[benbsb29]

It was sometime in early 2013 that i moved to Brisbane, the third largest city in Australia and capital of the state of Queensland. As someone who loves to travel, i shall try to cover some of the sights and sounds of Brisbane and other places i visited during the course of my stay here. Most pics were taken using my mobile, so i apologize in advance for the same. Pics and places visited are not in chronological order, as these were taken over a period of time.

Quick summary of Brisbane taken from Wikipedia :

Brisbane is named after the Brisbane River on which it is located, which in turn was named after Scotsman Sir Thomas Brisbane, the Governor of New South Wales from 1821 to 1825.[5] The first European settlement in Queensland was a penal colony at Redcliffe, 28 kilometres (17 mi) north of the central business district, which was founded in 1824. That settlement was soon abandoned and moved to North Quay in 1825. Free settlers were permitted from 1842. Brisbane was chosen as the capital when Queensland was proclaimed a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859.

[benbsb29]

The Southbank Parklands

Located on the bank of the Brisbane river is the Southbank parklands. Brisbane is divided into the North Brisbane and South Brisbane regions by the river running across. The Southbank area is definitely the place for some leisurely strolling or cycling beside the river, and also hosts the Brisbane Wheel as well as other attractions like the Performing Arts centre. There are a lot of eateries and also an artificial beach with a heated pool for kids and adults alike.



Every time we drove along the M3 motorway on the opposite side of the river, my 5 year old daughter has been fascinated by the giant wheel, and kept asking to take her on a ride. We assured her we would, but it took some time till we got around to actually doing it.

For those interested in this, you may book tickets directly at the venue, or else online at http://thewheelofbrisbane.com.au/

I preferred the online option as there was a 10% discount if you booked online. The standard rate for a family of 4 was AU$ 40, whereas if you tried to buy individual tickets, the rate for our little family of 3 was turning out to be more than AU$ 40! I however, booked the family ticket and off we went!



From the website :

All gondolas are fully enclosed and air-conditioned and seat up to 6 adults and 2 children in safety and comfort, except for the VIP gondola which seats up to 4 adults.

The Wheel in itself is quite silent in its operation, and is open till late, making for a nice view of the city lights.

If there is a large crowd, you may be required to share your gondola, but thankfully there wasn't a huge wait, and we had our gondola to ourselves. The view from the windows was beautiful, on one side you can see the CBD, while the Performing Arts Centre and south Brisbane was visible on the other. It was beautiful to see the river meander along its way, with the occasional City Cat boats and rowers.

Some pics of the vistas :







We followed up the Brisbane Wheel ride with a leisurely stroll along the river bank, along with lunch at one of the cafes nearby.
There is a mini rainforest, as well as a Tibetan pagoda and we spent some time there too before we headed home.

[benbsb29]

Bribie Island

It was the day before New Year's when my friend and myself decided on a plan to visit Bribie Island located off the Sunshine Coast. Bribie Island is famous for its offroad trails and national park. The island spans a max width of 8 kms, and there is an offroad trail we can cover stretching across 9 kms to reach the beach.

With a hint of plan, my friend looked up the details, as well as trail difficulty on offer, as we didnt have a hardcore 4x4 at our disposal. My friend drives a 2013 Subaru XV AWD, which had never really been taken on a beach trail. With just the two of us, we decided to indulge in some adventure, and try out the XV on the trail.



An hour n more's travel later, we had reached the island, and explored the route we can take. We had to first make an online booking for taking our car on the trail, the receipt of which was to be shown at the entrance to validate the same.





The person on duty enquired as to what car we were going in, and on seeing the little XV was a bit apprehensive of its capabailities. He didnt want to discourage us, but offered his advice on not risking it if it got too difficult. We paid heed to his well-meant advice, and having affixed the windscreen sticker for the permit, embarked on what was to be a long day ahead.



As we got on the trail, the initial couple of kms were relatively easy as there was a hint of rain earlier, and the sand was a bit compact owing to the moisture. Encouraged by the progress we were making, we voyaged along.



Soon, the going began to get more n more challenging, and we saw the Traction Control indicator on the console flash its appearance a few times, even as the little champ XV fought its way through the sand which was trying to hold it back. At times, we heard the underbody scrape on the sand below, as the sand got softer, and the wheels started losing traction.



We continued on, looking out for trails of vehicles which had made their way earlier and generally sticking to safe areas. This involved driving across the left and at times right side of the road/trail in the absence of other vehicles. There were times when the vehicle came off a rather high sand bar and plunged into the soft sand below, throwing up heaps of sand over the bonnet.

Considering this was a new vehicle, my friend began to get apprehensive.

Some in their hardcore 4x4s sporting low-range watched in amazement as the XV made up for its shortcomings with sheer momentum and relative low weight. However, there had to be a limit, and we were getting there.

On one section of the trail, we had no option of avoiding a sand pile, and soon enough we were beached, with the wheels spinning only to further sink into the sand.

There, that was it! We had been royally beached.

All the well-meant advice from the guy at the entrance came rushing to haunt us.

We stepped out to check our position. Mobile connectivity too was kinda low, further adding to the situation we were in.

We tried with reversing, moving forward, all the regular tips one could think of. We didnt want to deflate the tyres till we had ruled out other possibilities.

We tried various approaches, like turning the steering wheel slightly, etc, but to no avail.

Time ticked by, and before we knew it, 45 mins had passed with no signs of passing vehicles.

Soon, a family in a Holden Colorado UTE came along and seeing us stuck, stopped a bit behind. The kind gent came out to check. He offered the Off Roading Treds he had in his vehicle so we could use those for some traction. He brought out a D Shackle, and tow rope which we could hook to the XV so he could tug us out.

We were hopeful of being rescued. However, considering how badly we were beached, it wasnt easy. Soon the Colorado too started digging into the sand, rather than bail us out.

A Landcruiser Prado which came behid tried to go around, and got stuck too. A Hilux Ute too got stuck trying to avoid the Prado and us. Soon, the whole area had become a bottleneck. We had company.

Soon a previous gen Pajero came along, carrying a family of 6 returning from the beach. They told us that up ahead, the sand was even more difficult, and once we were rescued, we should turn back. We agreed.



Soon the rescue operation began, with everyone helping out each other with muscle power. First to be rescued was the Prado, as it was in the centre, blocking everyone's path. A few tugs from the Pajero, and human power pushing from the rear, it was free.
Next was the Hilux, and they were free too soon enough. The Pajero was turning out to be the hero.

Next was the XV's turn. However, the lack of a low range 4x4 system, as well as relatively lower ground clearance made for a much more difficult process. Soon the Pajero too began to lose ground.



Then came the bad boy Nissan Patrol with a high lift kit, sand tyres, winch and what-not! They came, they saw, they conquered. The Patrol yankd out the Pajero with ease, and then the duo shackled their respective tow ropes on the XV and yanked it out slowly with tugs. Soon, we were free! They also tugged out the Colorado who was the first one to try n help us.





We decided to turn back, accompanied by the Pajero, just in case we got stuck again. The XV had made it nearly half way, but we didnt want to further trouble the kind people who came to our aid.







The Pajero accompanied us to the exit, where we bid adieu, and made our way back to firm ground. Some pics from a stop we made on the way back to mainland.







Once back, we got the XV properly washed, including an engine wash, and polish. The front right tyre was losing air, and we realized we had a puncture from the adventure we had engaged in. Swapped the tyre with the space saver spare, and headed home.





A big thank you to the kind people who helped us, despite their existing plans and hurry. We are highly grateful for your time and support. The whole process easily spanned over 2 hours, right from the time we got stuck to the time we were finally free from the point we had gotten stuck.

[GTO]

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to Travelogues. Thanks for sharing!

[embee]

Been to Australia (mostly Melbourne & Sydney) many times for work and leisure and I must say that these Aussies are kinda friendly people and if they can, they'll help you out in any way possible.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by embee

Been to Australia (mostly Melbourne & Sydney) many times for work and leisure and I must say that these Aussies are kinda friendly people and if they can, they'll help you out in any way possible.

Quite true, I agree with your observation. On the rare occassion i asked someone for directions within the city while on foot, people have gone out of their way to help.

Even driving here is enjoyable - people giving way for each other, waving Thank You when you let them pass, etc. Lots to learn and adopt.

[nkishore_007]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

....

Even driving here is enjoyable - people giving way for each other, waving Thank You when you let them pass, etc. Lots to learn and adopt.

+1 to this. They know how to live and let others live (and not caught up in a rat race every time). Labor dignity stands out.
I have seen some amount of road rages there as well, but it is to a negligible extent.

I like the array of vehicles to choose from if you happen to dwell there. As a matter of fact, I got to know that the concept of Utility vehicle originated down under. It so happened that a farmer lady wrote to Ford president (or similar) providing a vehicle specification which materialized into the so called Utility vehicle (pick up trucks). Amazing, ain't it?

I had some share of bush walking around blue mountains area (near Sydney), and a small walk somewhere near Apollo Bay (near Melbourne). Queensland has been elusive up till now. Lets see when I get to prioritize the reefs.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by nkishore_007

Labor dignity stands out.
I have seen some amount of road rages there as well, but it is to a negligible extent.

Labour dignity is something i realized while here. Even the most menial of jobs is treated with respect, and sometimes paid even higher than the so-called white collar jobs!

Originally Posted by nkishore_007

I like the array of vehicles to choose from if you happen to dwell there. As a matter of fact, I got to know that the concept of Utility vehicle originated down under. It so happened that a farmer lady wrote to Ford president (or similar) providing a vehicle specification which materialized into the so called Utility vehicle (pick up trucks). Amazing, ain't it?

This surely is the land of Utes, shortened usage for Utility Vehicles. There is one for everything, including getting the surf board to the beach. . Here is a Mini converted to a Ute for Redbull. Check out the numberplate!

Originally Posted by nkishore_007

I had some share of bush walking around blue mountains area (near Sydney), and a small walk somewhere near Apollo Bay (near Melbourne). Queensland has been elusive up till now. Lets see when I get to prioritize the reefs.

Most people visit Sydney and Melbourne, with Queensland being more of a mystery, except for probably the gold Coast and Cairns. Hopefully, i should be able to put up some info here from my travels.

[pratyush6]

Brisbane is a lovely little city. Good to see the pictures.

Nice that you cleared out how helping Aussies are - the perspective is completely the opposite. I have experinced this myself.

Most people do not visit Brisbane - IMHO it is a must to visit Sunshine Coast & the Australia Zoo. And the Treasury Casino

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by pratyush6

Brisbane is a lovely little city. Good to see the pictures.

Nice that you cleared out how helping Aussies are - the perspective is completely the opposite. I have experienced this myself.

Most people do not visit Brisbane - IMHO it is a must to visit Sunshine Coast & the Australia Zoo. And the Treasury Casino

Thanks pratyush6.

As i said, in general you find the people are quite helpful and considerate. However, it was a bit lower in Sydney, possibly being a much more bigger and busier city.

I have visited some of the beaches along the Sunshine Coast; need to plan a trip to the Aus Zoo which i am sure my daughter would enjoy.

I spent a bit at the Treasury Casino when i went along with a friend. However we had decided the amount we would gamble away, and then come what may, we stop. Needless to say, we made a little bit initially, then as fate would have it, lost it. That's the way the cookie crumbles!

Coming up : Trip to Sydney, Wellington Point

[benbsb29]

It's always good when you have friends around, and when in a different city, its an opportunity to travel! A long time friend of mine who is based in Sydney invited us over to celebrate his daughter's first birthday. We booked tickets on the budget carrier Tiger Air, and the plan was to spend a couple of days in Sydney, which also included the little one's birthday.

We took a Tiger Air flight from Brisbane to Sydney which worked out to a reasonable cost. We then took a train from the Airport to Sydney Central, and from there hopped on to a different platform to catch the train to Meadow Bank.

Double Decker trains:



As luck would have it, the temperatures in Sydney dropped by quite a few degrees just a day before we were to land there, making for a rather cold and windy day to be out sightseeing.

Pics of a motorway i had clicked from an earlier trip:





Nevertheless, we decided to make the most of the day and went about visiting the usual spots such as the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, and Darling Harbour.

We took a train from Meadow Bank where my friend stays to the Wynyard and then walked the rest of the way to the Circular Quay. Trains in Sydney can get quite busy during the peak hours, thankfully we chose the off-peak hours for our travels.

One of the things which fascinated me about the trains in Sydney were the reversible seats as well as the double decks. The last time i had been here, i traveled on both levels, just to get a feel of the same. About the seats, they can be made to face either direction depending on the direction of travel.

Reversible seats:



I was amazed when someone did this as i watched, and made me realize how such a simple feature helped make quite some difference! You do not have to put up with having to face someone else when sitting in the opposite direction, and also helpful for people who have to face forward in the direction of travel.

A pic of my daughter enjoying her travel:


We disembarked at Wynyeard, and the distance was estimated at about 15 mins by Google Maps. We added time watching the sights and sounds as we strolled along.









Contd...

[benbsb29]

We walked through the Botanical Gardens located beside the Opera House. I was told some parts of the song "Jaane Kyun" from Dil Chahta Hai were filmed here. I wouldn't know, though.

Pics from the Botanical Garden:









Train with guided tour of the gardens:



We clicked some pics and walked along to the Sydney Opera House, the most widely recognised symbol of Australia, besides the kangaroo ofcourse!

[benbsb29]

Finally, we were at the Sydney Opera House. An image which we had seen many times on TV, and yeah, Masterchef Australia too deserves a mention.

The Opera House along with the Harbour Bridge made for some amazing visual appeal. I tried to capture some of that using the panorama mode.

The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge:









My daughter wanted to have burgers from McDonalds so we didn't try other options and obliged. A few burgers later, we lined up to catch the ferry to Darling Harbour. There is an option of taking the bus as well, but we decided to take the ferry as my daughter had never boarded one before. This journey marked her first ever trip aboard a ferry.

Views from the ferry:







As our ferry navigated its way, it stopped for longer than usual at one of the few stops along the way. We soon realized that this was so the large cruise ship which is usually harboured across the Opera House could make its way along. It was massive in size, and imposing in all its glory.

[benbsb29]

When we disembarked at Darling Harbour, the weather had gotten even more fierce. I rued not carrying my sweater along. Wifey caught a really bad cold, and we decided maybe we shouldn't spend much time here, and will probably drop by some other time. Had some hot chocolate, and caught the ferry for the ride back to Meadow Bank.

Pics from Darling Harbour:

















Accenture office in Sydney at prime real estate on Darling Harbour:



Star Casino:



We spent the next day with my friend and his family for the party, and took the flight back to Brisbane, the day after. Time to head back home.

[benbsb29]

Looking for a quick getaway on a weekend, we decided to visit Wellington Point.



From where we stay in North Brisbane, the easiest way to get there would be by taking the Gateway Motorway, but my aversion to paying tolls if there is another option, meant that we chose to take the longer route. This involved cutting through the city, then onto the M3 and onto Old Cleveland Road, from where we hit the Gateway Motorway, but without having to pass the toll point.

Wellington Point owes its prominence to being surrounded by water on both sides, which makes for a great spot for fishing, as well as BBQs and picnics by the sea side. The long jetty makes for a great visual treat, as well as a good spot for the fishing enthusiasts.



Families went about offloading their water scooters and boats as they headed out to the sea to indulge in some water sports.


We spent some time on a sunny afternoon, walking by the waterfront, and decided to head the short distance back to the town to pick up some food. We got some burgers n seafood packed and came back to sit under a tree and enjoy lunch.







Our daughter made the most of the playground available, enjoying herself playing in the sand.





Walk to Kings Island

Among the highlights from the trip was the 2kms walk to the nearby Kings Island, which is possible only during low tide. It felt different, walking on the sand causeway, with the sea on either side, a feeling akin to the biblical episode of Moses crossing the Red Sea. Ok, maybe i extrapolated it a bit!



Kings Island as viewed from the mainland:


Kings Island is a protected area for the flora and fauna found there. All visitors are to abide by regulations on conservation and even pocketing seashells in numbers are not allowed. The island was covered in shells in quite a few places.





We spent some time relaxing along the shoreline, clicking pics and then made the walk back to the mainland.



Back at the mainland, we sat around to catch the sunset, accompanied by ice cream from the nearby store. There was some wedding photography going on, with the beautifully dressed bride n bridesmaids striking various poses accompanied by the groom and his aides.



Wedding photography:


Soon it began to get dark and windy, and we made one last walk along the jetty feeling the breeze as it swept across. With the clouds looming over our heads, and the weather reports predicting rain, we decided it was time to head back.





We drove back home, legs tired from all the walking, but minds refreshed taking in the beautiful vistas.