If you didn’t follow my flood of Instagram stories last week, I went to Brisbane, to chill out and have a blast of a time. I was still on holidays from work, cousins were visiting from the UK and an ‘itty bitty’ nephew was due any day, so I thought it was a great time to fly over and while away my time there

Catching a red eye flight over, I didn’t dally away my day sleeping, but went straight to the city, after a shower and freshen up, to spend lunch with my Godmother.

 

She took me to the Shingle Inn, tucked away in the big old Town Hall.

While the food was nice enough, the setting was great, set in a Tudor style room in the depths of the building.

I didn’t explore the rest of the hall that day, but I did return through the week, with my camera in hand, and took some snaps of the building.

It’s super attractive inside, I must say!

Seeing me take photos, the friendly security guard approached and proceeded to tell me that the concert hall was open that day too. He then took me upstairs to show me the way.

The concert hall is definitely a place I’d like to perform in one day!

After, I went up to the third floor of the building, where there’s a free tour up the tower. Sadly the tour time I needed was all booked for the day, so I wondered through the free museum up there instead.

There’s a collection of modern artwork and a fashion exhibition.

But what I think is far more interesting is the concise  history of Brisbane you can read on panels and some insight into the treatment of convicts.

(You haven’t traveled, if you don’t learn something while you’re doing it. That’s what I think, anyway.)

Also in the city, I spent some time down Eagle Street in the heart of the CBD. I think it has a really attractive, modern aesthetic, which is definitely saying something, because I’m usually a die-hard ‘old charm gal’.

Maybe because it’s all very ‘shiny’ and I’m like a bird – obsessed with sparkles!

South Bank, just across the winding brown Brisbane River, was where I spent most of my spare time. Whether practicing at the conservatorium, or swimming in the man made beach (or both!), I found myself there every day, for one reason, or other.

It’s a very relaxed and pretty part of Brisbane, with the bougainvillea arbor running the breadth of it, spots to eat all along the way and the Brisbane Eye at the heart of the place.

It’s great any time of day, or night. We even went for a night swim, which is definitely something I’d recommend.

There’s great views of the city too.

And pop down Stanley Street Plaza for a bight to eat, or wander the markets on the weekend. The market keeps buzzing into the night.

Also, don’t forget to have a wander through the parkland too.

Don’t be scared to make new friends! Meet Liz….the Lizard! (An Eastern Water Dragon.)

Some other great activities I did was hit up Wet‘n’Wild on the Gold Coast, with the ‘adult’ cousins. (But really, deep down, or not so deep down, we’re just kids, who love water and fast slides.) It was a buzz!

Another activity we did, which I highly recommend, is Escape Manor in the city. It was a great escape room that makes your brain tick and unleashes the Sherlock inside everyone, or makes you scream of fright (like I shamefully did). I recommend getting a mixed bunch of thinkers together and just go do it!

Unless you don’t want to be as crazy as us!

Besides all the fun and games though, what really was the highlight of my trip was making some truly amazing friends, having memorable conversations, holding my new-born nephew for the first time, spending afternoon tea with the grandparents and hanging out with this absolutely crazy and wonderful family of mine!

Not one normal photo…not one!

Brisbane, see you soon!