Toowoomba Airlie Beach Gold Coast

Yves and I went to Brisbane a couple of times and spent quite a lot of that time at Southbank Parklands. The parklands are located on the side of the Brisbane River, overlooking the CBD. It was originally the site of the World Expo 1988, and after this it was transformed into a beautiful public park.

A new feature of the parklands is the bouganvillia walk, which winds its way through past the man-made beach and restaurants.This walk provides much needed shade during the heat of the day and it's bright purple flowers are a great contrast against the green grass and the blue skies.

Deliciously sweet scented frangiapani trees line the boardwalk around the river-side of the parklands. Behind them is a row of restaurants cooking up a storm, their tables outside overlooking the city centre.

Southbank's beach looks out onto the River, and has plenty of soft, white sand to sunbake on. We only have pictures of it at night, but by day it is also stunning.

Juice Bars are a big trend at the moment in Australia and have popped up everywhere in the three years that I'd been away. This one is in Brisbane's city centre, Queen Street Mall.

The Conrad Treasury Casino is across the road from the top of the Mall. From it, you can see Southbank on the other side of the river.

At the other end of the mall, and a 5 minute walk through the CBD, is Anzac Square. It's a very pleasant garden memorial to the ANZAC soliders who fought in the world wars.

The Brisbane Botanical Gardens are in the city centre, next to the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). There are lots of different wild birds that make their home there, including bush turkey, ibis and this strange looking white bird. Can anyone tell me what it is? (I have no idea!)