Brisbane in one day

Hi,

I'll be in Brisbane for the first time later this week. Unfortunately
only for stop-over. I'll arrive early in the morning from Perth and
leave in the evening for Cairns.
My Lonely Planet recommends a walking tour from King George Square
down to the Brisbane River then through the South Bank Parklands, back
over the Goodwill Bridge and along George St to where it all started.
Would locals recommend such a tour as well?
Which other landmarks are worth a visit?

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:12:51 -0700,
wrote:

Hi,

I'll be in Brisbane for the first time later this week. Unfortunately
only for stop-over. I'll arrive early in the morning from Perth and
leave in the evening for Cairns.
My Lonely Planet recommends a walking tour from King George Square
down to the Brisbane River then through the South Bank Parklands, back
over the Goodwill Bridge and along George St to where it all started.
Would locals recommend such a tour as well?
Which other landmarks are worth a visit?

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy

If it's a fine day a wander along the river on the ferries
can be pleasant. The ticket covers buses as well.
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/transport/ferries/

I just got back from Cairns and Port Douglas yesterday. Have
you booked anything up there yet?



Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

On Jun 18, 6:13 am, Alan S wrote:
Hi Alan,

If it's a fine day a wander along the river on the ferries
can be pleasant. The ticket covers buses as well.http://www.ourbrisbane.com/transport/ferries/

Thanks for that.

I just got back from Cairns and Port Douglas yesterday. Have
you booked anything up there yet?

We have booked accommodation and a car. We wanted to look for reef
tours once we are there.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy

I'd endorse Alan's suggestion. Visit part of the Museum/Art Gallery/ State
Library/ GOMA complex on the South Bank (I'd recommend the new Gallery of
Modern Art - a very interesting building that from inside, seems to float
out onto the river.

Catch a Citycat ferry from the Southbank terminal - upriver to see the
University of Q and surrounds. downriver if you'd prefer the luxury houses
and parklands in that direction. Round trip either way - about an hour, Cost
less than $5.

Then continue your stroll - over the Goodwill bridge, through the city
campus of QUT; past the State Parliament - into the Ciy Botanic gardens.



"Alan S" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 06:12:51 -0700,
wrote:

Hi,

I'll be in Brisbane for the first time later this week. Unfortunately
only for stop-over. I'll arrive early in the morning from Perth and
leave in the evening for Cairns.
My Lonely Planet recommends a walking tour from King George Square
down to the Brisbane River then through the South Bank Parklands, back
over the Goodwill Bridge and along George St to where it all started.
Would locals recommend such a tour as well?
Which other landmarks are worth a visit?

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy

If it's a fine day a wander along the river on the ferries
can be pleasant. The ticket covers buses as well.
http://www.ourbrisbane.com/transport/ferries/

I just got back from Cairns and Port Douglas yesterday. Have
you booked anything up there yet?



Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 18, 6:13 am, Alan S wrote:
for that.

I just got back from Cairns and Port Douglas yesterday. Have
you booked anything up there yet?

We have booked accommodation and a car. We wanted to look for reef
tours once we are there.

And there are plenty of reef tours to choose from too!!!

was "Brisbane in one day"

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 16:44:49 -0700,
wrote:

On Jun 18, 6:13 am, Alan S wrote:
Hi Alan,

If it's a fine day a wander along the river on the ferries
can be pleasant. The ticket covers buses as well.http://www.ourbrisbane.com/transport/ferries/

Thanks for that.

I just got back from Cairns and Port Douglas yesterday. Have
you booked anything up there yet?

We have booked accommodation and a car. We wanted to look for reef
tours once we are there.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy

I was a bit disappointed in Cairns itself - the waterfront
area is basically "tourist central". Unfortunately the seas
were a bit rough for my spouse, so we didn't get to the
reef. Be sure to be clear in your needs - some tours are
really aimed at the younger groups for diving and
snorkelling, while others are more for oldies like me with
glass bottom boats and pontoons.

If you are after cheap eats there were some excellent meals
available in the "Night Market" food court, especially the
Thai outlet there - but the atmosphere is very basic noisy
cafeteria. If you are dining more "up-market" many of the
waterfront restaurants give 20-30% off if you order before
7pm. You can also use the barbecue facilities on the
waterfront parks to cook your own food if you wish to.

A couple of blocks back from the waterfront the Courthouse
Hotel has a steak special at $12.95 on most weeknights.
Excellent and tender steak, reasonable pub restaurant
ambience.

Don't miss the Skyrail. I went up in the train and back on
the Skyrail, a wonderful experience. Kuranda is effectively
one large souvenir market, so except to visit one of the
theme places like the butterfly sanctuary or the venom zoo,
or to take the river cruise, the only reason I'd spend much
time there is to eat. We had a cheap but excellent lunch at
the German Sausage cafe; $14 included a bratwurst, large
salad and a 500ml beer:-)

The best place to book the train and Skyrail is at the Rail
Station at Cairns Central, rather than at one of the
multitude of info centres, especially if you are entitled to
any concessions. They can also allocate your seat in the
train. Ask for a window seat on the right side for the trip
up - the inner seats have much more limited views. In our
carriage the seats were bench-type for four. If you are
leaving your car at the station make sure your Skyrail
ticket includes the bus component back to the station. Take
the opportunity to wander around at both of the stops on the
Skyrail.

If you aren't getting the car immediately, the buses were
frequent. You can buy a 24 hour ticket for $6.30 which
covers most of the town, or $7.70 will go to the boondocks.

Port Douglas was a nice change; much more relaxed and
laid-back and less "souvenir" push and a good base point for
Daintree.

Fianlly, we did a day drive back from Port Douglas via
Mareeba and Atherton to Cairns, about 200km. Lots to see on
the way and quite dramatic changes of terrain. Just don't be
in a hurry coming down the mountains. Don't miss the rock
wallabies at Granite Gorge (near Mareeba)
http://www.tablelands.org/granite-gorge.html
or the Curtain Fig Tree near Yungubarra.
http://www.cairnsattractions.com/a_c...-fig-tree.html

HTH


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

On Jun 18, 12:10 pm, Alan S wrote:
Hi Alan,

thanks for that wonderful reply!
I did a bit of homework on Cairns, but haven't prepared anything for
Brisbane, that's why I primarily asked for advice on BNE, but your
Cairns comments are also very welcome.


I was a bit disappointed in Cairns itself - the waterfront
area is basically "tourist central".

Yep, that's what people keep telling me as well, and that's why I
booked a car ;-).


Be sure to be clear in your needs - some tours are
really aimed at the younger groups for diving and
snorkelling, while others are more for oldies like me with
glass bottom boats and pontoons.

There are probably lots of backpackers up there. We are in our 30s, so
somewhere inbetween adventure and glass bottom boat tour, I guess. I
know that there are plenty of operators so we decided to have a look
around once we are there.


Don't miss the Skyrail.

It is already on our list.


We had a cheap but excellent lunch at
the German Sausage cafe; $14 included a bratwurst, large
salad and a 500ml beer:-)

That is excellent! I have German parents and always love a good
authentic German sausage ;-).


Don't miss the rock
wallabies at Granite Gorge (near Mareeba)http://www.tablelands.org/granite-gorge.html

I haven't heard about this before, but the website looks like it is
worth a visit.

Thanks again for your advice.
My only concern is the weather now. The forecast doesn't look that
good for the next couple of days.

On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 06:29:06 -0700,
wrote:

Thanks again for your advice.
My only concern is the weather now. The forecast doesn't look that
good for the next couple of days.

It rained while I was wandering around the Mossman Gorge
(forgot to mention that one). I decided that I could hardly
complain about rain in a rainforest:-)

But I hope you get some good weather anyway.


Cheers, Alan, Australia
--
http://loraltravel.blogspot.com/
latest: Slovenia
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.com/

Hello aussietravel,

Queensland promises so much more other than Cairns and Brisbane. It's
the "Sunshine State".
Check out the other adventures and tourist spots to complete your
tour.


Check: http://afteraustralia.travellerspoint.com/ or www.bestaustralianhotels.com


wrote:
Hi,

I'll be in Brisbane for the first time later this week. Unfortunately
only for stop-over. I'll arrive early in the morning from Perth and
leave in the evening for Cairns.
My Lonely Planet recommends a walking tour from King George Square
down to the Brisbane River then through the South Bank Parklands, back
over the Goodwill Bridge and along George St to where it all started.
Would locals recommend such a tour as well?
Which other landmarks are worth a visit?

Thanks for your advice.

Cheers,
Aussie Travelguy