on the Emu Park Road), ? +61 7 4934 4749. Last admission at 2PM, tours at 1PM. Cafe serving croc and other dishes, mains over $20. The only possibility of getting value for money here is to turn up for the tour. You will get an idea of the entrepreneurial nature of the operations here. The tour involves feeding and viewing the crocs that are in the pens visible as you approach the farm entrance, which is basically the breeding pairs. Also offers the opportunity to hold a younger croc. $22 adults, $11 children - no family discount. edit Mount Archer (head to Frenchville, then Frenchville Road, turn right onto Pilbeam Drive and stop at the top in Mount Archer National Park). Pleasant views of Rockhampton are available from Mount Archer, including the locally known Hell Nights at night. Free. Rockhampton is about as far south as the habitat of the salt water crocodile extends. These animals are dangerous to humans. If you are travelling north along the east coast of Australia, Rockhampton is where you have to start being aware of crocodiles. Crocodiles are seen in the Fitzroy River. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | To Do | Things to do in Rockhampton | 0 | ||||||
| Travel | Other | Walk to Hotel | Rhonda: How are we going to get between train station and hotel inRockhampton? it's 2.5km so easy enough to walk. Brent: My notes show that as about 1Km from the Depot Hill Train Station. I was planning to walk. We are getting in rather late so we could catch a cab if it seems best. | 0 | Rockhampton Train Station | Hotel | |||
| Travel | Train | Train to Rockhampton | On the 27 we catch the cab to the train for 16:25 departure. It's a long ride to Rockhampton arriving at 23:35 (after Rockhampton the trains run every day) Station: Depot Hill | 0 | Bowen | Rockhampton | |||
| Note: Bowen - Summergarden Cinema\n\n Brent chose to stop in Bowen because it was described as a town that time forgot. It is definitely a ‘small-town of old’ feeling place, especially their Summergarden Cinema. We walked from our hotel up to the theater this morning to catch the 10:00 showing of The Correspondent and the theatre did NOT disappoint. It’s a beauty.
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| 2025-04-28: Rockhampton | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Q Motel again | |||||||
Note: We got into Rockhampton (“Rocky” to the locals) late last night and walked to our motel. This morning we did a desperately needed load of laundry and then walked around town. They have a really nice little downtown area, a beautiful ‘customs house’ building, some nice parks and a lovely little Catholic Church. Brent found his barber, Darryl, but I want to know… where’s his other barber Darryl?
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| 2025-04-29: Rockhampton | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Hotel | Q Motel again | |||||||
| Note: Today we walked over to the Botanic Gardens and Zoo, both of which were free to visit. The gardens were beautiful and had so many birds, including kookaburras, and we were treated to a couple of choruses from them. At the little tea house we watched a mob of brazen parrots try to steal a guy’s lunch. \n\n Afterwards we went over to Allie’s (Allenstown Hotel) for lunch and I had the meat pie mountain that I enviously watched a guy eat last night.
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| 2025-04-30: Tilt Train to Hervey Bay | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Main St Motel | 44 Main St, Pialba +61 7 4124 3044 | 206.99 | Hervey Bay | ||||
| Tip | General Info | Maryborough West Station | Rhonda: Maryborough Station - where is this? Google Maps shows me a placenear Melbourne, and I'm sure that's not right Brent: The station is Maryborough West (no ‘s’) and is between Bundaberg & Gympie North along the Spirit of Queensland line, about 250 Kms north of Brisbane. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Hervey Bay (pronounced Harvey Bay) is a string of beachside towns located in south east Queensland, around 3 1/2 hours drive north of Brisbane. Its main attraction is an 868 meter long pier that extends into the ocean. | The town (population approximately 50,000 and growing fast) is a centre for whale watching. People flock to Hervey Bay every Whale season, which starts late July and goes through to early November. It is also a gateway to K'gari and the southern Great Barrier Reef. It has fantastic weather and consequently draws 'sea-changers', backpackers and those who don't like living in houses. Its offshore protection provides beaches almost free from waves. The large bay is formed by K'gari and the coast. Hervey Bay is not so much a single town, as a few seaside towns merged along the bay, Urangan, Torquay, Scarness, Pialba, and Point Vernon each have their own shopping precinct, parks and playgrounds. Hervey Bay was discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770 while he was travelling the east coast of Australia. He wrongly assumed that K'gari was joined to the Australian mainland and the sheltered waters behind it were a bay. The waters of the Great Sandy Strait are very shallow and he did not proceed far enough south to find the passage between K'gari and the coast. He named the bay \"Hervey's Bay\" after Lord Augustus Hervey an admiral of the Blue, the Earl of Bristol and Captain Cook's boss. There is 18km of waterfront cycleway, starting from Urangan and going to Point Vernon, and there is never a need to cycle on the Esplanade roadway. If you want to make better time the back streets tend to be wide, flat and quiet. A bicycle is quite an ideal way to see Hervey Bay, because with the towns spread over about 10km, it is a little far to walk, and a car seems unnecessary. The two bike hire places make prices competitive. The layout of the cycleway should inspire even the most lycra-averse to get on a bike, with possibilities of stopping for coffee, ice-cream, a swim or a beer, every couple of kilometres along the path. Public amenities on the foreshore cycleway include free BBQ's, drinking fountains, toilets, shaded seating, and information boards at regular intervals. Take a detour at Margaret St/Esplanade or Elizabeth St/Esplanade and ride up to the Botanical Gardens Hervey Bay Botanic Gardens and Orchid House on Elizabeth St for a shady sojourn. The mobility corridor runs along the southern border of the Botanical Gardens and provides another easy access option. Take a walk, rollerblade or rent a bike and ride along 14km of shared pathway along the Hervey Bay Esplanade from Urangan to Point Vernon and return via the 6km Link Mobility Corridor, a purpose built pedestrian and bike path through the centre of the city. See the map for details: Hervey Bay Recreational Trails Explore Urangan Jetty (980m long), if only for its \"pier rats\" and their local dialect. A variety of fish can be seen from the Jetty, as well as many people with a line trying to catch them.Hervey Bay Regional Gallery, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Pialba, ? +61 -7-4197-4210. The exhibits are updated every six to eight weeks. editCoral Viewing Boat Tours. View coral from a glass bottom boat. Both day and night viewing coral tours are available. Enjoy the natural beauty and also see a variety of fish. edit Burrum District Museum, ? +61 7 4197 4201. A collection of natural and cultural artifacts. The emphasis is on the history of mining in the Hervey Bay region. edit Hervey Bay Historical Village and Museum, 13 Zephyr Street, Scarness, ? +61 7 4128 4804. This museum has 19 buildings that take you on a tour of Hervey Bay's past. Also has blacksmith and woodcraft demonstrations. editBlue Dolphin Marine Tours, ? +61 7 4124 9600. Go on a dolphin boat tour to see the bottlenose dolphins and the indopacific humpback dolphins. Boat departs at 8AM from the marina Whales are around from August to October. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | To Do | Things to do in Hervey Bay | 0 | ||||||
| Travel | Train | Train to Hervey Bay | We've got 2 full days there (3 nights) then take the Tilt Trail out at 06:45 on the 30th Depart: 06:45. Arrive at Maryborough West station @ 11:00 and catch the complementary shuttle bus to Hervey bay Station: Stockland Shopping Centre 1/6 Central Ave. +61 7 4124 4000 | 0 | Rockhampton | Hervey Bay | |||
| Note: Our trip is winding down. Today we’re taking the Tilt Train from Rockhampton to our second-last stop, Hervey Bay. The scenery is more interesting than the scenery on our other legs of the journey. \n\n We looked up why it’s called a tilt train. Here’s what the Google AI had to say: A train is called a \"tilt train\" because its carriages are designed to tilt inward on curves, counteracting the centrifugal force that pushes passengers outward. This allows the train to travel faster on existing tracks with tighter curves than conventional trains.
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| 2025-05-01: Hervey Bay | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Main St Motel again | |||||||
Note: We’re staying at Hervey Bay, which has a number of beach towns running one into another. We’re staying at Pialba, and from there the Esplanade runs north to Urangan where there’s a 1km jetty. We spent a good part of the day walking up and back, seeing what we could see. The people have been really friendly, so we also spent a good part of the day talking with folks. I think this is the closest thing to a Brent Paradise as there is.
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| 2025-05-02: Train to Brisbane | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Airport Clayfield Motel | 772 Sandgate Rd, Clayfield, Clayfield, 4011 Brisbane, Australia +61 7 3862 2966 Expected check-in: 4-5PM Airport shuttle starts at 6:15 Near Clayfield metro station BRDB metro line goes direct from Roma Station to Clayfield. It runs every 30 minutes and takes about 30 minutes. Free cancelation until May 1 AIRPORT DROP OFF SERVICE (Mon- Fri) Bookings for the shuttle must be MADE ON THE DAY OF YOUR ARRIVAL (not weeks or months in advance) and by close of reception at 7:00pm, for the shuttle the following morning. If you are arriving after 7pm, please email or phone with the requested time for your shuttle booking on the day of your arrival. The Motel offers a free of charge shuttle service Monday to Friday between 6:15am and 8:45am (excluding public holidays). From March 2025, the shuttle service will not operate on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Please note that our airport shuttle holds a maximum of 9 passengers plus the driver and due to safety concerns, we cannot take surf boards and ski bags on the shuttle. We are less than 10 minutes from the airport. | 1025.05 | Brisbane | ||||
| Tip | General Info | Advice from WikiVoyage Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland. Large enough to be cosmopolitan yet small enough to be friendly and accessible | The Greater Brisbane region has a population of about 2.2 million people and is Australia's third-largest city. Brisbane, colloquially known as Brissie (pronounced Briz-ee), gained international exposure through multiple international sporting events and political summits, including the upcoming 2032 Summer Olympics. For many thousands of years prior to British settlement, the Brisbane area was inhabited by the Turrbal and Jagera Aboriginal people. They knew the area that is now the central business district as Mian-jin, meaning \"place shaped as a spike\". The Australian English phrase \"hard yakka\" – meaning \"hard work\" – comes from the Jagera people, and is certainly what the British settlers faced in Brisbane's humid subtropical climate. Getting around the city and South Bank is easy thanks to the many cycle paths along the river. Cycling on footpaths is legal in the Brisbane City Council area (maximum speed 10 km/h), however pedestrians have right of way. Keep left and take special care when riding through South Bank Parklands as the shared (and quite wide) foot and cycle path is often clogged with large groups taking up the whole path, pedestrians stopping unexpectedly for photos and playing children running heedlessly in front of you. It is often too noisy here to use your bell, so use your common sense, and dismount and push your bike through crowded pedestrian areas. Maps showing extensive dedicated bikeways and shared paths in the Brisbane City Council area are available on the BCC website and a journey planner is available here. These bikeways offer a pleasant way to explore and enjoy Brisbane. Some areas of Brisbane are very hilly. If your street map shows a tangle of winding streets close together that is a sign of steep roads. A short trip can quickly become a lot of work; stick to the river when possible, it's where you get the best views and it is almost entirely flat. If you leave the cycle paths, footpaths, and minor streets you should be prepared to contend with busy urban traffic. Feel free to ignore any Brisbane motorists that may have resentment toward cyclists and ignorance of the road rules applying to cyclists; cyclists are permitted to travel on just about all roads in Brisbane. Special \"bicycle lanes\" on Brisbane's roads are becoming increasingly common and are often denoted by a narrow green-coloured strip of road adjacent to the curb. Brisbane is an excellent city for walking and you should have no problems getting around the CBD. Within minutes of walking in virtually any direction you will be able to find a bus, train or ferry station. Maps can be purchased from bookstores, any tourist information centre or viewed online. There are also a number of shared pathways that offer relaxed walking routes away from roads and traffic. Beyond the CBD and inner-suburbs however, sights can become very spread out, so you might want to consider other modes of getting around. Areas near the river are relatively flat and are perfect for walking. If you find yourself lost, it's advisable to head to the nearest main road as more than likely it will be serviced by buses or trains. Buildings and landmarks: - Brisbane City Hall and King George Square, between Adelaide and Ann Streets. The City Hall is Brisbane's most significant historical landmark and was restored in 2010–2013. The area has free public Wi-Fi. Brisbane City Hall (Q4968552) on Wikidata Brisbane City Hall on Wikipedia - Brisbane City Hall Clock Tower, Museum of Brisbane. A 92-metre clock tower with Australia's largest analogue clock face. Opened in 1930, it offers a tour through Brisbane's oldest operating cage lifts. - The University of Queensland, St Lucia, ? +61 7 3365 1111. One of Australia's oldest and most prestigious institutions, situated on a bend of the Brisbane River. Its majestic sandstone buildings are surrounded by ornamental lakes, jacaranda-lined boulevards and some of the finest architecture. Visitor attractions include the Great Court, the UQ Art Museum at the James and Mary Emelia Mayne Centre, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, and wildlife in the UQ lakes. It can be reached by CityCat, or bus route 66 from the CBD along Busway. University of Queensland (Q866012) on Wikidata University_of_Queensland on Wikipedia - Wheel of Brisbane, Russell St, South Bank. Daily 10AM-10PM. A Ferris wheel that allows you to observe the city from 60 m with views across the Brisbane River. The trip is a 15-minute ride in an enclosed, climate-controlled gondola. Adult $22, student $18, child 4 to 11 years $14.50. - Cathedral of St. Stephen, 249 Elizabeth St. Daily 8AM-6PM. Heritage-registered Gothic Revival Catholic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Brisbane with regular services and guided tours on weekday mornings. Nearby is St. Stephen's Chapel, which was built in the 19th century and lays significance as being the oldest surviving church building in Queensland. Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane (Q607293) on Wikidata Cathedral of St Stephen, Brisbane on Wikipedia - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Glenelg St (South Bank), ? +61 7 3308 3000. Named as the world's best convention centre, this purpose-built convention centre and event venue plays its host to an average of 1,300 yearly events and contains four exhibition halls. Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (Q4968560) on Wikidata Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Wikipedia - State Law Building, 50 Ann Street. The office and headquarters of the Attorney-General of Queensland. The structure of the skyscraper, an iconic landmark since 1995, is dubbed the Batman Building, modelled after the Gotham City skyline in the Batman comic book series. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, 708 Jesmond Rd, Fig Tree Pocket (via the Western Freeway), ? +61 7 3378-1366, service@koala.net. 9AM-5PM. Reduced hours April 25. World's first and largest koala sanctuary, with over 130 koalas. Cuddle a koala, hand feed kangaroos and see other Aussie wildlife. Admission $32 adults, $21 children 3-13 yr, with discounts for families and students. Alternate transport options include: Catch the hourly 445 or 430 buses from the city or the Mirimar boat cruise from South Bank at 10:20AM. Adults $36, child $22, concession $24. Family rates available. Discounts if purchased online in advance. Mount Coot-tha, Sir Samuel Griffiths Drive. Brisbane's tallest mountain. A popular make-out spot with a great view and good but overpriced cafe and restaurant. Large TV and radio antennas line some of its broad peak. You can take a scenic drive through the heavily forested Mount Coot-tha Reserve to the peak to see the almost-360° views of Brisbane and the surrounding region. The mountain is 287 m (941 ft) above sea level and forms the eastern extent of the Taylor Range. It is the most northern part of Australia to record snow. New Farm Park. This historic park is famous for the long line of jacaranda trees, shady picnic areas and its large rose gardens that contain hundreds of varieties of roses, and over 40,000 plants. Rainforest Walk. Ecological park of South Bank. Set along the banks of the Brisbane River, it's a cool spot to stroll along the boardwalk with plenty of shady subtropical trees. There are also small benches to soak in the tranquility Manly Boat Harbour. This is the nearest access point to Moreton Bay Marine Park with its pristine waterways and fascinating islands. Next to the harbour is Manly Harbour Village, with a great range of dining and shopping options overlooking the marina Fort Lytton National Park, Lytton Road, Lytton. Preserves a historic fort built in the late 19th century which operated until just after the Second World War which was an important site for Brisbane's defence, and a historic quarantine station used to quarantine visitors coming from ships who had some sort of disease. Kangaroo Point. The walls along the Brisbane River are a popular spot for rock climbing and give an excellent view of the CBD skyline just across the river. Activities carry on after dark, when the walls are well-lit. Abseiling and rock climbing classes on the cliffs with an instructor are available from Riverlife Adventures, as well as kayak, kick-bike, rollerblade and bicycle hire. There are also barbecue and picnic spots in the area. Story Bridge Adventure Climb, toll-free: 1300 254 627, climbs@sbac.net.au. Scale the top of Brisbane's iconic bridge. You can enjoy 360° views of Brisbane, the mountain ranges and Moreton Bay Islands at dawn, afternoon or night Brisbane has a relatively low crime rate in comparison to other cities of such size. In most cases being aware of your environment and using common sense will keep you safe. Like Sydney and other large cities, trains and train stations are usually considered a common crime zone throughout the afternoons and nights, however trains and stations are patrolled by Police, Transit Officers, railway personnel and private security guards. Cameras are also used to increase security. It is advised to exercise caution when travelling on trains and buses during these periods of the day. Here are some particular areas of note: - Outer Suburbs: Tend to have a higher crime rate than inner suburbs which should be taken into account when visiting these areas. - City Central/CBD: Usually very safe at all hours. - Fortitude Valley: Police presence very strong here due to the concentration of bars. - Suburban pubs: generally less safe than inner-city pubs, bars and clubs due to less police and security. Drunks can be a hassle when in the vicinity of suburban pubs, especially around closing times. Fights in these venues are common. Probably the worst thing that can befall your trip to Brisbane is sunburn and other heat-related issues. The local UV Index is almost always in the extreme rating during the day (10AM-3PM) and precautions should always be taken. Do not be fooled though, even in the cooler months or when it is overcast you can still be affected by UV rays or the heat. Sunscreen, shirts, sunglasses and lots of water are essential. The damaging effects of the Queensland sun should not be underestimated. The state has the highest per-capita rate of skin cancer in the world and tourists often come unprepared. On a sunny day in Brisbane, it is common to be sunburnt after as few as 15 minutes under the midday sun, but sunburn can also occur on overcast days. This is not exclusive to summer, but can happen all year round, even in winter. | 0 | |||||
| Tip | To Do | Things to do in Brisbane | 0 | ||||||
| Tip | Travel Resource | Public Transport in Brisbane Translink is responsible for all trains, buses, ferries and trams in South East Queensland and regional urban buses. | A 50-cent flat fare applies to any journey, regardless of mode, distance or transfers. The only exception is an Airtrain journey to or from Brisbane Airport which costs $22.30. Refer to the website for discounted fares. The website and app can be used to plan a journey, including full navigation and real time updates. Apple Maps and Google Maps provide a similar experience. A contactless credit or debit card, go card, or paper ticket is required to travel. A Visa, Mastercard or American Express is accepted, including those in a digital wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your fare is deducted from your card as you touch on and touch off each mode of transport. Trains and trams have fare gates or distinctive pink validators to touch before you board and after you alight. Buses and ferries have validators to touch as you board and alight. A failure to touch off each mode of transport will result in a fixed fare of $2.50 being charged. You can be fined $261 for travelling without a valid fare. A go card is available at train station ticket counters, busway and tram fare machines, and selected newsagents and convenience stores. The card requires a $10 deposit. The card can be topped up with travel credit at the same locations, including train station fare machines. The maximum travel credit you can top up is $250. Refunding the deposit and travel credit can be a hassle. If you last topped up using cash it can be processed at Brisbane Airport and selected newsagents and convenience stores. If you last topped up using credit or debit card it can only be processed via an Australian bank account transfer. A paper ticket is available at train station ticket counters and fare machines, and busway and tram fare machines. | 0 | |||||
| Travel | Train | Train to Brisbane | On May 2 we catch the bus back to Maryborough in time for the 10:59 Tilt Train to Brisbane Arriving at 14:50 Roma St + Clayfield +61 7 3862 2966 | 0 | Hervey Bay | Brisbaine | |||
| Travel | Train | Commuter Train to Accommodation | Rhonda: I remember looking into how to get from the train station in Brisbane to our hotel but I don't have it in my notes. Can you fresh my remembry? Brent: I think the plan was to take the local commuter rail, leaving from the station that we arrive at on Roma St. and heading out to Clayfield Station then walking the last little bit. | 0 | |||||
| Note: Pialba has two whale statues near where we stayed - the front and the rear. We enjoyed a short walk this morning before leaving to catch the train to Brisbane. Note: Caboolture from the Train: A cool geological bump we saw from the train
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| 2025-05-03: Brisbane | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Airport Clayfield Motel again | |||||||
| Note: Brisbane - Downtown and South Bank\n\n Today was the Australian federal election, and Snag Fest in South Bank so Brisbane was hoppin’. Maybe it’s hoppin’ every day. Probably. But it was definitely hoppin’ today. \n\n We took the subway downtown. Their transit system here is a dream - I like it very much. And Brisbane is a very appealing city. I remember thinking Melbourne was a very appealing city when we were in Australia in 2011. Good job on making nice cities, Australia. \n\n We walked all over South Bank, and the downtown areas, and had coffee, then lunch, in South Bank. The temperature is a little cooler so I was able to stay out pretty much all day, which I wasn’t able to do when we were further north.
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| 2025-05-04: Brisbane | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Airport Clayfield Motel again | |||||||
| Note: Kangaroo Point: Our first stop this morning was a walk to Kangaroo Point Cliffs. It gave us some great views of downtown Brisbane. Note: Brisbane Gallery of Modern Art: After Kangaroo Point,, we walked back through downtown to South Bank where we had second coffee. We had a bit of extra time before we were due at the brewery tour so we stopped in at the Gallery of Modern Art. Modern Art for us is very hit and miss, but today was a definite hit - we saw some really cool and interesting art. \n\n
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| 2025-05-05: Brisbane | |||||||||
| Accommodation | Motel | Airport Clayfield Motel again | |||||||
| Note: XXXX Brewery Tour\n\n Our main plan for today was to go to a tour of the XXXX Brewery. When we arrived there it was extremely busy and chaotic. A couple of the staff complained to us that they had a private function there and they seemed very stressed about having a tour starting during the private function. The fellow who did the tour for us also ran the private function so he was torn in multiple directions but once he wrapped up the function we had his full attention and he was awesome (as was the tour). We got three small beer samples, and we had booked the version of the tour that came with burgers as well so we enjoyed beer and burgers at the end of the tour. We have had many many people mistake us for Americans. Curse our accent…
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| 2025-05-06: Leave Australia | |||||||||
| Travel | Flight | Flights to Edmonton | Booking: 2N7PN9 10:00-06:35. AC 36. BNE-YVR (26D&E) 09:10-11:42. AC 7776. YVR-YEG (16D&F) Cost is recorded on flight TO Australia | 0 | Brisbane, Australia | Edmonton | |||
| Note: If someone had challenged us to visit Australia during as many public holidays (and other special events) as possible, I don’t think we could have done better than this trip completely by accident. We were here for spring school break, Easter, Anzac Day, the federal election, the Magic Round Rugby tournament in Brisbane and today was Labour Day. \n\n Today we were going to take the subway out to Boondall Wetlands and walk back, which would have been about 17km, but it started raining as soon as we set out and was not going to let up for most of the morning so we shifted plans and went downtown instead. Because today was a holiday, we had trouble finding an open coffee shop to wait out the time until museums started opening, but Sugar n Spice near the Central subway station was open and we had second coffee there. \n\n When the Museum of Brisbane opened, we visited it and it was really interesting. The main display was a variety of collections that people had donated that were somehow representative of life in Brisbane. Some of my favorites were the Australia National Airline collection, the toy collection and the collection of photographs made from a discovered bunch of glass plate negatives from around the turn of the 20th century. \n\n We then had a quick visit to the Queensland Museum and saw the display of the South Sea People. I am always drawn to, and horrified by, the history of European colonialism with aboriginal peoples. \n\n We then considered going to see the Minecraft movie but noped out because I messed up on the start time, and instead went back to uSouth Bank for a drink where we had a delightful conversation with James (Irish) and Christian (Scottish), immigrant doctors who were also drinking away the afternoon.
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