Day 43 Tuesday 12th August –Brisbane
Up early, breakfast on the balcony in the sunshine and out to get the cot and highchair – unfortunately they didn’t keep them in stock so we would have to wait til tomorrow (sounds like manana syndrome doesn’t it ?) We called in the tourist info and they told us about the Koala Sanctuary and the train station which was about 100 yards from our apartment went into Brisbane and the ticket included bus and ferry travel too. So we decided to do that tomorrow. We drove into Brisbane and parked in the South Bank area which is a new café, restaurant and leisure area including a city beach. We wandered along the river side, stopped for coffee and cake and the boys played on the beach and in the childrens play areas. On the way home we called at a big shopping centre and lucy bought a cardigan as she was chilly and Daniel lost his dummy in a shop – unfortunately when we realized where he had dropped it it was just gone 5.30 and the shop was shut! We never did get back to see if it was there. We cooked dinner at home in the evening and after the boys had soaked my bathroom having a bath in my huge oval bath, we opened a bottle of wine and watched the Australian version of the Olympics once the boys were in bed.
Day 44 Wednesday 13th August
We wanted to go to the Koala Sanctuary and the only way there was by boat which left the South Bank in Brisbane centre at 10am. So we had to catch the 8.25am train - we just made it and arrived at the boat with 10 mins to spare. The boat was called the MIRAMAR and the crew were very friendly. We ordered hot chocolates and cakes and watched the scenery on the banks of the river pass by. The 1 hour boat ride also included a commentary all the way of the buildings, their history, the people who lived there etc. and was very entertaining and the time whizzed by. The Koala Sanctuary has about 130 Koalas of varying ages, kangaroos and wallabies which you can hand feed, an overfriendly emu who tried to eat our packed lunch and Tasmanian devils (little furry pig like animals) . We only had 2 hours here as the boat only sailed once a day so we quickly picked up the photos that we had had taken of Lucy and Lyn holding a Koala called Denzel and made for the ferry station. On the way back there was no commentary so we chatted and the boys played on the deck til we got back to Brisbane. We got straight onto the train home as we had to pick up the travel cot and highchair before 5pm so Lucy and I started tea and Bob took the car to get them. More Olympics in the evening.
Day 45 Thursday 14th August
After yesterdays morning rush we had a leisurely breakfast and drove out to Redland to look at a golf course which Bob booked to play tomorrow morning. We continued round the coast line to Victoria point but we didn’t like this area much, the houses were older and generally a bit scruffy. We turned round and headed up the coast to Manly – this was much nicer, lots of old style properties alongside the new ones but everywhere was clean and painted and looked after. We continued on another kilometer and we were in Wynnum which was even nicer and on the beach front there was a huge outdoor bathing pool and loads of park area with swings, slides, climbing frames of every size and shape to keep the children happy. We bought fish and chips and ate them at one of the picnic tables – delicious. It was difficult to get the boys away from here but we eventually did. We stopped at the shopping area across the road from our apartment to use the internet and Lucy bought a pair of joggers and Lyn some new fleecy pyjamas (she thinks it might be cold in Sydney!). After dinner Lyn and Lucy fell asleep on the sofa, wrapped in their blankets while Bob watched CSI Miami.
Day 46 Friday 15th August
Bob was up early and out by 7.30 for his round of golf at Redland at 8.15am. Lucy and I got the boys up, washed and dressed and headed for the train station. We caught the train to the centre of Brisbane and explored the town. Stopping for coffee and sticky cake in the centre we continued round all the girlie shops that the men didn’t like. Adam, TJ, Adi, Toby, Sarah and Aaron were expected at the railway station at 2.30pm so we headed there around 2pm to be met by Bob who had had a lovely morning in the sunshine playing golf. Unfortunately the train was delayed by over an hour so we went for a walk back to the river – then we had a phone call to say they were only a station away so we rushed back, nearly getting killed crossing in front of a cyclist ! to find that they were still half an hour away. We bought a drink and waited for the train on the platform and when Adi stepped off the train Daniels face was a picture – he was delighted that his playmate was back. We took Adi in the car back to the apartment while the rest of them went looking for hostel accommodation in the city, saying we would talk to them tomorrow. Adi and Lucy went for a walk, taking Daniel with them to explore the area and Bob and I had a couple of hours with Charlie on our own.
Day 47 Saturday 16th August
Today we planned to show Adi Brisbane so we set off in the car round Cleveland, Redland, Victoria Point and then onto Manly and Wynnum. The boys were pleased to be back at the play area and Daniel had Adi climbing in and out of all the climbing frames. We phoned Adam and TJ to see if they were ok and they said they had booked into Chill Backpackers and would come down to Wynnum as they had hired a car for a few days. We had fish and chips again while we waited for Adam and Tj and then walked round the area with them when they arrived. Adam had gone swimming with his mobile in his pocket on Frazer Island and amazingly it didn’t work so we all went to a small shopping mall where Adam bought a new phone and Lyn looked at a mini laptop - it was nearly 5 o’clock so Adam said he would look into the one I liked and maybe we could come back tomorrow and buy it. We left them there then and headed for home. Adi was still very tired from his adventures on Frazer Island and regaled us with all the happenings on the way home.
Day 48 Sunday 17th August
We wanted to show Adi the city centre today, so we caught the 9.21 train in and went to the South Bank as there was a craft market. TJ had been there the evening before and said it was worth a look. We arranged to meet Adam and TJ and Toby after the market but they were delayed by an hour so we stopped for a drink and then headed for the city beach where the boys stripped off and went into the water which was freezing cold. Lots of people were sunbathing on the sand in their bikinis as the weather was lovely. Finally Adam arrived and we got on the ferry to cross the river to the city centre to go and look at the laptop. We looked at the buildings on the way and took some photos, the city is very interesting with buildings from the early 1800’s to present day along side each other but it doesn’t look odd. There are trees and parks and buskers and entertainment areas all mingled in and most of the shops were open too. We found the shop that sold the laptop and after some bargaining (thanks to TJ again) we bought it with a free mouse and Adam got a memory stick. We met Toby in the food court while we were having lunch, he had been to the art museum. Then we all caught he ferry and had a trip upriver (which was included in our train tickets) – we got off in the market area but they were all packing up by the time we got there. We got back on the ferry and said goodbye to Adam, TJ and Toby who said they would drive out to us for dinner and to see where we were. We had to wait 25 mins for our train and it took 50 mins on the train so by the time we got home, Adam, TJ and Toby were only 10 mins behind us. We had a joint of Pork to cook so we watched some tv and chatted and Adam set up my new laptop while dinner cooked. Dinner was a great success, a roast Pork dinner and apple pie and ice cream –after spending so long on Frazer Island and restaurant meals in Daydream they all ate every last bit.
Day 49 Monday 18th August
We all wanted to go to Australia Zoo and Adam and TJ had given Bob and I vouchers to go. However, they were busy trying to sort out more appropriate accommodation than the Hostel. So we picked up Toby on our way through Brisbane and set off for the famous Steve Unwin Zoo. It was about 75 kms away and took a good hour to get there but it was well worth it. The boys were delighted with the animals, the layout and the cleanliness of the zoo was fantastic. After lunch we went to watch a demonstration of a man trying to get himself eaten by a crocodile in the CROCOSEUM. A visit to the shop got Lucy a stuffed kangaroo, Bob a tiger headcover for a golf club and Dan chose a very cute fluffy tiger called tiggy. Dan then fell asleep in the pushchair so Adi carried Charlie in his jacket and he too fell asleep so they didn’t see the elephants that Lucy, Toby and I fed with bits of banana. But they did wake up as we watched a display of a man playing with three1 year old (fully grown) tigers in a pool. It was amazing to see how playful and gentle they were with him. We boarded a safari train that travels round the park to head for the exit as it was now 4pm and the park closed at 4.30. It seemed to take forever to get home and the boys were hungry so while Adi and Lucy bathed and fed them, Bob and I went for a walk to use the internet and to look at Adam and TJs wedding photos as they had been put on the website today.
Aug 31, 2008
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