The Johnsons' Journal

We decided to keep it local this weekend and stay in Brissie. We started off the day at the Gallery of Modern Art for a guided highlights tour. The Gallery was featuring works from New Zealand, so this was the main focus of the tour. After the tour we found an interactive installation that we just had to have a closer look.

Playing at the Museum

After the museum, we decided to check out more of the Southbank precinct (or neighborhood), which is where the 1988 World Expo was held and is now a large public park with a beach, pools, restaurants, hotels, museums, and a preforming arts center. We spent the afternoon relaxing at the main beach overlooking the Brisbane river.

Beach on the river

Brisbane and the surrounding precincts are pretty small, so its pretty easy to walk from one precinct to another. We walked back to the CBD, where our hotel was, to check out some of the sights including the Town Hall, Parliament House, Botanical Gardens, and ANZAC Square. There are lots of squares, arcades, and a pedestrian mall in the CBD so it is pretty pedestrian friendly. The only thing we dislike about Brisbane is that the CBD is very business focused, so many of the restaurants close after five o’ clock, but we have been able to find good restaurants in the surrounding precincts.

The Brisbane River

Brisbane Town Hall

ANZAC Memorial with flowers from the ANZAC Day service

In the evening we walked over to Fortitude Valley to check out Chinatown and a nearby Mexican restaurant that got lots of good reviews. Unfortunately, the Tuckeria was not the best Mexican we have ever had, but for Australia it was pretty good and it satisfied the craving that we were having.

Scott being a tourist in Chinatown

Mexican food (YUM!)