15 March 2016:- AUSTRALIA & NZ Brisbane

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND :- Brisbane

10th Day: 15.03.2016 

I have allocated the whole day for Brisbane. Since I was late last night I did sleep longer this morning and woke up around 09.30 o’clock. I do not want to interrupt my logbook on the Blog Spot and therefore I worked hard last night.  Around 10 o’clock I went out from the hotel and walked with quick steps to the South Bank of the Brisbane River. I crossed the Victoria Bridge which is only 700 meter from my hotel.

Yesterday I had decided to take the River Tour. Tour boat departs only two times a day and it is scheduled at 10:30 and 12:30. The jetty next to the Brisbane Wheel is the place where the boat departs from. I came to the boat very punctually and bought the ticket (29.-AUD).

At the lower deck they had prepared breads with cream and jam. The newly brewed coffee was also standing there. I am really lucky. I did not have time to have breakfast and this service made me happy. For the later departure there is no snack and coffee !!!

On the boat to the direction to Storey Bridge (on the left last part of the Botanic Garden)

Boat is heading to the Storey Bridge

Storey Bridge:- This time we are approaching from the other side.

Last bent to the Southbank, Building next to the bridge are of Queensland Technical University

I took two pieces of bread and a coffee and climbed the upper deck. It is a small but wide boat with length around 15 meters and a beam of 5 meters. There are chairs for every passenger. Sides are open and nice breeze cooling us in the sunny weather. The boat took us with reasonable speed up to the Newstead House. It is about 4,5-5 kms in the north part of the river. The captain was also briefing us about the important buildings and cultural facts. It was really good to have some idea in a limited time in Brisbane.

The boat drove us back again to the same place where we did boarding. Two ways took around 1 ½ hours.

As soon as we landed I walked to the Queensland Museum which is located on the Southbank on the west side of the Victoria Bridge. The building had been designed with minimalist approach and it does not break the rules of the profile of the land. It is connected to the next building GOMA (Galery of Modern Art) and Library with nicely arranged parks. Occasionally there was also a big exhibition for the time being.

The 8^th Asia Pasific Triennial Exhibition, shortly APT 8 is comprised of paintings, sculptures, installations etc. The artists have been invited from the Asia Pasific area.

Artpaint done by an Artist from Nepal

Installation open to public

Artist from Australia

I am not the artist

Artist is from Myanmar:- Classroom

Artist from Myanmar:- Classroom

 I spent some time in the museum and then I took a quick lunch at the Museum Cafeteria. At 15:30 I finished also my visit at GOMA. Then I proceded to the North Bank of Brisbane.

Looking from the park between Library and GOMA

I have my ticket for the performance “Sound of Music” at 18:30 at the Lyric Theater. I want to see also something around my hotel where there are a lot of shops and cafés. I walked to the King George Sq. I saw partly Ann Street, Edward Street. I came around 5 o’clock to my room at the Hotel Mantra Midtown.

Having changed into smart casuals, I went out for the musical theater. It is only 15 minutes’ walk from my hotel. The Lyric Theater is within the Old Performing Arts building at the south side of the Victoria Bridge. I was there around 18:00 and took a Coffee latte at the theater‘s café. I had paid 130.-AUD yesterday when I bought my ticket. I have a good seat right in the middle axis on the 9^th row. After watching the play we came out from the theater around 21:00. Over the bridge Victoria, walking all along the Charlotte Street I ended up at the Eagle St Pier. Last night I had my dinner here at the Pony‘s Dining. This time I will try another restaurant. I saw this time a Sea Food Restaurant. I sat at the balcony looking over the steel bridge called Storey Bridge. After having a delicious sea food (oyster and prawns) I walked back to my hotel.

It was late and I have my flight to Sydney tomorrow at 12:25.

I packed most of my stuff and start to sleep.

Good night to everybody.

14 March 2016:- AUSTRALIA & NZ :- Cairns>>Brisbane

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND :- Cairns>>Brisbane

9th Day  : 14.03.2016

I woke up around 07:40 even I had to sleep until 8 o’clock. The weather in Cairns is so hot and humid that all night long I had to operate the A/C Unit of my room. I have my flight to Brisbane at 10:10 o’clock. I packed all my stuff and carried my luggage downstairs to the car. I went to the breakfast room of the hotel and reluctantly I took the poor breakfast.

Butter, jam, toasted bread and coffee. In addition to these I also ate some fruit salad which is good.

After doing the check-out at the Hotel I drove away to the East Coast Car Rental Company. I left the car there and the lady hurried me to the shuttle for airport. It was the right time and I caught the shuttle on time. Together with some other guests we have been driven to the airport in 15-20 minutes.

I finished my check in and moved to the airplane. It took off punctually. We are heading to Brisbane which is a modern and industrialized city in the Queensland State. Unfortunately I was sitting at the window side and the flight was longer than I expected. Both guys on my left were sitting and sleeping all the time and I couldn’t stand up and “breathe” a little bit.

As we landed at Brisbane airport someone can get the impression about the cultural and economic level of the city. Very close to the carousel where I claimed my luggage I saw a desk for the train connection to the city. The guy there said that it is fastest and convenient way to go to the center. One way is 17.50 AUD and two way is 33.-AUD with the discount.

I bought two way and went directly to the train station which took only 4 minutes on walking. I reached to the Center Station. I walked to my Hotel Mantra Midtown at the Charlotte Street. It is only 15 minutes on walking with my rolling luggage and back bag.

The hotel is right in the center of life and very neat and clean. They gave me room 705 on the 7^th level. It is an apart house with a big space and private shower & WC. After 1 hour I changed my pants and went out to discover the city.

I walked down the Charlotte Str and then took the Albert Street and through the pedestrian shopping street I reached to the Victoria Bridge. The view from the bridge is challenging.

Nord bank of the river and the river itself is attracting. I took a lot of pictures with my camera. There are a lot boats and ferries transporting the people from one side to another or along the river. There is no freight transportation at all. CityCat is a well known public transportation company on the river Brisbane.

Foot of the old Brisbane Bridge (Victoria Bridge)

Victoria Bridge and Tall Building at the North bank

From the Victoria Bridge looking to the North Bank

On the south bank there is still the foot of the old bridge which had been constructed in 1865. As a brief story, it is interesting that the people had built the bridge out of timbers in two years and then the wood worms have eaten the bridge in the following two years and the bridge had collapsed. Later on Brisbane people have built some more bridges connecting same points. Now, so far I remember is the 4^th (maybe 3^rd) version which is in operation.

After spending some time at the foot of the old Victoria Bridge (at that time they called it Brisbane Bridge) I went down to the South Bank of the Brisbane River. I took some pictures while walking in the (east) direction to the Maritime Museum. There is the big “Wheel of Brisbane” at the south bank. The parkland is extending all along the river‘s south bank. It is approx. 1 km in length and 70-100 meter in width.

Brisbane - Background North Bank

Wheel of Brisbane on the Parkland-South bank

I stopped somewhere close to the wheel and ate a wrapped “Doner” in a Turkish food corner. Then I walked further. Brisbane has got the man-made public beach which is free for everybody.

Brisbane South Bank-Public Beach

Public Beach in the Parkland of Brisbane (South Bank)

70 meters further out the Parkland  I discovered the chocolate shop called “Chocolate by the bold man – Max Brenner”. This one is on the parallel street to the Parkland area.

Hot chocolate (dark) and chocolate soufflé was fantastic. I recommend to everybody.

A few shops further I found the tourist information center. I talked to the guys there and fixed a ticket at the Lyrics Theater for the next day at 18.30. It is the well-known “Sound of Music”.

From the Goodwill Bridge, Brisbane

Victoria Bridge seen from Goodwill Bridge

From the Goodwill Bridge

I walked cross the Goodwill Bridge and came to the north bank of the river. It was getting dark and I walked through the long Botanic Park all along the river to the Eagles Street. At this point there are a few exclusive restaurants with attractive ambiance and nice view over the steel Storey Bridge.

I decided to eat at the Pony Restaurant. I liked king prawns and wine. It was very delicious food.

Eagles Street is also within the Business district of the city Brisbane. There are a lot of tall building as headquarters of the well known corporates. The upper end of the Charlotte Street is extending up to here. I walked all along the Charlotte Street and came to my Hotel Mantra Midtown.

I can suggest the Hotel to everybody. Very good location, big clean rooms. Especially very efficient for those who are going to stay as couples.

After having all the washed items from the wash machine in my room I slept with some plans in my mind.

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Introduction

This time I am flying to discover (?)Australia and New Zealand: the continent on islands.
I have planned to fly to the West Coast of Australia and to enter the continent at Perth.
Having the flight on March,5th, 2016 at 15:30 from Istanbul will arrive at Perth next day 
on March, 6th, 2016 around 17:35 with the local time. I will overnight at the Dubai Airport because my complete travel has been booked on Emirates Airlines.
It costs me 2,500.-USD for 12 destinations at all.
My route will be as :
ISTANBUL-via Dubai-Perth-Darwin-Cairns-Brisbane-Sydney-Auckland-Sydney-Ayers Rock- Sydney-via Dubai-ISTANBUL. I will be back at home on March, 27th,2016.
Within the routes, at the points mentioned, there will be some organised tours for trekking, hiking, diving, and mainly for photography. I will share my experience and info but not the smell of the air and taste of the food and drinks (Sorry !). 
I intend to write my notes for each day starting with March, 5th,2016 as I did it also in my previous publications.