AUSTRALIA 2013: BRISBANE

OUTSIDE OUR TAXI WINDOW/VIEW FROM THE HOTEL ROOFTOP/WAGAMAMA/BRISBANE RIVER/REFLECTIONS

So the Australia 2013 series is drawn to a close with Brisbane. We only spent two days here, which we managed to fill with shopping and little else, hence the not-so-brilliant variety of photographs, sorrrryyyy. However, I do owe my eternal gratitude to Brisbane for being the city within which my taste buds were introduced to sushi. I have no idea why I hadn’t tried it before IT IS SO TASTY OH MY GOODNESS.

Although I don’t think it quite topped Sydney, Brisbane was yet another wonderful city and the perfect place to end our time in Australia. This was THE most amazing holiday we’ve ever been on as a family and I’m so grateful to my parents for taking me. Maybe it was just having so much time to think, but I felt so inspired visiting all these new places, inspired enough to set up a blog for starters! I definitely think I’ll be back once I finish university, maybe for good, who knows.

This isn’t the end of the adventure though, Thailand’s up next and it was pretty amazing to say the least. 

NEW TO NOOSA

TOP & SHIRT: Charity Shop SHORTS: Topshop SHOES: Asos TOP NECKLACE: Topshop BOTTOM NECKLACE: Urban Outfitters

Check out what I did in Noosa here: AUSTRALIA 2013: NOOSA

AUSTRALIA 2013: NOOSA

THE VIEW AT BRUNCH/BIKE RIDE/THIS TREE IS ON FIRRRRREEE/HOGS BREATH CAFE/PELICANS PELICANS PELICANS/THE RIVER READ/BUNTING

This is where the holiday finally became a holiday. No excursions, no 6 am starts, just three nights spent in a quaint riverside town. We rode bikes along the river, ate brunch and sunbathed. Three things you would never catch me doing at home, unless the brunch is free.

With bunting strung up in every shop window, and an array of quirky gift shops nestled in between bookshops and cafes, this definitely felt the most ‘British’ of the places we visited- if you ignore the glorious weather. A hotspot for both retirees and newly-weds, and supposedly the nesting ground of many a celebrity, it seems the whole cute vibe the place had going on really works.

Very relaxing, very pretty, and probably very expensive.  

AUSTRALIA 2013: HERVEY BAY

WHALE BAY MARINA/BREACHING/WHALE TAIL/SUNSET OVER SANDY STRAITS MARINA/MAHENO SHIPWRECK/ELI CREEK/CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER/LAKE MCKENZIE

We only really decided to make a stop at Hervey Bay to do some whale watching, and I’m so thankful we chose to do so. Having only seen tails for the first hour we were out at sea, we became doubtful we would seen much more than that, but the last twenty minutes of our boat trip were the best; we came across a group of juvenile Humpback Whales who were complete show offs, splashing their fins and breaching completely out of the water. It was one of the most spectacular sights I’ve ever seen, and even brought my Mum to tears.

We also spent a day being thrown all over the place on a bus tour along the sandy tracks of Fraser Island, where we paddled in crystal clear water and caught a glimpse of some wild Dingoes.

These were a few pretty exhausting days with ridiculously early starts, (I’m talking 6:30, on holiday!) but we saw some wonderful things and that’s what exploring’s about, right?  

P.S I apologise for the completely unintentional nautical theme of this post, it appears I've spent a bit too much time around water recently.

HAMILTON HIGHTS

TWO PIECE: Cow Vintage BANDEAUX: Motel Rocks SHOES: Stoked at Byron

(Sorry for the rubbish balcony background, at least the view's nice!)

Check out what I did in the Whitsundays here: AUSTRALIA 2013: THE WHITSUNDAYS

AUSTRALIA 2013: THE WHITSUNDAYS

ABLE POINT MARINA/BREAKFAST WITH KOALAS/I WASN'T EXAGGERATING ABOUT THE GOLF BUGGY THING/SNORKELLING IN THE GREAT BARRIER REEF/WHITEHAVEN BEACH/MINI GOLF/BABY WALLABY/DAYDREAM ISLAND

The next stop was the Whitsundays, after a veeeeeeery long drive. We stayed in a lovely hotel on Hamilton Island, but spent most of our time at sea visiting Daydream Island, Whitehaven beach and snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, which of course is something I can now happily check off the bucket list. Despite the teeny tiny bit of seasickness and hours spent on ferries (which seem to be our most frequently used mode of transport out here), it was well worth it for the sand on Whitehaven beach alone. The rumours are true, it totally feels like you’re walking on flour.

And a little fun fact, the only way to get around on Hamilton Island was via golf buggy or shuttle bus, which kind of made the whole place feel like the set of a Dr Seuss movie.