Welcome New Motorhome and Hello Beautiful Brisbane

A functional drive along the main road into Brisbane to collect our replacement motorhome from the Maui depot. Staff were really helpful with making sure we transferred all our stuff over and explaining the differences in the 2 vans. Then off to our camp site for the next 3 nights at Newmarket Gardens Caravan Park. This park is as old as Keith, having been opened in 1957 and it’s fair to say that Keith is probably in better condition. However, it was clean and tidy (like Keith!). The first evening, we only had time to pop over the road to get a few provisions, as well as try out the Newmarket Hotel restuarant. Diane had fish and I had a steak. Both were cooked fine and did the job nicely.

The next day we took the bus into the city centre; the bus ride was free as we think the till wasn't working. The sun was shining and we decided to tour the South Bank. It was really interesting. There was a flower covered walkway that must have stretched 800 meters to the city beach and outdoor pool. Sandwiched between the walkway and the river, was a modest rainforest, within which was a wonderful Nepalese temple. When we reached the outdoor beach and pool, it was thronging with many sun bathers and swimmers of all ages. After a lunch at a French themed restuarant called French Martini, we arranged a guided cycle ride, through Sight Seeing Tours, that lasted a couple of hours. We rode along the South Bank passing Kangaroo Point Cliffs, then over to the north side via a monoloth of a bridge, called the Story Bridge and similar in appearance to the Forth Road Bridge, that was built during the 2nd World War. The ride then took us into a residential district with some of the older properties looking over amazing trees that lined the streets. After that, back to the river along a lengthy boardwalk and passing the Botanical Gardens, before crossing the river back to our starting point next to the Brisbane Wheel. After saying farewell to our excellent guide, it was the Wheel that was our next port of call. Not as big as the London Eye, but it did give us a decent view of the city, especially as the sun was sinking below the city horizon with the buildings now being illuminated by a myriad of colourful lights. There was enough time for us to hop onto the free ferry that zig-zags from shore to shore, dropping off and picking up passengers at key destination points. Amazing that it is free! Then off over the bridge to the north side for a quick beer and pizza at Lennons Restuarant & Bar, before catching our bus back. As it was dark we missed our stop, but the bus driver remembered where we were meant to get off and stopped the bus just a few meters further along, which was kind of him; not sure that would happen in the UK!

Tomorrow, off to explore the North Bank.