Australian Escapade – Brilliant in Brisbane Part 2

Welcome to my story style travel blog, featuring my time spent in Brisbane, Australia in the spring of 2025. Normally, I do group tours when I travel but I have an opportunity to use a flight pass from my friend who works as a flight attendant. I first visited Australia in 2009 when I was touring New Zealand and decided to fly over to Sydney for a week. I figured it’s been awhile, and Brisbane is a route my friend usually flies… so we plan to meet up there! I also have many friends who live in and around Brisbane, having met them as a result of my travels over the years. So here we go!!!

Brisbane is Australia’s third largest city, located in Queensland, a short distance away from the east coast.

It is said to have over 280 days of sunshine a year! Brisbane offers vibrant urban energy with a relaxed charm. Part cosmopolitan and part outdoorsy, you’ll find modern architecture mixed with subtropical gardens and rooftop bars that overlook the winding waterway of the Brisbane river. And the people here are so welcoming and friendly. Also known as Brisvegas, the city has a really cool nightlife and a flashy entertainment scene.

This morning, I’m headed to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. There is an option to do a river cruise to get there, but I’m feeling adventurous so I decide to take public transit! And I am off to a great start when the first bus I hop on is the wrong bus! Haha. I figure it out quickly and hop off at the next stop to go back to where I came from and start over. Second time is a success! What’s cool about the bus here…it costs only 50 cents!

This week is spring break here in Australia, so this means there are kids everywhere. And of course I would expect to see kids at this sanctuary but it’s just completely out of control. Haha. I’m one of the very few people visiting today without kids. But I gotta suck it up so I can see some koalas. I pass by a few crocs, some dingos and then make my way to the birds of prey show.

It features a couple of types of owls, and a peregrine falcon which is pretty cool. The birds swoop down close to the audience, so they recommend everyone stays seated.

I break free early so I can get a head start on the mob of kids, passing by some sheep and goats.

I get to the wombat enclosure, and all I can see is a wombat’s butt peeking out from its hideaway.

Nearby is a tree that has a few koalas hanging out, and I can get pretty close to them which is cool.

On the other side of the complex there is a koala encounter area and for an extra fee I can get up close and pet the koala. You KNOW I didn’t come all the way to the land down under to miss petting a koala. Their fur isn’t super soft, and the koala couldn’t care less that I am here…he’s busy munching on some leaves.

Overall, a fun experience. Now I go to purchase some ‘Roo food pellets and enter the giant field where the kangaroos hang out.

These ones are really chill. They are completely unfazed by the bombardment of people every day. Technically I should have fed them earlier because now they are not as hungry due to all the kids feeding them. I manage to find a few that will take me up on my offering, and will let me pet them.

On the way out, I exit through the cafeteria and get this…there are koalas all throughout the cafeteria, just chillin in some trees(they are out of reach which is good but I feel like this isn’t a very peaceful place for them).

Can they just sleep through anything? It adds to the atmosphere for sure!

I take the bus back, but I have a longer wait time for the correct bus to get me back downtown. I haven’t had lunch yet and I figure I can’t pass up Hungry Jack’s(which is Burger King, but they can’t call it that here due to a conflicting business).

I’m going to explore a bit this afternoon, and I first end up at City Hall…it’s late so I’ve missed all of the free tours but no prob, I can just wander around by myself.

I find a few halls, and some city history stuff in the small museum.

And a bust of Mr. Brisbane himself!!

Next on my agenda is the City Botanic Gardens; it’s nice to have a walk through and admire all of the neat trees.

I follow some ibises.

It’s hot, and I’m getting tired so I’m no longer interested in walking around. Although, that’s how I will have to get to my next destination….

The Skywalk at the Star Brisbane Hotel. It’s free, and there’s a few places up here to have a drink or a meal.

It’s a soaring city view of the South Bank side of Brisbane.

I’m a little early for sunset and if time permits, I’ll come back another night.

My last stop tonight is the Pig N Whistle, located in the City Hall square. I’m meeting up with Curie, as it’s her last night in Australia before heading back to her place in Vietnam. We have a nice time and she tells me about her visit to Australia Zoo (I’ll be going there in a few days). She got to see Robert Irwin, so my chances are looking good!! The food at this restaurant isn’t super appealing, so after we part ways, I grab some Krispy Crème donuts before I head back to my apartment to have a microwave meal for dinner. I don’t really have much desire to sit and eat in a restaurant alone(which I would normally do), so I’m enjoying having a kitchen!

Tomorrow, I will embark on another day tour out of the city……