Australia Part X : Brisbane and The Sunshine Coast

Ian and I fly back to Brisbane on the same flight and after an unscheduled detour to Melbourne, we arrive safely Saturday evening and are met by Fiona and quite a large bump. We have a quiet evening catching up over a takeaway and glass of wine. The view from their apartment is fab:

On Sunday we go out for a leisurely breakfast and carb load a bit ahead of our 10k Twilight run. We take a stroll along the dockside where we can see the city and Storey bridge and it’s a fabulous walking path right on their doorstep. I’m looking forward to getting out here during the week.

It’s rough when it’s hot and you’ve been relaxing all afternoon, to get up, put your gear on and get ready to run ten kilometers at 5 o’clock in the evening but we’ve signed up and we’re going to do it. The before shot:

As it turns out we end up doing really well with Ian launching into trainer mode and pushing me to the finish. I’m pretty sure I’ve run my fastest 10k so we’re delighted with ourselves and Fiona is at the finish line to cheer us on:

As we’re over this side of town we go to Mt Cootha lookout to see the view across the city, then we pick up food and head home.. ready for a shower and an early night.

I hit the waterfront next morning and go out with the intention of a 5km run.

I end up doing 9km and although I’d love to say that I was just having a Forest Gump moment it’s really because I couldn’t figure out the loop back to the apartment and so ran too far one way and came back another and there you go – 9km! It’s a great area for a run though and super views:

I decide to have an easy day after that and settle in to my new home away from home. Next day I venture into the city. There’s a free city hopper ferry which is very handy and I go to Southbank and walk the Kurilpa foot bridge into the main town centre.

There’s a cool man-made lagoon right among the office blocks which is amazing.. imagine on your lunch break stripping off and jumping in here or lying on the sand for an hour before you go back to work.. brilliant!

I spend the afternoon at city hall where I catch the last ten minutes of a free concert in the dome. Then I visit the museum upstairs and do the clock tower tour and then I spend an hour at the “Mao’s Last Dancer” exhibit which is really interesting.

When I get back home via the ferry, it’s a quick change into gym gear and we’re off to CrossFit. It’s my first time and I really like the class.. especially the skipping!

We dash home and have a quick turnaround of showers and within the hour are ready to hit the Story Hotel for Trivia. It’s packed and the girl running it has a really annoying voice which I can’t even describe in words but we have a laugh and get through it and end up scoring reasonably high.

Wednesday is Anzac Day which means it’s a public holiday so we set off up the Sunshine Coast. There’s an accident on the main road so we are a little longer in the car than we would have liked but we fill the time with a few games of Heads Up. We check out the Eumundi markets and have the most gorgeous donuts.

Then we do a hike at Mt Coolum to work them off.

Fiona does tremendous considering the bumpy she’s carrying and she gets lots of kudos from others on the trail.

We’re delighted when we make it to the top

Then we hit Cooolom beach and stay there til the sun sets. The sand is gorgeous and the water is almost warm. I have a paddle up to my knees but Ian goes for it:

We have a really tasty Asian dinner before heading home – what a full day it’s been I reckon we’ll all sleep like logs. On Thursday I take Fiona’s car and drive back along the sunshine coast to the Australia Zoo, aka The Steve Irwin zoo. As zoos go it’s really good and the highlight is the crocodile show.

I get to see a dingo which looks no different to a dog:

The koalas are being their usual cutes selves:

I see my first Komodo Dragon, apparently this guy is a small one and I really want to go to Komodo island and see some big ones (it’s on my list):

Earlier when I took the exit for the zoo which takes you along Steve Irwin Way, I noticed signs for Glass House National Park and I kept getting peaks of some amazing looking mountains as I was driving, I’m anxious to get out of the zoo and see the mountains while the sun is shining. I follow a sign to a lookout spot and I’m not disappointed – they are amazing:

Great views driving around here:

A quick pit stop on the way home to pick up some wine and then It’s home for a shower and dinner out with the Brisbane crew who I met in New Zealand (remember that gang who got me drunk!!!!). I meet up with Anna and Peter who take me to a fabulous French restaurant called Boucher in their neighborhood and we have a great giggle about that crazy night and I fill them in on all my travels since I saw them. Unfortunately I don’t get to see the other two couples but maybe on my return we might remedy that.

It’s been great to visit Brisbane and see where my cuz lives and I’m looking forward to a few more days and exploring the Gold Coast when I get back. For now it’s time to head further north to the Whitsundays.