Four encounters of the snake kind

Have you seen images of animals venturing into towns since the lockdown? Goats scampering around church grounds in Wales? A kangaroo bounding down the middle of an Adelaide street? They made me remember my own encounters.

By the Bay

Only a couple of streets away from where I stayed during my last Brisbane visit was Moreton Bay. I headed to Waterloo Bay’s foreshore where a giant pandanus stood at one end of a small park, and sparkling water off shore.

Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens

Last visit to Brisbane, I walked through the downtown botanical gardens. This visit I ventured through Brisbane’s second and newer botanical gardens located at the foot of Mt Cootha.

Mt Cootha Forest trails

There were seventy trails to explore within Brisbane’s Mt Cooth’s forest. The longest was less than three kilometres. We set out on our second trail — the Aboriginal Art circuit.

A JC Slaughter Falls hike

We were on our way to JC Slaughter Falls, but already unsure if we’d see any water tumbling over rocks because the East Ithaca Creek was only a puddle here and there. Still, we were hopeful of a hike through Brisbane’s Mt Cootha’s forest and we weren’t disappointed.

Above the city

Mt Cootha was home to Brisbane’s four original television towers hidden amongst the eucalyptus forest. But we had come for the view. It had been decades since I’d driven up to Mt Cootha to see Brisbane and the surrounding region spread out like a map.

Anzac Square

Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Square included a park in the heart of Brisbane. Statues depicting the suffering soldiers endured lined the path where workers strode during their lunch break.

An exception to the trend

I wrote a post on disappearing post offices and how these buildings were transformed into fashion  or coffee shops. But heading along Brisbane’s Queen Street, I discovered an exception to the rule.

Brisbane’s City Hall

This building once towered over every other Brisbane building. Today it’s dwarfed by every new building in the vicinity.

Brisbane’s street market and beyond

Close by the Brisbane River, crowds lingered amongst the city stalls sprawling the pavement. Macadamia nuts and Kingaroy peanuts were displayed, fresh strawberries and avocados, small cakes and jewellery.