Day 3: Brisbane
All day
Didn't drive anywhere!

The main reason we stopped in Brisbane was to meet up with the other family we are travelling with. Dad and the kids had set out earlier in the week in a camper can, and mum flew in today from Newcastle (delayed by work commitments).

I had a much better nights sleep last night, with mr7 being the first to want the loo at 5.30am. In the early light we saw a possum scoot across the road and up into the roof of the toilet block. This was all a bit too exciting for Mr7, and he was pretty much up for the day.

By good luck, rather than good planning, Today was also the culmination of the Festival of Brisbane, with an amazing fireworks display on a number of barges on the river, together with fireworks and laser lights off buildings in the CBD.

We headed into the city late morning, took a ferry ride up the river, then walked back to Southbank, which seemed like a good spot to watch the "show". To bide some time in the afternoon, the dads took the older kids to the nearby museum, where they had a great time, including looking through a dinosaur display.

Before the fireworks, We were treated to some aerial displays by fighter jets (super hornets) and black hawk helicopters.

The kids did well in such a large crowd, but our "space" in the park became increasingly confined as the afternoon wore on. Some of our "neighbours" we're good sports with our "energetic" group of kids, but a couple of others up and moved, including a couple with a young boy of their own. We found this pretty amusing.

But it was worth it - a light show huge enough to rival even the biggest of cities on new years eve. Ms3 managed to fall asleep half way through, but it had been a big day, so it was amazing she had made it that far.

We found our way back to the bus, and after a short wait were "home" not long after 8pm.

We have a big day in the car tomorrow- we're aiming for Roma. So, we have packed as much as we can, knowing that the kids will be up at first light, so we will make the most of it an aim for an early start.

We suspect Phone reception will become less reliable from tomorrow.