Just A Hop & A Skip...To Brisbane Australia

by Michelle
(Brisbane, Australia)

The designer and owner of this wonderful site and I share a passion. That passion being that we have both created our own web sites and home based businesses.

Through this shared interest we have met and shared our stories. Although our sites have very different concepts mine being ‘ Themed Parties’ and hers being New Zealand of course, I still thought that I would share my experiences of a country just over the ditch as we say here and would tell you a little about Brisbane, Australia. Oh and in case you’re interested and since we all have birthday’s then if you’ll looking for some inspiration then check out my site www.creative-kids-partys.com

I hope that you enjoy my brief insight into Brisbane...
designed, built and Originally from the UK my family and I made a move half way around the world to Live in Brisbane, Australia approximately 4 years ago. Just a hop and a skip from New Zealand it’s a place I hope to visit soon.

We currently live in what is fondly described as the Bayside, an outer suburb area approximately 40 minutes drive out of Brisbane. The Bay side area is a pretty area quiet and relaxed but still with good access to the city should we want it.

As a city Brisbane is truly beautiful, positioned on a snaking, curving river the city hugs the banks of the Brisbane River, which at the time of me writing this piece is slowly but surely flooding our beautiful city. A thankfully rare event the last time being in 1974 it is unfortunately reoccurring as we speak.

That aside the city will recover and if you ever have a chance it’s a city well worth a visit. With a health mix of city sky line, beautiful gardens and parks, restaurants and the ever popular South Bank Parklands, an oasis of sand and sea placed delicately on the banks of the Brisbane River, it allows free access for Brisbanites and visitors alike to swim in the manmade lagoon and lay on the sandy shores as if they were on their own private desert island, it’s a sight to see. I remember the first time I saw it and I couldn’t quite believe my eyes.

Brisbane is a relatively small city as cities go and as such is easy to navigate and see all there is to see without exhausting yourself. When we first arrived we took a slow and lazy trip up the river to the ‘Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary’ the boat trip in its self is a real treat as you slowly make the trip upstream you pass by many of Brisbane’s more impressive riverside residence and hear stories of Brisbane history, local characters and stories. To top the day off you have an opportunity to spend time at the Koala sanctuary and maybe experience your first up close and personal meeting with the revived Australian Koala. Its great day out for both young and old and I fully recommend it.

At night Brisbane really shines as the city lights shine out over the river. With no shortage of good restaurants you will be spoilt for choice for great places to eat and enjoy the views.

If it’s night life you’re looking for then the Fortitude Valley offers all that any night owl may want.

Moving away from the city you have the choice of travelling to either beaches or mountains.

For beaches and family entertainment there’s the Gold Coast at just over an hour’s drive south. In the same direction but then inland, there’s Mount Tamborine’ a beautiful rainforest mountain area with a wonderful treasure trove of a village called ‘Eagle Heights’ perch on top.

Driving south will take you to the Glass House Mountains and Noosa, Eumundi just a short drive inland from Noosa has wonderful high end craft markets, well worth a visit. Noosa of course is a well known beachside town with beautiful beaches.

Inland from Noosa is Maleny a quaint town with a village feel.

The beauty of visiting Brisbane is not only Brisbane it’s self but the easy access to surrounding places of interest.

Happy travels
Michelle