After a solid night of recovery (and our bodies finally stopping their rebellion), we knew we had to make the most of Easter Saturday before our internal clocks completely surrendered.
We started with breakfast at a local café. The food was decent, but the coffee? Absolute tragedy. I still don’t understand how a country this civilized can produce coffee that tastes like regret. Pro tip: never ask for “regular coffee” in Australia. Just order a latte or cappuccino and hope for the best. We learned this painful lesson back in 2017 when trying to get a plain Americano was apparently an act of treason. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love our Aussie friends, I just don’t like their coffee!
Fully caffeinated (sort of), we caught the bus for our first proper adventure. We’d visited Australia before, but I insisted on seeing the koalas and kangaroos one last time. This will probably be our final trip here, so I was determined to get my furry fix.
After a 30-minute bus ride, we arrived at the wildlife park where the animals roam free and seem strangely fond of humans. The koalas were living their best low-effort lives — lounging in trees, munching eucalyptus like it was gourmet. Sadly, no babies this trip. I felt personally robbed.
Then came the kangaroos. These guys are gloriously lazy but surprisingly tolerant of tourists. We got to pet them and feed them some mysterious “giblets.” The kids were having a field day tugging on their ears while parents heroically guarded everyone from those terrifyingly powerful back legs. Smart parenting.
We spent a couple of happy hours wandering around, taking photos, and saying a proper goodbye to Australia’s cutest residents.
Back on the bus, we got dropped near the hotel, but we weren’t done yet. We power-walked through town and across the Victoria Bridge (a solid couple of miles — my feet are still filing a formal complaint) to catch the Queensland Art Gallery before it closed.
Bonus: it was completely free and surprisingly excellent — three floors of beautiful artwork, including real Picassos and some stunning pieces by Australian artists I’d never heard of. We really enjoyed it.
To cap off the day, we rode the Wheel of Brisbane. Floating high above the city in one of those giant pods gave us the most spectacular views — the river, the skyline, and that sweet “we survived jet lag” glow. It was the perfect gentle way to end a very full day.
As we were heading back toward the hotel, we stumbled straight into a protest about the US/Israel vs. Iran situation. It was remarkably peaceful — nothing like the chaotic scenes we’ve seen back home. No shouting matches, no thrown objects, just people expressing their views calmly. We even had a long, friendly chat with the Australian Federal Police (better known locally as “coppers”). They were relaxed, professional, and happy to talk. It was a refreshing change of pace.
All in all, Brisbane is treating us surprisingly well so far… as long as we avoid the snakes, the coffee, and any more 24-hour flights.
May God bless you always!
Chuck & Lea Ann
WorldTravelReynolds 