Canadian traveling to Brisbane *We're back! - Update *

[Aussie Wendy]

Memo to self-its time I revisited Lone Pine again!!

 

[PinkMagnolia]

Our trip is finally here!!! We are leaving this week

I just have a few last-minute questions, and am hoping someone can help me out:

1. We will be based out of Peregian Beach for the 1st leg of our trip. I'm wondering where I should get groceries as our unit has a full kitchen. If you can recommend supermarkets and/or butchers, fish markets, green grocers. We will have a car.

2. Is it an easy walk to Southbank from the Hilton downtown? It looks like it on the map, but I can't tell from Google Maps if the bridge is a pedestrian bridge too?

3. Looks like we will be there the night of the fireworks on Sept. 28th. Anywhere you'd recommend watching them that would be within walking distance from our hotel?

4. What about shopping? I'll have a bit of time on my hands while DH is working. If there are any shops in Central Brisbane that are particularly worth noting, please share! I'll have to get souvenir-y type gifts for my kids and my childcare. (We will be at Emerundi Market too, so I can pick up some gifts there too)

Thanks again for all of your replies. This is going to be an adventure for DH and I and we are SO looking forward to this trip

 

[AJgear]

I can answer most of your questions.

The two major supermarkets in Aust are Coles and Woolworths. I'm not sure if they are close by to where you are staying but they have online ordering and for most areas will deliver. Check out colesonline.com.au and woolworths.com.au. You will need to enter the postcode of where you are staying to find out if they deliver to your accommodation.

Walking is easy to Southbank as the bridge is for pedestrians also. Great walking paths along the river also. You can also catch a train from a number of downtown Brisbane stops and Southbank has it's own stop. Just need to jump on the Gold Coast train which will stop at Southbank. There are probably other trains that stop there also but I know the GC one definitely does.

Shopping in downtown is easy also and your best bet would be to head to Queen St Mall. Again this is walking distance and you will find lots of souvenir items as well as everything else imaginable.

Have a great trip. The weather is absolutely spectacular at the moment.

 

[kylieh]

Coles and Woolworths are only a few kms from where you are staying in Noosa. I'm not 100% familiar with the ones there, but if they are like Sydney they are pretty much the same in terms of range, quality, prices, etc.

There are also IGA supermarkets which are often, but not always, smaller than the big two, sometimes cost a little more, but are normally quicker to get into and out of.

Looking in street view there looks like there would be an IGA or similar in the main street/shop area of Peregian Beach given there are at least two real estate agencies. Or at least somewhere to get you a couple of bits and pieces if you're tired and don't feel like driving when you arrive.

The big Pineapple is open again on Saturday mornings, don't go out of your way to have a look, but if you're in that part of town go have your photo taken there. I think anyone of us who visited Brisbane or Southern Qld as kids were dragged, um, taken there by their parents, but it is a unique. http://www.bigpineapple.com.au/saturday-growers-markets/

This is some random family from Google images (not mine.)

I'm heading up this weekend, looks like good weather is approaching, mid to high 20s most days for the next week anyway.

Have a great trip!

 

[jacs1234]

2. Is it an easy walk to Southbank from the Hilton downtown? It looks like it on the map, but I can't tell from Google Maps if the bridge is a pedestrian bridge too?
quite easy, but wear comfy shoes. There are also little bike stations around the city, you can hire a bike and ride over, that would be fun. I think you use the internet to get credit to hire the bikes with. I'll look it up for you.
3. Looks like we will be there the night of the fireworks on Sept. 28th. Anywhere you'd recommend watching them that would be within walking distance from our hotel?
South bank or the kangaroo point cliffs are where lots of people go. I think you can also walk through the mall and onto the victoria bridge to watch from there. That will be an easy walk from the hilton which is right on the mall. My friend was talking about the fireworks today and he takes her kids into southbank with a picnic and sits on the beach to watch them. It gets a bit crowded and the food lines are looooooooooooooong

4. What about shopping? I'll have a bit of time on my hands while DH is working. If there are any shops in Central Brisbane that are particularly worth noting, please share! I'll have to get souvenir-y type gifts for my kids and my childcare. (We will be at Emerundi Market too, so I can pick up some gifts there too)
Heaps of souvenir shops in the mall. There is a big outlet store called DFO right near the airport.

I hope you have an awesome trip. It's the perfect time of year to come over.

 

[jacs1234]

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/facilities-recreation/sports-and-leisure/cycling/citycycle/

 

[Toy Story]

Hi,

I am not very familiar with Brisbane, but stayed in Southbank a few weeks ago for work. The arts precinct around the area is fantastic, walking from museums, to galleries.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Very late sorry - I have been AWOL. Yes easy walk from the Hilton over Victoria Bridge to Southbank but wear comfy shoes for sightseeing. You will have worked out groceries at Peregian by now by now and probably back in Brisbane so hope you had a good time. The Victoria Bridge is partially closed during Riverfire - they keep the traffic lanes closed for pedestrians but you can't get too close to the overview from the closest walkway as they close it off. People will pack the centre of the bridge. The east side walkway is open for coming and going all night but after it is over it can take a while in the crowds to walk back across into the city but its a great atmosphere. Best viewing spots are Kangaroo Point cliffs or in the crowds on Southbank if you score a possie near to the water to see the lower level firework stuff - the high stuff you can obviously see from anywhere not blocked by high buildings or trees. It can be good to be able to look up at the city. I was disappointed last year they did not do the waterfall of fireworks off the Goodwill Bridge unlike previous years. They let the fireworks off from barges in the river, some of the bridges like the Goodwill and the tops of some of the high rises.

You may have also already discovered the Santos City of Lights display is on every evening at 7pm and 8.30pm til the end of this week- laser lights show with music and other stuff going on as part of the Brisbane Festival. Well worth watching.

For sightseeing by day there is a free river ferry called the cityhopper that goes across the river from the end of Queen St (beyond the casino-North Quay) to Southbank as well as a few stops up and down the river - not to be mistaken with the big white and blue Citycat service that goes both directions up and down the river and costs $. The cityhopper goes around to Eagle St Pier and under the Story Bridge around as far as Dockside-a much shorter route but its free! Here is the website. http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/downloads/traffic_transport/public_transport/cityhopper_timetable.pdf

The city mall has all the usual suspects for souvenir shopping-it can be tricky to get something not too kitsch. For more unusual gifts I often pick something up from the Art Gallery shop, Museum shop, or Performing Arts Centre shop (all in Southbank). The Australian Geographic chain store (one in the Myer Centre) can be good for Australian flavoured gifts as well with the emphasis on kids but also stuff for adults like various gardening items, outdoor items, Australian scents candles, wooden Aus hardwood pens, coasters, gum leaf book marks, very pretty Australiana calendars, embroidered tea towels, and the like.

Enjoy!!

 

[PinkMagnolia]

We are back from our trip, and had an AMAZING time!!!!! I basically planned this trip around the advice I received in this thread - thank you so much for all of your input!

Our time in Peregian Beach was fabulous. We stayed at Peregian Court Resort and I can't say enough about how much we loved it here. We were steps away from the beach (with lifeguards). We went swimming in the ocean every day we were there (one day there were Whales and Dolphins within view!!!) We did the coastal walk/hike at Noosa National Park (Noosa in general was slammed with people. We were *never* able to find a place to park to check out the beach/shops there!) We went to Mary Carincross park (WOW WOW WOW!!) Had lunch in Malaney one day, and King Ludwig's another (all very good). We hiked Mt. Ngungun (one of the Glass House Mountains - Beautiful!) and checked out Ermundi Markets. We had an amazing, relaxing lovely time here -- we loved it so much that we actually had a conversation about moving to this area! I easily found Coles in Peregian Springs (which was fun just wandering through and checking things out) I couldn't believe how tastier all the fruit was (compared to the sorry fruit we mostly get in CAN), and the steaks we BBQd at our resort were outstanding!

We then moved onto Brisbane. The Hilton was *Fabulous* This is where DH's conference was. Right on the mall, and easy access to the food court at Wintergarden and a few grocery stores (Coles and Wolworths very closeby). While DH was working, I went on a guided tour of Roma St Parkland (where I'm sure the guide though I was insane as I actually gasped when I saw a Jacaranda tree HAHA!). This park was one of the highlights of my time here. I also went to the Museum, Art Gallery, GOMA (loved all the art!!), walked through Southbank. I went to see Grease by myself (LOVED it, I actually had goosebumps and tears in my eyes a couple of times as the performers were amazing!!). On our last day there, DH and I did a walking tour that was in Lonely Planet which took us from Central Station to the Cenotaph, through a few churches, over to the City Botanical Gardens (not as beautiful as Roma - thanks for the tip through Southbank where we had a great lunch. That was a great tour!

There were a few things that I wanted to do, but just didn't have the time, like a river cruise (I'm sorry I didn't get to do this!) and any of the wildlife areas (Australia Zoo or Lone Pine). I did see several Pademelons, lots of dragon lizards, and turkeys but I regret not seeing any Koalas or Kangaroos (although I have seen them in Zoos at home) We were sleeping by 9:00 PM (and were up around 5:30 AM) every day, which was annoying as we didn't get to do anything in the evening, but we couldn't seem to stay up past then.

I actually did the driving! I just kept talking to myself the whole time, and it was OK. I was only honked at once (stopping at a roundabout - oops!) and only found myself briefly driving on the right side once, but it was OK. It was easier as I found that Aussie drivers aren't as crazy as North Americans, and most people stay within the speed limit.

In general, I found Brisbane (and QLD) in extremely clean and easy to get around. We met the most wonderful, helpful people, saw unique and amazing things (I still can't get over Roma St. park and those lovely beaches!!!). Had a few "magical" things happen, and other than the 30+ hour flight/transit it was an amazing, wonderful experience. I truly hope to be able to visit Brisbane (and especially the Sunshine Coast) again.

Thanks once again to each of you who offered suggestions -- I don't think I could have had the wonderful time we had without your suggestions.

 

[elphaba91]

Glad to hear you had such a great time! Especially pleased to hear your appreciation of our fantastic musical theatre performers - I don't know Queensland that well (despite having lived there for a short time as a child), but I'm a passionate supporter of the musical theatre scene in Australia, so it's nice to hear such praise of it from an overseas visitor! There are some great performers in that show, including Bert Newton (who is an Australian entertainment legend), Rob Mills (who most people know as the Australian Idol contestant who hooked up with Paris Hilton, but he has since become a seriously nice guy and a fantastic theatre performer), Todd McKenney (an iconic performer who most Aussies love to hate thanks to his harsh judging on Dancing with the Stars) and several others who are probably unknown to most people apart from those in the know!

 

[zanzibar138]

Glad to hear you had such a great time I agree, the only trouble with Australia is that it's so darn far away from everywhere else

 

[jacs1234]

I have been thinking of you. I'm so glad you had such a great time.

 

[Tashinwdw]

Its wonderful to hear you had such a wonderful time. This thread has even made me want to go up to qld for a holiday. We were planning on going up there next year and do Fraser Island but as the school holidays has easter and anzac day in them we thought it would be to busy, so we are now considering Ulluru.

 

[Franrose]

Sounds awesome!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Glad you reported back as I was wondering how things went. I felt bad that I dropped out of things recently so missed your reminder posts in case there was stuff I could have answered for you. Sounds like you had a great time and glad you liked the Sunshine Coast - we do! Parking at Noosa is always a nightmare unfortunately but I gather you got a park Sunshine Beach side or in the National park to do the walk. Good to hear you enjoyed Brisbane as well. Now you get to enjoy the trip again looking at pics!

 

[Marlea98]

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