Brisbane: The City on the Inland Waterway
We arrived in Brisbane (pronounced as Bris-been), and made our way Spicers Balfour Hotel. A wonderful boutique hotel across the waterway from downtown, and very near James Street, the Rodeo Drive of Brisbane. The Story Bridge, which opened in 1940, sits between the hotel and downtown, creating a wonderful view day and night. The night shot of the bridge and downtown Brisbane was the first time I’ve flown my drone at night. The shot lacks the focus of a digital SLR, but it’s not bad. It was definitely spring in Brisbane, the Jacaranda trees were in full bloom everywhere.
I refer to the Brisbane River that weaves through Brisbane as an inland waterway because it more resembles the Miami Inter-coastal Waterway than any river I have ever seen. The waterway is lined with oceangoing yachts and sailing vessels, both in marinas and anchored, and even uses a fleet of fast catamarans as water “buses,” similar to Paris. It’s about 37 miles from Brisbane to the open ocean using the waterway.
Brisbane is a very beautiful, clean city. We spent our one full day here enjoying catching up on sleep in our suite at the Spicers Balfour Hotel, and enjoying the fabulous meals in their restaurant, and riding the “CityCat” up and down the waterway. I included a shot of the new Australian national bird as the locals call the high rise construction cranes that are everywhere in Australia (New Zealand as well). I have never seen as many new large buildings going up at the same time in any city in the USA. There is so much to explore in Brisbane, we wish we had more time here.
This morning we head to the airport for our flight to Darwin. We are very excited about boarding The Ghan train in a few days.
Miles traveled on this trip to date: 11,778. Number of days on this trip to date: 24
