After spending a few days exploring Sydney & the nearby regions, I flew to Brisbane in Queensland to spend a weekend with my relatives. I told my aunt (my dad’s sister) about my Sydney trip & she immediately invited me to spend a few days with them in Brisbane. I haven’t seen them for about 4 years now so it was a perfect time to catch up. I gave it a go without any hesitations. My friends decided to stay in Sydney during this part of the trip.
Plane Ticket
Domestic plane fares in Australia are expensive, especially when booked last minute. I booked my Sydney-Brisbane-Sydney tickets about a month before the trip. It cost me AUD 194.41 return or that’s ₱7,855.20 in local currency, about 2/3 of my Manila-Sydney-Manila ticket which cost me a little over ₱11,500 return.
Took Virgin Australia from Sydney to Brisbane
I flew with Virgin Australia to Brisbane. I took one of the early Saturday morning flights. The one way fare cost me AUD 120.55 or ₱4,878.50 in our currency – quite expensive because of the schedule. Virgin Australia is a full-service airline so the fare included 23 kilograms check-in baggage allowance, 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance, in-flight snack & wireless in-flight entertainment accessed through the airline mobile application. Seat was comfortable; legroom was just right. The flight arrived Brisbane on time.
Flew with Tiger Air Australia back to Sydney
I took Tiger Air Australia, one of Australia’s low cost carriers, back to Sydney. I paid AUD 73.86 one way – about ₱2,976.70. Airfares in Australia are really expensive. The fare only included 7 kilograms carry-on baggage allowance. In-flight meals & check-in baggage allowance were offered for a fee. I didn’t avail these add-ons because I was only travelling light. The flight went well & arrived back in Sydney ahead of schedule.
Welcome to Brisbane!!!~
Tip when flying around Australia – book your tickets early! Check out promotional fares offered by the airlines few months before the trip to score really affordable fares.
Planning to visit land down under soon? Find out how I got myself a 1 year multiple entry tourist visa to Australia here.
Accommodation & Transportation
My accommodation in & transportation around Brisbane were care of my aunt & her family. They picked me up from the airport & took me around the city. I also stayed in their house so I didn’t bother booking an accommodation for this leg of my Australia trip.
Just in case you’re wondering how the transportation system works in Brisbane, they also have Translink‘s top-up card called go card. This card can be used in local trains & buses around Queensland.
Around Brisbane
My relatives brought me to a few notable places in the city given I only had the weekend in the area. Check out the following places we visited in & around Brisbane.
Lone Park Koala Sanctuary
With my cousin – we played with some kangaroos!
We went to Lone Park Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket, Queensland. It is the world’s oldest & largest koala sanctuary. It was only until my Brisbane visit when finally I saw koalas & kangaroos up close. The kangaroos here were tame unlike those I saw in Hunter Valley. I also got the chance to have a photo hugging a koala. The koalas are so cute!
Had the chance to carry & hug a koala. 🐨 Dream come true! 🐨
Click this link for information about park tickets & koala photo fees.
Mount Coot-tha Lookout
Brisbane CBD from Mount Coot-tha Lookout 👀
We headed to Mount Coot-tha Lookout, also known as Brisbane Lookout, & had lunch overlooking the Brisbane CBD. We ordered food from the famous Kuta Cafe. The viewpoint is a must-see when in Brisbane because it gives a beautiful panoramic view of Brisbane up to Moreton Bay. Mount Coot-tha also has walking & bicycle tracks for those who are up for some adventure under the sun.
South Bank Parklands
South Bank Parklands is a recreational, cultural & social precinct located on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. Located in South Brisbane, this hub is home to different cultural institutions, restaurants, food boths & lively weekend markets. This parkland also gives a panoramic view of the Brisbane central business district.
The Wheel of Brisbane
The Wheel of Brisbane is an iconic Ferris wheel structure found in South Brisbane, within the South Bank Parklands. A ride to this Ferris wheel gives an 360-degree view of Brisbane. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes & includes an audio system which discusses some vital information about the city & its historical landmarks.
For information on tickets, head over to The Wheel of Brisbane official website.
Brisbane River
Brisbane River & 1 William Street skyscraper
Brisbane River is one of Queensland’s longest river which crosses various suburbs & cities & ends up on Moreton Bay. The river played a big role in Brisbane’s history in terms of transportation & navigation.
Brisbane CBD
View of Brisbane CBD from The Wheel of Brisbane
Brisbane central business district, commonly known as Brisbane City, is the center & capital of Queensland. Major financial, commercial, retail & business centers are found in this city. My relatives drove me around the city right before we had dinner. We also walked around one area of the CBD. The city was surprisingly laid back & quiet that weekend. My aunt told me that everyone in Brisbane or Queensland in general is relatively laid back & chill compared to other main cities like Sydney & Melbourne.
A random quiet Brisbane CBD street
Hanwoori Korean BBQ Buffet
Unlimited Korean BBQ for dinner! 😋
We capped off the day by having dinner in Hanwoori Korean Restaurant in the city. The restaurant offers unlimited Korean BBQ & side dishes. It was a good & satisfying dinner. I never thought I’ll have Korean barbecue while in Australia. Thanks to my relatives for the treat!
Korean BBQ buffet dinner with my relatives! ❤️
In case you missed it, my friends & I went on a walkathon around Sydney. Check out the list of heritage sites & city icons we visited.
Gold Coast Side Trip
Surfers Paradise from SkyPoint Gold Coast 😍
The other side of Gold Coast
My relatives took me to Gold Coast on my second day in Brisbane. We drove a little over an hour to the world famous surfers paradise. We drove around the city before going up to SkyPoint, Gold Coast’s highest attraction. This observation deck is located on Level 77 of Q1 Resort & Spa. The view deck is 230 meters above sea level & offers a 360-degree view of Gold Coast’s beaches, parkland & beyond. Tickets cost AUD 25 for adults & AUD 15 for kids & pensioners. They also offer a family plan of AUD 65 for 2 adults & 2 kids. Check out the SkyPoint website for more details.
Seafood lunch buffet! Yum~ 😋
View while having lunch in Australian’s only revolving restaurant 😍
We didn’t go for a swim on the beach because of limited time in Gold Coast plus the waves were strong. We then headed to Crown Plaza Surfers Paradise to have lunch. My uncle reserved a seafood buffet lunch (2nd buffet in less than 24 hours) for us in Four Winds 360° Revolving Restaurant – Australia’s only revolving restaurant. The buffet restaurant offered varieties of fresh seafood (crabs, prawns, mussels & oysters) & an excellent selection of hot dishes & desserts. My favorites, aside from all the seafood choices, were the following: roast turkey supreme, crispy pork belly with hoisin sauce & apple puree, ricotta & spinach tortellini & chicken tangerine. The view from the revolving restaurant was spectacular & breathtaking. Head over to the restaurant’s official website for more information on the menu & rates.
Family lunch.. Thank you for taking me around Brisbane & Gold Coast! ❤️
We headed back to Brisbane after lunch for some grocery errands. We had a simple Filipino dinner at my aunt’s house for my last night in Brisbane. I missed sinigang! I also had a few bottles of beer with my uncle after dinner to cap off my stay in Brisbane.
After spending the whole weekend with my relatives in Brisbane, I went to our local office for a quick visit then headed to Brisbane Airport for my flight back to Sydney. This basically ends my trip to Brisbane, Queensland. It was a short but a memorable visit. I got to spend some quality time with my relatives whom I haven’t seen for years. I would like to thank my aunt, uncle & cousins for accommodating me & taking me around Brisbane. Until next time!
This beautiful sunset welcomed me back in Sydney! 😍
My time in Brisbane was limited; I’d love to go back & explore more. Have you been to Brisbane? Any recommendations on where to go in my next visit? Share those places in the comments below! If you want to remain anonymous to other readers, feel free to send me an email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. You can also connect me via the following social media channels – Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Make sure to like my Facebook page too.
One last ‘roo shot before ending this post! 👀
Watch out for the posts about the side trips we took from Sydney – to be posted soon! Thanks for reading my latest post & see you next time! ✌️
PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.