Stumbling around Brisbane (an early morning arrival)
 

We're due to arrive in Brisbane from the US (East Coast, at that) at about 5AM Saturday, July 28. I'm guessing we won't be able to check in to our apartment, the Tribeca on Boundary Street, for quite some time. I'm hoping to be able to leave our luggage there and do some gentle walking/sightseeing, so I'd love to know your suggestions. (It'll be four of us, 3 20ish and one old lady--me.)

I know myself after a flight of this duration, so that's why I'm asking for gentle. :)

We're to go to the Australia Zoo the next day and leave on Monday for Cairns, so there isn't the time in Brisbane that I'd like, but it would be nice to see a bit.

(And I guess a taxi from the airport would be the best bet economics wise for four passengers? The three of them are very tiny, but I wasn't sure about luggage fitting; we'll each have a suitcase and small carry-on.)

Hi, Amy,
Get yourself a coffee to re-energise yourself, and then I suggest taking a stroll along the river bank, perhaps around South Bank. That was one of my favourite haunts before the floods of 2011, and I believe it has been rebuilt / remodelled. There used to be some great cafes around here. Perhaps take a trip on the City Cat up the river - an interesting aspect on Brisbane.

Probably not a practical suggestion but perhaps you could catch the Air Train from the airport into the city station, then a taxi to your hotel from there. That is what we always did, although our hotel was within reasonable walking distance of the city stop. This way you get to see a little of outer Brisbane.

Hi Amy - I see your apartment is located at Spring Hill - not quite in the city CBD. I would suggest a cab from the airport - with four of you to split the bill it is most likely a cheaper option than the air train.

Once you have offloaded your bags I would do as dottyp suggests and head for the Southbank Parklands. You can catch a train from Central and hop off at South Brisbane - only a short trip. It would be about a 3.5klm walk otherwise. Indeed the parklands went under during the floods last year but you would never know it today. Back to it's former glory.

From Southbank you can catch the City Cat Ferry and cruise the river. There are numerous restaurants at Southbank but also many, many cafes etc on Grey Street running parallel with Southbank.

The Museum and Gallery of Modern Art is also located in this precinct as is the Maritime Museum.

You will have a wonderful day at Australia zoo and I hope you enjoy your stay in Brisbane!

Hi, stormbird,
forgot about the Museum and Art Gallery - wonderful place to explore. I don't know how I have missed the Maritime Museum on my many visits! I am so pleased to hear Brisbane is back to its former glory - such an amazing, vibrant place to enjoy strolling around / supping coffee, etc.

If you're feeling reasonably energetic, walk down (and it should be down, more or less, rather than up...) Wharf Street from the apartment to the Eagle Street pier (Riverside) and, as suggested, take a ride on the CityCat. It'll take you down, round the Botanic Gardens, over to South Bank. Perhaps stay on it until the end of the run, so you'll see some of the sights along the Brisbane River. Stand out the front and it'll blow a few cobwebs away. From the Riverside stop, it's about 35 minutes to the last (of 7) stops at the University of Queensland and then about 20 minutes back to South Bank. Probably about $10 roundtrip.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=eag...sland&t=h&z=19

At Riverside, make sure you get a CityCat that comes from the left (from under the Story Bridge) otherwise you'll be going the wrong way...

Thanks so much, everyone! The CityCat sounds like a great option and the strolling around the South Bank/coffee stop will be good, too.

I'm really looking forward to my first ever trip to Australia. (Well, except for that plane ride...)

Amy, I just got back from my first trip to Australia (just a week in Sydney) and I was surprised how little jet lag I seemed to suffer.

I arrived at 8am after 'sleeping' for about 3 or 4 hours on the flight from LAX to Sydney and I watched movies for the prior flights from BOS>JFK>LAX but I still managed to get around on my first day quite well. I was not expecting to do much but I felt much better than I envisioned.

I crashed around 7pm and I was too tired to eat dinner but I was up early the next day and raring to go.

Good luck, I hope you have a great time!

Hi Amy
The City Cat is a lovely relaxing way to see Brisbane from the river.
Another option is to use the CityCycle bikes that are distributed all over the inner city - you can hop on one, ride to a point of interest, dock that bike then get another one later. Daily subscriptions are available online or you can get a card at the King George Square transport info centre or the visitors' info centre in the Queen Street Mall. Note that some of them come with helmets, which are required here.

http://www.citycycle.com.au

There's a network of bridges and walking paths that follow the river and make for a fun walking or cycling route, depending on your energy levels.

Have a great trip

Amy
A tip for Australia Zoo. When you get there get one of the maps they hand out with feeding times and displays and plan your day accordingly so that you dont head off in direction only to miss one of the main shows because you are at the opposite end of the zoo. Make sure you see the events at the crocoseum (birds, crocs etc) and line up for the elephant feeding if you have never been up close to one. They hand out a piece of fruit and the elephant takes it from you. Its over in a flash but its fun.
Its worth it to plan your tour rather than racing from one part to the other so that you dont miss feedings or displays.
They have plenty of photo opportunities if you want to have your picture taken with a little croc or even a very huge python. Pictures arent cheap but we got one taken because its not often you can smile with a snake wrapped around your shoulders!

You may be lucky enough to grab a taxi at the airport that is a station wagon so more space for luggage or a maxi taxi that carries more than 5 passengers (you could fit in the extra luggage)

Have a wonderful trip.