Travel stories | Brisbane, Australia
Travel stories | Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane! Its certainly the place to go to in Summer and thankfully I missed all the rains and humidity in January. I recommend holding off till February to cope with the heat and the occasional downpour.
Where to stay | I chose an Airbnb located in Newstead/Teneriffe. This meant I was near transport (ferries and buses) and walking distance pretty much to everything. It was a one bedroom unit styled with a Danish aesthetic and perfect for a solo or couple (+ bubbie) trip. Richard was fantastic to communicate with.
Where to eat | oh! my! all I can say is that in the neighbourhoods out of the city are the best bakers, baristas and bars! I was spoilt for choice. I highly recommend the following:
I arrived in Brisbane late in the afternoon and was hoping something would be open for lunch. As it was Mrs Brown’s Bar and Kitchen was! The bartender was welcoming and recommended the lounge area. He also recommended the G&T Italian special with basil and grapefruit. I had one small plate and a side plate. Perfect for one! I’m definitely going back!
Sprout Artisan Bakery - oh! it was just rows and rows of sweet and savoury pastries. I ended up getting the popular egg tart to have for dinner later that night and a very nice coffee. Agnes Bakery opposite is also just as outstanding - this time I got a spinach and feta croissant and the layers of buttery pastry were certainly knocked off from my steps that day! Again, perfect coffee!
What to do | Okay, I’m a walker and can do up to 14,000 steps quite easily. I walk everywhere unless I need a bus to go longer distances. There is plenty to do in Newstead/New Farm with cafes, restaurants, farm markets, boutique shops, showrooms and so much more. This is not a shopping mall and while some stock standard shops exist, they are far and few between. I made last minute purchases at The Modern Furniture Store in Fortitude Valley which had stylish scandi furniture, design objects and Marimekko.
Go for a bike ride, run or walk along the South Brisbane river bank ie. Teneriffe River Walk. I walked from the unit down to Teneriffe Ferry and headed towards the Brisbane Powerhouse. It was about 40 mins and I’m a fast walker. Plus I did this at 7am. I can tell you now, don’t go after 8am - it’s so unbearably hot!
Catch the CityCat and ferries - at only 50 cents (tap on tap off) it’s a bargain! You can choose where to start and finish. Also, get yourself a go card as you need these for the buses. While trains and ferries are with the times…the buses still haven’t rolled out tap on tap off (sigh!).
What to wear | I normally don’t suggest this but given the heat, I’d recommend to pack light, loose clothing. Bring a wide scarf and broad brim hat to protect you from the sun - white is best as black absorbs the heat. Sunscreen is a no-brainer. I bought this fabulous firming mist toner which is small and handbag size perfect. When I was feeling the heat, I’d spritz this all over and it truly was a life saver!
Hidden Gems | This is not necessarily a hidden gem but for me it was my first time at GOMA. The Gallery of Modern Art. I also lucked in with the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art which my friend and artist Claire Grant suggested we visit. Not only did I see the event for the first time but also the building which architecture wise was so big - GOST suddenly seems so small!
paper boat press | this is a boutique ceramic gallery + studio run by the talented Kylie Johnson and her staff. I was very fortunate to meet Kylie as we had met via email after I watched her Churchill Fellowship panel talk. I knew her many years prior when working at Style Emporium / Shop Girl Flower Girl and held this longlife dream to finally meet her. We chatted about ceramics, our business, our homes literally behind the galleries and I made a few purchases of my very first Japanese ceramics. Put this on your must do list!
City skyline | Okay, so my previous story talks about sunrises over the oceans and tall towers in the distance. In Brisbane, it’s the city skyline that I got to see from my unit. I was a bit of a stay at home in the evening for my stay here but that’s because I wake early, walk solidly all day and then crash! Check out the photos below and enjoy planning your next trip to Queensland - it’s a big place!
Anne xx
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