A day in Brisbane

The sun shining so up early to see Brisbane. Our apartment overlooks the Brisbane river and just a short walk away there is a stop for the city river ferry. We caught it to Riverside on the east side of the CBD. First stop was one of the river side cafés for breakfast, then a walk around the CBD. One of the many sites we viewed was City Hall which has an amazing auditorium, the internal dome of which changes colour continuously. Then we took the free trip up the clock tower, great views despite the many high rise buildings and quite stunning to be behind the clock as it struck midday, exactly the same chimes as Big Ben. Then we walked to Anzac Square, which is very impressive as a memorial to Australian war dead right up to the more recent conflicts. On through the retail area (not very interesting) past the old Customs House, the Treasury (now a casino!), the Commissariat and the State Parliament, before walking down to the beautiful botanical gardens which are not large but they provide a real oasis with some fantastic trees in the heart of the city. Lunch was in another one of the riverside restaurants.

Back on the ferry to go as far down the river to the sea as they go passing some amazing apartment blocks and houses as well as the old wool warehouses. We then swopped to another ferry all the way back to the apartment. Commuting on the river seems great fun.
It was a really enjoyable day in a laid back city with a mix of very modern and quite superb old architecture; several skyscrapers immediately adjacent to a number of old churches and the cathedral creating an interesting juxtaposition.