Playing “tourist” around Brisbane

Even in retirement it’s good sometimes to have a day off.

So earlier this week I decided to play tourist in my home town of Brisbane.

It was a lovely dry sunny morning when I strolled the couple of blocks down to the river to catch a City Cat to take me up the Brisbane river, past New Farm Park and under the Story Bridge into town.

City Cat coming in to dock

The City Cat just docking ready for my trip up the river

I took my morning cup of coffee under one of the yellow umbrellas.
Dirty work, but somebody has to do it!

Looking back towards the Story bridge I had just cruised under – this is the view from the cafe where I took my morning coffee break

Still sitting at the coffee shop this is the view in the other direction. The paddle steamer is the “Kookaburra Queen” which takes cruises up the Brisbane River.

Time to get some exercise and I took a good walk along the river bank heading towards the City Botanic Gardens. You can just see the beginning of the mangroves growing out of the sandy bank.

Taking the path through the mangroves. So peaceful and miles from anywhere you would think. Wrong. The city is just a few hundred metres away across the park.

Leaving the river behind I strolled into the City Botanic Gardens and you can see the city in the distance. The weather was so kind I saw a fellow sunning himself with his shirt off. And it’s winter here.

After emigrating 30 odd years ago Brisbane still feels exotic to me. You just have to look at the flora

A pretty splash of colour

Almost in the city now I came across this pretty fountain and the ducks

I was joined by this cheeky bird

This rather lovely panel is on the city-side entrance to the gardens

And this rather grand plaque is on the main gates at the entrance

Heading into town from the gardens I passed a row of city bikes. You can rent these to get about.

Then onto our beautifully refurbished city hall where I attended a (free) lunchtime concert put on by Brisbane City Council. I enjoyed a lovely hour of jazz.

Outside the city hall after I left the concert office workers were sitting around having lunch

Walking through town I came to Anzac Square which was very pretty in the sunshine and lots of city workers enjoying a respite from their labours

Anzac Square has an avenue of these amazing Boab trees, sometimes called bottle trees

I couldn’t stop walking once I started and ended up walking most of the way home, through the city and only caught the bus when I reached Fortitude Valley.

A lovely day out.