The flight from Cairns to Brisbane was calm and the on-flight snack was quite memorable…

We say goodbye and thank you to our experience on the Great Barrier Reef.

In Brisbane we pick up the rental car and rapidly adapt to the left of center driving style (PIG – passenger in gutter). Right after leaving the domestics terminal a full-blown hail storm blows in, hammering the car with ice balls. You just can’t make this sh-t up…

Brisbane was settled back in the mid 1820’s because Sidney had the need to relocate their most intractable convicts. Now it’s a city of 2.3 million – go figure.

Brisbane has evolved into a very cosmopolitan city, with a friendly, laid-back feel and a not quite as tropical as Cairns atmosphere – but still quite temperate and green.

On Saturday morning we go for a walk across the Story Bridge that links Kangaroo Point over the Brisbane River to the northern part of the city.

In the afternoon we drive west out of the city, to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

https://lonepinekoalasanctuary.com/koala-experiences/

The sanctuary was established in 1927 and is currently home to about 100 koalas, among many other mammals, lizards and birds.

We have tickets for the 1:00 koala experience which is a bucket list encounter from way back. There are so many koalas it is quite close to overload.

The koala experience gives quite a bit of information and behind the scenes access, wrapping up with a one-on-one koala petting and photography session.