UP THE RIVER

Brisbane? Did you forget it is no longer summer? 

Some days it is nice just to take a lazy ferry ride up the river. 

Followed by one of us playing in the park and one of us laying in the grass. Which ended with the one attempting to be lazy being jumped all over.

Simple days, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Especially since my little man still loves to hold my hand. 

TOURIST IN MY OWN CITY: QUEENSLAND MUSEUM SOUTHBANK

The Queensland Museum Southbank, is as the name states at Southbank on the river, it is situated next the Queensland Gallery of Art and near GOMA. On the bottom level of the museum is the Sciencecentre. The museum is free to enter and open most days from 9:30am to 5:00pm.

According to their website “This fascinating museum of natural history, cultural heritage, science and human achievement tells the changing story of Queensland.” In 1986 the Queensland Museum South Bank opened in the heart of Brisbane’s cultural precinct. From the museum it is a short walk to Southbank and all of the attractions the area has to offer. 

Jarvis and I each have our favourite sections of the museum, there are five levels to the museum so plenty of things and places to explore. 

Level four is the Discovery Centre, Jarvis will spend hours here, looking at all of the displays. Stuffed animals galore; and dozens and dozens of draws to open and close, filled with all interesting manor of things. 

The top level is an ever changing exhibition space; however the current exhibition is Collectomania. The online website states: “Take a peek inside the private collections of Queenslanders and see how our State’s collectors gain meaning and identity from their collections. Collectomania highlights a very human passion – collecting the things we love, fuelled by a sometimes unexplainable drive or desire to find the next perfect addition, preserve a moment in time or celebrate beauty, function and achievement.”

It is a great place to take Jarvis, on the weekend it is packed full of visitors, however on a week day there is heaps of space for Jarvis to explore. 

TOURIST IN MY OWN CITY: NEW FARM PARK

This week the Tourist in my Own City destination was New Farm Park. According to Wikipedia:  “New Farm Park is a public park located in the suburb of New Farm in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The park covers 15 hectares (37 acres) and is situated at the south-eastern end of the New Farm peninsula on a bend in the Brisbane River.  The Powerhouse Arts Centre is located at the eastern end of the park."

New Farm Park is a great meeting place for locals and tourists, but according to Jarvis, it is a place filled with wonderful adventures.

 Jarvis will wander for ages over the grass and running up and down between the garden beds.

Testing the boundaries of me telling him to stay out of the garden beds. 

 Brisbane Powerhouse Arts Centre

 After playing in the garden beds we will walk along the boardwalk

 I love that you can get the City Cat here. Here is my previous post on the City Cat.

 Such stunning old trees

 BBQs are available

And of course there is the kids play area

  

History of the park

The land that the park now stands on was originally a farm, built to supply food for the recently founded convict settlement on the Brisbane River. A racecourse was built on the site in 1846, which operated until 1913, when the land for the park was acquired by the Brisbane City Council. During the late 1990s the kiosk was based in New Farm Park. The kiosk was a popular meeting point for weekend breakfasts and won many awards. However during 2000 the kiosk was destroyed by fire and has yet to be rebuilt.

TOURIST IN MY OWN CITY: BRISBANE CITY CAT

With no immediate travel plans, I thought I would include in my Tourist Tuesday a series from my home town. I was born in Brisbane and as much as I love to travel, the beauty of Brisbane still holds true, for me. While it is not as cosmopolitan as say Melbourne or Sydney, there is a charm to Brisbane for local and visitors to appreciate.

Brisbane is built around its river so what better to start of this series of Tourist Tuesday, in my own town, than with a journey of the City Cat.

The day was overcast and the threat of rain was strong, however we set off, for a journey on the river. Jarvis has always loved the City Cat, and loves being outside with the wind in his face, there is also the inside air-conditioned comfort for those who prefer it.You can catch the ferry to the city, South Bank, or many of the stops along the river, or just enjoy the journey for it self.

We traveled the river stopping off for hot chocolates and then journeyed back, with a tired but happy little man who waved at all of the passing river traffic. It is a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and a great way to show any tourist a glimpse of our city.

The Story Bridge 

 There is lots of other traffic on the river

 Jarvis loves the wind on his face

 You pass a lot of Brisbane's other attraction on your journey.

History of the City Cat

* River Connections was established in August 1991, and was originally responsible solely for the Council's CityFerry fleet.

* The first four high-speed CityCat vessels were introduced in 1996, when River Connections had its contract with Brisbane City Council renewed.

* On 1 August 2004 Brisbane City Council's first "New Generation" CityCat, named Beenung-urrung (indigenous term for Highgate Hill), was launched and entered service one week later.

* Fast forward to 2013 and Brisbane City Council has 19 new generation City Cats in place, and has been awarded the highest international standards in Quality Environment and Safety.