Riverside and Southbank

Wednesday 3rd

Feel so much better today!!! Having a day off has really helped and I feel so much more alive today!! Thank good its sunny and there isn't a cloud in the sky again!!!

We have breakfast, shower and head out around 12, the weather is insane I'm loving it, Thomas is getting set to burn and has smothered himself in sun cream but I can't stop smiling, it's gorgeous!!

The area is nice and there are health clubs everywhere, literally have seen 10 different health clubs and gyms its crazy!!

We head along to the Tenerife (the area where we are staying) ferry station next to the river and walk along the promenade in the direction of the city centre. The water looks amazing with all the beautiful houses and apartments, there are loads of mills from the wool industry that use to be in the area and the mills have all been converted into luxury accommodation. We walk along, past loads of runners and cyclists, and eventually stop dead in our tracks as I spot.... a massive MASSIVE lizard at the side of the promenade!!!! It's the most beautiful thing!!! Im in complete shock- its HUGE and I'm in love!! We take loads of pictures of it and a woman and her two boys come up and start looking at it, she says that it's always hanging about here and it's got two little babies that they point out to us. She says if we hire a car and go to Mount Koothey they have massive iguanas roaming around and it's a great spot to walk around.

We carry on up the river and hit the Powerhouse Gallery where they have theatre and dance productions, there is a sports model having a mini photoshoot so we wait for them to finish before heading past them back on our walk.

We catch the City Hopper ferry from the jetty and take the free tour up the river all the way to the Southbank. The ride is beautiful and all the better for being free, there are jetties all over the banks and loads of CityCat ferries around.

When we get off at Southbank it's absolutely stunning, there is a beautiful little garden with lettuces and herbs growing everywhere and after that you hit the built beach and swimming pool that has been made along the bank. It sounds horrible but its so pretty, people are swimming, sunbathing, reading, having picnics its lovely and lots of nooks and crannies so it's not just one open area. There is a plaza just off from the beach and Little Stanley Street and Grey Street have all the restaurants so we head there for lunch. we can't find anything in out budget that jumps out at us so we grab a burrito from Guzman Y Gomez again and continue along the beach front. We buy Thomas a cap so he doesn't burn and keep walking until we hit the galleries and museum that are just a bit further along the front. They are beautiful buildings with really nice sitting areas and we'll come back when we have a bit more time to look around.

We head over the bridge and come across a market that's happening at the top of Queen Street, there are lots of fruit and veg vendors and bakers, organic stalls, nuts etc. We have a quick look around and then walk along Queen Street to see what they have on the high street. Its just a typical high street but it's good to have a wander and get our bearings. As it gets dark we head back to to the house but we walk from the centre out to Tenerife, I thought it would be a long walk but it literally takes us half an hour and we arrive at the Gasworks to get some more milk and fruit.

I've really enjoyed our first day in brisbane, I get the feeling people are right and there isn't a great deal to do but its beautiful and the weather is gorgeous- cannot imagine how hot it must be in summer, I'm sitting in it writing this and it is absolutely sweltering!!!

Crazy how you we can go from big fluffy coats and gloves to hunting for shorts and t-shirts!!!!